Gorin Goho Gogyo

(five major fields of technical study in Shinkendo)

Battoho

Combative drawing methods.

Suburi

Methods of swinging the sword.

Tachiuchi

"Sword-strike". The term used in Shinkendo for two person sparring.

Tameshigiri

Test cutting; usually on bamboo or Tatami.

Tanren gata

Prearranged solo forms.

Main Sword Schools

Iaido

The art of drawing, usually from Seiza.

Kendo

A competitive contact sport derived from Japanese swordsmanship.

Battodo

The art of drawing and cutting. Also called Battojutsu.

Kenjutsu

The use of an already drawn sword; an older term for sword fighting techniques.

Nakamura Ryu

A style or school of Battodo. Named after founder Taizaburo Nakamura.

Sword Stances

Chudan Gamae

A mid level posture with the sword tip pointing at the opponent's throat.

Gedan Gamae

Lower position with the sword tip about knee high.

Hasso Gamae

Like Jodan Gamae but held at the side of the head.

Jodan Gamae

High level posture in which the sword is raised above the head.

Waki Gamae

A position where the sword is held slightly behind and to one side of the body.

Seigan Gamae

A variation of Chudan gamae in which the sword is held diagonally.

Dai-Jodan Gamae

Similar to Jodan Gamae, but with the tip held up vertically.

Sword Positions

Batto

To unsheathe a sword.

Chiburi

"Blood flicking" a finishing movement before re-sheathing.

Datto

Taking sword from belt.

Noto

To re-sheath the sword.

Taito

Putting sword into belt.

Sword Swing, Angle and Alignment

Enkei Tosen

Circular sword-swing line.

Hasuji

Angle of the sword's edge.

Hirauchi

Striking a target with the edge angled to either side, as opposed to inline with that of the swing. Often results in knocking the target over or bending the blade.

Kakudo

Angle.

Kata te

One handed.

Ken Sabaki

Sword movement.

Moro Te

Two handed.

Nagashi

To flow, transition fluidly.

Shibori

The wringing action of the hands on the Tsuka that provides a strong, stable grip.

Tachikaze

The "whooshing" sound a sword makes when swung.

Tachisuji

The angle/path the sword blade follows during a cut. Also refers to aspects of the swing technique. See also "Tosen".

Tenouchi

The proper method of gripping a sword hilt.

Tome

Stopping the sword at the end of a swing.

Tosen

The angle/path the sword blade follows during a cut. See also "Tachisuji".

Sword Strikes

Dotangiri

Formal test cutting that incorporates a wider stance and powerful center cut.

Kaeshi

Cut and reverse-cut back up the same line.

Kesa giri

Refers to the Kesa robe worn by priests. A diagonal cut, usually 35 to 40 degrees, downward and to one side.

Kiri

Cut (Giri). (kiru: to cut)

Kiri age

"Rising cut". Usually 35 to 40 degrees up, upward and to one side.

Kiri kaeshi

"Returning cut". A defense that includes a Kasumi block and return cut.

Makuri

A cut that smoothly transition into another cut without retracing the line of attack.

Nukitsuke

One handed draw and side cut (Goho Battoho, Ipponme).

Nukiuchi

One handed left diagonal drawing and cut (Goho Battoho, Yonhonme).

Shinchokugiri

Vertical straight cut.

Tsuki

Thrust

Tsubamegaeshi

"Sparrow cut". A cut that reverses up the same path (e.g. Kesagiri/Kiriage).

Yoko giri

Side cut.

Shomen uchi

Strike on front of head.

Uchikomi

Strike

Yokomen uchi

Strike on side of head.

Sword Blocks

Kaeshi uchi

Similar to Maki Uchi, except the blade passes over the opposite side of the body.

Kasumi

"Mist" or "haze". A high position block used against overhead strikes.

Maki osae

"Wrap-control". A counter to a strike in which Shidachi moves around the blade.

Maki otoshi

"Wrap-drop". A block and counter attack in the same movement.

Maki uchi

A parry to an overhead strike, using a shuffling step. See also "Kaeshi uchi".

