Terminology

A lot of the words used in iaido are borrowed from kendo, or other budo. Some of the commonly used words and phrases in our dojo are listed below:

You can also find an excellent list on the Fighting Arts iaido terminology page by Ms. Deborah Klens-Bigman.

Contents (quick links)

Budo
Etiquette
Ranks and Titles
Dojo Arrangement
Commands in the Dojo

Directions for Movement
The Uniform
Postures
Sword Cuts and Blocks
Types of Practice

Parts of Kata
Holding the Katana
Body Motions
The Swordsman
Philosophical Concepts

Katana
Diagram
Descriptions
Measuring
Parts

Pronunciation

Japanese is not a tonal language like Chinese or Thai, and is comparatively easy to pronounce.

Vowels

Japanese has both short and long vowels and the distinction is often important. In romanized Japanese, long vowels are marked with a macron, so that ŁE/b> represents "long O".

a あ/ア: like 'a' in "father"
i い/イ: like 'i' in "machine"
u う/ウ: like 'oo' in "hoop"

e え/エ: like 'e' in "set"
o お/オ: like 'o' in "rope"
n ん/ン: short 'n' at the end of a syllable, pronounced as 'm' before 'b', 'p' or 'm'.

Note that "u" is often weak at the end of syllables. In particular, the common endings -desu and -masu are usually pronounced as "des'" and "mas'" respectively.

Consonants

k かきくけこ / カキクケコ: like 'k' in "king"
g がぎぐげご / ガギグゲゴ: like 'g' in "go"
s さ　すせそ / サ　スセソ: like 's' in "sit"
z ざ　ずぜぞ / ザ　ズゼゾ: like 'z' in "haze"
t た　　てと / タ　　テト: like 't' in "top"
d だ　　でど / ダ　　デド: like 'd' in "dog"
n なにぬねの / ナニヌネノ: like 'n' in "nice"
h はひ　へほ / ハヒフヘホ: like 'h' in "help"
p ぱぴぷぺぽ / パピプペポ: like 'p' in "pig"
b ばびぶべぼ / バビブベボ: like 'b' in "bed"

m まみむめも / マミムメモ: like 'm' in "mother"
y や　ゆ　よ / ヤ　ユ　ヨ: like 'y' in "yard"
r らりるれろ / ラリルレロ: like 'r' in "row" (actually a sound between 'l' and 'r', but closer to 'r')
w わ　　　　 / ワ　　　　: like 'w' in "wall"

sh し / シ: (s before i) like 'sh' in "sheep"
j じ / ジ: (d before i) like 'j' in "jar"
ch ち / チ: (t before i) like 'ch' in "touch"
ts つ / ツ: (t before u) like 'ts' in "hot soup"
f ふ / フ: (h before u) like 'wh' in "who"

Particles

Japanese uses certain hiragana characters as particles which mark the grammatical function of a word or phrase in a sentence. Some hiragana are pronounced differently when used as a particle:

は (bottomic marker) is pronounced wa, also in こんにちは (kon'nichiwa)
へ (direction marker) is pronounced e
の (possessive marker) is pronounced no

Hiragana (ひらがな)

ん n	K	S	T	N	H	M	Y	R	W
あ A	か ka	さ sa	た ta	な na	は ha	ま ma	や ya	ら ra	わ wa
い I	き ki	し shi	ち chi	に ni	ひ hi	み mi	-	り ri	-
う U	く ku	す su	つ tsu	ぬ nu	ふ hu	む mu	ゆ yu	る ru	-
え E	け ke	せ se	て te	ね ne	へ he	め me	-	れ re	-
お O	こ ko	そ so	と to	の no	ほ ho	も mo	よ yo	ろ ro	を (w)o

	G	Z	D	B	P
あ A	が ga	ざ za	だ da	ば ba	ぱ pa
い I	ぎ gi	じ ji	ぢ ji	び bi	ぴ pi
う U	ぐ gu	ず zu	づ zu	ぶ bu	ぷ pu
え E	げ ge	ぜ ze	で de	べ be	ぺ pe
お O	ご go	ぞ zo	ど do	ぼ bo	ぽ po

