Kendo Terminologies

Below is the list of terminologies in Kendo that you might repeatedly find in the book.

These terms will also be explained once it was mentioned in the book so you can skip this page and start your reading.

The page was only made for those who forgot these terms.

======>Stances in one-sword school: (ITO-RYU)

1. Chudan no Kamae: middle stance / Water Stance

2. Jodan no Kamae: above stance / Fire Stance

3. Gedan no Kamae: lower stance / Earth Stance

4. Hasso no Kamae: eight-faceted stance / Wood Stance

5. Wakigamae: hip stance / Metal Stance

=====>Stances in two-sword school (NITO-RYU)

1. Juji no Kamae - Cross stance 

2. Zangetsu no Kamae - Crescent moon stance

3. Kasumi - Mist Stance 

4. Jodan - above stance

5. Chudan - middle stance

6. Enkyoku no Kamae - another version of cross-stance

======>Point Areas or Datotsubui ( Areas where you can get a point in Kendo )

1. Men - means face or helmet. an attack to the head ( men strike ) depending on the side that was hit. it can be shomen - migimen - hidarimen

2. Tsuki - an attack to the throat.

3. Dō (Dou)- an attack to the torso

4. Hidari Kote - an attack to the left wrist

5. Migi Kote - an attack to the right wrist

Note: This is only the simplest explanation of these terms.

Kendo Dan Grades:

The lowest is 1-dan, the highest is 8-dan.

Below the Dan Grade, there is also Kyu-Grade before you get promoted as a 1-Dan

The lowest is 6th-Kyu and the highest is 1st-Kyu

*****All About KENDO*****

Waza = Kendo Technique

The Kendo Technique is Categorized into two: Shikake Waza and Oji Waza

Shikake Waza - if you initiate or attack first. ( Initiation Technique )

[ Techniques under Shikake Waza ( Initiation Tehcnique ) are Ippon Uchi / Renzoku Waza / Debana Waza / Katsugi Waza / Hiki Waza / Harai, Maki, Hari Waza  ] 

Oji Waza - if you waited for the opponent to attack first before you act. ( Counterattack Technique )

[ Techniques under Oji Waza ( Counterattack Technique ) are Nuki Waza / Suriage Waza / Kaeshi Waza / Uchiotoshi Waza/ Amashi Waza  ] 

Note: You will encounter explanations of each Waza whenever they are used in a chapter so I won't explain much here.

Kaeshi Waza: A technique under Oji Waza that deflects an incoming attack before following with a counter. ( this skill was used a lot of times so it ended up here )

Ashisabaki - means footwork

Okuri-Ashi- the basic Kendo's footwork ( sending footwork )

Tsugi-Ashi- one of Kendo's footwork. ( connecting footwork )

Note: There will be chapters in the book where all the other Ashisabaki will be discussed. They are Ayumi-Ashi ( walking footwork ) / Hiraki-Ashi ( open footwork ) / Fumiko-Ashi ( thrusting footwork ) / Nusumi-Ashi ( stealthy footwork )

Note Again: Some other kendo terms that needed clarification will appear in the author's notes at the end of the chapter where it was mentioned.