Resources

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A
Aiuchi – double kill
Akimbo – have elbow to the side, relaxed, like clutching a newspaper

B
Batto-do – art of drawing and cutting in an expedient manner
Bohi – blood groove
Bokken – wooden long sword
Boku-to – wooden long sword

C
Chanbara – nickname for the sword art of goshindo using combative soft weaponry
Chiburi – removing blood from the blade
Chudan – center, middle

D
Dojo – training hall

G
Gambatte Kudasai – Go For It
Geidan – lower
Giri (kiri or kiru) – to cut
Gohon – fifth
Gyaku – reverse

H
Ha – sharp edge of the blade
Hairei – bow of respect when entering training hall
Hakama – pleated pants worn in traditional sword practice
Hamon – temper line of the blade
Happon – eighth
Hasso – side
Hidari – left
Hikae mekugi – reserve retaining pin

I
Iaido – the art of drawing the sword
Iaijutsu – technique of drawing the sword
Iaito – Japanese practice sword with the blade dulled
Ippon – first

J
Jodan – upper
Joho – upward

K
Kaho – downward
Kanji – ideographic characters
Kashira – pommel of the sword
Kata – pattern or movement in a form
Katana – metal long sword
Keikogi – woven top worn with hakama in traditional practice
Kenjutsu – technique of fighting once the sword has been drawn
Kendo – the art and sport of fighting with a bamboo sword
Kesa – diagonal, line from shoulder to hip, along the cut of a monk’s robe
Ki – internal energy
Kiritsuke – cutting movement
Kireaji – blade’s ability to cut well
Kissaki – tip of the sword blade
Koiguchi – sheath opening
Kumdo – the Korean art and sport of fighting with a bamboo sword

M
Mae – front (off the nose, straight in front)
Mayoko – to the side
Monouchi – optimal cutting section of the blade one-third of the blade beginning approximately three inches from the tip
Me – numbering system for technique
Mein – head (mask) striking area
Mekugi – bamboo or steel retaining pins that hold the blade to the handle
Mekugi-ana – holes for the mekugi
Migi – right
Mihaba – width (not thickness) across the flat of the blade
Morote – double-handed
Mune – back edge of the blade

N
Nagako – sword tang
Nanahon – seventh
Naname – diagonal
Nihon – second
Notto – sheathing the sword
Nukitsuke – drawing the sword

O
Obi – belt

R
Roppon – sixth
Ryodan – all in one cut

S
Sageo – cords attached to the side of the sheath
Samurai – Japanese military nobleman or knight
Sanbon – third
Shibori (Shiboru) – wringing of the handle like wringing water out of a towel
Shinai – split bamboo sword, also called yotsuwari
Shinchoku – straight off the face
Shin gunto – 1933 Japanese military sword
Shinogi – ridge of the blade
Shomen – forward area, in front of the face
Sori – sword’s bend or sweep
Suburito – large wooden practice sword – heavier than a bokken
Suemonogiri – multiple tatami mats vertical test cut (12 to 6 o’clock)

T
Tachi-iai – standing iaido / iaijutsu
Tachirei – informal standing bow
Tameshigiri – test cutting
Tatami – woven rice straw mats
Teito – carrying the sword in the left hand at the hip
Teki – enemy, opponent
Te-no-uchi – proper grip
Tenugui – head band
Torei – bow to the sword
Tsuba – sword guard
Tsuka – sword handle
Tsuki – thrust

U
Ushiro – back

W
Waki – lower side
Wakizashi – metal short sword
Waza – technique

Y
Yakiba – temper line of the blade
Yohon – fourth
Yoko ichimonji giri – cut from 9 to 1 o’clock (cut like the kanji for the number “one”)

Z
Zenmen – in front, the front area