Marial Arts Terms (Japanese)

Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Age	Rising.
Age tsuki	Rising punch.
Age uke	Rising block.
Anza	Sittion position, legs crossed. See Seiza
Ashi	Foot/leg.
Ashi guruma	Leg wheel.
Ashi hishigi	Leg crush.
Ashi kubi	Ankle.
Ashi kubi hishigi	Ankle crush.
Ashi waza	Foot techniques.
Atemi	Striking.
Atemi waza	Striking techniques.

B

Bo	Staff (long).
Bojitsu	Staff techniques (long).
Budo	Martial Way
Bunkai	Application of form / kata
Bushi	Warrior class of Japan.
Bushido	Way of the warrior.
Bujutsu	Fighting arts of the warrior class of Japan.

C

Choku tsuki	Straight punch.
Chuan fa	Fist way.
Chudan	Middle (of body, i.e. torso).

D

Dachi	Stance.
Dan	Rank of black belt; 1st dan is the lowest, 10th the highest.
De-ai	"To Meet" an opponent's attack (which is in progress).
De ashi barai	Forward foot sweep.
Denzook	No count.
Do	The way.
Dojo	Exercise hall, the place where one practices the martial arts.

E

Eku	Oar, used as a weapon in Okinawan Karate.
Empi	1. Elbow.
Empi	2. Name of a kata.
Empi uchi	Elbow strike.

F

Fudo dachi	Rooted stance.
Fumikomi	Stamping kick.
Funakoshi, Gichin	Father of Japanese Karate .

G

Ganmen	Face.
Ganmen shuto	Face knife-hand.
Gari	Reap.
Gashuku	Training Camp
Gatame	Hold, arm bar.
Geashi	Reversal.
Gedan	Lower, waist or below.
Gedan barai	Low block.
Gedan juji uke	Lower X-block.
Gedan shuto uke	Lower knife-hand block.
Geri	Kick.
Gi	Uniform for practicing martial arts.
Go	Five.
Go	Hard, Rigid
Gohon	Five-finger strike.
Go-no-sen	"Follow-up Technique" - Block and Counter attack. See Sen-no-sen .
Goshi	Hip throw.
Guruma	Wheel-like throw.
Gyaku	Reverse, reversal.
Gyaku tsuki	Reverse punch (opposite hand and leg).
Gyaky juji jime	Reverse cross choke.

H

Hachi	Eight.
Hachiji dachi	Open leg stance.
Hachimachi	Towel used as a headband.
Hadake	Naked.
Hadake jime	Naked choke/strangle.
Hadari	Left.
Hai	Yes
Haishu	Back of the hand.
Haishu uchi	Back hand strike.
Haisoku	Instep.
Haisoku geri	Instep kick.
Haitto	Ridge hand (first knuckle of thumb and side of hand).
Haitto uchi	Ridge hand strike.
Hajime	Begin.
Hane	Spring.
Hane goshi	Spring hip throw.
Hane makikomi	Springing winding throw.
Hangetsu dachi	Hourglass stance.
Hara	Middle point of the body (abdomen)
Hara tsurikomi ashi	Lift-pull foot sweep.
Harai	Sweep.
Harai goshi	Sweep hip throw.
Heian	An era of Japanese history dating 794 - 1190
Heisoku dachi	Attention stance.
Hidari	Left (side).
Hiji	Elbow strike (upward, downward, forward, rear).
Hiki-te	Drawing hand (pulling arm).
Hishigi	Crush.
Hittsui	Knee.
Hittsui geri	Knee strike (upward, side).
Hiza guruma	Knee wheel.
Hon	Fingers. See also Gohon .
Honbu	Headquarters.

I

Ichi or Sho	One.
Ippon	Full point in a contest.
Ippon ken (tsuki)	One knuckle fist.
Ippon kumite	One step sparring.
Ippon Seoi Nage	One-armed shoulder throw.
Irimi waza	Entering techniques.

J

Jigo-tai	Defensive posture.
Jime	Choke or strangle.
Jiyu kumite	Free sparring.
Jo	Short staff.
Jodan	Upper, shoulders or above.
Jodan juji uke	High X-block.
Jo-jitsu	Short staff techniques.
Joseke	Upper seat.
Ju	Ten.
Judo	A martial arts style featuring throwing.
Judo	Literally, "gentle way", referring to giving way in order to gain victory.
Judoka	Practitioner of Judo.
Ju-ichi	Eleven.
Juji	Cross. Juji gatame , juji uke .
Juji gatame	Cross-body arm bar through legs and across hips.
Juji uke	X-block.

