Videos of basic movements from Kendo Jidai magazine with Koda-sensei

Kendo Promotion Exam Study Guide from the AUSKF

Pages about the concepts and history of kendo from the AJKF

The Ideology of the Sword, by Prof. Toshinobu Sakai, University of Tsukuba (a longer read)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Kendo Club lists a lot of good resources and guides for kendo students.

Regulations of Kendo Shiai (Competitions) and Shinpan (Refereeing) released by the International Kendo Federation

There is no Japanese vocabulary requirement for testing; however, the following terms come up often. You are welcome to use English when appropriate (such as when counting) or the Korean equivalents if you are familiar with kumdo.

Keiko（稽古）traditional training/practice

Counting:
1 Ichi（一）or Ipponmé（一本目）
2 Ni（二）or Nihonmé
3 San（三）or Sanbonmé
4 Shi (Yon)（四）or Yonhonmé
5 Go（五）or Gohonmé
6 Roku（六）or Ropponmé
7 Shichi (Nana)（七）or Nanahonmé
8 Hachi（八）or Happonmé
9 Kyū（九）or Kyūhonmé
10 Jū（十）or Jupponmé

Phrases:
Hajimé（始め）Begin!
Yamé（止め）Stop!
Maté（待って）Pause!
Rei （礼）Bow
Onegai shimasu。（お願いします）I ask you a favor. (Said when to a new training partner.)
Arigatou gozaimasu。（ありがとうございます）Thank you.
Otsukaresama desu。（お疲れさまです）You worked hard. (Said after practice)

The four targets:
· Men（面）
· Koté（小手）
· Dō（胴）
· Tsuki（突き）

Opening/Closing Formalities:
1. Seiretsu（整列）Stand in formation.
2. Chakuza（着座）Be seated.
3. Mokusō（黙想）Meditate.
Yamé（止め）Stop.
4. Shōmen ni, rei（正面に、例）To the front, bow.
(Sensei ni, rei（先生に、例）To sensei, bow.)
5. Otagai ni, rei（お互いに、例）To each other, bow.

Suburi （素振り）Practice swings:
To start suburi:
Kamae. Shōmen suburi, sanjūpon. Hajimé.
構え。正面素振り、三十本。始め。
Stand ready. Forward swings, 30. Begin.
1. Jōgei suburi（上下素振り）Up-down swings
2. Shōmen suburi（正面素振り）Front “men” swings
3. Sayū suburi（左右素振り）Left-Right swings
4. Hiraki-ashi（開き足）Open footwork
5. Left-handed suburi
6. Small strikes suburi
7. Matawari Suburi（股割素振り）Deep-stretch swings
8. Hayasuburi（早素振り）Quick swings
(Chōyaku suburi（跳躍素振り）jumping suburi)

Kamaé（構え）Stances
· Chūdan（中段）The middle stance
· Hidari Jodan（左上段）Left upper stance
· Migi Jodan（右上段）Right upper stance
· Hassō（中段の構え）”All directions” stance
· Waki-gamaé（脇構え）Side stance
Other:
· Sagetō（提刀）Sword lowered at side
· Taitō（帯刀）Sword at the hip
· Sonkyō（蹲踞）Formal crouch

Kata（形）The forms
1. Nihon Kendo Kata（日本剣道形）
2. Bokutō ni yoru kendo kihon keikohō（木刀による剣道基本稽古法）The basics kata.
Shitachi (仕立ち) The student / following / victorious role in the Nihon Kendo Kata.
Uchitachi (打太刀) The teaching / lead role in the Nihon Kendo Kata.

Equipment:
· Shinai（竹刀）Bamboo sword
· Bokutō（木刀）Wood sword
· Iaitō（居合刀）Metal iai practice sword
· Nihontō（日本刀）Japanese sword
· Kendōgu（剣道具）or (less formally) bōgu（防具）The armor/protectors used in kendo.
· Keikogi（稽古着）or just gi（着）the jacket-like of the uniform.
· Hakama（袴）the pant-like part of the uniform.

Intermediate Terms:

Shiai/Taikai (試合・大会) Match/Competition:
· Hajime (始め) Begin!
· Yamé (止め) Stop!
· Jikan desu. (時間です) Time!
· Men/Koté/Dō/Tsuki/Ippon ari. (打突あり) A point is scored!
· Nihonmé (二本目) Begin second point!
· Shōbu (勝負) Match point!
· Shōbu ari. (勝負あり) Match is decided!
· Hikiwaké (引き分け) Tie!
· Wakaré (分かれ) Seperate!
· Hanzoku ikkai/nikkai (反則) First/Second penalty.
· Gōgi (合議) Referees consult.
· Shinpan (審判) Referee
· Tachiai (立会い) Facing an opponent.
· Tasuki (タスキ) Red or white flag worn to identify competitors.

Concepts:
· Te-no-uchi (手の内) Grip
· Zanshin (残心)
· Ki-ken-tai-itchi (気剣体一致)
· Semé (攻め)
· Ma-ai (間合い) Distance
· Enzan no metsuké (遠山の目付) Like looking at a distant mountain
· Mushin (無心)
· Fudōshin (不動心)
· Bushidō (武士道)
· Saé (冴え)

Waza (技) Techniques (in order of the Keiko-Hō)
1. Kihon uchi (基本打ち) Basic strikes
2. Renzoku waza (連続技) Continuous strikes
3. Harai waza (払い技) Beat/sweep
4. Hiki waza (引き技) Retreating
5. Nuki waza (抜き技) Avoiding the attack
6. Suriagé waza (すり上げ技) Counter-attack in the same line
7. Debana waza (出端技) Counter-attack in time
8. Kaeshi waza (返し技) Counter-attack with a change of direction
9. Uchi-otoshi waza (打ち落し技) Knocking down the attack and countering

Common practice methods:
· Kirikaeshi (切り返し) A drill incorporating many kendo concepts: Shōmen followed by (9) sayū men, repeat, shōmen
· Men/Kote/Do-uchi (打ち) Strikes
· Uchikomi (打ち込み) Practice in which motodachi shows clear targets and the other person strikes and continues.
· Kakari-geiko (掛かり稽古) Like uchikomi, but without clear opportunities and time to adjust
· Ji-geiko (自稽古) Free partner practice
· Mawari-geiko (回り芸子) Like ji-geiko, but rotating partners
· Gōdō-geiko (合同稽古) Practice regardless of rank

Other practice terms:
· Motodachi (元立ち) The lead / receiving role
· Kakarité (掛かり手) The student / striking role

Shōdan shinsa (昇段審査) Rank Test
· Mudansha (無段者) Someone without dan rank
· Ikkyū (一級) One kyū and below are lower ranks
· Shō-dan (初段) One dan and above are middle to higher ranks

Oh look, you know a hundred Japanese terms!