	Ky	Sh	Ch	Hy	Gy	J	By
あ A	きゃ kya	しゃ sha	ちゃ cha	ひゃ hya	ぎゃ gya	じゃ ja	びゃ bya
う U	きゅ kyu	しゅ shu	ちゅ chu	ひゅ hyu	ぎゅ gyu	じゅ ju	びゅ byu
お O	きょ kyo	しょ sho	ちょ cho	ひょ hyo	ぎょ gyo	じょ jo	びょ byo

Accent and Intonation

Avoid placing too much emphasis on particular words or syllables. Japanese does have stress and intonation, but it is significantly flatter than English. Mastering word stress is a more advanced bottomic and neglecting it at this point should not interfere with meaning. Just trying to keep your intonation relatively flat will make your attempts to speak Japanese more comprehensible to local listeners. When asking questions, you can raise the tone at the end, as in English.

Budo

Iaido: The way of drawing the sword.
Kendo: The way of the sword, already drawn.

Koryu: Old school or lineage.
Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu: A style or school of Iai. Named for Hasagawa Eishin.

Muso Shinden Ryu: style related to the above, originated by Nakayama Hakudo.
Seitei: Basic, fundamental. Seitei gata, fundamental techniques (kata).

Etiquette

Etiquette Names

Hajime no Saho: Beginning etiquette.
Owari no Saho: Finishing etiquette.
Reigi: Etiquette.
Reiho: Etiquette, method of bowing. Done before and after class.
Reishiki: Same as above.
Saho: Method of etiquette.

Sword Positions

Datto: Taking sword from belt.
Keito: Same as teito shisei.
Taito: Putting sword into belt.
Teito: Holding the sword loose by the left side. Also used when sword is in belt and both hands loose at sides.
Teito Shisei: Holding the sword by the left side, as if in the obi. Thumb on tsuba.

Bowing

Joseki ni Rei: Bow to the high section of the dojo.
Kamiza ni Rei: Bow to kamiza (gods) usually in front.
Otagai ni Rei: Bow to each other.
Rei: Bow.
Ritsu Rei: Same as tachi rei.
Sensei (Gata) ni Rei: Bow to teacher(s).

Shinzen ni Rei: Bow to shrine.
Tachi Rei: Standing bow.
To Rei: Bow to sword.
Za Rei: Kneeling bow.

Commonly Used Words:

Arigato: Thank you (informal).
Domo: Thanks (informal).
Domo Arigato: Thank you (formal).
Domo Arigato Gozaimasu: Thank you very much (very formal).
Dozo: Please go ahead.
Gomennasai: Excuse me, I'm sorry.
Sumimasen: Excuse me (to attract attention). Can also be used a basic "I'm sorry."
Onegaishimasu: Please (when asking for something, usually as in Please let's practice together).

Oshiete (Kudasai): "(Please) teach me", such as a polite way to get a game with an older better player at a Go club, or before keiko with a visiting high ranked sensei.
Onegai shimasu is used when asking someone to do something for you, but unlike kudasai, which needs to be attached to the verb, onegai shimasu can stand by itself, such as in giving an item to buy to the cashier, or to a waiter to get a dirty plate removed, or as an additional exhortation after the initial please, as in "Oshiete kudasai. Onegai shimasu." Yarimasho-ka might also be better for "Let's practice (play) together, shall we?"
Onegai Otsukaresamadeshita: A thank-you that is used after training.
Otsukaresamadeshita: You have become tired (because of the hard work you have done teaching). An expression of thanks.

Ranks and Titles

Kohai: Junior student.
Senpai: Senior student.
Sensei: Instructor.
Shihan: A senior teacher, properly used within the school only, when outside, use sensei.
Kyu: Student grade, from 5 to 7 up to 1, the highest.
Dan: More advanced grades, from 1 to 10.
Yudansha: Members with dan grades.
Mudansha: Members with kyu grades.