K

Kagi tsuki	Hook punch.
Kakato	Heel.
Kakato uke	Bent wrist block.
Kake	Application of the technique.
Kakiwake uke	Pushing through block.
Kama	Sickle, used in pairs in Okinawan Karate.
Kamae	Posture.
Kamaete	On Guard
Kami shio gatame	Upper four-corner hold.
Kane sute	Flying sacrifice.
Kani basami	Flying scissors.
Kano, Jigoro	Founder of Judo.
Kansetsu	Joint lock.
Kansetsu waza	Joint locking techniques.
Kara	Empty.
Karate-do	The Way of Karate
Karate-ka	One who practices Karate
Karate	A martial arts style featuring strikes.
Karate	Literally, "empty hand".
Kata	1. Stylized form, pre-arranged techniques. Nage no kata.
Kata	2. Shoulder. Kata guruma .
Kata gatame	Shoulder hold.
Kata guruma	Shoulder wheel throw.
Kata ha jime	Single wing choke.
Kata juji jime	Half cross choke.
Katame	Grappling.
Katame waza	Grappling and ground-fighting techniques. Also known as Ne-waza.
Katana	Long sword.
Katate Tori	Grasping of hands.
Katsu	Revival techniques.
Kazuri kesa gatame	Modified scarf hold.
Kempo	Fist way.
Kendo	Japanese sword fighting.
Keri waza	Kicking techniques.
Kesa gatame	Scarf hold.
Ki	Vital energy.
Kiai	Shout or yell with vital energy (ki ).
Kiba dachi	Horse stance.
Kihon waza	Basics.
Kime	Focus (of one's energy into one point of impact).
Kitskay	Attention.
Kizami	Forward side of the body
Ko	Minor.
Kodokan	Headquarters of Judo in Japan.
Kodokan	Literally, "school for studying the way".
Kohai	Junior
Koko uchi	Tiger mouth strike.
Kokutsu dachi	Back stance.
Komi	Pulling.
Koshi	1. Hip.
Koshi	2. Ball of the foot.
Koshi guruma	Hip wheel throw.
Koshi jime	Hip choke.
Koshi waza	Hip techniques.
Kosoto gakae	Minor outer hook.
Kosoto gari	Minor outer reaping throw.
Kouchi gari	Minor inner reaping throw.
Ku	Nine.
Kubi	Neck.
Kumikata	Methods of holding.
Kumite	Sparring.
Kusarigama	Sickle with a rope or chain attached.
Kusho	Vital points of the body.
Kuzushi	Unbalancing (eight directions).
Kyu	Grade under black belt; 10th kyu is the lowest and 1st the highest.
Kyusho	Vital point.
Kyusho-jitsu	Pressure point strikes.

L

M

Ma-ai	Distance.
Mae	Front.
Mae geri	Front kick.
Mae geri keage	Front snap kick.
Mae geri kekomi	Front thrust kick.
Mae tobi geri	Jump front kick.
Maki	Wrapping.
Maki geashi	Wrapping reversal.
(Soto) maki komi	Outside wrapping pulling.
(Soto) maki komi harai	Outside wrapping pulling sweep.
Makiwara	Punching board.
Matte	Stop (immediately)
Mawashi geri	Roundhouse kick.
Mawashi tsuki	Roundhouse punch.
Mawatte	Turn.
Migi	Right (side).
Mikazuki	Crescent.
Mikazuki geri	Crescent kick.
Mikazuki geri uke	Crescent kick block.
Mokuso	Meditate / Gather your thoughts
Moro	Augmented.
Morote	Two arm or two hand.
Morote seoi nage	Two arm shoulder throw.
Morote tsuki	Double forward fist strike.
Morote uke	Double forearm block.
Moro ubi tori	Augmented finger pull.
Mudansha	Non black belt holder.
Mune	Chest.
Muni gatame	Chest hold.
Mushin	Mind of no mind.

N

Nagashi uke	Flowing block.
Nage	Throwing.
Nage waza	Throwing techniques.
Nage no kata	Formalized throws.
Naginata	Halberd, used by Japanese women.
Nami juji jime	Normal cross choke.
Necho	Cat.
Necho ashi dachi	Cat stance.
Ne-waza	Ground fighting techniques, also known as katame waza.
Ni	Two.
Nidan geri	Double jump kick.
Nihon nukite	Two finger spear hand.
Nihon nukite	See also Gohon nukite, Nukite.
Ni-ju	Twenty.
Ni-ju-ichi	Twenty one.
Nukite	Spear hand.
Nunchaku	Flail-like weapon of two rods joined by rope or chain.

O

Obi	Belt.
O goshi	Major hip throw.
O guruma	Major wheel throw.
Ohten	Barrel roll.
Ohten gatame	Barrel roll arm-bar.
Oi tsuki	Forward lunge punch (same side hand and leg).
Okinawa te	Okinawan hand.
Okuri	Sliding.
Okuri ashi barai	Foot sweep.
Okuri eri jime	Sliding collar choke.
Okuri (ashi) harai	Sliding foot sweep.
Osae komi	Hold-down.
Osae komi waza	Hold-down techniques.
Osoto gari	Major outer reaping throw.
Osoto guruma	Major outer wheel throw.
Osu	Acknowledgement (Used as a salutation between martial art practitioners.)
Otaigai ni	Face toward each other
Otoshi	Drop.
Ouchi gari	Major inner reaping throw.

P

Q

R

Randori	Free practice (judo sparring).
Rei	Bow.
Roku	Six.
Ryu	Style of school or martial art.
Ryukyu	Okinawa.

