Intermediate Terminology
Kendo is a traditional Japanese martial art. Therefore, we use
Japanese terms for most of the techniques and to express the ideas
of Kendo, in the same way that French terms are used in ballet or
European fencing. The following are the terms you will hear and use during your fourth and fifth months in Kendo.
Click on the  icon next to each word to hear each word pronounced. This can help you learn the terms very quickly.
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| Commands for opening class: |
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seiza |
correct sitting posture; sitting on the heals in a natural, centered, strong posture |
|
mokuso |
quietude; eyes closed, quiet the mind, prepare for training or consider the training just completed |
|
mokuso yame |
end quietude period; open the eyes |
|
shomen ni rei |
bow to the front of the training hall; remember we are in a special place for self development; gratitude for the generations of teachers who have developed Kendo |
|
sensei ni rei |
bow to the teachers |
|
kiritsu |
stand up from seiza |
| |
| Commands for closing class: |
| (Same as opening, except that "shomen ni rei" and "sensei ni rei" are reversed) |
|
arigato gozaimashita |
thank you very much; said to each other after practicing together, or during closing rei |
|
sonkyo |
crouching, sitting on the heels, balanced on the balls of the feet, knees lower than the center, with an upright posture |
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sageto |
standing with the sword in the left hand, at arm's length |
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taito |
sword held at the left hip, left thumb on the hand guard, end of the handle on the midline of the body |
|
nuketo |
draw the sword from taito position and form kamae as you assume sonkyo to open an engagement with an opponent |
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yasume |
from chudan kamae, relax your sword tip down to knee height and slightly to the right side, cutting edge facing slightly to the left, in order to reduce pressure on your opponent and disengage; usually done during kata practice |
|
osameto |
from chudan kamae, assume sonkyo and return the sword to the left hip (taito position) to disengage with an opponent |
|
ma-ai |
the distance between opponents |
|
chikama |
the distance between you and your opponent at which both of you are too close to strike going forward with one step |
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uchima |
the distance between you and your opponent at which you personlly can strike with one step; it varies with individuals bacause of height, skill level, etc. |
|
toma |
the distance between you and your opponent at which both of you are too far away to strike |
|
waza |
the techniques of Kendo |
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ayumi ashi |
a kind of footwork in which you step through, as in walking, but with your toes and balls of the feet in contact with the floor |
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fumikomi |
a stomping step used while making a longer attack |
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tsuki |
thrust with the kensen to the throat or chest |
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keiko |
Kendo practice, or a Kendo practice match |
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uchikomi geiko |
striking practice actually hitting a target, first against a partner's shinai, later against someone in armor |
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kakarigeiko |
attacking practice; going all-out for 15-30 seconds |
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kirikaeshi |
a prearranged striking drill |
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kata |
prearranged formal patterns with a bokuto (bokken) that teach footwork and body carriage, distancing, breathing, concentration, sword handling, and many other principles of the sword. |
|
ipponme |
the first of the Nihon Kendo Kata, or sword kata in Kendo |
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keikogi (dogi) |
Kendo jacket |
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hakama |
Kendo pants |
