Mannersby Yasushi Sasaki
Etiquette, or manner, is an integral part of Kendo, and owing to its cultural heritage, Japanese words are used at the start, during, and at the end of each Kendo class.
- sei-retsu (整列
): "line up" - sei-za (正座): a way of sitting with the knees in line and the shins and the tops of the feet on the floor. The big toes of both feet should be adjacent or one on top of the other, and the buttocks rest on the heels, which are next to each other. The back is straight, and the hands are placed on the upper part of the thighs with the fingers together. In Japan, this is considered the correct way of sitting.
- shisei-wo-tadashite (姿勢を正して): "straighten yourself"
- moku-sou (黙想): "Meditate." The act of composing your posture, breath, mind, and spirit while in the sei-za position, at start and end of the class. Appropriate time is at least for 15 seconds.
- ya-me (止め): "stop it"
- kami-za-ni-rei (上座に礼): "bow toward the head of the dojo (道場)"
- cf. kami-za (上座): The place where the peron(s) who are higher in ranking, or older, or more skilled are positioned. Usually, in Japan, there is a national flag and/or a flag of a Kendo federation on the wall or at the front of a dojo. Kami-za and shou-men (正面) have almost the same meaning.
- cf. kami-za (上座
- sensei-ni-rei (先生に礼): "bow toward the instructor"
- otagai-ni-rei (お互いに礼): "bow toward each other"
- men-tsuke (面付け): Wearing of the face protector or men (面).
- men-to-re (面取れ): Taking off of men
- sa-za-u-ki (左座右起): This term expresses the correct way of standing up and sitting down when performing a seated bow, or za-rei (座礼).
- sa-za (左座): When sitting down, one should take one step back with the left foot, first placing the left knee on the floor, then the right knee, and then stretch out the toes and sit.
- u-ki (右起): When standing up, raise the hips while leaving both knees on the floor, and while raising the hips bring the toes in. Then place the right foot one step forward and rise while bringing the left foot into line.
- sa-za (左座
(Quoted from Japanese English Kendo Dictionary)