Japanese Glossary

Glossary

Targets:

Men- Head or face

Shomen- top of the head or forehead area

Yokomen- Side of head

Kote- wrists

Do- torso


Cuts:

Shomen giri- the down cut. the forehead is the expected target.

Yoko giri- see suihe giri

Kesa giri- Diagonal down cut.

Kiri age- Diagonal upward cut

Suihe giri- horizontal cut.

Stances:

Chudan no Kamae - Mid level stance
Gedan no Kamae - low level stance
Jodan no Kamae - High level stance
Hasso no kamae - Shoulder stance
Waki no Kamae - Side stance

Actions:

Rei - pay respect to/bow
Batto- draw (sword)
Chiburi- "blood shake"
Noto- return sword
Hajime - begin
Yame - stop
Mate - wait

Questions:

Wakarimasuka/wakaruka - Do you understand?

Doko? - Where?

Naze?/doshite? - Why?

Nandesuka/nani?/nanda? - What/what is it?

Kore-wa nandesuka - What is this?


**Note: The 'ka' syllable is sort of a verbal question mark. If the word has 'ka' at the end of it, a question is assumed and a question mark is no longer necessary.