Resources
This section contains useful resources for learning jukendo and tankendo!
Glossary
General
| Term | Translation |
|---|---|
| Practice partners | |
| sensei | Teacher |
| sempai | Senior |
| kohai | Junior |
| motodachi | Person who acts as the training partner or opponent during practice, often helping others improve their techniques |
| shugisha | The one performing the technique in a structured practice setting |
| uchikata | Often referred to as "striking/attacking sword", this role is typically taken by the senior practitioner or instructor. The uchikata initiates the action, governs the tempo, and provides a true attack, allowing the shikata to learn proper technique, distancing, and spirit |
| shikata | Known as "doing/receiving sword", this role is performed by the junior practitioner or student. The shikata responds to the uchikata's actions, executing the techniques and learning from the guidance provided |
| Equipment | |
| gi | Jacket of the practice uniform |
| hakama | Pants of the practice uniform |
| mokuju | Wooden replica of a rifle used in jukendo |
| tanshinai | Bamboo replica of a bayonet used in tankendo |
| bogu | The whole armor |
| men | Helmet that protects the head and throat |
| do | Armor that protects the torso |
| mune-ate | Protection placed under the do to cushion thrusts |
| kote | Gloves that protect the wrists and thumb |
| tare | Apron that protects the lower body |
| kata | Shoulder protector worn in jukendo that protects the heart and shoulder |
| shino | Glove worn in jukendo on the right hand |
| Counting to ten | |
| ichi | One |
| ni | Two |
| san | Three |
| shi/yon | Four |
| go | Five |
| roku | Six |
| shichi/nana | Seven |
| hachi | Eight |
| kyū | Nine |
| jū | Ten |
| Course opening and closing | |
| At the beginning of the course | |
| « taiso » | Warm-up |
| « seiretsu » | Form a line |
| « chakuza »/« seiza » | Sit |
| « mokuso » | Silent Meditation |
| « mokuso yame » | Stop silent meditation |
| « shomen ni rei » | Bow to the shomen (dojo's wall of honour) |
| « sensei (gata) ni rei » | Bow to the sensei (gata if several senseis) |
| « otagai ni rei » | Bow to your fellow practitioners |
| « kata/men wo tsuke » | Put your kata/men on |
| At the end of the course | |
| « seiretsu » | Form a line |
| « chakuza »/« seiza » | Sit |
| « kata/men wo tore » | Take off your kata/men |
| « mokuso » | Silent Meditation |
| « mokuso yame » | Stop silent meditation |
| « sensei (gata) ni rei » | Bow to the sensei (gata if several senseis) |
| « otagai ni rei » | Bow to your fellow practitioners |
| « shomen ni rei » | Bow to the shomen (dojo's wall of honour) |
| Orders | |
| « ki wo tsuke » | « Attention! » |
| « yasume » | « At ease! » |
| « kamae » | Take guard |
| « naore » | Return from guard position |
| « hajime » | Start |
| « yame » | Stop |
| « onaji » | Repeat the same technique |
| gorei | Commands, given by the motodachi |
| kamae | Stance or posture. It refers to both the physical positioning of the body and the mental readiness of a practitioner |
Postures and movements
| Term | Translation |
|---|---|
| Jukendo | |
| « chudan-no-kamae » | The most fundamental kamae, it is the middle guard position: left foot forward, tip of the mokuju positioned at the level of the opponent's chest, angled to point at their right eye |
| « gedan-no-kamae » | A low guard position where the tip of the weapon is pointed toward the opponent's knee |
| Tankendo | |
| « chudan-no-kamae » | The most fundamental kamae, it is the middle guard position: right arm extended forward, with the kensen at its own heart height but angled upward toward the opponent's eye-line |
| « irimi-no-kamae » | A modified middle guard position where the body angles slightly as if preparing to attack. The arm extends further, angling the weapon so that the kensen tips to the opponent's wrist |
| « gedan-no-kamae » | A low guard position where the tip of the weapon is pointed toward the opponent's knee |
| « jodan-no-kamae » | A high guard position where the tanshinai is raised above the center of the head, approximately a fist-width away |
| Movements | |
| « mae » | Step forward |
| « ato » | Step backward |
| « migi » | Step to the right |
| « hidari » | Step to the left |
| « hiraki ashi » | Literally « open foot » or « opening step ». It is a diagonal movement technique, often used to dodge or reposition. There is a version for each side: « hiraki ashi - migi » (to the right) and « hiraki ashi - hidari » (to the left) |
