General Concepts
| Kendo (剣道) | Way of the Sword |
| Budo (武道) | Martial Way |
| Bushido (武士道) | Way of the Warrior |
| Rei (礼) | Respect / courtesy |
| Reiho (礼法) | Etiquette |
| Shisei (姿勢) | Posture |
| Metsuke (目付) | Way of looking |
| Kamae (構え) | Stance / guard |
| Maai (間合い) | Distance / timing |
| Zanshin (残心) | Remaining spirit |
| Kiai (気合) | Spirit shout |
| Ki-ken-tai-ichi (気剣体一致) | Spirit–sword–body unity |
| Fumikomi (踏み込み) | Stamping footwork |
| Seme (攻め) | Pressure |
| Tame (溜め) | Mental readiness |
| Enzan no metsuke (遠山の目付) | “Looking at distant mountains” |
Equipment (Bogu & Gear)
Armor
| Bogu (防具) | Armor |
| Men (面) | Helmet |
| Do (胴) | Chest protector |
| Kote (小手) | Gloves |
| Tare (垂れ) | Waist protector |
| Zekken / Nafuda (ゼッケン / 名札) | Name tag |
| Monomi (物見) | Eye opening on men |
| Tsuki-dare | Throat guard |
Weapons
| Shinai (竹刀) | Bamboo sword |
| Bokuto / Bokken (木刀) | Wooden sword |
| Tsuba (鍔) | Hand guard |
| Tsuru (弦) | Shinai string |
| Nakayui (中結) | Shinai leather knot |
| Sakigawa (先革) | Tip leather |
| Tsukagawa (柄革) | Handle leather |
| Chigiri (ちぎり) | Shinai internal wedge |
Footwork (Ashi-sabaki)
| Okuri-ashi (送り足) | Sliding step |
| Ayumi-ashi (歩み足) | Walking step |
| Hiraki-ashi (開き足) | Diagonal step |
| Fumikomi-ashi (踏み込み足) | Stamping step |
| Suri-ashi (すり足) | Gliding feet |
| Tobi-komi (飛び込み) | Leaping entry |
| Tai-atari (体当たり) | Body check |
Kamae (Stances)
| Chudan-no-kamae (中段) | Middle guard |
| Jodan-no-kamae (上段) | High guard |
| Gedan-no-kamae (下段) | Low guard |
| Hasso-no-kamae (八相) | Side high |
| Waki-gamae (脇構え) | Hidden guard |
| Nito (二刀) | Two swords |
Datotsu-bui (Valid Targets)
| Men (面) | Head |
| Kote (小手) | Wrist |
| Do (胴) | Torso |
| Tsuki (突き) | Throat |
| Hidari / Migi | Left / Right |
Basic Strikes (Waza)
| Shomen-uchi | Straight men strike |
| Kote-uchi | Wrist strike |
| Do-uchi | Torso strike |
| Tsuki | Thrust |
| Kiri-kaeshi | Cutting practice |
| Uchikomi-geiko | Repeated attack drill |
| Kakari-geiko | Attack practice |
| Ji-geiko | Free sparring |
| Shiai-geiko | Match practice |
Advanced Waza Categories
Shikake-waza (Initiating)
| Debana-waza |
| Harai-waza |
| Katsugi-waza |
| Nidan-waza |
| San-dan-waza |
Oji-waza (Counter)
| Nuki-waza |
| Suriage-waza |
| Kaeshi-waza |
| Uchiotoshi-waza |
Refereeing & Shiai
| Shiai (試合) | Match |
| Encho (延長) | Overtime |
| Ippon (一本) | Valid point |
| Hansoku (反則) | Penalty |
| Hantei (判定) | Decision |
| Shushin (主審) | Head referee |
| Fukushin (副審) | Side referee |
| Aka / Shiro | Red / White |
| Gogi (合議) | Referee conference |
| Yame (止め) | Stop |
| Hajime (始め) | Begin |
Ranking & Titles
| Kyu (級) | Beginner rank |
| Dan (段) | Black belt rank |
| Renshi (錬士) | Senior title |
| Kyoshi (教士) | Instructor |
| Hanshi (範士) | Master |
| Shogo (称号) | Teaching title |
Dojo Language
| Onegaishimasu (お願いします) | Please teach me |
| Arigato gozaimashita | Thank you |
| Yame | Stop |
| Seiretsu | Line up |
| Mokuso | Meditation |
| Rei | Bow |
| Otagai-ni-rei | Bow to each other |
Philosophical Terms
| Heijoshin (平常心) | Calm mind |
| Mushin (無心) | No mind |
| Fudoshin (不動心) | Immovable mind |
| Satsujinken (殺人剣) | Killing sword |
| Katsujinken (活人剣) | Life-giving sword |
| Shugyo (修行) | Austerity training |
Japanese Counting (Dojo)
| Ichi |
| Ni |
| San |
| Yon / Shi |
| Go |
| Roku |
| Nana |
| Hachi |
| Kyu |
| Ju |
Commands During Practice
| Kamae-to | Assume stance |
| Men! | Strike men |
| Kote! | Strike kote |
| Do! | Strike do |
| Tsuki! | Thrust |
| Yame! | Stop |
| Naore! | Reset |
Rare / Advanced Terms (High Dan & Japan)
| Sen (先) | Initiative |
| Sen-no-sen | Taking initiative first |
| Go-no-sen | Counter initiative |
| Sen-sen-no-sen | Anticipatory initiative |
| Tachi-ai (立合い) | Opening engagement |
| Issoku-itto-no-maai (一足一刀) | One step, one sword distance |
| Kensen (剣先) | Sword tip |
| Shin-gi-tai (心技体) | Mind–technique–body |