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Terms in bold black may be clicked to hear the pronunciation, or click the kanji or katakana for a larger view. Newest terms are highlighted.
Thank you Aikiko for the pronunciations. Further thanks to Jonathan Forrester Sensei who has undertaken to ensure the accuracy of these terms. Click here for basic rules of Japanese pronunciation courtesy of Forrester Sensei.
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| A | |
| Age Zuki | Rising punch |
| Appaku | Applied pressure
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| Arigato | Thank you |
| Arigato Gozaimashita | Thank you very much |
| Ashi | Foot
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| Ashi Barai | Foot sweep |
| Ashi Sabaki | Foot work
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| Atemi Waza | Striking technique, or attacking vital areas |
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| B | |
| Ba Gua Chang | (Lit. Eight Trigram Palm) An internal Chinese art focusing on circular movements and internal palm strikes |
| Bo | Wooden staff approximately 6' long |
| Bojitsu | Bo or staff skills |
| Bugei | Martial arts
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| Buji | Sensitivity |
| Bunkai | Application of form, study of martial arts techniques |
| Bushi | Samurai or warrior
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| Bushido | Way of the warrior or warrior way |
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| C | |
| Chikara | Strength or power
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| Chudan Soto Uke | Outside middle block |
| Chudan Zuki | Middle punch |
| Chudan Uchi Uke | Inside middle block |
| Cun | A form of measurement used in traditional Chinese medicine which is the distance between the first and second joint on the middle finger. |
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| D | |
| Dan | Black belt grade
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| Deshi | Student
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| Dou | (or Do) Way or path (Dao or Tao in
Chinese). Used to describe one's chosen path through life, such as
Bushido, 'way of the warrior,' or Karate-do 'way
of the empty hand.'
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| Do Itashimashite | You are very welcome |
| Dojo | 'Way place,' school, or place of enlightenment
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| Dozo | Please |
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| E | |
| Eiku or Kai | A boat oar used in Kobudo |
| Embussen | The floor pattern of a Kata |
| Empi | Elbow |
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| F | |
| Fudo Dachi | Immoveable stance, not moving stance, heels together feet at 45 degree angles |
| Fumikomi Geri | Stomping kick |
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| G | |
| Gasho | Praying position |
| Gedan Zuki | Low punch |
| Gedan Uke | Low block |
| Gi | Traditional Karate uniform first used in Judo
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| Godan | A fifth degree black belt
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| Goshindo | The way of self-defense |
| Gyaku Te | Reverse hand |
| Gyaku Zuki | Reverse punch |
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| H | |
| Hachiji Dachi | Spread out stance, feet shoulder width. (literally the number 8 stance because the stance looks like the character for the number 8) |
| Hadaka Jime | Naked choke |
| Hai | Yes |
| Hai Shu | Back of hand block |
| Haku Tsuru Dachi | Hooked crane or white crane stance |
| Hanmae Kiba Dachi | Half front horse or straddle stance |
| Hanshi | Eighth dan or above, master of style |
| Hara | Stomach or belly |
| Harai (-Barai) | Parry or block (Barai when used with a prefix) |
| Hebi | Snake |
| Heisoku Dachi | Attention stance, feet together stance |
| Heno | To react without thinking |
| Hi Neri | Twist |
| Hidari | Left
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| Hiraken | Leopard fist |
| Hitosus | I will |
| Hiza | Knee |
| Hyo | Leopard |
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| I | |
| Ibuki | A form of breathing, hard breathing, synchronization of the breath and body action |
| Iie | No |
| Ippon | One point
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| Ippon Kumite Kata | One point fighting form |
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| J | |
| Jo | Short wooden staff of about 48" used in kobudo |
| Jodan Uke | High block |
| Joseki | Upper side of dojo on the left side the
kamiza (right when facing the
kamiza, opposite of
Shimoseki)
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| Ju | Ten |
| Juji Uke | X block |
| Jyu Jyutsu | Science of softness. Empty hand techniques developed by
the Samurai. (Sometimes spelled as Ju Jutsu, Jiu-Jitsu and Ju Jitsu)
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| Jyutsu | Art or skill (Sometimes spelled as Jutsu). |
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| K | |
| Kaeshu | Reversals or counters |
| Kagato | Heel of foot |
| Kagato Geri | Axe or heel kick |
| Kai or Eiku | A boat oar used in Kobudo |
| Kaiten-Nage | Rotary throw |
| Kake | Hook. Also the final movement or executions of a throw. |
| Kake Dachi | Hooked leg stance |
| Kake Geri | Hook kick |
| Kake Uke | Hooking block |
| Kakiwake Uke | Wedge block |
| Kakuto Uke | Bent wrist block, crane hand block |
| Kama | A sickle, used in kobudo
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| Kamae | Posture or ready position
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| Kamiza | "Seat of the deity," the spiritual center of the
dojo.
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| Kansetsu | Joint, as in knee joint or elbow joint. |
| Karate | Empty hand
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| Karate-do | Empty hand way |
| Karate-ka | A practitioner of Karate
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| Kata | Prearranged self-defense movements in a set
pattern, a form
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| Katana | Sword, either single or double edged
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| Keage | Snap kick |
| Keiko Ken Zuki | Forefinger knuckle punch |
| Keito Uke | Inside wrist block |
| Keri (-Geri) | Kick (Geri when used with a prefix)
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| Keri Waza | Kicking technique
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| Ki | Japanese word for energy (Qi or Chi in Chinese). Often used to describe the intrinsic life-force energy that many believe animates the body and can be directed and extended through mental focus. |
| Kiai | Shout to focus energy, develop spirit and
disorient opponent
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| Kiba Dachi | Straddle stance or horse stance |
| Kihon | Basic
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| Kime | Focus |
| Ko Neko Dachi | Long cat stance |
| Kobudo | Ancient warrior way (commonly refers to weapons arts)
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| Kobushi Ate | Striking vulnerable & paralyzing areas, also known as Utsu |
| Kohai | A student of Budo who trains under the direction of a
sempai.
