life; existence; (one's) working life; career; life force; lifeblood
danger; peril; hazard; risk
to break; to be broken; to be folded; to give in; to back down; to turn (a corner)
exchange; interchange; switching; reciprocity; barter; substitution
being empty-handed; bare hands (in a fight); being penniless
attack; assault; raid; criticism; censure; denunciation
good; OK; all right; fine; very well; will do
to work (for); to be employed (at); to serve (as); to act (as); to conduct a religious service
to come down; to go down; to hang; to dangle; to move back; to step back; to deteriorate
western direction; Western Pure Land (Amitabha's Buddhist paradise); western fighter in a match (e.g. sumo)
till; to; concerning (an area of expertise); swearing by (one's sword, God, etc.)
fair and square; open and aboveboard
to swear; to vow; to take an oath; to pledge
battle; fight; war; struggle; conflict
coincident with; while; simultaneously
scabbard; sheath; cap (on pen, brush, etc.); case; margin (between two prices); spread
to extract; to pull out; to draw out; to headhunt; to lure away; to poach
narrow; thin (sized); slender
blade; sword; forged blade; wavy pattern on forged blades; sharpness; unhulled rice
to sharpen; to hone; to wash (rice); to scour; to polish
beginning; start; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
companion; follower; attendant; retinue
to satisfy (conditions, one's appetite, etc.); to meet (e.g. demands); to fulfill; to fill (e.g. a cup); to pack; to supply
wherein; therein; thereinto
sliding feet; shuffling (one's feet); moving legs forward with feet never leaving the ground (exercise)
interval; distance; suitable time; appropriate opportunity; distance between opponents (kendo)
hilt (of a sword); haft (of a dagger); handle; handgrip
point (of a sword, etc.); pointed verbal attack
towards (a destination); for the purpose of; with the goal of; targeting (a group, a demographic)
easy; simple; ready; casual; off-hand; easy-going
to stare at with a fixed gaze; to glare
headlong rush; rushing recklessly
to assault with a sword; to stab at; to slash at
nimble; agile; quick; quick (thinking); smart; alert
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
to prick; to stab; to poke; to prod; to use (a cane); to prop oneself up with
technique; art; skill; move
main constituent; core; nucleus; subject (philosophical); protagonist
kendo; Japanese martial art using bamboo swords
(one's) figure; build; physique; style