Glossary of terms & definitions

AICHUDAN Mutual centre posture
AIGEDAN Mutual lower posture AIJODAN Mutual upper posture
AITE Opponent in a match
AITSUKI Mutual thrust
AIUCHI Mutual cut
ARIGATO GOZAIMASU Thank you very much (to a senior)
ASHI BARAI Foot sweep (illegal except in police taikai)
ASHI KAKE Foot sweep (illegal except in police taikai)
ASHI NO URA Sole of foot
ASHI NO YUBI Toes
ASHI SABAKI Footwork
ASHI WAZA Foot technique
ATATAMERU To warm oneself through physical exercise
ATO UCHI A delayed cut like a feint
AYUMI ASHI Walking footwork
BOGU All the kendo armour and equipment
BOKKEN Wooden sword (traditional-same weight as a sword)
BOKUTO Wooden sword (modern-same shape as a sword)
BOSHI Point of a sword
BU Martial learning
BUDO SEISHIN The spirit of martial ways
BUN Academic learning
BUNBU ICHI Pen and sword as one
CHAMAE Posture
CHAMAE O TOKU Lowered chamae (not live).  Used at end of each kata
CHAMAE TO Drawing the bamboo sword and taking up posture (CHAMAE)
CHIBURI Action of removing blood from the blade after a cut
CHIKAI MAAI Short interval/distance
CHISAI Small
CHUDAN Middle posture
CHUI Warning given in a match
CHUKEN Middle player
CHUSEN GACHI Victory in a match by drawing lots
counting ichi, ni, san, shi/yon, go, roku, shichi/nana, hachi, kyu, ju. ju ichi e.t.c. ni ju ichi=21 hyaku san ju go=135
DAIHYOSHA SEN Play off between representatives
DAISENSEI Title of respect for tenth dan holders
DAISHO Pair of swords, usually worn through belt
DAITO Long sword
DAN Grade
DASU Extend
DATOTSU Strikes or thrusts
DATOTSU BU Striking part of bamboo sword
DEBANA Void timing, strike as the opponent begins his action
DO Body protector
DO Way or path to follow
DOJO Place of studying the way
DOMO ARIGATO Thank you
EMBUJO Place of studying the way (religious)
ENCHO Time extension in a match
ENJIN GEIKO Piggy in the middle style keiko (winner or loser stays in)
ENZAN NO METSUKE Look beyond the opponent (at the far mountain) to see the whole picture.
FUDO SHIN/SEISHIN Immovable mind
FUHO KOI Unjustifiable act in a match
FUKURO Bag
FUKUSHIN Referee
FUKUSHO Fourth player
FUMIKOMI To stamp upon
FUMIKOMI ASHI Stamping footwork
FUSEI SHINAI SHIYO Illegal match shinai leading to disqualification
FUSEN GACHI Victory due to the opponents absence
GAN Eyes
GEDAN Lower posture
GO  Five
GO NO SEN Delayed forestall
GOGI Consultation between judges
GOGYO SOKOKU Rivalry between the five elements.  Wood defeats earth, Earth defeats water, water defeats fire, fire defeats metal, metal defeats wood.
GOGYO SOSEI The harmonious relationship between the five elements.  Wood makes fire, fire makes earth, earth makes metal, metal makes water, water makes wood.
GOHONME Fifth form/kata
GOKAKU GEIKO Practice between equals
GOKI The five elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, water.
GOMEN NASAI Sorry or excuse me
GUNKAKU HEIHO Classical martial strategy
GYAKU Reverse
HACHI Eight
HACHIMAKI Head cloth
HAJIME Begin
HAKAMA Pleated trousers, traditional samurai wear
HAKAMA SABAKI Action of moving the hakama as one sits down so that it is tidy and clear of the legs.
HANMI Half turned posture
HANSHI Master teacher
HANSOKU Half point given for a foul
HANTEI GACHI Victory by judges assessment
HAPPO ZANSHIN Awareness in all directions (impossible to surprise)
HARAI Warding off/moving the bamboo sword
HASHI Boundary line of match area
HASSAKI Cutting edge of a sword
HASSO NO CHAMAE Upper side posture
HASUJI Correct angle of blade during cuts
HATA Referee's flag
HAYA WAZA Fast techniques
HAYAKU Fast or early
HEIGAKU Military science
HEIHO Swordsmanship/strategy
HEIHO To win without needing to use the sword
HEIHO SHIN The mind set for a swordsman (calm, relaxed, intent)
HIDARI Left
HIJI  Elbow
HIKI WAZA Backward technique
HIKIAGE To separate from the opponent after an attack
HIKITATE GEIKO Practice led by the senior
HIMO Strings
HIRAKI ASHI Circular foot movement
IAI GOSHI Seated position with one knee on floor and toes tucked under, not used in KENDO.
