The Iaido Journal Oct 2001 A GLOSSARY OF TERMS IN JAPANESE SWORDSMANSHIPGot comments, corrections, suggestions? Email us at glossary@ejmas.comMAIN NAMES IAIDO The way of drawing the sword, name from 1932.BATTO Another name for iai.KENDO The way of the sword, already drawn, name from 1895.KORYU Old school or lineage.MUSO JIKIDEN EISHIN RYU (MJER) A style or school of Iai. Named for Hasagawa Eishin.MUSO SHINDEN RYU (MSR) Style related to the above, originated by Nakayama Hakudo.SEITEI Basic, fundamental. Seitei Gata, fundamental techniques (kata).SEI DO KAI The name of the Iai school at the U. of Guelph.
ETIQUETTE NAMES:REIGI EtiquetteREIHO Etiquette, method of bowingREISHIKI Same as above.SAHO Method of etiquetteHAJIME NO SAHO Beginning etiquetteOWARI NO SAHO Finishing etiquette
SWORD POSITIONS:TEITO holding the sword loose by the left side. Also used when sword is in belt and both hands loose at sides.TEITO SHISEI holding the sword by the left side, as if in the obi. Thumb on tsuba.KEITO Same as teito shisei.TAITO Putting sword into beltDATTO Taking sword from belt
BOWING:REI Bow.TACHI REI Standing bow.RITSU REI Same as tachi rei.TO REI Bow to sword.ZA REI Kneeling bow.KAMIZA NI REI Bow to kamiza (gods)JOSEKI NI REI Bow to the high section of the dojo.OTAGAI NI REI Bow to each other.SENSEI (GATA) NI REI Bow to teacher(s)SHINZEN NI REI Bow to shrine.SHOMEN NI REI Bow to front, more appropriate if in a gym without a shrineWORDS:ARIGATO Thank you (informal)DOMO Thanks (informal)DOMO ARIGATO Thank you (formal)DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASU Thank you very much (very formal)DOZO Please go aheadGOMEN NASAI Excuse me, I'm sorryONEGAI SHIMASU Please (when asking for something, usually as in Please lets practice together)O TSUKARE SAMA DESHITA You have become tired (because of the hard work you have done teaching) An expression of thanksSUMIMASEN Excuse me (to attract attention)HAI Yes.IIE No.
RANKS AND TITLESKO HAI Junior student.SEMPAI Senior student.SENSEI Instructor.SHIHAN Teacher who takes class when sensei is absent.KYU Student grade, from 5 to 7 up to 1, the highest.DAN More advanced grades, from 1 to 10.YUDANSHA Members with dan grades.HANSHI Highest shogo title from ZNKR, must be 55 or older and 8 dan.KYOSHI Middle title from ZNKR, must be 7th dan.RENSHI Title bestowed from ZNKR in addition to Dan ranks.SOKE Head of style (actually head of family, unifier of gods and lineage)KAICHO Owner of school (organization) eg. Sei Do KaiKANCHO Owner of school (building, hall) eg. Yugen Kan
PRACTICE HALL ARRANGEMENTDOJO Practice hall.SHOMEN Front of room.SHINZEN, KAMIZA, Alter, gods place.JOSEKI (JO) High side, Shinzen.SHIMOSEKI, SHIMOZA opposite shinzen, where students sit.GE Side of dojo opposite shinzen
TYPES OF PRACTICE KEIKO Practice.EMBU Demonstration.TAIKAI Competition.SHIAI Match within a competition.TAMESHIGIRI Test cutting.MI TORI KEIKO Watching practice.
COMMANDS IN THE DOJOATO Move back.HAJIME Start.HAYAKU Quickly.KI WO TSUKETE Be careful.MATE Wait.MAWATTE Turn around.MO MOTTO More, eg. mo oki, bigger.MOKUSO Close the eyes, meditation.NAMERAKA NI SmoothlyOSAME TO Replace swords into saya.YAME Stop.YUKURI Slow.YURU YAKA NI Smooth.
GENERAL VOCABULARYAGE Lift or raise up.AIUCHI Strike together.ATE Strike.ATO DE Afterwards.BATTO Draw the sword.CHIGAU Different.CHIISAI Small.CHIKAKU Near.DAME Not like that, wrong.EGURU To scoop out, gouge.HETA Unskillful, poorly done.JOZU Skillful.KYOJUN Standard, basic level.MACHIGAI Mistake.MIRU Look.NAZE Why.OKI Big.SEMERU Push, press.SHITA Under.SHITO KOKYU One breath.SHIZUKA NI Soft, gentle.SUKOSHI A little, a small amount.TATSU Standing, upright.WAKARIMASU I understand.
