I. General

A. General

kendo

the way of the sword; training the mind, body, and character through one-one-one striking practice using the shinai while wearing bogu

kenshi

kendoist

dan

ranking system for advanced levels (1=lowest, 8=highest); equivalent to black belt in other martial arts

kyu

ranking system for beginning levels (6=lowest, 1=highest); equivalent to a brown belt in other martial arts

yudansha

kendoist with a rank of 1st dan (shodan) or higher

kodansha

one with a high dan rank, typically 5th dan (godan) or higher

sensei

instructor, usually with rank 4th dan (yondan) or higher

shomen

the side of the dojo or hall farthest from the main entrance, the side having the highest place of honor

seiza

seated attention position

kiai

a shout or yell to show spirit

kigurai

confidence, presence, bearing

kokyu

breathing

shinsa

promotional examination

counting (1,2,3, ... ,10)

ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyu, ju

B. Commands and Responses

hajime

"Begin!"

yame

"Stop!"

ki-o-tsuke

"Attention!"

seiretsu

"make a line"

chakuza

"sit down (in seiza)"

kiritsu

"stand up"

men-tsuke

"put on the men"

men-tore

"take off the men"

nuke-to

"draw the sword (shinai)"

osame-to

"return the sword (shinai)"

hai

"Yes!" Used in place of "okay", or "I understand."

II. Equipment

A. Uniform

hakama

kendo clothing worn on the lower part of the body, a long divided skirt-like trousers

keiko-gi

kendo clothing worn on the upper part of the body, a thick jacket-like shirt

B. Armor

bogu

kendo armor consisting of men, kote, do, and tare

men

kendo armor to protect the face, head, and shoulders

kote

kendo armor used to proect the hand and forearm

do

kendo armor to protect the trunk and chest

tare

kendo armor to protect the waist, groin, and upper legs

tsuki

flap on the men which protects the throat

tenugui

thin cotton towel worn on the head under the men

nafuda

name tag worn on the center of the tare; also called "zekken"

C. Swords

shinai

bamboo sword used in kendo

kensen

the tip of the shinai

nakayui

thin strip of leather tied around the shinai about one third down from the tip

tsuba

circular guard on the shinai

tsuka

the handle of the shinai

tsuka-gashira

the very end (bottom) of the tsuka

tsuru

the string which holds the shinai together

monouchi

the region of the shinai most effective for striking, located between the tip and the nakayui

datotsu-bu

the part of the shinai with which one should strike the opponent. Refers to the jin-bu (side opposite the tsuru) around the region of the mono-uchi.

bokken

wooden sword, primarily used for kendo kata

bokuto

same as bokken

III. Manners and Etiquette

A. Opening and Closing

mokuso

meditation performed in the seiza position

mokuso-yame

command to stop mokuso

rei

bow

shomen-ni-rei

command given to bow to the shomen; done while in seiza

sensei-ni-rei

command given to bow to the sensei, done while in seiza

onegai shimasu

"I request the favor (of a practice)"; said at the beginning of practice during "sensei-ni-rei"

arigato gozaimashita

"Thank you very much"; said at the end of practice during "sensei-ni-rei"

B. Always

rei-gi

matters of etiquette

rei-ho

doctrines of etiquette

chaku-so

the manner of wearing keikogi, hakama, and bogu

ritsu-rei

standing bow

sage-to

the posture taken when performing ritsu-rei, with the shinai held in the left hand with the arm hanging naturally at the side. The tsuru faces downward and the hand next to the tsuba.

sogo-no-rei

ritsu-rei to the opponent. The angle is about 15 degrees, and eye contact is maintained.

IV. Practice and Instruction

A. General

keiko

practice, training

ashi-sabaki

footwork

ato-geiko

literally after practice, usually a second practice session for advanced kenshi following a primary practice session which stresses kihon

datotsu

striking and thrusting. A valid point is referred to as yuko datotsu.

