Training Guides

Dojo Guides

Below are some guides our dojo has curated ourselves over the years for various purposes.

Dojo Documents Size
DFWKIK Beginner’s Guide 472 KB
The Shinai 157 KB
Yuko Datotsu 36.3 KB
Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon.pdf 134.37 KB
DFWKIK Iaido Kihon 23.7 KB
DFWKIK Iaido Warm Ups 16.6 KB

Official Guides

Official english translated All Japan Kendo Federation Manuals can be purchased on this page.

Kendo 剣道

Below are some kendo terms as they pertain to various areas of practice.

Reigi 礼儀

Terms relating to kendo etiquette.

  1. ki o tsuke 気をつけ
    Attention
  2. chakuza 着座
    Be seated / take a seat (in seiza)
  3. seiza 正座
    seated kneeling position, sitting on the soles of your feet
  4. shoumen ni 正面に
    Face the Shoumen (front of the dojo)
  5. sensei ni 先生に
    Towards sensei (Instructors)
  6. otagai ni お互いに
    Towards eachother
  7. rei 礼
    Bow
  8. onegai shimasu お願いします
    Please – said with sincerity to beseech each other for an earnest practice
  9. arigatou gozaimashita ありがとうございました
    Thank you – said with sincerity to thank each other for practice

Basic Strikes

Terms relating to the main striking areas, and the execution of a strike.

  1. men 面
    A strike to the top of the head
  2. kote 小手
    A strike to the foremost wrist
  3. dou 胴
    A strike to the torso
  4. tsuki 突き
    A stab to the throat area
  5. seme 攻め
    Pressure – A concept that entails all facets of overcoming your opponent
  6. kiai 気合
    A type of yell or shout meant to show one’s spirit
  7. ki ken tai icchi 気剣体一致
    Performing a strike with the spirit (kiai), body, and sword unified in one motion
  8. zanshin 残心
    A continuing presence maintained after a strike
  9. kiri kaeshi 切り返し
    A series of men strikes performed as a basic drill

Suburi 素振り

Terms related to swinging the shinai.

  1. sonkyou 蹲踞
    A squatting position taken before and after initiating keiko
  2. nuketou 抜け刀
    “Drawing” the shinai out from your hip
  3. jouge buri 上下振り
    Large straight swings meant to loosen the arms/shoulders
  4. naname buri 斜め振り
    Large angled swings meant to loosen the arms/shoulders
  5. matawari 股割り
    A wide squatting stance meant to train the legs during suburi
  6. zenshin kotai 前進後退
    Back and forth swinging
  7. shoumen uchi 正面打ち
    Straight swings to the men
  8. sayuumen uchi 左右面打ち
    Angled swings to the men
  9. yonkyodomen 四挙動面
    “4 step men” – as the leader calls out step forward once, strike men, step back twice
  10. shinkokyuu 深呼吸
    Deep sequential breathing
  11. osametou 収め刀
    Return the shinai to your hip

Ashisabaki 足さばき

Terms relating to the various footwork.

  1. suri ashi すり足
    The sliding motion of one’s feet used in all the various footwork
  2. ayumi ashi 歩み足
    Moving along the floor by alternating one’s feet in front of the other
  3. okuri ashi 送り足
    Moving along the floor by “sending” one’s foot out – front and back feet do not switch
  4. hiraki ashi 開き足
    An “opening”/diagonal step meant counter an incoming strike from an opponent
  5. fumikomi ashi 踏み込み足
    A forward stepping of the right foot, in most cases with the stomping motion, coordinated with the strike of one’s shinai
  6. tsugi ashi 継ぎ足
    An advanced footwork where one subtly moves their back foot up before striking

Keiko 稽古

  1. mawari keiko 回り稽古
    Rotational practice – after each drill/keiko, we step to the side to face a new partner
  2. jigeiko 地稽古
    Free practice – each kenshi practices with whoever they like

Advanced

Terms relating to more advanced practice techniques or concepts.

  1. sutemi 捨て身
    attack with no regard to self
  2. ichibyoshi 一拍子
    one beat/breath

Iaido 居合道

Below are lists of kata and brief explanation for various sets, both basic and advanced.

Seitei Iai

Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Seitei Iai 全日本剣道連盟居合
Basic Standardized kata set by the All Japan Kendo Federation.
Example Video (YouTube)

  1. Mae 前
    Front – Commencing from a kneeling position, forestalling a frontal attack
  2. Ushiro 後ろ
    Rear – Commencing from a kneeling position, forestalling an attack from the rear
  3. Ukenagashi 受け流し
    Receive, Parry and Cut – Commencing from a kneeling position, parrying an attack from the left
  4. Tsuka-ate 柄当て
    Striking with the Hilt – Commencing from a raised knee, seated position, forestalling two attackers, front and rear
  5. Kesagiri 袈裟切り
    Diagonal Cut – Commencing from a standing position, forestalling an approaching attacker
  6. Morote-zuki 諸手突き
    Two-Hand Thrust – Commencing from a standing position, forestalling three approaching attackers, two in front and one behind
  7. Sanpōgiri 三方切り
    Three Direction Cut – Commencing from a standing position, forestalling three approaching attackers, one each to the right, left and front
  8. Ganmen-ate 顔面当て
    Hit to the Face – Commencing from a standing position, forestalling two approaching attackers, front and rear
  9. Soete-zuki 添え手突き
    Joined Hand Thrust – Commencing from a standing position, forestalling an attack from the left
  10. Shihōgiri 四方切り
    Four Direction Cutting – Commencing from a standing position, forestalling four approaching attackers
  11. Sōgiri 総切り
    Complete Cuts – Five different and complete cuts. Commencing from a standing position
  12. Nukiuchi 抜き打ち
    Sudden Draw – Avoid, then respond to an attack from the front. Commencing from a standing position

Muso Shinden Ryu 夢想神伝流:

“Old style” kata performed as advanced kata sets.

