• Preparation for the written exam in the promotion examination : Especially for examinations for third dan and above, written questions on kendo principles and terminology are asked.
• Mental training in training : Understanding the meaning of words will change the way you approach your daily training
• Improved leadership skills : When you are in a teaching position, you will be able to provide spiritual guidance with appropriate words.
• Application to daily life : The spirituality learned through kendo can also be applied to business and human relationships.

Meaning: To concentrate one's mind on one thing without being distracted by other things.

In Kendo, it is important to clear your mind of distractions and focus all your attention on the opponent in front of you during practice. This shows that you can shake off the tension and anxiety before a match and put everything into each technique and each strike.

Usage example: It is used when heading to the dojo with the feeling of "I will concentrate on today's training with single-minded devotion." It is also a popular phrase to embroider on men tenugui (face towels).

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Meaning: Teachings that show the important elements of kendo in order.

Detailed explanation:

• One Eye (eye): The most important thing is the insight to see through your opponent. Miyamoto Musashi taught that "the two ways of observing and seeing" are "strong in the eyes of observation and weak in the eyes of seeing." This refers to the ability to read your opponent's movements, breathing, and even their emotional state.
• Nisoku (footwork): In kendo, there is a teaching that says, "Don't hit with your hands, hit with your feet." Accurate footwork is the basis of effective strikes, and is the most important thing that beginners should pay attention to.
• Three kinds of courage: Strong mental strength and determination that will not be shaken by any opponent. It means the courage to overcome fear and hesitation and take a bold step.
• Four Powers (Physical Ability): The physical strength and muscle power required to perform techniques. However, this is ranked fourth, indicating that mental strength and technique take priority.

Importance in Practice: This order clearly shows the priorities of kendo training. Beginners tend to rely on strength, but it teaches that true improvement comes first from mastering observation and footwork.

Meaning: To strike without making two movements.

Technical explanation: Beginners tend to separate the two movements of "swinging up" and "strike," but advanced practitioners combine the swing and strike in one beat. This dramatically increases the speed of the strike, making it harder for the opponent to predict.

Practice method: When practicing, you can master the one-beat technique by gradually practicing from three movements (swing up, hit, return) to two movements and then one movement.

Meaning: Combining movements into one. The most refined form in Suburi.

Step-by-step understanding:

• Three movements: 1. Raise the swing, 2. Strike, 3. Return to the middle stance
• Two movements: 1. Swing back 2. Hit
• One movement: 1. Hit (swing and strike are integrated)

Training goal: Striking in one movement is a movement with no wasted energy that has been acquired through years of training. The ideal is to be able to strike naturally without thinking about it.

Meaning: To concentrate on one thing and not be distracted by other things.

In kendo: This refers to the state of being able to concentrate solely on the match with the opponent in front of you, without being distracted by the voices of the spectators or the atmosphere around you during a match. It is similar to "iichisenshin," but it emphasizes the element of "not being disturbed."

Mental training: Even in everyday life, the attitude of focusing wholeheartedly on one's studies or work is proof of the mental strength cultivated through kendo.

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Meaning: The distance in which you can step forward to strike your opponent, and step back to avoid your opponent's strike.

Importance in actual combat: This distance is the most basic and important concept in Kendo. Usually, both sides strike from this distance, and it is the starting point of offense and defense.

Sense of distance: For beginners, the first step to improvement is to memorize this distance with your body. By practicing repeatedly, you will naturally acquire a sense of the optimal distance between you and your opponent.

Advanced technique: By freely manipulating this distance, you can break down your opponent and create advantageous situations. When moving from close range to far range, you should also consider the distance of one step and one sword as the standard.

History: A style of swordsmanship founded by Ito Ittosai, who descended from the Kanemaki-ryu style, at the end of the Sengoku period.

Development: It flourished when his pupil, Ono Tadaaki, became a sword instructor for the Tokugawa Shogunate. It is a historic school that was widely popular among the samurai class as the family school of the Edo Shogunate.

