Japanese Terminology in Kendo

Here is a list of basic Japanese phases or terms you might hear while doing Kendo.


Counting

Ichi	1 One
Ni	2 Two
San	3 Three
Shi or Yon	4 Four
Go	5 Five
Roku	6 Six
Shichi or Nana	7 Seven
Hachi	8 Eight
Ku	9 Nine
Jyu	10 Ten

Points

Men - forehead
Kote - wrist
Do - waist
Tsuki - thrust (to throat)



At start and end of Class

"Sei Retsu" Line up
"Seiza" kneel down sitting upright
"Ki o tsuke" or "shisei o tadeshite" attention
"Men o tsuke" put your helmet on
or
"Men o tore" take your helmet off
"Mokuso" meditate
"Ki o tsuke" or "shisei o tadeshite" attention
"Yame" stop
"Mokuso" meditate
"Sho men ni, Rei" face the head of the Dojo then bow
"Yame" stop
"Sensei ni, Rei" face the instructor(s) then bow
"Sho men ni, Rei" face the head of the dojo, then bow


Miscellaneous

"Taiso" - exercise
"Onegai Shimasu" - literally means "Please" but in the context of Kendo, it's inferred to mean "Please teach me" or "Let's train hard"
"Domo Arigato Gozaimashita" - Thank you very much
"Son Kyo" - squat down with sword in ready position
"Nuke To" - draw the sword
"Osame To" - son kyo and put away the sword
"Hajime" - begin
"Kamae" - on guard or ready stance
"Zanshin" - a resolute will (to show sincereness and purity after a strike)


Equipment

Shinai - bamboo sword used in Kendo
Tsuba - circular gdard on the shinai
Keiko Gi - Kendo clothing worn on the upper part of the body (like a jacket). This is usually the practice uniform
Kendo Gi - Kendo clothing worn on the upper part of the body (like a jacket). This is the formal uniform used at events like gradings or tournaments
Hakama - Kendo clothing worn on the lower part of the body (long divided skirt-like trousers)
Tenugui - this cotton towel worn on the head under the 'Men'
Bogu - Kendo Armour consisting of 'men', 'kote', 'do' and 'tare'
Men - Kendo Armour (helmet) to protect the face, head and shoulders
Kote - Kendo Armour (gloves) to protect the wrists and forearms
Do - Kendo Armour to protect the trunk and chest
Tare - Kendo Armour to protect the waist, groin and upper legs