ICHI One
ICHIBYOSHI NO UCHI Cutting from start to finish in one motion
IPPATSU Winning with one cut/attempt
IPPON GACHI One point match/victory by one point
IPPONME First form/kata
IRE TSUKI NI NAYASU Step back and absorb tsuki
ISSOKU ITTO NO MAAI One step cutting distance
IWAO NO MI Body of a rock
JIHO Second player
JINKAKU MUSHI Insulting behaviour or language in a match (disqualification)
JO Staff or stick
JODAN Upper posture
JOGAI Stepping out of the match area
JOGE BURI Large swings used as a warm up
JOSEKI High part of dojo/place for regalia
JU Ten
JU GO AWASE Combining soft and hard aspects of kendo
JYU GEIKO/RENSHU General free practice
KABUTO Helmet
KACHINUKI Match where player continues to fight  until he is defeated.
KAESHI Reflex deflection/change sides
KAI Association or group
KAKARI GEIKO Attack practice
KAKE GOE Shout
KAMI Divine spirit (shinto religion)
KAMI DANA Shrine
KAMIZA High seat in a dojo/Place for a shrine
KAN GEIKO Winter practice
KANKYAKU Spectators at a match
KATA Form
KATANA Long sword
KATATE One handed
KATSUGI WAZA Shoulder the sword technique
KATSUJIN NO KEN Sword which gives life (keeps the peace)
KEIJI GAKARI Score board recorder
KEIKO GI Jacket worn for kendo practice
KEIREI Formal standing bow
KEN Sword
KEN O KOROSU Kill the sword
KENDO Way of the sword
KENGI Sword technique
KENGO Strong skilful swordsman
KENJUTSU System of sword fencing
KENSAKI Tip of the sword (usually bamboo)
KENSEN Tip of the sword
KENSHI Skilful swordsman
KENSHIN ITTAI Sword and mind as one (to think is to act)
KENTAI ICHI Sword and body together
KI KEN TAI NO ICHI Spirit sword and body in unison
KI O KOROSU Kill the spirit
KIAI Merging of spirits
KIGURAI Pride
KIOTSUKE Breathing exercise, Attention (before salutation)
KIRIKAESHI Continuous right and left strikes
KIRIMUSUBU Cut together and stop as in kata four
KIRIOTOSHI Cutting through from head to waist
KIROKU GAKARI Score recorder
KIRYOKU Spiritualor moral energy/strength
KISSAKI Point of the sword
KOBO ICHI Attack and defence are one and the same
KOBUSHI   Hand/fist
KODACHI Short sword
KODARE Small flaps on armour
KOHAI Junior grade
KOKORO Mind/thought
KOKYU Respiration/breath control
KOMEKAMI Side of head/temple
KORYU Old school/traditional way
KOSEI O GAISURU KOI Unfair or illegal act in a match
KOTE Wrist target
KUMI TACHI System of sword fencing
KUMI UCHI Grappling (in armour)
KURAI SEME Push through the opponent using the sword (pressure), in order to move him bachwards.
KUZUSHI Moment when a sure kill is possible with one blow
KYOSHI Instructor swordsman
KYU Nine
MAAI Distance/interval
MAE Front/ahead
MAKE Defeat
MAKI KAESHI Deflection of an attack as in kata four
MANNAKA Exact centre/centre
MASUGU Straight
MATE Wait
MAWARI To rotate or turn
MAWARI GEIKO Practice where we move round in a circle to change partners
MAYOWASU Confusion, one of the sicknesses
MEI Eye/see
MEN BUTON Thick cloth flaps and top of the helmet
MEN GANE Metal grill of the helmet
METSUKE The all seeing eye (the minds eye)
MICHI Road, way or path
MIGI Right
MITORI GEIKO Practice for developing the metsuke
mitsu no kujiki Three methods of overcoming the opponent: WAZA O KOROSU-Kill the technique. ki o korosu-kill the spirit, ken o korosu-kill the sword.