Characteristics: Based on the concept of "One sword is enough to cover a thousand swords," it teaches that by mastering one sword technique, one can be able to handle any technique.

Modern influence: Itto-ryu has had a major influence on the techniques and spirituality of modern kendo, and the teachings of Itto-ryu are still passed down in many dojos.

Source: Words used by Miyamoto Musashi to explain stance in the "Book of Five Rings" (The Water Chapter).

Original text meaning: "Having a stance and not having a stance does not mean that there should be something to say about holding the sword...it is more like having a stance but not having a stance." It is a mistake to think that there is a stance for the sword; what is meant is that there is a stance but there is no stance.

Deeper teaching: It teaches us the importance of flexibility, the ability to change freely according to the situation, rather than sticking to a formal stance. Even if there is a form, we should not be trapped by that form.

"Kata no Kamae" and "Kondo no Kamae": Ultimately, it is important to move away from "Kata no Kamae" and place emphasis on "Kondo no Kamae." True Kamae is being mentally prepared to respond instantly from any Kamae.

Practical application: After mastering the basic stances such as middle stance and upper stance, the goal is to be able to take the optimal stance depending on the opponent and situation, without sticking to them.

Meaning: An encouraging phrase that says if you overcome difficulties and work hard to overcome them, there will be blue skies (good things) waiting for you beyond the clouds.

Figurative meaning: Clouds represent obstacles, difficulties, and worries, but also offer hope that there is a brighter future ahead if we overcome them.

Application to Kendo training: Kendo comes with many difficulties, such as tough training, losing matches, failing promotion exams, etc. However, it is important to have faith that once you overcome these difficulties, growth and joy await you.

Why it's popular: Due to its positive and hopeful message, this four-character idiom is often used on the mask towels and bamboo sword bags of young kendo practitioners.

Meaning: To see the other person as a whole, as if looking at a distant mountain.

Technical explanation: In kendo, it is important to look at the opponent's entire body through their eyes, and not to focus on one particular point. Staring at one point narrows your field of vision, and you will miss your opponent's movements.

Connection with "Two ways of observing": Miyamoto Musashi teaches, "The eye of observation is strong, the eye of seeing is weak." This teaching emphasizes the importance of observation that is perceived with the heart, "observation," rather than the physical gaze of "seeing."

Training method: During practice, try not to fixate your gaze on the tip of your opponent's bamboo sword or the mask, but instead focus on your opponent as a whole. This will enable you to detect even the slightest change in your opponent's movements.

Effectiveness in actual combat: By mastering Toyama's Metsuke technique, you will be able to quickly detect the signs of your opponent's attack and respond appropriately. It will also help you avoid revealing your own weaknesses.

Meaning: A perfect hit is something that comes to your mind and goes exactly as you intended.

Kendo experience: This refers to an ideal strike that combines perfect timing, precise striking, strong energy, and beautiful residual spirit.

Value: Among thousands of practice sessions, only a handful of strikes can be considered a perfect hit. Delivering that strike is one of the great joys of kendo training.

Meaning: A training method that develops concentration and endurance through repeated attacks and strikes.

Format: This is a training style in which the attacking player (Kakerite) strikes the receiving player (Motodachi) with full force in succession. The duration is usually set at 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Purpose: Not only will you improve your physical strength, but you will also develop the mental strength to perform accurate techniques even when tired. You will also develop the judgment to determine opportunities to strike.

Important note: It is important to put emotion into each strike, rather than just hitting with sheer force. The Motodachi will guide the opponent appropriately, giving you the opportunity to hone your technique.

Source: A famous quote from the swordsmanship book "Tsuneshizu Kendan" by Matsuura Seizan (Lord of Hirado Domain).

Meaning: You can win by chance, but you can't lose by chance. There is always a reason for losing.

Deeper lesson: When you win, you shouldn't become complacent, but should look for your weaknesses and areas for improvement. This is because you may have just been lucky. On the other hand, when you lose, there is always a reason for it, and by analyzing and improving on that reason, you can definitely grow.

