Japanese Terminology used in Training

Sword Terminology

  • Bokken  -  wooden training sword
  • Iaito  -   blunt sword for training
  • Shinken  -    sharp, live sword
  • Ha  -  cutting edge
  • Habaki  -  blade collar
  • Hi  -  blood groove on blade
  • Kashira  -  sword pommel
  • Kissaki  -  point of blade
  • Koiguchi  -  the mouth of the saya
  • Kurigata  -  holds the sageo to saya
  • Mekugi  -  sword peg
  • Menuki  -  hilt ornaments
  • Monouchi  -  main cutting portion of blade (first 8-10 inches from kissaki)
  • Mune  -  back of sword blade
  • Sageo  -  cord tied to saya
  • Saya  -  scabbard
  • Tameshigiri  -   test cutting
  • Tsuba  -  sword guard
  • Tsuka -  sword handle

Numbers

  • Ichi  -        one
  • Ni  -      two
  • San  -    three
  • Shi  -  four
  • Go  -  five
  • Roku  -  six
  • Shichi  -  seven
  • Hachi  -    eight
  • Ku  -  nine
  • Juu  -  ten
 

Common terms in the dojo

  • Nukitski  - drawing the sword
  • Kiritski  - making a cut with the sword
  • Chiburi  -  blood shake
  • Noutou  -   returning the sword to the saya
  • Dojo  -  place of training
  • Gyaku  -  reverse
  • Hajime  -  begin or start
  • Moichi do  -   again / once more

  • Hakama  -  large baggy trousers
  • Kiogi / Kendogi  - training jacket
  • Obi  -   belt
  • Tabi  -   split-toed shoes with rubber / leather soles

  • Kata  -  pre-arranged practice moves
  • Kiai  - loud shout, audible expression of release of energy
  • Mai  -  distance between opponents

  • Mei - forwards
  • Ushiro - backwards
  • Migi  -  right
  • Hidari  -   left

  • Seiza  -  kneeling position
  • Sensei  -  teacher (lit. "One who has gone before")
  • Tatami  -  straw mat, target for Tameshigiri


 Commands

  • Yamae  -   stop (esp. in emergency, for safety)
  • Shugo - line up
  • Yoi - draw ( to ready position)
  • Hajime - begin
  • Seiza - kneel
  • Rei - bow / show respect
  • Tate - stand up
 
 
Toyama Ryu Kata 

The Toyama Kata are not named, they are simply numbered "first" to "eighth"

  • Ippon Mei
  • Nihon Mei
  • Sambon Mei
  • Yonhon Mei
  • Gohon Mei
  • Roppon Mei
  • Nanahon Mei
  • Hachihon Mei

 

 

CUTS

  • Kesa-Giri  -  diagonal cut from neck to armpit, left or right
  • Gyaku  Kesa-Giri  -  reverse diagonal cut,  left or right
  • Tsuki - stab
  • Kirioroshi      straight  vertical cut from Jodan
  • Suihei-Giri  -  horizontal cut, left or right

Stances

These are the more common stances we use in training. For sword terminology, please see above.

  • Musubi-dachi  -   Japanese military attention. Toes apart, heels together, so that feet are pointing at 30 degrees
  • Kibi-dachi  -   wide stance with heavily bent knees and feet parallel
  • Shiko-dachi  -   as above, but with feet pointed outwards
  • Chudan no Kamae  - sword level, kashira level with naval
  • Seigan no Kamae  -   as above, with kissaki pointed towards opponent's eyes
  • Jodan no Kamae  -   sword raised above head, blade horizontal and kashira pointed forwards
  • Gedan no Kamae  -   kissaki lowered towards the ground directly forwards
  • Waki no Kamae  -   sword pointed to the rear in line with rear leg on relevant side, blade pointed   downwards
  • Hasso no Kamae  -   sword raised and pointed directly upwards, with tsuka to right side of face