NewYork Budokai

Reishiki

Sword training begins and ends with courtesy. Reishiki is translated as formal etiquette.  For us it includes the formal courtesy ceremony that starts and ends each class. Here is the sequence for that courtesy from the Seiza position:

Sword is on your right with edge facing you except when bowing to the sword. When bowing to sword it is in front of you with hilt to left and edge to you.

1) Sensei ni Rei (Courtesy to the teacher)
2) Shinzen ni Rei (Courtesy to the art you are studying)
3) O Sensei ni Rei (Courtesy to the school’s founder or it’s big teacher)
4) Otagai ni Rei

At the beginning of class – “Onagai Shimasu”
(Bow to each other  – please honor me with your  practice)

At the conclusion of class –  Otagai ni rei –
“Arigato Gozaimashita” (Bow to each other – Very polite thank you)

5) To ni Rei (Courtesy to the sword)

Terminology

Greetings
Ohayo Gozaimasu – Good Morning
Konnichiwa – Hello
Konbanwa – Good Evening
Sayonara – Good Bye
Onegai Shimasu – Please Practice with me
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita – Polite Thank you

Counting
1 – Ichi
2 – Ni
3 – San
4 – Shi
5 – Go
6 – Roku
7 – Shichi
8 – Hachi
9 – Ku
10 – Ju

General Terms

Bokken     Wooden sword
Bukuto      Wooden sword
Mae           Front
Migi          Right
Hidari      Left
Ushiro      Rear
Chudan-   Middle
Gedan-      Lower
Kamae-     Posture
Jodan-      Upper
Iaito           Unsharpened Practice Sword
Seiza-         Kneeling seated position
Suwari       Seated
Tachi-        Standing
Waza-        Technique
Hajime      To start
Yame          Stop
Kata           Form or Pattern

Clothing

Hakama     Wide/pleated pants
Himo           Cord
Keiko Gi      Training jacket
Obi               Belt

Technical Terms

Chiburui         Blood clearing
In-                    Motion of contracting the body
Yo-                   Motion of expanding the body
Chuyo-            Neutral position between In and Yo
Shi Dachi       Defender of the Attack
Uchi Dachi    Attacker
Tanden            a Spot 2 inches below navel and 2 inches in
Tameshigiri    Test cut
Mokuso             Meditate
Kirioroshi         straight overhead cut
Nukitsuke          Draw and Cut
Noto                     Re-sheathing the sword

Body Terms

Do                   Side of torso
Kote                Forearm/wrist
Men                Face/head

Titles
Sempai             Senior
Kohai                Junior
Shihan              Japanese Title meaning Model or Senior Instructor
Shidoin             Japanese Title meaning Instructor
Soke                   Headmaster
Sensei                Teacher