Kendo application: Whether you win or lose a match, it is important to always remain humble and reflect on your own kendo. You can learn a lot, especially from losing matches.

Value as a life lesson: This saying is loved by many as a universal teaching that can be applied not only to kendo but also to business, academics, and all other fields.

Meaning: The three elements of spirit (voice), action of the bamboo sword (strike), and body movement (right foot) must always work together to strike.

Conditions for a valid strike: In order for a strike to be recognized as an ippon in kendo, these three elements must be perfectly in sync. If even one element is missing, it is not a valid strike.

Details of each element:

• Ki (spirit): A strong spirit, a loud voice (kiai), and decisiveness. It refers to the workings of the will and mind.
• Ken: Correct use of the bamboo sword with a straight cutting edge. Accurately hitting the target with a monouchi.
• Body: Correct body movement and posture. Step in with your right foot and hit with your whole body.

Key Points of Practice: As a beginner, you will practice these three elements separately, but as you improve, they will naturally come together. This is the state known as "unity of mind, spirit, and power."

Meaning: The Four Commandments of Kendo. Four mental movements that should not occur in the mind during Kendo training.

The Four Commandments:

• Surprise: When you are surprised by an unexpected action from another person, your physical and mental activity becomes disrupted, you are unable to make normal judgments or take appropriate action, and you are left helpless.
• Ku (fear): Fear, a state in which mental activity slows down due to fear of the other person, limbs tremble, and freedom of movement is lost.
• Doubt: A state in which you are suspicious of the other person's feelings and actions, are unable to make a calm judgment, and are unable to make a decision.
• Confusion: A state in which the mind is confused and mentally confused, making it impossible to make quick decisions or act quickly.

How to overcome these mental disturbances: To overcome these mental disturbances, it is important to get used to various situations through daily practice and gain experience. It is also effective to practice calming the mind through breathing exercises and meditation.

The importance of a calm mind: Avoiding the four precepts and always maintaining a calm mind is the goal of mental training in kendo.

Meaning: "Kyo" means that the opponent's defense is weak, and "Jitsu" means that the opponent is well protected.

Tactical teaching: There is an old saying that goes, "Avoid the real and strike the false." It is more effective to identify and strike the weak points (false points) of your opponent's defense rather than forcing an attack on a strong point (real point).

Techniques for creating a hole: Advanced practitioners create a hole by attacking the opponent's real area. For example, by attacking the men area strongly, the moment the opponent tries to defend the men area, the kote area becomes open (a hole).

Etymology: It means to think about the past.

Original meaning: The training and practice of traditional Japanese martial arts. It is not just "practice," but refers to training to approach the ideal form established by past masters.

Modern understanding: In kata practice, the essence of training is to strive to approach the ideal forms left behind by our predecessors. This means not only mastering the techniques, but also learning the spirituality embodied in those techniques.

Meaning: As the saying goes, "The sword is the person, and the sword is the heart," this teaching teaches that the sword is moved by the heart, and that the sword and the heart are one and the same.

Deeper meaning: Proper sword training results in the development of a proper mind. Conversely, if the mind is disturbed, the technique will also be disturbed. Mind and technique are one and inseparable.

Character development: This idea is directly linked to the kendo philosophy of "character development." This phrase expresses the essence of kendo, which is to refine one's character through the improvement of technique.

Source: Words from the monk Takuan's "Fudochi Shinmyoroku."

Meaning: The ultimate state of mind in kendo is the same as the state of mindlessness and thoughtlessness in Zen.

Connection with Zen: During the Edo period, many swordsmen also practiced Zen. The state of mind achieved by emptying one's mind and facing one's opponent has something in common with the state of enlightenment achieved through zazen.

Modern practice: Clearing away distracting thoughts and swinging the bamboo sword with a pure mind is one of the goals of kendo training.

Meaning: The teaching that "Ken (attack)" and "Mai (defense)" are two sides of the same coin.