Hanshi: Highest title from ZNKR, must be 55 or older and 8 dan.
Kyoshi: Middle title from ZNKR, must be 7th dan.
Renshi: Title bestowed from ZNKR in addition to Dan ranks. Basically designates someone as eligible to judge.
Soke: Head of style (actually head of family, unifier of gods and lineage).
Kaicho: "Owner" of school (organization) eg. Agassiz Dojo.
Kancho: "Owner" of school (building, hall).

Dojo Arrangement

Dojo: Practice hall.
Ge: Side of dojo opposite shinzen.
Joseki (Jo): High side, Shinzen.
Shomen: Front of room.
Shinzen, Kamiza: Altar, gods place.
Shimoseki, Shimoza: Opposite of the Sensei, where students sit.

Students line up on one side of the room, instructors on the other. Shinzen is one of the two remaining sides, usually depending on where the door to the room is. If the door is in a corner, usually that corner is where the lowest ranked students would sit. Preferably, shinzen is to the east.

                                  Shommen
                                  Sensei
                S
                h
                i J                                      G
                n o                                      e
                z
                e
                n

                     Sempai -> decreasing rank     door
                                 Shimoza

Vocabulary and Commands

Commands in the Dojo

Ato: Move back.
Hajime: Start.
Hayaku: Quickly.
Iai Kisogeiko: Fundamental practice.
Ijyo: That's all (after recitation).
Junbitaiso O Hajimemasu: Begin the warm-up.
Junbitaiso O Owarimasu: Warm-ups are finished.
Katana O Motte: Get your sword(s).
Kiyotsukette: Be careful.
Matte: Wait.
Mawatte: Turn around.
Mo Motte: More, eg. mo oki, bigger.
Mokuso: Close the eyes, meditation. Done before and after practice.
Osame To: Replace swords into saya.
Yame (Yamete): Stop.
Yoi: Ready.
Yukkuri: Slow.
Yuru Yaka Ni: Smoothly.

General Vocabulary

Age: Lift or raise up.
Atto De: Afterwards.
Batto: Draw the sword.
Chigau: That's different, wrong.
Chiisai: Small.
Chikaku: Near, close.
Dame: Not like that, wrong.
Hai: Yes. I understand.
Heta: Unskillful, poorly done.
Iie: No.
Jozu: Skillful.
Kyojun: Standard, basic level.
Machigaimasu.: It's a mistake, wrong.
Miru: Look.
Naze: Why?
Okii: Big.
Semeru: Push, press.
Shita: Under, below.
Shito Kokyu: One breath.
Shizuka ni: Softly, gently, quietly.
Sukoshi: A little, a small amount.
Tate: Standing, upright.
Wakarimasu: I understand.
Waruii: Bad.

Directions for Placement or Movement

Mae: Forward.
Migi: Right.
Hidari: Left.
Ushiro: Rearward, behind.
Omote: Front.
Ura: Back.
Uchi: Inside.
Soto: Outside.
Jodan: High.
Chudan: Middle.
Gedan: Low.
Fukaku: Low.
Ichi Mon Ji: A straight line.
Tate Ichi Mon Ji: A vertical line.
Yoko Ichi Mon Ji: A horizontal line.
Chokakku: Right angles.
Do: Degrees, eg. kyu ju do is 90 degrees.
Heiko: Parallel.
Kakudo: Angle.
Massugu: Straight ahead.
Naname: Diagonal.
Otoshi: Dropping.
Shomen: Straight ahead.
Ue: Up.
Yoko: Horizontal, to the side.
Asoko: Over there.
Biki: To move, as in saya biki or hakama biki.
Gyaku: Reverse, opposite, inverted.
Hantai: The other way around. Backwards.
Kiku: Lower.
Komi: Coming close or drawing near.
Soko: There, that position.