MITSU NO SEN Three methods to forestall the opponent: sensen no sen-beforehand, senzen no sen-during, go no sen-after.
MOCHI DASHI Leather folds on the side of the do
MOKUSO Clearing and relaxing the mind
MONO UCHI Cutting part of sword
MONSUKI Formal clothing, for a demonstration
MOTODACHI Senior who leads a practice
MOTTO For when opponent wins but fails to cut (you duck or he's not ready)
MUGA Without ego
MUGO No intent
MUNE  Chest/chest protector.  Back of the sword
MUNE CHIKAWA Leather loops on the do
MUSHIN No mind/thought
MUTO Winning with no sword (without/before drawing the sword)
NAKATSUKA Middle part of bamboo sword hilt
NAKAYUI/NAKAJIME Leather wrapped around the bamboo sword
NANA Seven
NANAHONME Seventh form/kata
NANAME BURI Big diagonal swings
NI Two
NI SAN DAN NO WAZA Two or three step techniques
NIHONME Second form/kata
NINJIN GEIKO Piggy in the middle style practice (winner or loser stays in)
NODACHI Very long sword
NOTO Action of sheathing the sword
NUKI Evasion
NUKITSUKE To draw and cut in one motion
NUKU To draw the sword
O SAMAE TO Returning the bamboo sword to the hip
O TEGAI NI REI Friendly bow at the end of a practice
OBI Belt
ODACHI Long sword
ODARE  Large flaps of the armour
ODOROKU Surprise, one of the sicknesses
OJI WAZA Counter attack
OKUDEN Secret teachings/hidden meaning
OKURI ASHI Floating footwork
ONAJIKU Same or again
ONEGAI SHIMASU Please may we (fence)
OOKII Big
OSHIDASHI Shoving the opponent out during a match (foul)
OSORERU Afraid, one of the sicknesses
OSU To push or shove
REIGI  Etiquette
REISHIKI Etiquette
RENSHI Qualified swordsman
RENZOKU Continuos
RI AI Having mental physical and technical skills in effective proportion
RI GI ITTAI Theory and practice become as one
RIKI Strength
RITSUREI Standing bow to an opponent
ROKU Six
ROPPONME Sixth form/kata
RYU School/martial school
RYU GI School style
RYU HA Branch of a school
SAGARI WAZA Step back techniques
SAGERU To lower the point
SAGETO Carrying position for sword
SAHO Formal etiquette
SAKIGAUA Leather piece at the tip of the bamboo sword
SAMBONME Third form/kata
SAN Three
SAN SATSU HO Three ways of defeating the opponent
SANBON SHOBU Three point match
SANDAN WAZA Three step technique/multiple technique attack
SANSAPPO Three ways of defeating the opponent
SATORI Perfection
SATSUJIN NO KEN Sword which destroys life (evil/murder)
SAYA Sword scabbard
SAYU MEN Diagonal cuts
SEIGAN  Middle posture point at the eyes
SEISHIN TANREN Arduous forging of the spirit
SEIZA Formal kneeling position
SEME Attack
SEMPAI Senior
SEN Advantage. Amental picture of victory.