Details: Even when attacking, it is important to maintain the mindset and readiness to prepare for the opponent's counterattack, and even when on the defensive, to always maintain an attacking mindset.

Practical meaning: Be alert when attacking, and be careful when waiting. This mentality allows for sophisticated offense and defense.

Pronunciation: It is pronounced as "Learn the meaning of regret through the exchange of swords."

Meaning: A phrase that teaches mutual understanding and personal improvement through kendo.

The meaning of "love": "Love" here means to cherish and not let go. It means wanting to train or compete with that person again.

The core of the kendo spirit: This is a very important phrase that shows that the purpose of kendo is not just to defeat the opponent, but to help each other improve and grow as people through training.

Popularity: This is one of the most popular four-character idioms to be embroidered on men tenugui.

Meaning: "Overcome oneself," that is, the mindset of approaching things with strong will.

Examples: the determination to overcome one's weakness of wanting to avoid hard training or take it easy, and the strength to not succumb to anxiety and tension before a match.

Greatest enemy: In kendo, the greatest enemy is not the opponent, but one's own weakness. Cultivating self-control is the path to true strength.

Meaning: To overcome one's laziness and desires and cultivate a spirit of perseverance.

Practice in Kendo training: The perseverance to continue practicing every day, through the hot summer and cold winter. The mental strength to not give up even when losing a match and to continue practicing. These are the practices of self-control and perseverance.

Author: A book of military strategy written by Miyamoto Musashi. It is Musashi's most representative work and is said to summarize the secrets of swordsmanship.

Structure: The title of the book comes from the five elements (five rings) of esoteric Buddhism, and the book is divided into five volumes: earth, water, fire, wind, and space.

Contents: The Earth Volume provides an overview of swordsmanship, the Water Volume covers techniques, the Fire Volume covers combat knowledge, the Wind Volume provides a critique of other schools, and the Sky Volume covers the state of enlightenment.

Modern-day influence: Not only is it a book on kendo, but it is also read around the world as a business book, and Musashi's wisdom has universal value that is still applicable today.

Meaning: To seal the opponent's sword, technique, and energy as a means of subduing them.

Three ways:

• Killing the sword: Controlling the function of the opponent's sword by holding back or sweeping it away.
• Kill the technique: Attack proactively and don't give your opponent any time to launch a technique.
• Kill the spirit: Overwhelm the opponent with your willpower and take the initiative before they try to attack.

Advanced techniques: These are advanced techniques that are acquired through years of training.

Meaning: The posture and mental state that allows you to respond to your opponent's counterattack without letting your guard down even after striking.

Specific movements: Generally, after striking, you will take some distance, assume a middle stance, and face your opponent.

Conditions for a valid strike: Without this Zanshin, even if the strike is perfectly executed, it will not be recognized as an ippon. Zanshin is one of the important elements of a valid strike.

Mental meaning: Don't let your guard down even after hitting the ball, and always be prepared for the next attack or defense. This is a lesson not only for matches, but also for everyday life: "Never let your guard down until the very end."

Meaning: Shock, fear, and suspicion. For details, please refer to the entry for "Shock, fear, and suspicion."

Source: Originally a Zen phrase.

Meaning: If you have a pure heart, anywhere can become a training ground (dojo).

Profound teaching: Even if you don't have a fancy dojo or a great teacher, as long as you have an open mind and a willingness to learn, you can learn from anywhere. All of your daily life can become a place for training.

Meaning: To become so focused on one thing that you lose sight of everything else, neglecting the most important things and resulting in failure.

For example in kendo: If you are distracted by your opponent's men and get hit by a kotegae, or if you are so focused on having lost a point that you can't concentrate on the next attack or defense, these are examples of being in a state of toshin.

Mental states to avoid: In Takuan's "Fudochi Shinmyoroku," it is also said that the mind should not be fixed in one place.

Meaning: "Staying true to the truth." The idea is that faithfulness to the fundamentals is the foundation of everything, and that practical applications are based on that.