The Uniform

Keiko Gi: Practice uniform.
Embu Gi: Demonstration top / uniform.
Gi: Refers to top only.
Kamishimo: Over vest / jacket.
Kesa: Lapel / part of monk's costume hanging from left shoulder.
Mon: Family crests on uniform (There are usually five on a formal montsuki.)
Montsuki: Wide sleeved top with mon on chest, sleeve and back.
Sode: Sleeve, on practice top.
Tanomo: Large sleeves on formal tops.
Uwa Gi: Practice top.
Zekken: Chest patch embroidered with own name and dojo name.
Obi: Belt.
Hakami: Split skirt, wide legged pants.
Himo: Straps / cords
Hera: Peg in back of hakama.
Matadachi: Split in side of hakama.
Koshita: Back plate on hakama.
Tabi: Japanese sock-slippers used in the dojo.
Zori: Japanese sandals for use outside dojo.

Postures

Hanmi: Half forward stance.
Hitoemi: Equal stance, feet parallel forward
Iai Goshi: Hips lowered, stable position.
Iai Hiza, Tate Hiza: Kneeling on one calf.
Kamae: Posture, stance.
Kiza: Kneeling, but up on the toes.
Seiza: Kneeling on both calves.
Tachi: Standing.
Chudan: Middle kamae, sword in middle, seigan is a chudan gamae.
Gedan: Lower level, sword pointed down.
Hasso Gamae: Figure 8 stance, sword by side of head. Usually hasso hidari, sword on right, left foot forward.
Jodan: Upper level, sword above head. Usually hidari jodan, left foot forward.
Karuma: Like waki gamae, blade horizontal.
Kasumi: Arms crossed over to hide technique (mountain mist).
Kongo: Blade vertical in front of face.
Seigan: Natural step, fundamental kamae.
Waki Gamae: Sword pointed down and back, for a sutemi (sacrifice) waza. Usually sword on right side (migi waki gamae), left foot forward. Other purpose - hiding length of sword, especially in case of a broken one.

Sword Cuts and Blocks

Aiuchi: Strike together.
Ate: Strike.
Gyaku Kesa Giri: Diagonal upward cut.
Katate Uchi: One handed cut.
Kesa Giri: Diagonal downward cut. A kesa is a sash worn diagonally across the chest by buddhist priest.
Kiri: Cut. (kiru: to cut)
Kiri Age: Same as gyaku kesa giri.
Kiri Gaeshi: Large diagonal cut, sword finishing in waki gamae position. Different meaning in kendo, refers to partnered practice with attacker performing successive yokomen and defender blocking.
Kiri Kudashi: Finishing cut.
Kiri Otoshi: Dropping cut, straight down.
Morote Uchi: Two handed cut.
Shomen Uchi: Strike on front of head.
Sune Gakoi: Block to protect the leg (shin).
Tsuki: Thrust.
Uchi: Strike.
Uke Nagashi: Receive and deflect.
Yokomen Uchi: Strike on side of head.
Yoho Giri: Horizontal cut.

Types of Practice

Embu: Demonstration.
Kata: - structured practice; form or pattern.
Ji Geiko: Free practice (kendo).
Jogeburi (Jogesuburi): Suburi with the finishing position with tip about 2" above floor.
Keiko: Practice.
Nanamae Men: Suburi with the "corners" of the head as target, 45 degree angle - same technique as in kiri-kaeshi
Oji Waza: Receiving techniques.
Saiumen: Suburi practising left and right yoko-men alternately.
Shiai: Competition.
Taikai: Match within a competition. Tournament.
Tameshigiri: Test cutting with a live blade.
Uchikomigeiko: - continuous attack practice

Parts of an Iaido Technique (Kata)