datotsu-bui

the correct striking or thrusting zones of the kendo-gu (protective gear), refers to the men, kote, do, and tsuki areas

datotsu-no-kikai

chance of strike

furi-kaburi

big movement swing of the shinai above one's head

hasuji

cutting path of the sword (angle of cut)

haya-suburi

fast suburi, one count per backward step plus foward strike

hiraki-ashi

footwork used when the body is moving diagonally (front foot is same side as forward shoulder)

issoku-itto-no-maai

distance from which one can strike in one step

jiyu-keiko

free practice

kakari-geiko

attack practice

kamae-te

command to assume kamae

kihon

basics

kihon-dosa

basic exercises, including uchi-kata and suburi

kiri-kaeshi

basic exercise in which the sides of the men are struck repeatedly, typically in sets of a straight men followed by 4 strikes forward and 5 strikes backward

ma-ai

distance between opponents

mawari-geiko

rotation keiko

men-no-uchi, gokai

"basic men strike, 5 times"

men-no-uchi, sankyodo

"basic men strike, three count movements" (1=raise shinai, 2=strike, moving forward, 3=step back)

metsuke

use of the eyes to see the opponent, see basic concepts

motodachi

person being struck to provide instruction, for example in uchikomi-geiko, kakari-geiko, or kihon shiai

okuri-ashi

the most basic footwork used in kendo, where the feet start and end in the basic kamae position with the right foot in front and the toes of the left foot even with the line of the right heel

sayu-men

the right and left striking zones of the men

seme

pressure applied to one's opponent

shiai-geiko

match practice

shin-kokyu

deep breathing exercise

shisei

posture

shizentai

natural standing position

shomen-uchi

a strike to the center of the men

suri-ashi

footwork in which the feet do not lose contact with the floor

te-no-uchi

the usage of the hands to tighten/loosen the grip on the shinai or adjusting the balance between the hands when striking or responding

uchikomi-geiko

practice striking the basic points on the motodachi

waza

technique, see advanced concepts

zanshin

mental and physical presence of spirit, especially after completing an attack

B. Positions

kamae

basic stance; ready position

chudan-no-kamae

basic kamae, with the kensen pointed at the opponent's throat

judan-no-kamae

kamae with the shinai above the head, with the left hand above the forehead about one fist away

tai-to

holding the shinai at the left hip, ready to draw. The tsuka-gashira should be in front of the center of the body.

sonkyo

the crouching position in which begins and ends each bout

tsuba-zeriai

the position in which the opponents are close to each other with tsuba or fists together

C. Types of Practice

suburi

sword swinging techniques

jogeburi

full sword swing; an exercise used for relaxing and warming up the shoulders and upper back

suburi

basic exercise which simulates striking the men repeatedly, performed without an opponent

suburi-ikkyodo

one-count suburi (alternate striking forward and backward on each count)

suburi-nikyodo

two-count suburi (raise the shinai on the odd count; strike on the even count, alternating the going forward and backward and each strike)

V. Tournaments and Matches

A. General

shiai

match

shiai-jo

court

men ari

"men" (awarding of the men point in a match)

kote ari

"kote" (awarding of the kote point in a match)

do ari

"do" (awarding of the do point in a match)

tsuki ari

"tsuki" (awarding of the tsuki point)

encho

match overtime period

fusensho

a match win by default, due to the opponent's absence or forfeit

gogi

referee's conference during a match, held in the center of the court

hansoku

match foul, results in one half-point against the offending player

hansoku ikkai

"first hansoku"

hansoku nikai, ippon ari

"second hansoku, one point" (awarded to the opponent of the offending player)

hantei

referees' decision of the winner of a match

hikiwake

match draw

igi

formal protest in a match, registered by a team manager

ippon gachi

a match decided by one point, due to time running out in sanbon-shobu

ippon shobu

one point match (first person to score wins)

jogai

stepping out of bounds (this is a hansoku)

kachinuki

a method of conducting matches in which the winner remains and keeps fighting until defeated

kaishi-sen

starting line in the court

kihon-shiai

tournament in which kihon is judged. Usually includes rei-ho, kiri-kaeshi, and basic uchikomi

kumiawase

tournament match-ups

mejirushi

red or white tag tied to the crossed do strings on the back, used to distinguish the players in a match

nihon me

"Second point" (continues sanbon-shobu after one player has scored the first point of the match)

sanbon shobu

three point match (first person to score two points wins)

shiai-jikan

match time limit

shinai-otoshi

losing control of the shinai (this is a hansoku)

shobu

"Match" (continues sanbon shobu after each player has one point)

shobu ari

"Match done" (announces the end of the match)

taikai

tournament

wakare

during shiai: "separate" (timer does not stop)

yuko datotsu

valid point

B. Personnel

senpo

first player in a team match

jiho

second player in a team match

chuken

middle player in a team match

fukusho

second to last player in a team match

taisho

last player in a team match (captain)

kantoku

team manager

shushin

chief referee (makes the match pronouncements)

fukushin

sub-referees in a match

shinpan

judge; referee

shinpan-cho

head judge

shinpan-shunin

court judge