Shoden 初伝

aka OmoriRyu 大森流
Example Video (YouTube)

  1. Shohattō 初発刀
    Also called Mae 前 – cut to the front
  2. Satō 左刀
    Also called Hidari 左 – cut to the left
  3. Utō 右刀
    Also called Migi 右 – cut to the right
  4. Ataritō 当刀
    Also called Ushiro 後 – cut to the rear
  5. In’yō Shintai 陰陽進退
    Also called Yaegaki 八重垣 – dealing with two enemies, yin and yang retreat
  6. Ryūtō 流刀
    Also called Ukenagashi 受流し – men block then cut to opponent as he passes, cut the opponent’s saya and side of the abdomen
  7. Juntō 順刀
    Also called Kaishaku 介錯 – Seppuku assistant not for public demonstration
  8. Gyakutō 逆刀
    Also called Tsukekomi 附込 – men block while looking up at the opponent, deep men cut, todome thrust
  9. Seichūtō 勢中刀
    Also called Tsukikage 月影 – elbow cut
  10. Korantō 虎乱刀
    Also called Oikaze 追風 = walking cut
  11. Battō 抜刀
    Also called Nukiuchi 抜打 – cut from seiza
  12. In’yō Shintai Kaewaza 陰陽進退替手
    Also called Sunegakoi 脛囲 – yin and yang retreat exchange movement; only one opponent


Chuden 中伝

aka Hasegawa EishinRyu 長谷川英信流
Example Video (YouTube)

  1. Yokogumo 横雲
    horizontal clouds
  2. Toraissoku 虎一足
    tiger’s one step
  3. Inazuma 稲妻
    thunder rolls
  4. Ukigumo 浮雲
    floating clouds
  5. Yamaoroshi 山颪
    downhill storm
  6. Iwanami 岩浪
    waves against the rocks
  7. Urokogaeshi 鱗返
    scaling off
  8. Namigaeshi 浪返
    backwash waves
  9. Takiotoshi 滝落
    waterfalls
  10. Nukiuchi 抜打
    sudden attack; also called Joi-uti (punishment ordered by the boss), a very common assassinating technique.


Okuden 奥伝 – Sitting in Tatehiza 立て膝

Example Video (YouTube)

  1. Kasumi 霞
    mist or rainbow – one man sitting in front of you, continuous cuts
  2. Sunegakoi 脛囲
    knee covering – block your knee first, then cut
  3. Shihogiri 四方切
    attacking the enemies coming from four directions – first a stab, then cuts
  4. Todume 户詰
    two men sitting before you, cut them one by one
  5. Towaki 户脇
    one is behind and another is in front of you. first attack the behind and then front.
  6. Tanashita 棚下
    hide yourself under a hovel, crawl out, then attack.
  7. Ryodume 両詰
    similar to Tanashita, first a stab, then cut
  8. Torabashiri 虎走
    tiger run – stand up, run forward in quick small steps and cut, run backward in quick small steps and cut

Okuden 奥伝 – Standing Forms 立業

Example Video (YouTube)

  1. Ikidure/Yukidure/Yukitsure 1 行連1 – going side by side (Escort)
    There are two men in the both side you, walking together. Maybe you are arrested by them, trying to escape. Ikidure/Yukidure/Yukitsure 2(行連2)variations of ikidure/yukidure 1.
  2. Turedati 連達
    going together. (Escort) There are one in front right and the other back left. stab the back left one then cut the front right
  3. Somakuri 惣捲
    sougiri in seitei iai was based on this; continuous attack, wind sword around to smash surrounding enemies
  4. Sodome 総留
    enemies are coming towards on a narrow path; continuous one-hand cuts
  5. Shinobu 信夫
    also called Yami-uti (attack in the darkness); approach your victim from his behind in the dark, slowly, quietly, use the tip of the sword to tap on the ground to divert his attention, then strike from the opposite side
  6. Ikitigai/Yukichigai 行違
    two persons coming towards in a row, first strike the front, stab the behind, then cut the front
  7. Sodesurigaeshi 袖摺返
    nemy behind a crowd, draw your sword, push away the crowd using your elbows and cut the target
  8. Mon-iri 門入
    nter the gate, lower yourself, stab the first coming one with great power one-hand, then cut the behind and front ones
  9. Kabezoi 壁添
    opponent by a wall, cut with sword up and down within the limited space
  10. Ukenagashi 受流
    receive and redirect opponent’s attack

Okuden 奥伝 – Seiza Forms 正座

  1. Itomagoi 1 暇乞 1 – farewell 1
    while saying good bye by bowing, suddenly draw out your sword, then swing it vertically onto the opponent’s head, smash at one stroke, before he notices what happens. Farewells are supposed to be a modification of Nukiuchi. Farewell 1 bow slightly by lowering your head only and draw sword immediately using both hands
  2. Itomagoi 2 暇乞 2 – farewell 2
    bow deeper by two hands touching the ground briefly then draw the sword the second right hand fingers touch the ground
  3. Itomagoi 3 暇乞 3 – farewell 3
    bow deepest with hands on the ground and head down; this will hide your sword drawing action from your opponent