Henka Waza: Small variations in same basic technique.
Kae Waza: Substitute or totally different techniques.
Waza: Technique.
Kokyu: Breath control.
Chosoku: Breathing.
Metsuke: Gaze.
Enzen No Metsuke: Gaze at the far mountains.
Batto: To unsheath a sword.
Nukitsuke or Kiri Tsuke: Simultaneous draw and strike.
Tate Ha: Standing edge, draw with edge up.
Jo Ha Kyu: Acceleration in technique, buildup to climax.
Seme: Pressure.
Semeru: Pressing forward.
Saya Biki: Movement of scabbard (usually to rear during nukitsuke).
Saya Banare: Tip at koiguchi during draw, just before strike, the flight from the scabbard.
Kime: Focus
Furi Kaburi: Lifting sword from nuki to morote jodan.
Kiri Kudashi or Kiri Tsuke: The finishing strike.
Hiki Taoshi: Pulling down. (Usually the opponent).
Hiki Kiri: Pulling cut, usually when pulling over teki.
Hane Age: Flipping over. (Flipping up the blade.)
Chiburi: Shaking off the blood, cleaning the blade.
O-Chiburi: Large or circular chiburi.
Yoko Chiburi: Horizontal chiburi, move to the side.
Chinugui: Wiping off the blood, as is done in Uke Nagashi.
Noto: Replacing the blade in the saya.
Tate Noto: Standing noto, blade replaced with edge facing up.
Zanshin: Awareness, watchfulness, "lingering heart".

Holding the Katana

Te No Uchi: Grip on sword with fingers pulling into palm.
Shibori: Wringing. Twisting the hands inward over the handle on the cut.
Hasuji: Angle of movement of the edge. Where the edge is "pointing".
Kiri Te: Grip that allows cutting action with blade.
Seme Te: Pushing hand. Pressing forward with the blade.
Mamori Te: As for seme te. Covering or protecting hand.
Shini Te: Hand position that does not allow a cut. Dead hand.
Tome te: Stopping hand, one that is defensive.
Nobi Te: As for shini te.
Kata Te: One handed.
Moro Te: Two hands on tsuka.
Soe Te: "Assisting hand" One hand on tsuka, one on blade.

Japanese Swords

Diagram of Katana and Saya

(Click on image to open a larger image in a separate window)

Measuring the Katana:

Shaku: 30.2 cm. or 11.9 inches.
Sun: 1/10 of a shaku.
Bu: 1/10 of a sun, 0.3 cm
Nagasa: Measure of length of blade from kissaki to mune machi in a straight line
Sori: Measure of curve of blade from nagasa to mune at deepest point.

Tachi, Daito, Katana, = 2+ shaku.
Shoto, Wakizashi, 1-2 shaku.
Tanto, &LT1 shaku.

Sword Types:

Aikuchi: A dagger with no tsuba, typically worn by women
Bokken: Hardwood replica of sword.
Bokuto: Hardwood replica of sword.
Daisho: Great small, the set of two swords, daito and shoto.
Daito: Great sword, larger of the set of two, daisho along with shoto.
Gunto: War sword, usually refers to those made just prior to and during WWII.
Iaito: Practice sword for Iaido, usually not sharp.
Katana: Same as Daito. Mounted edge up.
Ken: Sword, usually refers to the straight double edged type.
Kodachi: Equivalent to SHOTO, lit. "small TACHI" with the same fittings as a tachi.
Koto: "Old sword". Blades before about 1600.
Mogito: Same as iaito. Dull bladed sword usually for iaido.
Suburito: Wooden sword, usually heavy. Used to build strength.
Shinai: Bamboo practice sword, used for Kendo.
Shinken: A real or "live" blade.
Shinto: New swords, from about 1600 to 1870.
Shin-shinto: Modern blades.
Shoto: The smaller of a pair of daisho, the other is the daito.
Tachi: Old style sword, (koto) mounted edge down. Often worn by horsemen.
Tanto: A knife-sized short sword, typically less than 1 SHAKU in length
To: Sword, curved type, single edge.
Uchi Gatana: Inside sword, forerunner of Katana, worn in belt.
Wakizashi: Equivalent to SHOTO, the shorter sword in a DAISHO pair, typically less than 2 SHAKU in length

Parts of the sword:

Omote: For Tachi. That side that faces out from the hip when it is in the saya in its usual mounting. This side is signed by the swordmaker.
Ura: For Tachi. Side that faces the hip.
Sashi Omote: (Katana) Side facing out.
Sashi Ura: (Katana) Side facing hip.
Tachi-Mei: The side with the signature.
Katana-Mei: The side with the signature.

