Search: “kenjutsu”
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The Japanese Sword family encompasses the interrelated disciplines of kenjutsu (classical sword combat), kendō (modern bamboo-sword fencing), and iaidō/iaijutsu (the art of drawing and cutting), all p...
The Kenjutsu Cut subfamily encompasses the primary cutting techniques of classical Japanese swordsmanship, classified by their trajectory and target. [1] The major cuts include shōmen-uchi (straight d...
The Dō Cut targets the opponent's torso with a diagonal or horizontal cut to the midsection, one of the four primary target areas in both kenjutsu and kendō. [1] The dō cut requires precise blade angl...
The Sword group encompasses all combat techniques employing bladed weapons of sword length, spanning both East Asian and European traditions. [1] This group unifies the Japanese sword arts (kenjutsu, ...
The Men Cut is a descending vertical or slightly diagonal cut to the top of the opponent's head, the most fundamental and frequently practised technique in Japanese swordsmanship. [1] A correct men cu...
The Kote Cut targets the opponent's wrist or forearm, striking the area just above the hand to disable the opponent's ability to wield the sword. [1] In kendō, the kote strike targets the right kote w...
Gedan-no-kamae (low guard) positions the sword with the tip pointed downward toward the opponent's knees, the tsuka held at hip level. [1] Gedan is a defensive and inviting guard that conceals the wie...
Hassō-no-kamae (eight-direction guard) positions the sword vertically beside the right side of the head, with the tsuka at mouth height and the blade pointing upward. [1] This guard radiates threat in...
The Weapon class encompasses all fighting techniques that employ an external implement — whether bladed, blunt, flexible, or projectile — as the primary means of offence and defence. [1] Weapon-based ...
The Tsuki Thrust targets the throat protector (tsuki-dare) of the men with a straight forward thrust of the shinai tip, making it the only non-cutting technique among kendō's four scoring actions. [1]...
Straight vertical cut descending along the centerline to strike the top of the head.
Diagonal cut targeting the side of the head, angled approximately 45 degrees from vertical.
The Kamae subfamily encompasses the five standard sword guards (go-gyō-no-kamae) used across Japanese sword arts — chūdan, jōdan, gedan, hassō, and waki-gamae. [1] Each kamae positions the sword to de...
Chūdan-no-kamae (middle guard) positions the sword with the tip (kissaki) pointed at the opponent's throat or eyes, the tsuka (handle) held at navel height, embodying the principle of centre-line domi...
Jōdan-no-kamae (high guard) raises the sword overhead with the arms extended, threatening an immediate downward cut to any target. [1] Jōdan is the most aggressive of the five standard kamae, projecti...
Waki-gamae (side guard) conceals the sword behind the body with the blade pointing rearward, hiding the weapon's length and the wielder's intent from the opponent. [1] This deceptive guard denies the ...
The Horizontal Draw Cut (nukitsuke) is the standard opening action of iaidō: from seiza or standing, the right hand draws the blade while the left hand pulls the saya rearward (sayabiki), and the blad...
The Iaidō Draw Cut subfamily covers the techniques of drawing the Japanese sword from its scabbard and delivering an immediate cutting strike in a single fluid motion — the defining action of iaidō an...
The Rising Draw Cut is an iaidō nukitsuke variant in which the blade is drawn upward in a rising arc rather than horizontally, cutting from the opponent's lower body toward the upper body or face. [1]...
Ōji Waza (counter techniques) are defensive-offensive tactics in kendō where the defender responds to the opponent's attack with a parry, block, or evasion followed by an immediate counter-strike, inc...
Shikake Waza (initiating techniques) are the offensive tactics in kendō where the attacker creates an opening in the opponent's guard and strikes first, including debana-waza (striking as the opponent...
The Kendō Waza subfamily covers the competitive techniques of kendō — the four valid target strikes (men, kote, dō, tsuki), the footwork that delivers them, and the tactical categories of shikake-waza...