Sword Blade Terminology‏

The evolution of the Japanese Sword and it's blade terms and glossary. (source: skydive.live.com)

Hakama

The seven pleats (five in the front and two in the back) of the hakama represent the seven virtues of budo:

(front)
1> Jin: benevolence
2> Gi: honor or justice
3> Rei: courtesy and etiquette
4> Chi: wisdom, intellligence
5> Shin: sincerity

(back) Chu: loyalty & Koh: piety


And please see the following picture on how to fold your hakama (source:- http://www.shinmyoken-phoenix.co.uk/)

Basic Waza

The names of the techniques which we are training:

Seiza no Bu waza are performed from seiza, a formal kneeling position, with the general exception of Oikaze, which often begins standing.

Seiza no Bu (正座之部) contains the following techniques:

1. 前 Mae
2. 右 Migi
3. 左 Hidari
4. 後 Ushiro
5. 八重垣 Yaegaki
6. 受流 Ukenagashi
7. 介錯 Kaishaku
8. 附込 Tsukekomi
9. 月影 Tsukikage
10. 追風 Oikaze
11. 抜打 Nukiuchi

Kōno Hyakuren, the 20th sōke of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, added two sets of additional waza, called Dai Nippon Battō Hō (大日本抜刀法). The Battō Hō are based on techniques from throughout the system, but are performed starting in a standing position. As these waza were added in the 20th century, they are not considered to be koryū.

Eishin-ryū lineages without a connection to Kōno Hyakuren do not generally practise these techniques. Therefore, these waza are only included in some lines of transmission.

 Dai Nippon Battō Hō, Kihon (大日本抜刀法):

1. 順刀其の一 Juntō Sono Ichi
2. 順刀其の二 Juntō Sono Ni
3. 追撃刀 Tsuigekitō
4. 斜刀 Shatō
5. 四方刀其の一 Shihōtō Sono Ichi
6. 四方刀其の二 Shihōtō Sono Ni
7. 斬突刀 Zantotsutō

Dai Nippon Battō Hō, Oku (These waza begin using the Okuiai walking pattern):

1. 前敵逆刀 Zenteki Gyakutō
2. 多敵刀 Tatekitō
3. 後敵逆刀 Kōteki Gyakutō
4. 後敵抜打 Kōteki Nukiuchi