DIRECTIONSMAE Forward.MIGI Right.HIDARI Left.USHIRO Rearward, behind.OMOTE Front.URA Back.UCHI Inside.SOTO Outside.JODAN High.CHUDAN Middle.GEDAN Low.FUKAKU Deep.HIKUI LowOTOSHI Dropping.ICHI MON JI A straight line.TATE ICHI MON JI A vertical line.YOKO ICHI MON JI A horizontal line.KAKUDO Angle.NANAME Diagonal.CHOKKAKU Right angles.DO Degrees, eg. kyu ju do is 90 degrees.HEIKO Parallel.MASSUGU Straight ahead.SHOMEN Straight ahead.UE Up.OTOSHI Dropping.YOKO Horizontal, to the side.KOMI Coming close or drawing near.BIKI (from HIKU) To move, as in saya biki or hakama biki.GYAKU Reverse, opposite, inverted.HANTAI The other way around.KIKU Lower.
THE UNIFORMKEIKO GI Practice uniform.UWA GI Practice top.EMBU GI Demonstration top / uniform.SODE Sleeve, on practice top.TANOMO Large sleeves on formal tops.MON Family crests on uniform (5).MONTSUKI Wide sleaved top with mon on chest, sleeve and back.KAMISHIMO Over vest / jacket.KESA Lapel / part of monk's costume hanging from left shoulder.ZEKKEN Chest patch embroidered with own name and dojo name.OBI Belt.HAKAMA Split skirt, wide legged pants.HIMO Straps / cordsHERA Peg in back of hakama.MATADACHI Split in side of hakama.KOSHI ITA Back plate on hakama.TABI Japanese sock-slippers used in dojo.ZORI Japanese sandals for use outside dojo.TENUGUI Small hand cloth to wipe face.
POSTURESKAMAE Postures.GAMAE(Kamae) Stance.HANMI Half forward stanceHITOEMI Equal stance, feet parallel forwardGEDAN Lower level, sword pointed down.SEIGAN Natural step, fundamental kamae.CHUDAN Middle kamae, sword in middle, seigan is a chudan gamae.JODAN Upper level, sword above head. Usually hidari jodan, left foot forward.HASSO GAMAE Figure 8 stance, sword by side of head. Usually hasso hidari, sword on right, left foot forward.WAKI GAMAE Sword pointed down and back, for a sutemi (sacrifice) waza. Usually sword on right side (migi waki gamae), left foot forward.KARUMA like waki gamae, blade horizontal.SEIZA Kneeling on both calves.SONKYO kneeling position in Kendo practice.IAI HIZA, TATE HIZA Kneeling on one calf.TACHI AI Standing.IAI GOSHI Hips lowered, stable position.
CUTS AND BLOCKS OF THE SWORDKIRI Cut.KIRU To cut.UCHI Strike.KATATE UCHI One handed cut.MOROTE UCHI Two handed cut.KIRI KUDASHI Finishing cut.SHOMEN UCHI Strike on front of head.YOKOMEN UCHI Strike on side of head.KIRI OTOSHI Dropping cut, straight down.KESA GIRI Diagonal downward cut.KESA Sash worn diagonally across the chest by buddhist priest.GYAKU KESA GIRI Diagonal upward cut.KIRI AGE Same as gyaku kesa giri.YOHO GIRI Horizontal cut.KIRI GAESHI Large diagonal cut, sword finishing in waki gamae position.ATE Strike or hit, as with the handle.TSUKI Thrust.UKE NAGASHI Receive and deflect.
PARTS OF AN IAIDO TECHNIQUEKATA Form.WAZA Technique.HENKA WAZA Small variations in same basic technique.KAE WAZA Substitute or totally different techniques.KOKYU Breath control.CHOSOKU Breathing.METSUKE Gaze.ENZEN NO METSUKE Gaze at the far mountains.BATTO To unsheath a sword.NUKI TSUKE or KIRI TSUKE, simultaneous draw and strike.TATE HA Standing edge, draw with edge up.JO HA KYU Acceleration, buildup to climax.SEME Pressure.SEMERU Pressing forward.SAYA BIKI Movement of scabbard.SAYA BANARE Tip at koiguchi during draw, just before strike, theflight from the scabbard.KIME FocusFURI KABURI Lifting sword from nuki to morote jodan.KIRI KUDASHI or KIRI TSUKE, the finishing strike.HIKI TAOSHI Pulling down. (Usually the opponent).HANE AGE Flipping over. (Flipping up the blade).CHIBURI Shaking off the blood, cleaning the blade.O-CHIBURI Large or circular chiburi.YOKO CHIBURI Horizontal chiburi, move to the side.CHINUGUI Chiburi done as per Uke Nagashi, wiping off the blood.NOTO Replacing the blade in the saya.TATE NOTO Standing noto, blade replaced with edge facing up.ZANSHIN Awareness, watchfulness, lingering heart.