Kendo practice: Accurately mastering the basic stance and striking techniques is a prerequisite for mastering applied techniques. If you neglect the basics and only practice applied techniques, you cannot expect to achieve true improvement.

Meaning: One of the ways in which the master-disciple relationship exists in Japanese martial arts, and indicates the process of training.

Three stages:

• Shu: The beginner's stage. Faithfully follow the teacher's teachings, practice diligently, and hone your skills. It is important to accurately execute what you are taught without adding your own style.
• Ha: This is the stage where you make the teachings you have learned your own, go further to learn various methods, and incorporate their merits. You will learn new aspects that you did not gain in the Shu stage, and become even stronger.
• Ri: To go beyond Ha, discover one's own unique realm, master the secrets, separate oneself from the master, and become greater than the master. However, "ri" does not mean to disrespect the master, but rather to go beyond the master's teachings and open up a new realm.

Modern understanding: This step-by-step learning process is known as a universal methodology not only for kendo but for mastering any art.

Source: A concept derived from Bugaku, a form of Japanese gagaku music.

Meaning: Teaching the order of movement of things, starting slowly, gradually speeding up, and finishing quickly.

Kendo application: A strike should also start calmly and with the final strike being the strongest and sharpest. Rather than suddenly exerting force, movements that gradually increase speed and power are both beautiful and effective.

Meaning: The best opportunity to strike.

Mentality: A high level of mentality is required, such as "not hitting even if you're hit" or "hitting without hitting." Rather than just hitting blindly, it's important to have the ability to determine the exact moment when the ball will definitely be hit.

Meaning: The three elements of mind, spirit, and strength working together as one.

Each element:

• Mind: The mind is the part that observes the opponent's movements and governs all techniques. It is the basis for determining one's own will.
• Ki: Spirit, energy, and willpower.
• Power: The use of the body and the movement of techniques.

Related: This concept is often used synonymously with the unity of Qi, Sword and Body.

Meaning: Shingetsu means a mind as clear and clear as the moon. Yuanming means reaching a state of complete intellect and clear enlightenment.

Connection with Miyamoto Musashi: The Enmei-ryu style of martial arts founded by Miyamoto Musashi is said to have originated from this word.

Ideal state of mind: Represents a round, complete, clear and bright state of mind like the full moon.

Meaning: Encourage each other, compete with each other and improve together.

Etymology: "Kiri" means cutting bones, "sa" means polishing ivory, "taku" means hammering jewels to create shapes, and "ma" means polishing stones, so it has become a metaphor for honing academic knowledge or arts.

In Kendo: Competing with fellow dojo members and rivals and improving each other's skills is the quickest way to improve. Mutual learning leads to realizations that cannot be gained by practicing alone.

Meaning: Efforts to improve the mind and body.

Deeper meaning: It is not just about strengthening physical strength, but about cultivating character through continuous training. It is a concept that combines the improvement of technique with the improvement of humanity.

Meaning: A phrase that indicates the basic principles of training.

Content: The techniques should be big, the spirit strong, the breath fast, and the feet light. Especially for beginners, it is important to first master big techniques slowly and accurately, rather than small, fast techniques.

Meaning: Since ancient times, this part of the human body has been known as a place where qi is cultivated.

Location: Generally, when we say dantian, we are referring to the "sub-navel dantian" located three sun (approximately 9 cm) below the navel.

Importance in Kendo: By focusing your strength on your tanden, you can achieve a stable posture and a strong sense of energy. By focusing your breathing on your tanden, you can also make your breathing deep and calm.

Meaning: It means that various flowers bloom all at once. It refers to many people actively engaging in literary and artistic activities.

Kendo application: Used to describe the scene of many swordsmen in a dojo, each demonstrating their own individuality and practicing vigorously.

Meaning: The blooming of many different flowers. By extension, the emergence of many outstanding people and the appearance of many outstanding and impressive achievements at one time.

