Samurai: Member of the warrior class. The word "samurai" is derived from the archaic Japanese verb "samorau," changed to "saburau," meaning "to serve"; thus, a "samurai" is a servant, i.e. the servant of a lord.
Ronin: Master-less Samurai. A Samurai became a ronin under two circumstances. The first was when the samurai had shamed himself in the eyes of his master, but refused to commit seppuku. The second case of a samurai becoming a ronin resulted from his master’s death in one of the countless battles.
Bushido: The Way of the Warrior (Such as loyalty to one’s master, self-discipline, bravery, honor, ethical behavior). The philosophy of Bushido is "freedom from fear." It meant that the Samurai transcended his fear of death.
Giri: Samurai's duty. "Duty" is a primary philosophy of the Samurai.
Zanshin: Samurai's sensing danger. It is the ability of the samurai to sense danger, trained into him from his youth by teachers that would sneak up on him until his senses were acutely developed.
Seppuku: Ritual suicide. The only way out for a defeated samurai was death or ritual suicide. A samurai stabs a knife into his abdomen and literally disembowels himself by cutting out his guts. After the samurai disembowels himself another samurai, usually a kinsman or friend, slices his head off.
Musha-shugyo: Warrior pilgrimage. It was a samurai tradition, in which a warrior would become ronin and travel the land, fighting in duels to establish and perfect his own skill, and to promote the strength and value of his school. It was started by Musashi. Musashi became the archetypal unkempt, invincible ronin, as he passed through duels and wars undefeated.
Ken: sword - refers specifically to an ancient straight-bladed sword made before the ninth century with both single and double cutting edges and curved point sections. These early swords were apparently carried slung from the waist by cords or some other materials. They range from two to four feet in length and various shapes of hilts.
Tachi: refers to long, deeply curved sword that mounted Samurai used in ancient Japan. As early as the 8th century, the straight-bladed sword began to change to one with more curvature in a longer and a stronger blade with a single cutting edge---Tachi. The curved form of sword was better suited to the needs of the Japanese fighting man, the tachi became the principal weapon of the bushi (warrior). It was specially suited for the horse-mounted combat of the late 8th century. Usually Tachi measures almost four feet in length.
Daito: Long sword. (katana, uchi-katana, tachi, no-dachi ) – nagasa (length) over 2 shaku(shaku = 11.9 inches )
Shoto: Short sword. ( wakizashi, chisa-katana ) – nagasa (length) between 1 and 2 shaku(shaku = 11.9 inches )
Tanto: A common Japanese single or, occasionally, double edged knife or dagger with a blade length between 15 and 30 cm (6"–12"). Tanto first began to appear in the Heian period. Tanto were mostly carried by Samurai; commoners did not generally carry them. Before the 16th century it was common for a samurai to carry a tachi and a tanto as opposed to a katana and a wakizashi. Women sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken in their obi for self-defence.
Daisho: Samurai's two swords (one long - katana, one short - wakizashi)
Katana: Long sword Samurai worn. Katana emerged in the sixteenth century as a curved, single-edged weapon of the Samurai warrior class in Japan. A replacement of the long Tachi.It was Smaurai’s most important weapon. When paired with a shoto (short sword) such as a wakizashi or the dagger-like tanto, the result is a daisho. The longer katana was used in open combat primarily for cutting, slashing, and parrying maneuvers, while the shorter blades were used for close-quarters stabbing as well as seppuku, or ritual suicide. Katana swords were traditionally worn the edge facing up, and the art of drawing and attacking an enemy, known as iaido took years to master its many intricacies. The katana had great importance outside combat as well. Throughout the Era of States at War, it was a symbol of Samurai’s status as a warrior, his obedience to the code of Bushido and his undying loyalty to his master. Most Katana was about 42 inch from tip to pommel.
Wakizashi: Short sword Samurai worn. The wakizashi was usually worn together with the katana to make a Daisho or pair by the samurai or swordsmen of feudal Japan. It was, essentially, a shorter katana that could be wielded with one hand and came at handy when, at many times, the katana’s length was a disadvantage. The first usage of a wakizashi dates back to the period between 1332 and 1369. For example, Oda Nobunaga (織田 信長, 1534–1582) wore a daishō pair of uchigatana: a Katana with a Wakizashi. This reflects the common practice of wearing a wakizashi as the side sword of a katana. The wakizashi was also used to perform seppuku. Most wakizashis are between 12 to 24 inches.
NinjaTo: Shinobigatana (straight bladed short sword used by shadow warriors)
Naginata: Long pole with curved blade on one end. The Samurai sometimes use the Naginata while fighting at close quarters on horseback. It was made from a short, curved blade, like that of a wakizashi, but it was attached to a staff. The staff Naginata could be from 38 inch to 4 feet long. This made the weapon extremely useful in close quarters.
