Tsurugi Bashi Kendo Kai

Kendo Terminology

Terminology Swords Ranking Equipment

The vocabulary of kendo is based on Japanese terminology. Once you become serious about kendo, you will undoubtedly want to obtain the authoritative but hard to get Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo published by the All Japan Kendo Federation, a fascinating volume in which every kendo word is not simply translated but also insightfully explained in its proper context.

Until then, here is a survival kit. Remember that the proper way to write Japanese words is, obviously, using Japanese script (a mixture of kanji, hiragana and katanaka) and that the roman characters you see here are just an approximate translitteration based on the Hepburn system (minus the long vowel mark). Do not read these translitterations as if they were English words: to stand a chance of pronouncing them sensibly, spend a few minutes understanding the basic phonetic rules of the Hepburn system, in particular the sound of the five vowels a i u e o (read similarly to Spanish or Italian).



Counting

  • Ichi = 1
  • Ni = 2
  • San = 3
  • Shi/Yon = 4
  • Go = 5
  • Roku = 6
  • Shichi/Nana = 7
  • Hachi = 8
  • Kyu/Ku = 9
  • Ju = 10
  • Ni-ju = 20
  • San-ju = 30
  • Yon-ju = 40
  • ...
  • Hyaku = 100

    • Grammatical rules sometimes require that you add a "counting suffix" which depends on the nature of things you count. For counting cylindrical things such as shinai, beer bottles and, imaginatively, suburi repetitions, the suffix is -hon (or -pon, or -bon where euphony requires). So, if you are going to perform suburi, you will announce:

  • Juppon = 10
  • Ni-juppon = 20
  • San-juppon = 30
  • Yon-juppon = 40
  • Go-juppon = 50
  • ...
  • Hyappon = 100



    • Common commands

  • Rei = Bow
    • Ritsu-rei = standing bow
    • Za-rei = kneeling bow (more formal)
  • Hajime = Start
  • Yame = Stop
  • Kotai = Change round
  • Seiza = Sit in the traditional Japanese manner
  • Sonkyo = Take the squatting posture
  • Osame-to = Return the sword to your side



    • Directions, postures, distance

  • Hidari = Left
  • Migi = Right
  • Shizentai = Natural standing posture
  • Kamae = "On guard" posture. There are 5 kamae in kendo:
    • Chudan-no-kamae = Middle-level guard
    • Jodan-no-kamae = High guard (sword overhead)
    • Gedan-no-kamae = Low guard
    • Hasso-no-kamae (sword to side of head)
    • Wakigamae (sword hidden by body)
  • Maai = Distance.
    • Chikai maai = Close distance
    • Issoku itto no maai = "One step, one cut" - swords just crossed
    • Toi maai = Wide distance



    • Forms of training

  • Kata = Prearranged forms
  • Suburi = Cutting practice (without opponent)
  • Kihon = Basic cuts on target
  • Kirikaeshi = A sequence of cuts to the head
  • Ji-geiko = Free sparring
  • Uchi komi geiko = Sequence of cuts on offered target
  • Kakari-geiko = Hard cutting practice

    • People frequently ask what is the difference between uchikomi-geiko and kakari-geiko. Here is what the AJKF Kendo Dictionary says:

    uchikomi-geiko
    A method of keiko in which one learns basic techniques of striking by responding to striking chances provided by the moto-dachi (instructor). An uchikomi-bo is used in a supplementary type of uchikomi-geiko.
    kakari-geiko
    The keiko method where the trainee for a short period practices striking the motodachi (person acting as instructor) with all his/her might, using all the waza he/she has learned, and without thinking of being struck or dodged.



    Techniques

  • Kiai = Cry given when cutting
  • Kikentai-itchi = Spirit, Sword, Body as One
  • Fumikomi = Stamping the front foot on the floor while striking
  • Tai-atari = Collision with the opponent with the surplus force of a strike
  • Uchi = Cut
  • Tsuki = Thrust
  • Datotsu = Cut or thrust
  • Datotsu-bui = (valid) striking target, see diagram below

    • datotsu


    People

  • Sensei = Teacher
  • Uchidachi = In kata, the instructor, the one who initiates the moves
  • Shidachi = In kata, the student, the one who applies the technique and "wins"
  • Motodachi = In keiko, the instructor, the one who offers targets for datotsu
  • Kakarite = In keiko, the student, the one who performs the cut



    • Useful phrases

  • Hai = Yes
  • O-negai shimasu = Please may I...
  • Domo arigato gozaimasu = Thank you very much
  • Sumimasen = Excuse me / sorry
  • Dozo = Please, go ahead

    • Terminology Swords Ranking Equipment


    kanji