Terms

A

ai-chudan.................... both players in chu-dan no kamae

ashi-sabaki................. footwork

ayumi-ashi.................. walking step

B

bokken / bokuto......... wooden sword

C

chika-ma....................positioned close to opponent

chudan no kamae....... middle guard position

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D

datotsu........................ strike or thrust

debana-waza............... technique to execute a strike as opponent is about to strike

do................................ armor worn around the mid-section; a strike to the mid-section

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E

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F

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G

gedan-no-kamae......... lower guard position

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H

hakama....................... pleated pants

hasaki.......................... cutting edge

hasso-no-kamae......... upper guard position, shinai is held vertically at upper right side

hidari........................... left

hiki-waza.................... stepping back technique

hikari-ashi.................. sideways step

hirauchi...................... strike with flat side of shinai

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I

issoku itto no maai.... distance at which one can strike (or avoid) with one step

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J

jigeiko........................ free practice

jodan-no-kamae........ upper guard position with shinai over head

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K

kaeshi-waza.............. deflection technique

kakarigeiko.............. all out attack practice

kamae....................... guard position

katana...................... sword

katsugi-waza.............. shouldering the sword technique

keiko.................... practice

keiko-gi............. quilted jacket worn in kendo under armor, typically dark blue or white

kendogu............. kendo armor

kenjutsu............the art of the sword

kensen.......... point of the sword or shinai

ki.............. spirit, mental energy

kiai............... projection of fighting spirit in a yell or cry

kigurai................. bearing, pride, dignity

kihaku............spirit

kirikaeshi............a practice drill of repeated strikes alternating left and right sides of men

kisei............. Vigor

kodachi............. short sword

kote.........¦. Gloves worn in kendo; a strike target; forearm

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L

M

maai............. fighting distance between opponents

men................ protective helmet (similar to fencing mask); head; strike target

men-buton................ cloth part of men

men-gane............. grill part of men (usually steel, aluminum, or titanium)

metsuke............ Point of observation, gaze

migi............ right

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N

nidan-waza........... two stage technique

noto...............resheathing the sword

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O

oji-waza................ counter-attacking technique

okuri-ashi..............sliding step with leading right foot

omote............... left side of shinai

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P

Q

R

rei-gi.............etiquette

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S

sage-to.............holding the shinai at the left side of body

seiza...............sitting with the legs folded up underneath oneself

sensei............... instructor

shiai................. match

shikake-waza.............. technique to initiate strike

shinai....................... practice sword made of 4 slats of bamboo tied together.

shizentai.............. Natural standing position

shomen................. center men

sonkyo.................... squatting position, used during beginning and end of matches

suburi................. shinai swinging practice

suki................. opening for attacks, unguarded points

suriage-waza................ rising-slide deflection technique

suri-ashi.................. sliding step

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T

tachi........... long sword

taiatari............... body check

taito................... holding shinai at waist level

tare.............. waist protector

tenouchi................. balanced strength of hands at the moment of strike or thrust

tenugui...................... traditional hand towel used as head wrap underneath men

tsuba..................... sword guard

tsubazerai.............. close-contact fencing with shinai’s crossed in a vertical position

tsugi-ashi........... short step

tsuka............... hilt

tsuki...................throat; strike area

tsuki-dare............... throat protector

tsuru..................center cord of shinai, represents the non-sharpened side of the sword

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U

uchi............... strike

uchiotoshi-waza........ technique where you strike opponents shinai and immediately counter-attack

ura..................... right side of shinai

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V

W

waza............ technique

waki-gamae.......... guard position with shinai at side to conceal arms and weapon position

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X

Y

Z

zanshin............... positive follow through of strike; mental and physical alertness against opponents attack

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