Vocabulary
When doing Kendo, we try to use as many Japanese terms as possible. This can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at first, but you get used to it quickly. The coolest thing about it is that you can train with it all around the world, even if you don't speak the language. It's all Japanese, after all!
Here are a few vocabulary words you should know:
Important Commands
Kendo commands are short and concise and in Japanese. The most important commands for the beginning are listed here:
Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| seiretsu! | Form a line. The Kendoka stand in a line. They stand upright and look straight ahead. The order of the Kendoka is important to ensure the training runs smoothly. |
| seiza!/ chakuza! | Sit down. The Kendoka kneel down and sit on their heels. Their hands are placed on their thighs. The Kendoka sit upright and look straight ahead. Seiza shows respect and discipline. |
| mokuso! | Meditation. The Kendoka sit in Seiza and close their eyes. They breathe deeply and focus on the training. Mokuso is important to calm the mind and prepare for the training. |
| kiritsu! | Stand up. The Kendoka stand up and straighten themselves. They look straight ahead and wait for further instructions. |
| rei! | Bow. The Kendoka bow to the Sensei, Fukucho and other Kendoka. The bow shows respect and courtesy. |
| shomen ni rei! | Bow to the shrine. The Kendoka bow to the shrine, which is located in the middle of the dojo. The dojo is a sacred place where the Kendoka train and meditate. |
| sensei ni rei! | Bow to the Sensei. The Kendoka bow to the Sensei, who is leading the training. The Sensei is an experienced Kendoka, who teaches and motivates the Kendoka. |
| hajime! | Begin. The Kendoka start with the exercise shown by the Sensei. |
| yame! | Stop. The exercise must be stopped immediately. The Kendoka stand up straight and wait for further instructions. |
| kamae! | Take a fighting stance. The Kendoka symbolically draw the sword from the Saya and take a fighting stance. |
| osameto! | Put the sword away. The Shinai or Bokuto are symbolically placed in the Saya. |
Numbers
Everything we count, we count in Japanese.
Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| ichi | One |
| ni | Two |
| san | Three |
| shi | Four |
| go | Five |
| roku | Six |
| nana | Seven |
| hachi | Eight |
| kyuu | Nine |
| juu | Ten |
| ni juu | Twenty |
| san juu | Thirty |
| yon juu | Fourty |
| go juu | Fifty |
| roku juu | Sixty |
| nana juu | Seventy |
| hachi juu | Eighty |
| kyuu juu | Ninety |
| hyaku | Hundred |
Equipment
Everything we wear has a Japanese name.
Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| gi | The jacket we wear when practicing Kendo. The Gi is loosely cut to allow for free movement. |
| hakama | The traditional Japanese pants. They are worn by men and women. Kendoka traditionally wear a Hakama in indigo with seven folds, which symbolize the seven virtues of Bushido. |
| bogu | The armor we wear when practicing Kendo. It consists of a helmet (Men), chest protector (Do), hand protectors (Kote), and groin protector (Tare). |
| men | The helmet we wear when practicing Kendo. It has a metal mesh that protects the face and padding that protects the head. The Men has two flaps on the sides that protect the ears and shoulders. Under the helmet, we wear a headband (Tenugui) that absorbs sweat. |
| do | The chest protector we wear when practicing Kendo. It consists of a plate made of plastic or bamboo that protects the upper body. |
| tare | The groin protector we wear when practicing Kendo. It consists of a belt that holds the chest protector in place, and a protector for the groin. The groin protector is sewn with a lattice pattern. Over the Tare, we wear a cloth bag (Zekken) with our name, dojo, team, and country printed on it. |
| kote | The gloves we wear when practicing Kendo. The Kote are designed to absorb the impact of the Shinai. They protect the hands and forearms. They consist of a leather palm and forearm protector. The palm is sewn with a lattice pattern. |