SEN SEN NO SEN Beforehand forestall
SENPO First player
SENSEI Teacher
SENSHU GAKARI Player caller
SHI Four
SHIAI Match/competition
SHIAI BOGAI Unfair or illegal act in a match
SHIAI FUNO Victory due to opponents inability to continue
SHIAI GEIKO Match practice
SHIAI JO Competition area(11m square with a 1.5m border)
SHIAI KYOHI Victory due to opponents refusal to fight/continue
SHICHI Seven
SHIDACHI Lower side during kata practice
SHIHAN Master teacher/professor
SHIKAKE WAZA Attack techniques
SHIKEN A system of using the sword to kill (KENJUTSU)
SHIMO ZA Lower seat, place where junior grades sit
SHIMPAN Senior referee
SHIN Mind/thought
SHIN TAI SHUGYO Arduous training for mind and body
SHINAI Bamboo sword
SHINAI BUKURO Bag for bamboo sword
SHINAI HANASHI Dropping the bamboo sword during a match
SHINGI ITTAI The mind and the technique as one (to think is to act)
SHINKEN SHOBU Match to the death
SHINOGI Ridge on side of sword
SHINPAN Refereeing
SHINPAN SHUNIN Court judge
SHINPANCHO Chief judge
SHIZENTAI Natural standing position
SHOBU Match or announcement of final match point
SHOBU ARI Victory in a match
SHOCHU GEIKO Hot weather practice
SHOMEN High seat in dojo, place for regalia
SHOMEN Top centre of the head
SHOSHINSHA Beginner in kendo
SHOTO Short sword
SHUGYO Austere/hard training
SHUSHIN Chief referee
SIMI Advance/step forward
SODE Sleeve
SOKE Headmaster of a martial school
SOKU Feet
SONKYO Squatting position for start of a match or practice
SORI Curvature of a sword
SOSAI Offsetting a foul when both players commit it simultaneously
SUBURI Cutting/swinging practice
SUI GETSU Solar plexus
SUKI Weakness
SUKI O MITSUKERU Observing and taking advantage of weaknesses
SURI ASHI Sliding/shuffling footwork
SURI NAGASHI Sliding deflection
SURIAGE Rising sliding deflection
SURIKOMI Sliding strike in kata ten
SURIKOMI Action of sliding the sword against the enemies body (arteries)
SURIOTOSHI Sliding deflection downwards
SUWARU To be seated
SUWATE Junior grade in a practice
TABI Split toed socks
TACHI Long sword (may be straight)
TAI ATARI Body crash
TAI SABAKI Circular motion of body (evasion)
TAIJO DOJO floor
TAIKAI Competition
TAISHO Last player
TAITO Carry ready position for sword (thumb on sword guard)
TAKE Bamboo, bamboo slats of shinai
TAMAGO NO TE NO UCHI Holding the shinai gently as though it were an egg
TAN Courage
TARE Waist/hip protector
TARYU JIAI Matches between swordsmen of different schools
TATE HIZA Sitting position with the left leg tucked under, not used in kendo.
TE Hand
TE NO UCHI Striking hand, how to hold the sword as you strike
TEKO Cutting action using the right hand as a pivot
TEMOTO The grip
TENUGUI Head cloth
TETSU KO Small metal square in the handle of the shinai.
TO MAAI Long distance/interval
TOKEI GAKARI Timekeeper
TONDE Flying or jumping
TORIKESHI Taking away a point for not continuing spirit and awareness
TOSHIN/MI Blade
TSUBA Sword guard
TSUBA GOME Sword guard holder
TSUBA NARI Rim of sword guard
TSUBA ZERIAI Sword guard tangle
TSUGI ASHI Long distance step feet together
TSUKA Hilt
TSUKAGASHIRA End of the hilt (traditionally used to strike opponent)
TSUKAGAUA Leather on hilt of bamboo sword
TSUKI Thrust or punch
TSUKI DASHI Shoving the opponent out during a match (foul)
TSURU String on the shinai
TSURUGI Old straight bladed sword
UCHI Strike
UCHIDACHI Senior in kata practice
UCHIKOMI Striking practice
UCHIMA Cutting distance (one step)
UCHIOTOSHI Striking the sword downwards
UDE Arm
UKE NAGASHI Deflect the sword by moving the body leaving own sword behind to make a light deflecting contact.
UKERU/UKEKATA Blocking/blocking technique
URA Back/opposite
USHIRO Behind, to the rear
UTAGAU Doubt, one of the sicknesses
UTSU RENSHU Final finishing cut
UWATE Senior during a practice
WAKARE Command to seperate given by referee to two fencers who are spending too long in tsuba zeriai.
WAKERU To separate two fencers
WAKI GAMAE Lower side posture
WAKI HIMO Tapes of the tare (armour)
WAKIZASHI Short sword/companion sword
WAZA Technique
WAZA O KOROSU  Kill the technique
YAKASUKI GEIKO Practice a sequence of different cuts, perhaps in one breath
YAME Stop
YASUMI Relax, resting posture-holding the sword.
YOKOMEN Diagonal cut to the side of the head
YON BYOKI Four sicknesses MAYOWASU-Confusion, ODOROKU-Surprise, OSORERU-Fear, UTAGAU Doubt.
YONHONME Fourth form/kata
YOROSHII Good, very nice
YU Friendly
YU Courage
YUDANSHA Holders of dan rank
YUKO DATOTSU Correct scoring cuts or thrusts
ZANSHIN Remainder/presence/awareness/readiness to continue
ZAREI Kneeling bow, very low
ZEKKEN Name plate worn on front of armour (tare)