Japanese Terminology

-A-

ai - harmonize, conjoin

aiki - harmonizing spirit/will/intent with the opponent

Aikido - a martial art derived from Aiki Jujitsu that emphasizes spiritual development; founded by Morihei Ueshiba

Aiki Jujitsu - a type of Jujitsu that emphasizes yielding, blending, and joint manipulation

ashi - foot, leg

ashi kubi - ankle; lit. "neck of the foot, leg"

atemi - a strike to the human body

-B-

bu - martial

budo - newer japanese martial arts that emphasize systematic teaching instead of cataloging techniques; lit. "martial way"

budoka - a practitioner of budo

budokai - an organization of budoka

bujitsu - martial techniques of the bushi; lit. "martial arts"

bushi - warrior class of feudal Japan

bushido - a unwritten ethical and moral code of the bushi; lit. "way of the bushi"

-C-

chudan - middle level

-D-

(t)dachi - standing, stance

dan - degree, level; used for black belt ranks in budo

do - (1) way, system (2) trunk(body)

dojo - practice hall for budo

-E-

eri - lapel

-F-

fumi - step on

fumikomi - stomp

-G-

gaeshi - return, give back, reverse

gake - hook

gama - sickle, scythe

gari - reap

(k)gatame - tighten, lock, a hold

gedan - lower level

geri - kick

gi - uniform for budo practice

gyaku - reverse

-H-

ha - wing

hadaka - naked

hai - "yes"

haito - ridge hand (thumb site); lit. "back(spine) of a katana"

hane - spring up

harai - sweep away

hazushi - escape from a hold; lit. "remove oneself"

hiji - elbow

hittsui - knee strike; lit. "knee hammer"

ho - a direction, side

hiza - knee

-I-

irimi - entering

-J-

(sh)jime - strangle

jitsu - art, technique

jodan - upper level

ju - flexible, pliant, yielding

juji - cross; lit. the shape of the japanese character for the number 10(ju): +

-K-

kaiten - round roll

kami - top, upper

kamiza - upper seat

karada - body

kata - one side (of two)

kesa - scarf; lit. Buddhist priest's stole

ki - spirit, will, intent

ko - (1) little, minor (2) mouth

komi - include, load

koryu - traditional schools of japanese martial arts

kote - wrist; lit. small part of the hand

kubi - neck

kuzushi - off-balancing of your opponent (the main directions to off-balance someone correspond to the eight directions of compass); lit. "to break posture"

kyu - grade, class; used in budo for student ranks under black belt

-L-

-M-

mae - front side

maki - reel, wrap up

makikomi - wrap something up, reel something in

mata - thigh, groin

mawashi - round

men - face

moro - both, pair

mudansha - student not holding a black belt rank

-N-

nage - throw

nami - normal, regular

nukite - spear-hand; lit. "piercing hand"

-O-

o - great, large, vast

ogoshi - great hip

omote - face (front side)

osae - push, press, pin

otoshi - drop

osoto gari - large, outside reap

ouchi gari - large, inside reap

-P-

-Q-

-R-

ryo - both, two

ryu - a school/style of a japanese martial arts ; lit. "stream"

-S-

sankaku - triangle

sasae - support, prop

seoi - back of the shoulder

shiho - four directions

shotei - bottom of the palm

shuto - knife-hand; lit. "hand sword"

sode - sleeve

soke - head of the family; head of japanese martial art system

soku - side

soto - outside, exterior

sukui - scoop, shovel

sumi - a corner

suwari - seated

-T-

tai - body

tatami - a rice straw mat used in traditional japanese homes to soften hardwood floors; also used in japanese martial arts to help soften falls

tate - vertical

tawara - straw bag, sack

te - hand

tekubi - wrist; lit. "neck of the hand"

tettsui - hammer-hand

(d)tori - hold, grab

tsuki - thrust

-U-

uchi - (1) inside, interior (2) strike

ude - arm

uke - (1) to recieve, as in "one who recieves a technique" in japanese martial arts (2) block

ukemi - breakfall; lit. "to recieve/catch the body"

uki - float(ing)

ura - the back side

-V-

-W-

wakare - divide

waki - armpit

waza - technique

-X-

-Y-

yama - mountain

yoko - the side, flank

yubi - finger

yudansha - student holding a black belt rank

-Z-

 

-Counting-

ichi - one

ni - two

san - three

yon, shi - four

go - five

roku - six

nana, shichi - seven

hachi - eight

kyu, ku - nine

ju - ten

 

-Ranking-

gokyu

yonkyu

sankyu

nikyu

ikkyu

shodan - 1st degree black belt

nidan

sandan

yondan

godan

rokudan

shichidan

hachidan

kudan

judan - 10th degree black belt