Uke Nagashi

Receive and deflect.

Sword Tachiuchi (Kumite)

Ryusui

"Running Water". A basic Tachiuchi form comprised of three sets.

Sword Kata

Hangetsu

"Half moon". A Goho Battoho variation that includes a side cut.

Kagamiishi

"Mirror stone"; a two part kata (Usen and Sasen) focusing on control of movement.

Mangetsu

"Full moon". A variation of Goho Battoho that includes a rising cut (Kiriage).

Types of Swords

Bokuto

An older term for Bokken, or 'wooden sword'.

Daisho

A matching pair of swords; Wakizashi and Katana.

Gunto

Military sword produced during WWII

Iaito

An unsharpened replica Katana-style practice sword.

Katana

A style of Japanese sword worn cutting edge up.

Ken

Sword, usually refers to the straight double edged type.

Shinai

Bamboo practice sword, used for Kendo.

Shinken

A real or "live" blade.

Suburito

A large, heavy wooden Bokuto used for developing power and proper movement.

Tachi

Old style sword, (Koto) mounted edge down.

Tanto

A knife-sized short sword.

To

Sword, curved type, single edge.

Tsurugi

Double edged straight sword.

Wakizashi

Short "companion" sword, usually worn with the Katana.

Parts of the Sword

Habaki

Metal collar that fits on the sword blade and locks the sword in the scabbard.

Koiguchi

Mouth of the Saya

Mekugi

A small wooden retaining peg that secures the sword blade to the hold.

Menuki

A charm, often an animal, placed under the wrap of a sword hilt.

Monouchi

The last third of the blade used for cutting (not including the Kissaki).

Mune

The back of a sword blade.

Nakago

The tang of a sword.

Sageo

The cord that fastens the sword to the user.

Saya

Sword scabbard.

Tsuba

Sword guard.

Tsuka

Sword hilt.

Tsuka ito

The silk or leather cord that is used to wrap a sword hilt.

Miscellaneous

Tatami omote

The top layer of Tatami floorboards rolled and used for Tameshigiri.

Ichimonji

"First letter". Two directional Suburi exercise.

Kabutowari

"Helmet splitting". A traditional test cutting reserved for sword testers to determine the effectiveness of a given sword and/or helmet.

Kaishaku

Decapitation performed during ritual suicide.

Kaji

Blacksmith.

Kata

A prearranged solo form, called "Tanren Gata" in Shinkendo.

Katana Kaji

Sword smith.

Katanakake

Stand for holding swords.

Katsujinken

"Sword that preserves life". One of two paths a swordsman can follow. Promoting dignity and love, cutting away at the greatest enemy; ones own ego. To cut away at the impurities. See also "Satsujinken".

Jiha

Ritual suicide.

Koiguchi o-kiru

Breaking the seal of a sword and its Saya.

Kuyo Junikun

Twelve precepts of the nine planets stratagem". The fundamental philosophical formula used in Shinkendo.

Ma-ai

Combative distancing. The distance between Shidachi and Uchidachi.

Mikiri

Using exact manipulation of distance as a tactic in Tachiuchi.

Satsujinken

"The sword that takes life". One of two paths a swordsman can follow. This path serves no higher purpose than to kill. See also "Katsujinken".

Shidachi

Term used in Swordsmanship to denote the person who performs a techniques (usually the person who prevails). See also "Uchidachi".

Shitoka

A professional sword tester. This term should not be confused with swordsmen that practice cutting targets.

Tachiaigoshi

1) Usually a form of crouching on one knee in which one leg is slightly forward of the other. 2) Any ready position for drawing a sword.

Toho jushinho

The ten basic methods of using the sword.

Toko

Sword smith that does not have disciples.

Tosho

Sword smith that has disciples.

Uchidachi

Term used in swordsmanship to denote the person who receives a technique (usually the person who is defeated). See also "Shidachi".

Uchite

The attacker in a Tachiuchi. See also "Ukete".

Ukete

The defender in a Tachiuchi. See also "Uchite"

Yoroi

A common word for armor.