as was expected; just as one thought; sure enough; really; actually; ever
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
stage; step; level; rank; order; stairs
combat; battle; action; active service; actual fighting
life or death struggle; mortal combat; struggle to the death
to defend against; to protect against; to prevent; to avert; to avoid
(giving) instruction; initiation
together with; as X, then Y (e.g. as we age we gain wisdom, as wine matures it becomes more valuable, etc.)
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
to continue; to last; to continue (without a break); to be unbroken; to occur again and again; to lead to; to connect to
war; battle; match; game; competition
use; application; employment; utilization; utilisation
victory or defeat; issue (of battle); outcome
negligence; neglect; carelessness; procrastination
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it; I mean
throughout; all through; right through
to follow around; to shadow; to tag along; to haunt one (e.g. feeling, failure); to follow one
to be separated; to be apart; to leave; to go away; to leave (a job, etc.); to quit
near; close; beside; vicinity; proximity; besides
fierce animal; beast of prey; big game
to lurk; to be hidden; to be concealed; to lie dormant; to be latent
to be in a hurry; to be impatient; to be anxious (to do); to get a fright; to panic; to get flustered
ingenious; skillful; clever; deft
to spill; to drop; to grumble; to complain; to let one's feelings show
stinking; smelly; suspicious; fishy; clumsy; unskilled
watermark (in a stamp, banknote, etc.); openwork (engraving, carving, etc.)
combination; assortment; matching (in a contest); pairing; combination
Musashi (former province located in parts of present-day Tokyo, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures)
to say; to be called; to do
kendo; Japanese martial art using bamboo swords
step; stair; grade; rank; counter for breaks in written language (or speech, etc.); dan
truth; reality; seriousness; logical truth; printed style writing; star performer
drawing a sword; drawn sword
fashion; way; school (of thought); class; rank; current (electrical, water, etc.)
to make (the best) use of; to put to good use; to let live; to keep alive; to revive; to resuscitate
Shourin; Shaolin (in China)
Chinese martial arts; kung fu; wushu; kenpō (martial arts); kempo
first rank in the senior class (in martial arts, go, etc.); lowest rank; one dan
to master (a skill); proprietor; manager; leader; chief; master (of arts, science, etc.); master (recording)
to challenge to (a fight, game, etc.); to throw down the gauntlet; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to attempt; to pressure (someone) for sex; to make advances to