Terminology

Main Names:

Batto Another name for iai.

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:

Hajime no saho Beginning etiquette

Owari no saho Finishing etiquette

Reigi Etiquette

Reiho Etiquette, method of bowing

Reishiki Same as above.

Saho Method of etiquette

Joseki ni Rei Bow to the high section of the dojo.

Kamiza ni Rei Bow to kamiza (Shrine)

Otagi ni Rei Bow to each other.

Rei Bow.

Ritsu Rei Same as tachi rei.

Sensei 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.

Sword positions:

Datto Removing the sword from the obi

Keito Same as teito shisei.

Taito Putting sword into the obi

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.

Speech:

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

Gomen Nasai Excuse me, I'm sorry

Onegai Shimasu Please (when asking for something, usually as in Please lets practice together)

Onegai OtsukaresamadeshitaA A thank-you that is used after training.

O Tsukare Sama Desjhita You have become tired (because of the hard work you have done teaching) An expression of thanks.

Sumimasen Excuse me (to attract attention).

Ranks and titles:

Kohai  Junior student.

Sempai Senior student.

Sensei  Teacher.

Shihan  A senior teacher.

Kyu Student grade

Dan Black Belt.

Yudansha Dan grades.

Mudansha  Kyu grades

Hanshi Master Teacher.

Kyoshi High ranking teacher.

Renshi  Acclaimed Instructor/Teacher.

Soke Head of style

Training Hall:

Dojo Practice hall.

Joseki High side, Shinzen.

Shomen Front of room.

Shinzen, Kamiza Altar, dojo shrine.

Shimoseki, Shimoza Opposite 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.

Dojo Instructions:

Ato Move back.

Batto  Draw the sword

Hajima Start.

Hayaku Quickly.

Iai Kisogeiko Fundamental practice.

Junbitaiso O Hajimemasu Begin warm-up.

Junbitaiso O Owarimasu Warm-ups are finished.

Kiyotsukete Attention .

Matte Wait.

Mawatte Turn around.

Mo Motte More, eg. mo oki, bigger.

Mokuso Close the eyes, meditation.

Osame to Replace swords into saya.

Yame Stop.

Yoi Ready.

Yukuri Slow.

Directions

Mae Forward.

Migi Right.

Hidari Left.

Ushiro Reverse

Omote Front.

Ura Back.

Uchi Inside.

Soyo Outside.

Jodan High.

Chudan Middle.

Gedan Low.

Otoshi Dropping.

Shomen Straight ahead.

Ue Up.

Yoko Horizontal, to the side.

Biki To move, as in saya biki or hakama biki.

Gyaku Reverse, opposite, inverted.

Iaido Clothing

Iaido Gi  Practice jacket.

Embu Gi Demonstration clothing.

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 (5).

Montsuki Kimono sleaved top with mon on chest, sleeve and back.

Sode Sleeve, on practice top.

Zekken Chest patch embroidered with own name and dojo name.

Obi Belt.

Hakama   Wide legged trousers.

Himo Straps / cords

Hera Peg in back of hakama.

Matadachi Split in side of hakama.

Koshi ita Back plate on hakama.

Tabi Japanese sock-slippers used in dojo.

Zori Japanese sandals for use outside dojo.

Postures

Hanmi Half forward stance.

Hiyoemi Equal stance, feet parallel forward

Iai Goshi Hips lowered, stable position.

Iai Hiza, Tatae Hiza Kneeling on one calf.

Kamae Posture, stance.

Kiza Kneeling, but up on the toes.

Seiza Kneeling on both calves.

Tachi Standing.

Chudan no Kamae Middle kamae, sword in middle, seigan is a chudan gamae.

Gedan no Kmae Lower level, sword pointed down.

Hasso no Kamae  Figure 8 stance, sword by side of head. Usually hasso hidari  sword on right, left foot forward.

Jodan no Kmae Upper level, sword above head. Usually hidari jodan, left foot forward.

Karuma no Kamae Like waki gamae, blade horizontal.

Kasumi Arms crossed over to hide technique (mountain mist).

Seigan no Kamae Natural step, fundamental kamae.

Waki no Kmae 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.

Cuts and Blocks of the sword

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..

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.

Parts of an Iaido Technique (Kata)

Henka Waza Small variations in same basic technique.

Kae Waza Substitute or totally different techniques.

Waza Technique.

Kokyo Breath control.

Chosoku Breathing.

Metsuke Gaze.

Enzen No Metsuke Gaze at the far mountains.

Batto To unsheath a sword.

Nuki Tsuke or Kiri Tsuke   Simultaneous draw and strike.

Tate Ha Standing edge, draw with edge up.

Jo ha kyu Acceleration, buildup to climax.

Seme Pressure.

Semuru  Pressing forward.

Saya BikiI  Movement of scabbard.

Sata Banare Tip at koiguchi during draw, just before strike.

Kime Focus

Furi Kaburi Lifting sword from nuki to morote jodan.

Kiri Oroshi or Kiri Tsuke  Finishing CUT.

Chiburi Shaking off the blood, cleaning the blade.

O-Chiburi Large or circular chiburi.

Yoko Chiburi Horizontal chiburi.

Noto Replacing the blade in the saya.

Zanshin Awareness, watchfulness.

Sword names

Bokken Hardwood  sword.

Bokuto Hardwood sword.

Daisho The set of two swords, daito and shoto.

Daito Larger of the set of two(Daisho).

Iaito Iaido practice sword, alloy or steel

Katana The same as Daito. Worn edge uppermost. 

Kodachi  Same as Shoto.

Shinai Bamboo practice sword, used for Kendo.

ShinGunto War sword, usually refers to those made just prior to and during WWII.

Shinken A live blade.

Shoto  Smaller of the set of two (Daisho) .

Tachi Old style sword, worn edge down.

Tanto a knife-sized short sword, typically less than 1 SHAKU in length

Wakizashi Same as Shoto, the shorter sword in a Daisho set. Usually less than 2 shaku in length

Sword measurements

Shaku 30.2 cm. or 11.9 inches.

Sun 1/10 of a shaku.

Bu 1/10 of a sun, 0.3 cm

Concepts

Aiuchi Mutual strike, strikes at the same time.

Budo Way of war.

Bushido Way of warrior.

Fushin  Paused mind.

Jo Ha Kyu Slow, faster, fastest.

Ki Spirit, energy, inner strength.

Ki Ken TaiI Ichi Spirit, sword, body, one.

Kiai Shout, yell.

Kime Sharpness of movement, positive end of cut or thrust.

Kokoro Mind.

Kokyo Breath, breath power.

Maai Mutual.

Mushin No mind

Saya No Uchi No Kachi The sword in the saya, winning without drawing.

Seishin  Pure mind.