When you first start Kendo you may be a bit daunted by all the Japanese commands or names for things. Below is a list and a brief explanation of the main words and phrases used in Kendo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have read the Kendo course page and don\u2019t understand the drills this should help, or just can\u2019t make out the words that are being shouted in the dojo? Don\u2019t panic, everyone will learn the words very quickly and our coaches are on hand the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Basics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sensei \u2013 Teacher. Before and after the Practice.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Seiza \u2013 Traditional kneeling, the form of sitting in Kendo. During the practice (Drills and exercises)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Suburi \u2013 lit. to swing, practise cuts done in the air against an invisible opponent. Advanced terms and names of equipment parts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kensen \u2013 The tip of the sword. When you first start Kendo you may be a bit daunted by all the Japanese commands or names for things. Below is a list and a brief explanation of the main words and phrases used in Kendo. If you have read the Kendo course page and don\u2019t understand the drills this should help, or just […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-35","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kadodekendo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kadodekendo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kadodekendo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kadodekendo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kadodekendo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kadodekendo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36,"href":"https:\/\/kadodekendo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions\/36"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kadodekendo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Dojo \u2013 The practice hall.
Shinai \u2013 Bamboo sword.
Bokken \/ Bokuto \u2013 Wooden sword used for Kendo-no-Kata.
Kihon \u2013 Kendo Basics (fundamental drills, for example a cut to the head \u2018Men\u2019 is a Kihon drill).
Kata \u2013 Pre-arranged fighting sequences used to teach the basics of Kendo, Consisting of two partners.
Uchidachi \u2013 The teacher (senior) partner in Kendo Kata.
Shidachi \u2013 The junior partner in Kendo Kata.
Bogu \u2013 Kendo armour.
Hakama \u2013 Traditional pleated trousers worn in Kendo.
Keiko-Gi \u2013 Heavy duty martial arts jacket.
Men \u2013 The head.
Kote \u2013 The wrist.
Do \u2013 The body (breast plate).
Tsuki \u2013 The throat.
Ki-Ken-Tai Ichi \u2013 The harmony of the three crucial elements to a Kendo cut or strike. Ki = the spirit (Shout), Ken = the sword (strike), Tai = the body (Stamp). All of these elements must be executed at once in order for a Kendo strike to be valid. Lit. the spirit, the sword, the body, as one.
Ashi Sabaki \u2013 Footwork.
Fumikomi \u2013 The stamp on the floor at the moment of a strike.
Shiai \u2013 Competition (tournaments).
Keiko \u2013 Practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mokuso \u2013 The call for meditation before and after practice.
Mokuso yamae \u2013 The call for the end of meditation before and after practice.
Rei \u2013 A bow, this can be performed standing or sitting.
Shinzeni rei \u2013 Turning and bowing to the teacher (Sensei).
Kamazani rei \u2013 Turning and bowing to the Kendo shrine at the end of the hall.
Sonkyo \u2013 Traditional start to a fight or drill, kneeling or more commonly squatting.
Osame toh \u2013 Putting away of the sword after a practice or drill, performed whilst in Sonkyo position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Men Uchi \u2013 Strikes to the partners head.
Kote Uchi \u2013 Strikes to the partners wrist.
Do Uchi \u2013 Strikes to the partners body.
Tsuki Uchi \u2013 Thrusts to the partners throat (advanced levels only).
Kiri-kaeshi \u2013 A continuous cutting exercise. Consisting of one straight cut to the middle of the head, followed by a body check (Taiatari), finished with a pattern of four forward cuts to the left and right sides of the head and five backward cuts to the left and right sides of the head. Repeated twice, then finished by a single strike to the middle of the head. This is a major warm up exercise in Kendo.
Uchikomi Geiko \u2013 A drill where a senior grade stands and receives cuts from an attacking junior grade. The senior presents openings and targets clearly for the junior to hit.
Kakari Geiko \u2013 A drill where a senior grade stands and receives attacks from an attacking junior grade. Similar to Uchikomi Geiko, however in this drill the senior does not present targets. The junior must make their own openings and strikes unassisted.
Jigeiko \u2013 Free practice, (sparring) held between two fighters.
Waza Geiko \u2013 technique practice, techniques (waza) are dictated by the Sensei.
Shiai Geiko \u2013 competition practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monouchi \u2013 The cutting edge of a sword.
Tsuba \u2013 The thumb guard of the sword.
Tsuka \u2013 The handle of the Sword.
Tsuru \u2013 The string that holds the Shinai together.
Mengane \u2013 the metal face grate of the protective helmet (Men).
San bon shobu \u2013 Three point match.
Ippon gachi \u2013 One more point.
Arigato Gozaimashita \u2013 Thank you very much (polite way to finish a drill or practice).
Onegai Shimasu \u2013 Please help me, or please practice with me (polite way to start a drill or practice).
Gomen nasai \u2013 Sorry.
Sumimasen \u2013 Excuse me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"