| tenugui | A Tenugui is a thin cloth that is wrapped around the head. It absorbs sweat and protects the head from the helmet. Tenuguis come in different colors and patterns. They are often printed with characters or with the logos of organizations or teams. Tenuguis are also given as gifts or souvenirs because they are very practical and are considered good luck in Japan. You can buy Tenuguis directly from us in our shop! |
| zekken | The cloth bag we wear when practicing Kendo over the Tare. The name of the Kendoka must be printed on the Zekken so that the judges can identify the Kendoka. According to the rules of the German Kendo Federation, the name must be written in Latin characters. The name of the dojo, team, or country can be written in Latin or Japanese characters. |
| shinai | A Shinai is a practice sword made of bamboo. It consists of four bamboo sticks that are tied together at the grip. The tip of the Shinai is wrapped with leather. The Shinai is designed to be repaired by replacing individual parts. It is important to regularly maintain the Shinai to prevent injuries. The individual parts of the Shinai have a function and a name. Shinai are used in Kendo to strike the opponent. For Kata, a Bokuto is used. |
| bokuto | A Bokuto is a wooden sword. It is used in Kendo for Kata. A Bokuto is heavier than a Shinai and has a different shape. A Bokuto is designed to look and feel like a real sword. A Bokuto is carved from a single piece of wood and has no parts that can be replaced. A Bokuto is an important training tool for practicing Kendo techniques. You can buy Bokutos directly from us in our shop! |
| tsuba | The guard. It is placed on the Shinai or Bokuto to protect the hands. The guard is made of plastic or leather and has a hole in the middle, through which the sword is inserted. You can buy Tsubas directly from us in our shop! |
| obi | The belt that holds the Gi together. The scabbard (Saya) is also held together with an Obi. |
| saya | The scabbard. It is held together with an Obi. |
Shinai
In Kendo, everything revolves around the Shinai. Like the Katana of the Samurai, the Shinai is the sword of the Kendoka. Here you will find the most important parts of the Shinai. Only by knowing its parts can the Shinai be properly maintained, repaired, and mastered as a weapon. Shinais come in different sizes, measured in Shaku (an old Japanese unit of length). The size of the Shinai depends on the height of the Kendoka. Adult male Kendoka use a 39 Shinai, females use a 38 or optionally a 39 Shinai. Children use smaller Shinais.
Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| tsuka | The handle of the Shinai. The Tsuka refers to an area of the Shinai, the white cover around the handle is called Tsukagawa. |
| tsukagawa | The white handle of the Shinai. The Tsukagawa is usually made of leather. The Tsukagawa lies between the slats of the Shinai and the hands or Kote. It holds the slats together. |
| kissaki | The tip of the Shinai. It is wrapped with leather (Sakigawa) and is used to strike Tsuki. |
| sakigawa | The tip cover. The Sakigawa is a piece of leather that protects the tip of the Shinai. The Sakigawa is placed over the Kissaki and tied with a special knot to the Tsuru. The Sakigawa protects the opponent from injuries and prevents the Shinai from falling apart. |
| monouchi | The front area of the Shinai between the Kissaki and Nakayui. A valid strike is made by hitting with the Monouchi on Kote, Men, or Do. The Monouchi is the most sensitive part of the Shinai and must be regularly maintained. |
| nakayui | The Nakayui is a leather band tied around the Shinai. It holds the slats of the Shinai together and prevents it from falling apart. The Nakayui is an important part of the Shinai and must be regularly checked to ensure it is tight. If the Nakayui is loose, the Shinai needs to be re-tied. The Nakayui marks the end of the valid striking area. |
| tsuru | The string that holds the slats of the Shinai together. The Tsuru is often yellow or white. It is tied with a special knot to the Kissaki and the Tsukagawa. The Tsuru also indicates the back of the sword, i.e., the non-sharp side of the Shinai. It is important that the Tsuru is tightly bound to prevent the Shinai from falling apart. Before each training session, it must be checked whether the Shinai is properly tied. If the Tsuru is loose, the Shinai must be re-tied. |