HOLDING THE SWORDTE NO UCHI Grip on sword with fingers pulling into palm.SHIBORI Wringing. Twisting the hands inward over the handle on the cut.HASUJI Angle of the edge.KIRI TE Grip that allows cutting action with blade.SEME TE Pressing forward with the blade.MAMORI TE As for seme te. Covering or protecting hand.SHINI TE Hand position that does not allow a cut. Dead hand.TOME TE Stopping hand, one that is defensive.NOBI TE As for shini te.KATA TE One handed.MORO TE Two hands on tsuka.SOE TE One hand on tsuka, one on blade.
SWORD NAMES:KEN Sword, usually refers to the straight double edged type.TO Sword, curved type, single edge.BOKUTO Hardwood replica of sword.BOKKEN Same as bokuto.SUBURITO Wooden sword, usually heavy.SHINAI Bamboo practice sword, used for Kendo.TACHI Old style sword, (koto) mounted edge down.UCHI GATANA Inside sword, forerunner of Katana, worn in belt.DAITO Great sword, larger of the set of two, daisho.SHOTO the smaller of a pair of daisho.DAISHO Great small, the set of two swords.SHINTO New swords, from about 1600 to 1870.KATANA Same as Daito. Mounted edge up.GUNTO War sword, those made just prior to and during WWII.IAITO Practice sword for Iaido, not sharp.SHINKEN A real or "live" blade made for Iaido practice.
MEASURING THE SWORD:SHAKU 30.2 cm. or 11.9 inches.SUN 1/10 of a shaku.BU 1/10 of a sun, 0.3 cmNAGASA Measure of length of blade from kissaki to mune machi in a straight lineSORI Measure of curve of blade from nagasa to mune at deepest point.
SIDES OF THE SWORD:OMOTE That side that faces out from the hip when it is in the saya in its usual mounting. This side is signed by the swordmaker.URA Side that faces the hip.
POINTS ON THE SWORD BLADE:NAKAGO Tang of blade.NAKAGO JIRI End of tang.MEI Signature on tang.YASURI MEI File marks on tang.HITOE Back of tang, meets mune at mune machi.MEKUGI ANA Hole through tang.MUNE MACHI Notch for habaki, at back of blade.HA MACHI Notch for habaki, at edge side of blade.TSUBA MOTO 1/3 of blade nearest tsuba.CHU O Middle 1/3 of blade.MONO UCHI 1/3 of blade nearest tip, cutting area.KATAHABA Measurement at thickest part of blade.MUNE Back of blade.SHINOGI JI Area of blade near back from shinogi to mune.HI Grooves down shinogi ji.SHINOGI Line of blade between shinogi ji and jigane, ridge at widest point of blade.JIGANE Area of blade between hamon and shinogi.HAMON Edge of tempered area, temper line.HIRA Face of the blade between shinogi and ha, includes jigane and hamon.YAKIBA Tempered area near edge.HA Cutting edge.YOKOTE Line between edge plane and tip plane.MITSUKADO Point where shinogi, yokote, and ko shinogi meet.KO SHINOGI Shinogi line through tip area.KISSAKI Tip area, from yokote to end.FUKUSA Cutting edge in tip area.BOSHI Tempered area in tip / the curve leading to the point.
FITTINGS OF THE SWORD:TSUKA Grip, hilt, handle.KASHIRA Fitting at end of handle, end of handle.TSUKA MAKI Or tsuka ito, lace wrapping of handle.TSUKA ITO Same as tsuka maki.SAME Sharkskin wrapping of tsuka.MENUKI Decorative fixtures on handle.MEKUGI Retaining peg.MEKUGI ANA Hole for peg.FUCHI GANE Fitting between handle and guard.SEPPA Spacers on either side of tsuba.TSUBA Sword guard.HABAKI Fitting between tsuba and blade, wedge for koiguchi.KOGAI Skewer.KOZUKA Small knife.
