KENDO TERMS

Kendo has a lot of vocab and terms. We hope that this “Kendo Dictionary” will help you understand them. The list below is nowhere near complete. Our team will continue to update them.

Last updated: 8/16/2024

A

Ai Chudan	会い中断	Both players are in equal chudan (middle) stance.
Aite	相手	Opponent.
Aiuchi	相打ち	An action where a point is scored simultaneously.
Ashi Sabaki	足捌き	Footwork.
Ayumi-Ashi	歩み足	Normal walking footwork where the left and right leg move alternately

B

Bogu	防具	Armor. Protective gear used in Kendo. Consists of Men (Helmet), Kote (Gloves) Do (Chest and waist armor), and Tare (thigh and groin protector).
Bokken	木剣	Wooden sword. Mainly used for Kata. Also known as Bokuto. Long sword is called Daito, and short sword is called Shoto.
Bokuto	木刀	Wooden sword. Mainly used for Kata. Also known as Bokken. Long sword is called Daito, and short sword is called Shoto.

C

Chudan	中段	A stance in Kendo where the shinai is held in a middle position.
Chuuken	中堅	3rd person in a team match – usually 5 people. Senpo (1st), Jiho (2nd), Chuuken (3rd), Fukusho (4th), Taisho (5th)

D

Dan	段	Expert’s degree. Commonly known as black belts in other martial arts. Shodan (1 Dan), Nidan (2 Dan), Sandan (3 Dan), Yondan (4 Dan), Godan (5 Dan), Rokudan (6 Dan), Nanadan (7 Dan), and Hachidan (8 Dan)
Dojo	道場	A location / gym / hall where martial arts is practiced.
Do/Dou	胴	Waist/Torso. Can refer to the actual strike area or the torso armour of a Kendo bogu.
Dou Ari	胴あり	Dou point awarded.

E

Encho

延長

Overtime in a Kendo match.

F

Fukusho

副署

4th person in a team match – usually 5 people. Senpo (1st), Jiho (2nd), Chuuken (3rd), Fukusho (4th), Taisho (5th)

G

Gokaku Geiko	互角稽古	Practice/training between students of similar rank.
Gyaku Do	逆胴	The left part of the do.

H

Hajime	初め	Begin
Hakama	袴	Pleated trousers worn in Kendo. Traditional Japanesee trousers.
Hansoku	反則	Foul/Violation.
Hansoku Ikkai	反則一回	First Foul/Violation.
Hansoku Nikai	反則二回	Second Foul/Violation. 2 fouls awards the opponent a point.
Hatsu-Geiko	初場稽古	New Year’s training.
Hidari	左	Left
Hiki	引き	To evade.
Hiki Waza	引き技	An attack made from Tsuba-zeriai while moving backward or separating.
Himo	紐	Thick strings or cords. Men-Himo, Kote-Himo, Do-Himo, Tare-Himo, etc.

I

Ippon	一本	A valid one point in Kendo.
Issoku-Ittoo-No-Maai	一速一刀の間合い	“One Step One Cut/Stike

J

Ji-Geiko	自稽古	Free practice/sparring
Jiho	寺宝	2nd person in a team match – usually 5 people. Senpo (1st), Jiho (2nd), Chuuken (3rd), Fukusho (4th), Taisho (5th)

K

Kakari-Geiko	係り稽古	A practice where the student performs all skill sets in full force non-stop without pause. (Editor’s comment: pure torture)
Kamae	構え	To be ready. Ready position in Kendo.
Kata	型	Set pieces practiced by two students with bokken/bokuto. Prearranged attacks and counters.
Keiko	稽古	Practice
Keikogi	稽古衣	Jacket worn in Kendo. Also known as Keikogi.
Kendo	剣道	Literally means “The way of the sword“
Kendogi	剣道衣	Jacket worn in Kendo. Also known as Keikogi.
Kendoka	剣道家	A person who practices Kendo.
Kenshi	剣士	A person who practices Kendo.
Kiai	気合	“Spirit” – Expressed by a loud yell in Kendo.
Kihon	基本	Basics
Kote	小手	Wrist. Can refer to the strike area in Kendo, or the gauntlet/gloves of a Kendo bogu.

M

Men

面

Head/Face. Can refer to the actual strike area, or the helmet of a Kendo bogu.

R

Rei	礼	A broad term expressing respect. Usually accompanied by a bow in Kendo.
Reigi	礼儀	A very specific method of showing respect.
Reiho	礼法	Etiquette, respect, or courtesy.

S

Sensei	先生	Teacher
Shiai	試合	Tournament
Shihan	師範	Instructor
Shinai	竹刀	Bamboo sword. Main weapon used in Kendo practice.
Suburi	素振り	Sword (Shinai or Bokuto) swing practice
Suriashi	摺り足	Footwork which uses a sliding technique in Kendo.

T

Tare	垂	Thigh and groin protector of a Kendo bogu set.
Tsuki	突	Stab to the throat area in Kendo.