Usage example: This is used to describe players from strong schools putting on one great game after another.

Meaning: Not giving up no matter how hardships or difficulties you face.

Etymology: "Sō" means the flexibility of bamboo. It represents the strength of something that is flexible like the bamboo of a shinai, yet never breaks (yields).

Its compatibility with Kendo: This word has a special meaning in Kendo, a sport that uses bamboo swords. It is a four-character idiom that is extremely popular on masks, tenugui towels, and as a dojo slogan.

Meaning: A mind that is not moved by external influences, a mind that is not shaken by things.

The teachings of Priest Takuan: In "Fudochi Shinmyoroku," he explains that an unshakable mind is not one in which the mind is motionless, but rather a state in which the mind is free to move about freely, rather than remaining in one place.

In practice: A steadfast mind is the ability to maintain composure even when facing a superior opponent in a match or being distracted by the cheers and noise of the crowd.

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Meaning: Academics and martial arts are not separate things, but one and the same.

Deep meaning: Mastering academic knowledge and knowing what is right leads to rigorous training in martial arts and improving oneself as a person. The same is true in reverse. Fuki means "not divided."

Modern Importance: For student kendo practitioners, balancing their studies and kendo is an important issue. This quote teaches us the importance of taking both seriously.

Meaning: A word that refers to striving and excelling in both literature and martial arts, or both the arts and sciences.

Ideal: The ideal image of a samurai in the Edo period. Even today, it remains the goal for students who want to achieve excellence in both academics and kendo.

Meaning: A refined state of mind in which you can respond calmly to changes in events without being shaken by your usual feelings.

Importance: This is the most important mental state during a match. It is important to train to always maintain a calm mind so that you do not lose your ability due to nervousness or excitement.

Zen teachings: There is a Zen phrase called "Heijoshin ze do," which teaches that the most important thing is to keep your mind as normal, rather than doing anything special.

Meaning: A type of technique that takes the initiative. It has been considered particularly important in kendo training since ancient times.

Miyamoto Musashi's teachings: In The Book of Five Rings, these "three things ahead" are also written as important.

Three types of destinations:

• Sensen no sen (Sensen no sen): Strike first before your opponent can attack. This is the most respected technique in Kendo. It is also called "kari no saki." It is an advanced technique that allows you to sense your opponent's movements and take the initiative.
• Sen (first): When facing an opponent, you wait for an opportunity, and when the opponent strikes and you move in to strike, you exchange strikes and return the blow to take the lead. This is also called "tai no sen" or "sen mae no sen." This is a technique where you respond to your opponent's technique and ultimately score first.
• Gonosen (later front): A technique in which you wait for your opponent to strike, then slide up, strike down, strike back, dodge and pull away, or pull away, and then strike when your opponent hesitates, to win. It is also called "waiting for the front."

Goal of training: You must always strive to make this ``future'' your own.

Meaning: A state of mind in which there are no attachments or obsessions, and no thoughts or worries.

Correction: This does not mean that one has no mind. Rather, it refers to a state in which the mind is free to function.

Quotes from Takuan: In "Fudochi Shinmyoroku," he states, "A mind without mind is one that is not fixed, without discrimination or thought, like a stone or a tree." This is not a state of mind that does not feel anything like a stone or a tree, but a natural state of mind that is not bound by anything.

Meaning: A state in which one has freed oneself from all evil thoughts and reached a state of egolessness.

The ideal in kendo: In a match or training session, forget about winning or losing or the merits of a technique and just swing your bamboo sword. Reaching this state of mind is the ultimate goal.

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Meaning: A clear mirror is a mirror without a single speck of cloudiness, and still water is still and quiet. It represents a clear and calm mind without any evil thoughts.

The most famous four-character idiom: It is one of the most representative words embroidered on men tenugui cloths.

Ideal state of mind: A mind that reflects the opponent as clearly as a mirror, and is calm and unwavering like water. It is considered ideal to approach a match with this state of mind.