Points on the sword blade (tang to tip):

Tang:

Nakago: Tang of blade.
Nakago Jiri: End of tang.
Mei: Signature on tang.
Yasuri Mei: File marks on tang.
Hitoe: Back of tang, meets mune at mune machi. Also called Nakago-mune.
Mekugi Ana: Hole through tang.
Mune Machi: Notch for habaki, at back of blade.
Ha Machi: Notch for habaki, at edge side of blade.

Blade:

Tsuba Moto: 1/3 of blade nearest tsuba.
Chu O: Middle 1/3 of blade.
Mono Uchi: 1/3 of blade nearest tip, cutting area.
Katahaba Measurement: at thickest part of blade.
Mune: Back of blade.
MUNE TYPES: Mitsumune (3 surfaces), Marumune (rounded), Iorimune (standard 2 surface)
Shinogi Ji: Area of blade near back from shinogi to mune.
Hi: Grooves down shinogi ji.
Shinogi: Line of blade between shinogi ji and jigane, ridge at widest point of blade.
Hiraji: Area of blade between hamon and shinogi.
Jigane: Refers to the steel material. Jigane = skin steel. Shingane = core steel. These have different carbon contents. Appearance of the jigane is controlled by the smith's folding technique. Can be of different patterns, courseness, etc.
Hamon: Ha = edge, Mon = Pattern. The shape or style of the yakiba. This does not necessarily exactly follow the shape of the yakiba. A polisher will "improve" it sometimes.
Hira: Face of the blade between shinogi and ha, includes hiraji and hamon.
Yakiba: Yaki = fired, Ba (Ha) = edge. The hardened part of the blade near the edge.
Habuchi: Boundary of the yakiba.
Ha: Cutting edge.

Tip:

Yokote: Line between edge plane and tip plane.
Mitsukado: Point where shinogi, yokote, and ko shinogi meet.
Ko Shinogi: Shinogi line through tip area.
Kissaki: Tip area, from yokote to end.
KISSAKI SIZES:
Ko kissaki = small, Chu Kissaki = medium, O kissaki = large.
Fukusa: Cutting edge in tip area.
Boshi: The hamon of the kissaki. Hardened area in tip / the curve leading to the point.

Fittings of the sword:

Tsuka: Handle.
Kashira: Fitting at end of handle, end of handle.
Tsuka Maki: The style, or pattern, or method of wrapping the handle.
Tsuka Ito: The material used to wrap the handle. Silk, Leather, etc.
Same: Belly skin from a type of Ray. However, the word SAME means "shark", not "ray fish".
Menuki: Decorative fixtures on handle.
Mekugi: Retaining peg.
Mekugi Ana: Hole for peg.
Fuchi Gane: Fitting between handle and guard.
Seppa: Spacers on either side of tsuba.
Tsuba: Sword guard.
Habaki: Fitting between tsuba and blade, wedge for koiguchi.
Kogai: Skewer.
Kogatana: Ko = small, Katana = blade. Small knife carried in a pocket on the Saya.
Kodzuka: Ko = small, Tsuka = handle. Handle of the Kogatana.

The scabbard:

Saya: Scabbard.
Shirasaya: lit. "white scabbard", a plain storage-only scabbard
Koiguchi: Scabbard mouth (literally carp's mouth).
Kurigata: Knob for tying sageo.
Shitodome: Metal fittings inside the kurigata.
Sageo: Cord from saya (kurigata) to hakama himo.
Kojiri: Fitting at end of saya, end of saya.

Body motions

Tai Sabaki: Body motions. TAI Body. SABAKI Movement.
Hikari Ashi: Rear foot moves forward and turns to face opponent, front foot turns to establish feet again in kamae but with opposite foot forward.
Irimi: Entering.
Jiku Ashi: Turning foot, the main axis of rotation.
Kaiten: Turning.
Mawari: Swinging around.
Seme: ASHI Pushing or pressing foot.
Suri Ashi: Sliding foot.
Tenkan: Moving one foot behind the other to face 180 degrees.

