| Term | Meaning |
| Ashi | Foot |
| Ashi sabaki | Footwork |
| Ayumi ashi | Sliding step with alternating feet |
| Bokken | Wooden sword |
| Bokuto | Wooden sword |
| Budo | Lit. Warrior way |
| Chaku za | Sit down (in seiza) |
| Chigawa | Leather loops on either side of the do |
| Chika ma | Close distance |
| Chudan no kamae | Middle guard position |
| Dan | Rank |
| Debana waza | Technique to strike opponent just prior to their attack |
| Do | Chest/abdomen protector |
| Dogu | Kendo protectors (men, kote, do, tare) AKA Bogu |
| Dojo | Lit. Way place |
| Domo arigato gozaimasu | Thank you (Usually shortened to arigato gozaimasu) |
| Dotatsu | Strike or thrust |
| Fumi komi ashi | Leap forward AKA Tobi komi |
| Gedan no kame | Low guard position |
| Hai | Yes, agree |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Hakama | Split skirt |
| Harai waza | Sweeping the shinai to the side technique |
| Hasso no kamae | Guard position with shinai held vertically |
| Hiki waza | Technique performed going backwards |
| Himo | String |
| Hiraki ashi | Sideways step |
| Isoku itto no maai | One step, one cut distance |
| Jigeiko | Free excercise (practice) AKA Jyu renshu |
| Jodan no kamae | High guard position |
| Jogeburi | Straight up and down suburi |
| Joseki | Higher place |
| Kaeshi waza | Technique to ward off opponents shinai by sliding against one’s own shinai followed by counter attack using reflex power of opponent’s shinai |
| Kakari geiko | All out attack excercise |
| Kamae (te) | Stance |
| Kamiza | Seat of the Diety (God) |
| Kata | Pre-arranged forms |
| Katana | Sword AKA Tachi |
| Katsugi waza | Shoulder the shinai technique |
| Keiko | Excercise |
| Keikogi | Excercise jacket |
| Kensen | Tip (of the shinai) |
| Ki | Spirit |
| Kiai | Shout |
| Kihon | Basic |
| Kiri kaeshi | Continuous cutting excercise |
| Ko | Small |
| Kodachi | Short sword |
| Kote | Fencing gauntlet (glove) |
| Kyu | Beginner’s rank |
| Men | Face mask, men point |
| Men buton | Cushion on the top part of the men |
| Men gane | Metal grill on the face mask |
| Metsuke | Point of focus or observation (Gaze) |
| Mokuso | Meditation |
| Mune | Chest |
| Nanane buri | Side to side suburi |
| Nakayui | Middle leather string (of the shinai) |
| Nidan waza | Two step technique |
| Nuki waza | Technique to avoid opponent’s attack |
| O same to | Sheath the sword |
| Oji waza | Defensive techniques |
| Okii | Big, large |
| Okuri ashi | Sliding step with leading right foot |
| Onegaishiimasu | Please (train with me) |
| Rei | Bow |
| Sakigawa | Leather cap on top of the shinai |
| Sandan waza | Three step technique |
| Sayu men | Side men AKA Yoko men |
| Seiza | Formal sitting position |
| Seme | To break opponent’s centre by pushing in with one’s shinai |
| Sempai | Class monitor |
| Sensei | Teacher |
| Seretsu | Line up |
| Shiai | Match |
| Shiai jo | Match area (court) |
| Shikake waza | Offensive techniques |
| Shinai | Bamboo sword |
| Shizentai | Natural standing position |
| Sho men | Esprit de corps |
| Shomen | Front (middle) men |
| Sonkyo | Formal crouch position |
| Suburi | Shinai swinging practice |
| Suki | Weakness, opening |
| Suriage waza | Technique to ward off opponents shinai by sliding against one’s own shinai followed by counter attack |
| Tai | Body |
| Taiatari | Body check |
| Tare | hip/groin protector |
| Tenogui | Traditional hand towel |
| Tenouchi | Technique to stop the shinai |
| To ma | Outside distance |
| Tsuba | Sword guard |
| Tsuba dome | Rubber or leather backing of the tsuba |
| Tsubazeriai | Sword guard against sword guard |
| Tsuka | Handle (of the shinai) |
| Tsuki | Throat protector, tsuki point |
| Tsuru | String (of the shinai) |
| Uchi | Cut |
| Uchi komi geiko | Attack excercise with receiver showing opening |
| Uchiotoshi waza | Strike the shinai down technique |
| Waki no kamae | Guard position with shinai held to the back |
| Waza | Technique |
| Yame | Stop |
| Zanshin | Mental and physical alertness, readiness to strike |
| Shiai (Match) Specific Terms | |
| Ari | (Men/Kote/Do/Tsuki) point eg. Men Ari! |
| Encho | Overtime, extension |
| Gogi | Conference |
| Hansoku | Penalty (1/2 point) |
| Hantei | Judges decision |
| Hikiwake | Draw |
| Ippon | 1 point |
| Ippon gachi | One point victory |
| Nihonme | Second point |
| Shimpan | Referee |
| Shimpan cho | Match director |
| Shimpan shunin | Head referee |
| Shobu | Match |
| Shobu ari | Match point |
| Wakare | Break |
| Yuko dotatsu | Valid strike or thrust |
| Senpo | First team player |
| Jiho | Second team player |
| Chuken | Third (middle) team player |
| Fukusho | Fourth team player |
| Taisho | Anchor player |
| General Terms | |
| Migi | Right |
| Hidari | Left |
| Mae | Forward |
| Atoh | Back |
| Ichi | 1 |
| Ni | 2 |
| San | 3 |
| Shi (Yon) | 4 |
| Go | 5 |
| Roku | 6 |
| Shichi (Nana) | 7 |
| Hachi | 8 |
| Kyu | 9 |
| Ju | 10 |