Ryu: Particular school or style of martial arts
Bo-jutsu: Staff fighting
Kyo-jutsu: Bow and arrow fighting
So-jutsu: Spear fighting
Kyu-jutsu: Japanese archery
Budo: Martial or Fighting Arts
Kyuba no michi: The Way of the Horse and Bow
Ronin: Master-less Samurai. A Samurai became a ronin under two circumstances. The first was when the samurai had shamed himself in the eyes of his master, but refused to commit seppuku. The second case of a samurai becoming a ronin resulted from his master’s death in one of the countless battles.
Bushido: The Way of the Warrior (Such as loyalty to one’s master, self-discipline, bravery, honor, ethical behavior). The philosophy of Bushido is "freedom from fear." It meant that the Samurai transcended his fear of death.
Giri: Samurai's duty. "Duty" is a primary philosophy of the Samurai.
Zanshin: Samurai's sensing danger. It is the ability of the samurai to sense danger, trained into him from his youth by teachers that would sneak up on him until his senses were acutely developed.
Seppuku: Ritual suicide. The only way out for a defeated samurai was death or ritual suicide. A samurai stabs a knife into his abdomen and literally disembowels himself by cutting out his guts. After the samurai disembowels himself another samurai, usually a kinsman or friend, slices his head off.
Musha-shugyo: Warrior pilgrimage. It was a samurai tradition, in which a warrior would become ronin and travel the land, fighting in duels to establish and perfect his own skill, and to promote the strength and value of his school. It was started by Musashi. Musashi became the archetypal unkempt, invincible ronin, as he passed through duels and wars undefeated.
Ken: sword - refers specifically to an ancient straight-bladed sword made before the ninth century with both single and double cutting edges and curved point sections. These early swords were apparently carried slung from the waist by cords or some other materials. They range from two to four feet in length and various shapes of hilts.
Tachi: refers to long, deeply curved sword that mounted Samurai used in ancient Japan. As early as the 8th century, the straight-bladed sword began to change to one with more curvature in a longer and a stronger blade with a single cutting edge---Tachi. The curved form of sword was better suited to the needs of the Japanese fighting man, the tachi became the principal weapon of the bushi (warrior). It was specially suited for the horse-mounted combat of the late 8th century. Usually Tachi measures almost four feet in length.
Daito: Long sword. (katana, uchi-katana, tachi, no-dachi ) – nagasa (length) over 2 shaku(shaku = 11.9 inches )
Shoto: Short sword. ( wakizashi, chisa-katana ) – nagasa (length) between 1 and 2 shaku(shaku = 11.9 inches )
Tanto: A common Japanese single or, occasionally, double edged knife or dagger with a blade length between 15 and 30 cm (6"–12"). Tanto first began to appear in the Heian period. Tanto were mostly carried by Samurai; commoners did not generally carry them. Before the 16th century it was common for a samurai to carry a tachi and a tanto as opposed to a katana and a wakizashi. Women sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken in their obi for self-defence.
Daisho: Samurai's two swords (one long - katana, one short - wakizashi)
Katana: Long sword Samurai worn. Katana emerged in the sixteenth century as a curved, single-edged weapon of the Samurai warrior class in Japan. A replacement of the long Tachi.It was Smaurai’s most important weapon. When paired with a shoto (short sword) such as a wakizashi or the dagger-like tanto, the result is a daisho. The longer katana was used in open combat primarily for cutting, slashing, and parrying maneuvers, while the shorter blades were used for close-quarters stabbing as well as seppuku, or ritual suicide. Katana swords were traditionally worn the edge facing up, and the art of drawing and attacking an enemy, known as iaido took years to master its many intricacies. The katana had great importance outside combat as well. Throughout the Era of States at War, it was a symbol of Samurai’s status as a warrior, his obedience to the code of Bushido and his undying loyalty to his master. Most Katana was about 42 inch from tip to pommel.
Wakizashi: Short sword Samurai worn. The wakizashi was usually worn together with the katana to make a Daisho or pair by the samurai or swordsmen of feudal Japan. It was, essentially, a shorter katana that could be wielded with one hand and came at handy when, at many times, the katana’s length was a disadvantage. The first usage of a wakizashi dates back to the period between 1332 and 1369. For example, Oda Nobunaga (織田 信長, 1534–1582) wore a daishō pair of uchigatana: a Katana with a Wakizashi. This reflects the common practice of wearing a wakizashi as the side sword of a katana. The wakizashi was also used to perform seppuku. Most wakizashis are between 12 to 24 inches.
NinjaTo: Shinobigatana (straight bladed short sword used by shadow warriors)
Naginata: Long pole with curved blade on one end. The Samurai sometimes use the Naginata while fighting at close quarters on horseback. It was made from a short, curved blade, like that of a wakizashi, but it was attached to a staff. The staff Naginata could be from 38 inch to 4 feet long. This made the weapon extremely useful in close quarters.
Ryu: Particular school or style of martial arts
Bo-jutsu: Staff fighting
Kyo-jutsu: Bow and arrow fighting
So-jutsu: Spear fighting
Kyu-jutsu: Japanese archery
Budo: Martial or Fighting Arts
Kyuba no michi: The Way of the Horse and Bow
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