Walking:

Ayumi Ashi: Normal walking motion, back foot slides up to become front foot.
Chidori Ashi: "Bird walk" as in ayuma ashi.
Fumi Komi: Shift forward, as in a strike, using the hips.
Fumi Komi Ashi: Foot motion as shifting forward, front and back slide together, not two different movements.
Okuri Ashi: Following foot, step forward with front foot, then rear foot moves same distance forward to regain original distance apart.
Tsugi Ashi: Half step, rear foot up to front then front forward again.

The swordsman

Names of roles:

Kasso Teki: Invisible opponent.
Motodachi: Defender, teacher side in waza practice.
Nage: Performer of technique.
Shidachi (SHI TACHI): Completing sword. Finishes partner practice.
Teki: Opponent
Tori: Attacker.
Uchidachi (UCHI TACHI): Entering sword. "Attacker" in partner practice.
Uke: Receiver (of technique)

The body (top down):

Nakazumi: Centreline of body
Atama: Head
Men: Head.
Shomen: Front or top of head.
Yokomen: Side of head.
Shamen: Side of head, temple
Gammen: Point on face between the eyes.
Sunmen: Same as gammen.
Me: Eye.
Mimi: Ear.
Jinchu: Centre of upper lip.
Kubi: Neck
Nodo: Throat
Do: Chest / side of body at ribs
Sui Getsu: Solar plexus.
Mune: Chest. Particularily the area over the heart, in kendo, the embroidered part of the do above the do target.
Te: Hand.
Te Kubi: Wrist.
Omote: Open / palm of hand.
Kote: Wrist (forearm).
Hiji: Elbow
Kata: Shoulder
Ude: Arm in general.
Ura: Back of hand
Yubi: Finger / toe
Koshi: Hip.
Hara: Abdomen.
Tanden: Centre of balance, below navel.
Seika Tanden: As per tanden.
Ashi: Foot or leg.
Ashi Kubi: The ankle.

Philosophical concepts

Aiuchi: Mutual strike, strikes at the same time.
Budo: Way of war.
Bushido: Way of warrior.
Dai Kyo Soku Kei: Big strong fast smooth.
Dehana WAZA: Strike at the outset, as opponent moves, like sen no waza.
Do: Activity, motion.
Fushin: Frozen or stopped mind.
Fudoshin: Immovable mind, calm spirit.
Fukaku: Personal character.
Gokai: Grandeur, large feeling, full motions.
Go no Sen no Waza (GO NO SEN): Strike at a suki, a mind stopping. Strike before the opponent forms the intention to strike.
Heijishin: Ordinary mind.
Jo Ha Kyu: Slow, faster, fastest.
Kake Goe: Yelling to get extra energy. Like Kiai.
Kensen: Pressure from the sword, esp. the tip.
Ki: Spirit, energy, inner strength.
Ki Ken Tai Ichi: Spirit, sword, body, one.
Kiai: Shout, yell.
Kime: Sharpness of movement, positive end of cut or thrust.
Kimochi: Feeling, sensation.
Kiryoku: Willpower.
Kokoro, Shin: Mind.
Kokyu: Breath, breath power.
Ma: Distance, space, interval (in time).
Mawai (MAAI): Mutual distance (in space).
Mushin, Muso: No mind, no rationalization.
Muga: No ego.
Munen: No thought.
Oi Waza: Chasing or following strikes, attack as opponent retreats.
Riai: Unification of action and theory.
Sae of Swordsmanship: The skill beyond technique only.
Saya no Uchi no Kachi / Saya no Uchi de Katsu: Saya = scabbard, uchi = inside, kachi = victory. The sword in the saya, winning without drawing.
Sen: Initiative, to forestall.
Sen No Waza (SEN): Strike faster than opponent, before attack delivered.
Sen Sen no Waza (SEN NO SEN): Strike as opponent commits to an attack but before he moves.
Sei: Motionless, inactive.
Shu Ha Ri: Keep, break, leave. Memorize technique, question and understand, forget technique.
Suki: Opening.
Sutemi: Sacrifice technique, accept a blow to deliver one.