| « maware (migi) » | In jukendo, turn around to the right (by pivoting on the left back foot to perform the rotation). In tankendo, turn around to the left (by pivoting on the right front foot to perform the rotation); additionally, the command is shortened to « maware » (thus without specifying the direction). |
Techniques
| Technique | Commands | Notes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jukendo | |||
| Kihon waza | |||
| kamae | (ki wo tsuke) « rei » « kamae » | 5-step distance (chudan, gedan · hantai kosa) | Opening sequence |
| ashi-sabaki | okuri-ashi, tsugi-ashi, hiraki-ashi, ayumi-ashi | 1-step as base | Footwork |
| chokutotsu | « tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | Direct thrusts (left side) | |
| dattotsu | « hazuse tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | Direct thrusts (right side) | |
| katotsu | « shita wo tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | Direct thrusts (strike below) | |
| nodo | « nodo wo tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | Attacks to the throat | |
| kote | « kote wo tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | Attacks to the wrist | |
| mae e tsuki | « mae e tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | Step forward and then thrust | |
| renzoku-zuki | « tsuzuite tsuke » | Continuous attacks | |
| tsuki-nagashi | « tsuke mae e » « onaji » « onaji » | Thrust and then step forward | |
| migi no harai-zuki | « migi wo harae tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | (seme, oji) | Move the opponent's mokuju to the right and then thrust |
| hidari no harai-zuki | « hidari wo harae tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | (seme, oji) | Move the opponent's mokuju towards the left and then thrust |
| shita no harai-zuki | « shita wo harae tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | (seme, oji) | Move the opponent's mokuju when he is in gedan no kamae and then thrust |
| naore | « naore » | Closing sequence | |
| Oyo waza | |||
| hajime | « hajime » | Start of the exercise | |
| dai-ichi | « dai-ichi keiko hajime » | shiai-geiko | Determined sequence |
| dai-ni | « dai-ni keiko hajime » | shiai-geiko | Combat openings practice |
| dai-san | « dai-san keiko hajime » | shiai-geiko | Combat practice |
| yame | « yame » | End of the exercise | |
| Tankendo | |||
| Kihon waza | |||
| kamae | (ki wo tsuke) « rei » « kamae » | 5-step distance (chudan, gedan, jodan, irimi) | Opening sequence |
| ashi-sabaki | okuri-ashi, tsugi-ashi, hiraki-ashi, ayumi-ashi, fumikae-ashi | 1-step as base | Footwork |
| tsuki (nodo, do) | « nodo/do wo tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | Attacks to the throat/torso | |
| renzoku-zuki (nodo, do) | « tsuzuite nodo/do wo tsuke » | Continuous attacks (to the throat/torso) | |
| uchi (men, kote) | « men/kote wo ute » « onaji » « onaji » | Attacks to the head/wrist | |
| renzoku-uchi (men, kote) | « tsuzuite men/kote wo ute » | Continuous attacks (to the head/wrist) | |
| tsuki-nagashi (nodo, do) | « nodo/do wo tsuke, mae e » « onaji » « onaji » | Thrust to the throat/torso and then continue forward | |
| uchi-nagashi (men, kote) | « men/kote wo ute, mae e » « onaji » « onaji » | Strike on the head/wrist and then continue forward | |
| harai-zuki (nodo, do · hidari, migi) | « hidari/migi ni harai, nodo/do wo tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | Move the opponent's tanshinai to the left/right and then thrust to the throat/torso | |
| harai-uchi (men · hidari, migi) | « hidari/migi ni harai, men wo ute » « onaji » « onaji » | seme | Move the opponent's tanshinai to the left/right and then strike to the head |
| tsuki-harai-tsuki (nodo, do) | « tsuki wo harae, nodo/do wo tsuke » « onaji » « onaji » | oji | Move the opponent's tanshinai as they attack and then thrust to the throat/torso |
| uchi-harai-uchi | « men wo harae, men wo ute » « onaji » « onaji » | oji | Move the opponent's tanshinai as they attack and then strike to the head |
| seitai-zuki (kaho) | « kaho ni seitei » | oji | Similar to kata 6th |
| seitai-zuki (kakae-komu) | « kakae-komu ni seitei » | oji | Similar to kata 7th |
| seitai-zuki (joho) | « joho ni seitei » | oji | Similar to kata 8th |
| Oyo waza | |||
| hajime | « hajime » | Start of the exercise | |
| dai-ichi | « dai-ichi keiko hajime » | shiai-geiko | Determined sequence |
| dai-ni | « dai-ni keiko hajime » | shiai-geiko | Combat openings practice |
| dai-san | « dai-san keiko hajime » | shiai-geiko | Combat practice |
| yame | « yame » | End of the exercise |
Kata
Below you'll find videos demonstrating jukendo and tankendo katas.
Jukendo
Tankendo
Mixed
There are also kata sets where uchikata and shikata are using different weapons.