How to practice: By practicing zazen and breathing techniques to calm the mind and clear away distracting thoughts, you can approach the state of stillness as if you were looking at a clear mirror.

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Meaning: Brave, strong and decisive.

In Kendo: The courage to maintain an offensive stance and attack fearlessly. This represents an aggressive approach to the match, rather than a passive one.

Brave and courageous hand towels are available here

Meaning: Ri means the principle and Gyo means the technique. The training of Ri and Gyo in a unified manner.

The importance of balance: When studying kendo, you should neither be too focused on theory nor on technique. The ideal is to hone your techniques based on theory.

How to practice: In addition to practicing techniques, learning about the philosophy, history, and terminology of Kendo will enable you to gain a deeper understanding and improve your skills.

Meaning: A fundamental idea about how something should be.

The philosophy of Kendo is that "Kendo is a path to character development through the training of the principles of the sword."

Importance: Understanding and practicing this philosophy leads to true kendo training. It is important to be aware that kendo is not just a sport, but a path to character development.

Meaning: The ability to respond flexibly to situations.

Kendo practice: Always be prepared to respond to changes in your opponent's type, the match's development, the atmosphere of the match, and techniques. You need the flexibility to choose the best technique depending on the situation, rather than sticking to one style.

The following terms tend to be particularly likely to appear in the written exam for promotion examinations.

• Unity of Spirit, Sword, and Body: Essential knowledge for effective striking
• Zanshin: An important element for effective striking
• The distance between one foot and one sword: the basic concept of distance
• Three Steps Ahead: Basic Principles of Offense and Defense
• Fear and doubt (fourth precept): mental states to avoid
• Shu-ha-ri: Stages of training
• Kendo Philosophy: The Most Important Basic Concepts

First to second dan: Questions mainly focus on the meaning of basic terms. Understanding of basic concepts such as the unity of spirit, sword, and body, Zanshin, and the distance between one foot and one sword is required.

Third to fourth dan: Questions that test deeper understanding will be asked. You will need to be able to explain in your own words the four precepts, the differences between the three, and the philosophy of kendo.

5th dan and above: Ability to discuss the spiritual and philosophical aspects of kendo, incorporating one's own experiences.

1. Don't just memorize the terms, deepen your understanding: It's important not just to memorize the meaning, but to understand how they are applied in actual training and matches.
2. Study related terms together: For example, comparing related terms such as "the unity of qi, sword, and body" and "the unity of mind, spirit, and power," or "no mind" and "no thoughts and no thoughts" will deepen your understanding.
3. Connect with practice: By consciously practicing these concepts during practice, you will be able to understand them not only mentally but also physically.
   
   

• Indomitable: Strength that can withstand any difficulty
• Bravery: The courage to take on challenges without fear
• Beyond the Clouds: A Bright Future Ahead
• Self-control: determination to overcome one's weaknesses

• A clear , calm mind
• Unwavering Mind: A mind that is unwavering
• Calmness: A normal mind
• Mushin: A free mind that is not bound by anything

• Kokenchiai: Understanding and improving each other through kendo
• Friendly competition: Growing together with colleagues

• Single-mindedness: focusing on one thing
• Single-mindedness: undistracted concentration
• Shu-Ha-Ri: A gradual process of growth
• Discipline: Continuous effort

1. Understand the meaning accurately: Don't just choose a word because it looks cool, but understand the meaning of the word deeply and make sure it matches your own view of kendo.
2. Match it to your goals and challenges: It will be more effective if you choose words that express what you are currently lacking and what you want to become in the future.
3. Choose words that will last: Choose words that will guide you in the long term, not just a temporary feeling.

Key points of this article

• A comprehensive explanation of 88 kendo four-character idioms and terms in alphabetical order.
• We not only explained the meaning of each word, but also introduced practical ways to use them.
• It includes content that can be used to prepare for the written exam for rank promotion examinations.
• We provided information that can be used as a reference for choosing words for masks, tenugui towels, and bamboo sword bags.