Basic Japanese Terminology & Techniques
Note: “ei” pronounced long “a” [example mei = may]
Terminology
| BO | Wooden staff |
| BOJUTSU | Staff fighting technique |
| BOKEN | Wooden sword |
| DOJO | Training hall |
| HA | Cutting edge of the sword |
| HAJIMEI | Begin |
| IAI | Drawing of the sword |
| IAITO | A practice metal sword |
| KAMAE | Stance or posture with weapon |
| KAMIZA | Spirit center of the dojo |
| KATA | The structure of a series of movements |
| KATANA | Long sword |
| KISSAKI | Tip of sword |
| KOIGUCHI | Mouth band on open end of scabbard |
| MAE | Command to move forward |
| MEN | Head. Called out to warn one’s partner of a strike to the head. |
| MUNE | The unsharpened spine of the sword |
| OBI | Literally “belt.” Iaido uses a special, heavily stiffened belt, known as a sword obi. |
| REI | Command for a formal bow |
| SAYA | Sword scabbard |
| SAYABIKI | Pulling the saya |
| SEIZA | Command to sit in kneeling position |
| SENSEI | Teacher |
| SHURIKEN | Throwing spike |
| TAMESHIGIRI | Cutting |
| TSUBA | Sword guard |
| TSUKA | Handle of sword |
| USHIRO | Command to move backwards |
| WAZA | Technique |
| YAMEI | Stop |
| ZANSHIN | Focused intent |
Four Basic Kamaes
1. Chudan: center position
2. Jodan: overhead position
3. Hasso: weapon raised, right hand even with cheek bone
4. Wake: hands below waist, tip of weapon pointed towards the rear
Chiburis
- Pounding fist
- Short horizontal cut to right
- Chopsticks
- Blade held horizontal to floor
- Spinning return
- Quick flip from chudan to wake
- Tsuba comes from rear to front directly to koiguichi
- Rapid inward motion drawing right across forearm to hara
Noto
- Draw straight out (or “Return straight in”).
- Tsuba to Koiguichi horizontal draw, i.e., bring tsuba to koiguichi, draw blade in a horizontal line across the belly & capture kissaki
- Chopsticks
- Reverse hand horizontally, draw across belly
- Reverse grip, little finger over tsuba
Koto Ei Ri Ryuu Kata (型 or 形)
| No. | Description | Chiburi | Noto |
| 1 | High, men block cut from jodan | 1. Pounding fist | A. Draw straight out (or ìReturn straight inî). |
| 2 | Kneeling thrust to left rear | 2. Short Horizontal cut to right | B. Tsuba to Koiguichi horizontal draw, i.e., bring tsuba to koiguichi, draw blade in a horizontal line across the belly & capture kissaki |
| 3 | Chopsticks thrust to throat | 3. Chopsticks | C. Chopsticks |
| 4 | Gruntoóthe running tiger | 4. Blade held horizontal to floor | B. Tsuba to Koiguichi horizontal draw, i.e., bring tsuba to koiguichi, draw blade in a horizontal line across the belly & capture kissaki |
| 5 | Spinning defense | 5. Spinning return | A. Draw straight out (or ìReturn straight inî). |
| 6 | Draw, cut thigh to rear | 7. Tsuba comes from rear to front directly to koiguichi | A. Draw straight out (or ìReturn straight inî). |
| 7 | Draw to blocking position, push with chi (ki) | 6. Quick flip from chudan to wake | D. Reverse hand horizontally, draw across belly |
| 8 | Walking kata | 1. Pounding fist | A. Draw straight out (or ìReturn straight inî). |
| 9 | Kneeling, look left, block & evade | 8. Rapid inward motion drawing right across forearm to hara | E. Reverse grip, little finger over tsuba |
| 10 | Four-person attack with spinning block | 6. Quick flip from chudan to wake | D. Reverse hand horizontally, draw across belly |
School of Sword and Staff 