Archives: Glossary Terms

Kashira 頭 — head; in sword terminology, the pommel or end cap of the handle.

Kasumi no Kamae 霞の構え – “mist guard”; a sword posture found in several traditional Japanese sword schools. Its exact form varies by ryūha, but often places the sword high across or beside the head. The name kasumi (“mist” or “haze”)…

Katana no Ukewatashi 刀の受け渡し | Handing over and receiving a sword — The act of transferring a Japanese sword from one person to another. Proper sword-handling etiquette (reihō) governs how the sword is presented and received, with procedures varying according…

Keiko 稽古 means practice or training through the study and transmission of classical tradition; literally “to reflect on the past.”

Keitō 携刀 is a sword-carrying position in which the sheathed sword is held at the left hip, approximately where it would rest when worn in the obi. The left hand supports the sword, with the thumb resting on the tsuba…

Kiba-dachi 騎馬立ち | Horse-Riding Stance — A wide, symmetrical standing posture with the feet approximately parallel, knees bent outward, hips lowered, and weight distributed evenly between the legs. Commonly used in karate for developing stability, leg strength, and body control….

Kikai 機会 — Opportunity or occasion; the right moment to act.

Kiriage 切り上げ | Upward cut — A sword cut delivered from low to high. Depending on the sword tradition, the cut may travel vertically upward or diagonally upward. Some schools use kiriage interchangeably with gyaku-kesa-giri for an ascending diagonal cut.

Kiriage-kirikaeshi 切り上げ切り返し | Upward cut and return cut — An exercise beginning with a straight upward cut, followed by a forward cut.

Kirioroshi (切り下ろし) — Downward cut. A descending sword cut delivered from above, usually along the centerline.

Kiriotoshi (切り落とし) — Cutting down/off. A descending cut that cuts through, suppresses, or defeats the opponent’s attack; in several classical schools it is also the name of a fundamental tactical principle or technique.

Kiza 跪座 means kneeling posture and refers to a kneeling position in which the toes are flexed under so that the balls of the feet remain on the floor.

Kufū 工夫 is creative ingenuity in training; the application of personal insight and intelligent effort to refine technique.

Kumitachi 組太刀 means paired sword practice or paired sword forms—literally swords working/engaging together.

Kyūsho 急所 | Vital point — A vulnerable or critical anatomical area that may be targeted in martial arts.