THE SCABBARD:SAYA Scabbard.KOIGUCHI Scabbard mouth (literally carp's mouth).KURIGATA Knob for tying sageo.SAGEO Cord from saya (kurigata) to hakama himo.KOJIRI Fitting at end of saya, end of saya.
BODY MOTIONSTAI SABAKI Body motions.TAI Body.SABAKI Movement.AYUMI ASHI Normal walking motion, back foot slides up to become front foot.CHIDORI ASHI "Bird walk" as in ayuma ashi.TSUGI ASHI Half step, rear foot up to front then front forward again.OKURI ASHI Following foot, step forward with front foot, then rear foot moves same distance forward to regain original distance apart.FUMI KOMI Shift forward, as in a strike, using the hips.FUMI KOMI ASHI Foot motion as shifting forward, front and back slide together, not two different movements.JIKU ASHI Turning foot, the main axis of rotation.SEME ASHI Pushing or pressing foot.SURI ASHI Sliding foot.KAITEN Turning.MAWARI Swinging around.TENKAN Moving one foot behind the other to face 180 degrees.IRIMI Entering.HIRAKI ASHI Rear foot moves forward and turns to face opponent, front foot turns to establish feet again in kamae but with opposite foot forward.
THE SWORDSMANNAMES OF ROLES:UKE Receiver (of technique)NAGE Performer of technique.TORI Attacker.SHIDACHI (SHI TACHI) Finishes partner practice.UCHIDACHI (UCHI TACHI) "Attacker" in partner practice.TEKI OpponentKASSO TEKI Invisible opponent.
THE BODY:NAKAZUMI Centreline of bodyATAMA HeadMEN Head.SHOMEN Front or top of head.YOKOMEN Side of head.SHAMEN Side of head, templeGAMMEN Point on face between the eyes.SUNMEN Same as gammen2ME Eye.JINCHU Centre of upper lipKUBI NeckNODO ThroatDO Chest / side of body at ribsSUI GETSU Solar plexus.MUNE ChestTE Hand.TE KUBI Wrist.OMOTE Open / palm of handKOTE Wrist (forearm).HIJI ElbowKATA shoulderUDE Arm in general.URA Back of handYUBI finger / toeKOSHI Hip.HARA Abdomen.TANDEN Centre of balance, below navel.SEIKA TANDEN As per tanden.ASHI Foot or leg.ASHI KUBI The ankle.
PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS BUDO Way of war.BUSHIDO Way of warrior.KIRYOKU Will.MUGA No ego.MUNEN No thought.KOKORO, SHIN Mind.MUSHIN, MUSO, No mind, no rationalization.FUSHIN Frozen or stopped mind.FUDOSHIN Immovable mind, calm spirit.FUKAKU Personal character.GOKAI Grand, expansive, brash.HEIJISHIN Ordinary mind.SUKI Opening.KI Spirit, energy, inner strength.KI KEN TAI ICHI Spirit, sword, body, one.SAYA NO UCHI NO KACHI Saya = scabbard, uchi = inside, kachi = victory. The sword in the saya, winning without drawing.DO Activity, motion.SEI Motionless, inactive.SHU HA RI Keep, break, leave. Memorize technique, question and understand, forget technique.MA Distance, space, interval (in time).MAWAI (MAAI) Mutual distance (in space.SAE OF SWORDSMANSHIP The skill beyond technique only.DAI KYO SOKU KEI Big strong fast smooth.JO HA KYU Slow, faster, fastest.GOKAI Grandeur, large feeling, full motions.KIAI Shout, yell.KIME Sharpness of movement, positive end of cut or thrust.KIMOCHI Feeling, sensation.KIRYOKU Willpower.KOKYU Breath, breath power.KAKE GOE Yelling to get extra energy.KENSEN Pressure from the sword, esp. the tip.RIAI Unification of action and theory.SEN Initiative, to forestall.SEN NO WAZA (SEN) Strike faster than opponent, before attack delivered.SEN SEN NO WAZA (SEN NO SEN) Strike as opponent commits to an attack but before he moves.GO NO SEN NO WAZA (GO NO SEN) Strike at a suki, a mind stopping. Strike before the opponent forms the intention to strike.DEHANA WAZA Strike at the outset, as opponent moves, like sen no waza.OI WAZA Chasing or following strikes, attack as opponent retreats.SUTEMI Sacrifice technique, accept a blow to deliver one.AIUCHI Mutual strike, strikes at the same time.TIJ Glossary of sword terms