GLOSSARY

The following is a short (but growing) list of terms that you will hear frequently mentioned in class.  While not a comprehensive list of all relevant terminology, familiarity with these will help to orient you during our training.  We will keep adding to this list over time.  

A term that refers to the overall stance and posture of the warrior prepared for battle.  There are many variations, each appropriate for different situations and techniques.  The most basic (yet versatile) is the seigan (also called chudan).

Partnered practice with bokken.  Students should not view these exercises as representations of actual combat, but rather as carefully choreographed sequences that are meant to help train and reinforce specific techniques.  Of greatest importance is that each partner engages the other with sincerity and focus, so that both may benefit from the opportunity to discover areas they need to improve.

This term refers to the distance between the partners/combatants.  Maai is a constantly shifting and changing aspect of combat, requiring a high degree of mental alertness, overall situational awareness, and familiarity with one's weapon.  To strike and cut effectively with one's sword, the warrior must engage the opponent by finding the optimal maai with the corresponding footwork.  As a general rule, the warrior who controls the maai, with courage and fortitude, controls the engagement.

A diagonal cut, most commonly describing a strike aimed to descend from collar/shoulder to opposite waist.  Refers to both migi (right) and hidari (left).  A decisive finishing blow that is meant to be delivered with a smooth kinetic chain and appropriate rotation of feet, core, and shoulders.  However, for simplicity, we will use this term to collectively describe all strikes following this trajectory (i.e. aimed at upper arm, forearm, etc.).

A mirror reverse of the kesagiri, this cut strikes upwards rather than downwards.  For simplicity, we will use this term to collectively describe all strikes following this trajectory (i.e. aimed at lower ribs, armpits, forearms, etc.).

A frontal cut/strike to the forehead and/or face.

Refers to thrusting/piercing attacks.

In our partner exercises (kumitachi), the uchidachi initiates the attack and the shidachi receives and counters. 

An angled cut/strike to the side of the head/temple.  For simplicity, we use the former term to refer to both migi (right) and hidari (left) attacks.

A flat, horizontal cut.   While most commonly describing a cut toward the midsection, we use it to refer collectively to any horizontal cut (e.g. aimed toward chest or neck).

For simplicity, we will use this term to describe the variety of diversionary techniques (e.g. pressing sweep, chopping strike, etc.) and angles where one seeks to displace the opponent's blade from their center to create an opening.