S

Sai	Three-pronged metal weapon.
Sakotsu	Collarbone.
Sakotsu shuto	Collarbone knife-hand.
San	Three.
Sanchin dachi	Hourglass stance (derived from Sanchin kata).
San-ju	Thirty.
Sasae	Block.
Sasae (tsuri komi) ashi	Lifting pulling foot block.
Seiza	Sitting position on the knees. See Anza
Sempai	Senior.
Sensei	Teacher.
Sensei-ni	Face toward the Instructor
Sen	Technique / Method
Sen-no-sen	Anticipatory Technique. Used to describe an anticipatory attack. See Go-no-sen
Seoi	Shoulder.
Shi	Four.
Shiai	Contest.
Shichi	Seven.
Shihan	Master instructor (Rarely used title).
Shiho	Four corners, or all directions.
Shiho nage	All directions throw.
Shime	Choke.
Shime waza	Choking techniques.
Shizen-tai	Natural posture.
Shomen	Front
Shomen-ni	Face toward the front
Shotei	Palm heel strike (also may use as block).
Shuto	Knife-edge hand (little-finger side of palm).
Shuto uchi	Knife hand strike.
Shuto uke	Knife hand block.
Sode	Sleeve.
Sode tsuri komi goshi	Sleeve lifting pulling hip throw.
Soto	Outside (of opponent's stance).
Soto age uke	Outer upper block.
Soto makikomi	Outer winding throw.
Soto mikazui geri	Outer crescent kick.
Soto shuto	Outside knife-hand block.
Soto ude uke	Outside forearm block.
Sukui nage	Scooping throw.
Sumea gaeshi	Corner reversal.
Sumi otoshi	Corner drop.
Sute	Sacrifice.
Sutemi	Sacrifice or roll.
Sutemi-waza	Sacrifice techniques.

T

Tachi-waza	Standing throwing techniques.
Tai otoshi	Body drop.
Tameshiwari	Breaking demonstration.
Tanden	Point just below the navel.
Tani otoshi	Valley drop.
Tanto	Short sword.
Tate tsuki	Vertical punch (boxer's jab).
Te	Hand. See also Karate .
Teisho	Palm heel.
Teisho tsuki	Palm heel punch.
Teisho uchi	Palm heel strike.
Teisho uke	Palm heel block.
Teiji dachi	T-stance.
Tekubi	Wrist.
Tekubi tori	Wrist pull.
Tettsui	Hammer fist; downward strike with closed fist, little finger side as the striking surface.
Te-waza	Hand techniques.
Tomoe nage	Stomach throw.
Tonfa	Wooden rod with handle at right angle, used in pairs.
Tori	Defender, demonstrator of technique; or, pull.
Torite	See tuite .
Tsuki	Punch; knuckle strike with first two knuckles only.
Tsuki waza	Punching techniques.
Tsukuri	Stepping into the throw.
Tsuri	Lifting.
Tsuri goshi	Lifting hip throw.
Tsuri komi goshi	Lifting pulling hip throw.
Tuite	1. Grappling techniques.
Tuite	2. Using pressure points for joint manipulation.

U

Uchi	Inner; or, Strike.
Uchideshi	Special disciple.
Uchikomi	Repeated practice of throwing techniques.
Uchi mata	Inner thigh throw.
Uchi waza	Striking techniques.
Ude	Forearm.
Ude gatame	Forearm arm-bar.
Ude tori	Forearm pull.
Ude uki	Forearm block.
Uke	Block (Age uke); or, Attacker, to whom techniques are done.
Ukemi	Falling and rolling exercises.
Ukemi waza	Falling techniques.
Uki	Floating.
Uki goshi	Floating hip throw.
Uki otoshi	Floating drop.
Uki waza	Floating throw.
Ulna	(English) Bone on little-finger side of wrist.
Ulna press	Straight arm bar with wrist on opponent's elbow.
Ura	Back or flip side.
Uraken uchi	Back fist strike.
Ura nage	Back throw.
Ura tsuki	Flip side punch.
Ushiro	Rear.
Ushiro geri	Back kick.
Ushiro goshi	Back hip throw.

V

W

Wakare	Separation.
Waza	Technique.
Katame waza	Mat work.

X

Y

Yama	Mountain.
Yama bushi	Mountain warriors.
Yama tsuki	U-punch.
Yame	Finish, Stop, Complete
Yari	Spear.
Yasume	Relax (ready position)
Yawara	Control.
Yoi	Ready.
Yoko	Side.
Yoko gake	Side body drop.
Yoko geri	Side kick.
Yoko guruma	Side wheel.
Yoko haitto	Side ridge-hand.
Yoko kekome	Side thrust kick.
Yoko otoshi	Side drop.
Yoko shio gatame	Side four corner hold.
Yoko shuto	Side knife-hand.
Yoko tobo geri	Jump side kick.
Yoko wakare	Side separation.
Yubi	Finger.
Yubi tori	Finger pull.
Yudansha	One who is a black belt.

Z

Zazen	Sitting meditation.
Zanshin	State of relaxed awareness. Staying alert and focused.
Zen	1. Buddhist sect.
Zen	2. Religious meditation.
Zenkutzo dachi	Front stance.