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| Kokutsu Dachi | Back stance |
| Kon Ban Wa | Good evening |
| Kosa Dachi | Crossed leg stance |
| Kote Aite | Body conditioning, arm pounding drills |
| Kubi Nage | Neck throw |
| Kumite | Sparring or fighting
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| Kun | Creed |
| Kuro Obi | Black belt
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| Kuzushi | Balance |
| Kyoku | Strength of the technique alone |
| Kyoshi | A martial art's title referring to an expert teacher of 6th Dan or above who has attained a degree of inner perfection.
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| Kyoshu Jitsu | Striking vital points or pressure point techniques |
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| M | |
| Maai | Distance between you and your opponent
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| Mae Geri | Front kick |
| Mae Kekomi Geri | Front thrust kick |
| Mae Tobi Geri | Jump front kick |
| Makiwara | Striking post |
| Matte | Wait, stop |
| Mawashi Geri | Round house kick |
| Mawashi Tobi Geri | Jump round house kick |
| Migi | Right (as in side)
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| Mikazuki Geri | Crescent kick |
| Mitsurin Dachi | Leopard or jungle stance |
| Morote Jime | Two handed choke |
| Morote Uke | Augmented forearm block or double block |
| Musubi Dachi | Preparation stance, heels together & toes out |
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| N | |
| Nage | The thrower in a throwing technique |
| Nage Waze | Throwing techniques |
| Naotte | As you were, return to the previous position |
| Neko Ashi Dachi | Cat leg stance |
| Nihon Nukite | Two finger strike |
| Nunchaku | Flail-like weapon of two wooden rods connected by rope or chain, used in kobudo |
| Nukite | Four finger strike or spear hand |
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| O | |
| Obi | Belt
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| O-Goshi | Major hip throw |
| Onegai Shimasu | Please teach me |
| Osae Uke | Pressing block |
| O-Soto-Gari | Major outer reap |
| Oi Zuki | Chase punch or lunge punch |
| Osaekomi | Hold down |
| Otagai Ni Rei | Bow to each other |
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| Q | |
| Qi or Chi | Chinese word for energy (ki in Japanese). Often used to describe the intrinsic life-force energy that many believe animates the body and can be directed and extended through mental focus. |
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| R | |
| Rei | Bow
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| Ryochi | Intuitive wisdom |
| Ryu | Style, as in a particular style of an art
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| S | |
| Sai | Three-pronged metal truncheon used in
kobudo
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| Sanchin Dachi | Hourglass stance with toes pointed inward |
| Satori | Enlightenment; understanding
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| Sayonara | Goodbye
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| Seiken | Forefist |
| Seiza | Formal sitting position with lower legs folded
under you
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| Sempai | Senior Student
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| Sen | Before, initiative |
| Sen No Sen | Attacking at the moment of opponent's attack |
| Sensei | (Lit. One who has gone before) Teacher
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| Seoi-Nage | Shoulder throw |
| Shi | Four - also pronounced Yon (Shi also means death so Japanese tend to switch - After 4 the number is usually referred to as Yon - Ju Yon (Fourteen) Yon Ju (Forty) Yon Ju Yon (Forty Four), etc.) |
| Shiko Dachi | Horse stance with feet turned out at a 45º angle |
| Shihan | One who points the way, Master level instructor, Instructor of instructors |
| Shime (-Jime) | Choking (Jime when used with a prefix) |
| Shimoseki | Lower side of dojo on the right side the
kamiza (left when facing the
kamiza, opposite of
Joseki)
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| Shizen Tai Dachi | Natural Stance - Also referred to as Hachiji Dachi or
Hachinoji Dachi (literally the number 8 stance because the stance looks like the character for the number 8)
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| Shomen | To the front
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| Shotei Uchi | Palm heel strike |
| Shugo | Line up |
| Shuto | Edge of hand |
| Sokuto | Edge of foot |
| Sukui Uke | Scooping block |
| Sumimasen | Excuse me |
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| T | |
| Tachi (-Dachi) | Stance (Dachi when used with a prefix such as Kiba Dachi)
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| Taezu Naru Waza | Continuous motion technique |
| Tai-Otoshi | Body drop throw. Tori drops in order to throw Uke. |
| Taisabaki | Body movement or shifting, stepping and dodging |
| Tako | Calluses |
| Tani-Otoshi | "Valley drop" throw |
| Tanto | Short sword or long knife |
| Tate Zuki | Vertical punch |
| Tatsu | Dragon hand |
| Te | Hand, also used to describe martial arts indigenous to Okinawa |
| Te Uke | Chambered fist covered by other fist |
| Tekatana Uke | Chambered fist covered by an open hand |
| Tettui Uke | Hammer fist block |
| Tettui Zuki | Hammer fist strike |
| Tobi Geri | Jump kick
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| Tode | Chinese hand. An early name for Okinawan Karate. |
| Tomoe-Nage | Circle Throw |
| Tonfa | Wooden weapon with a handle similar to a police baton |
| Tora | Tiger
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| Tori | Attacker |
| Tsugime | Joint bending |
| Tsukami Uke | Grasping block |
| Tsukuri | A preparatory move or entry prior to making a throw |
| Tsuru | Crane
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| Tsuru Dachi | Crane stance |
| Tuite | Grappling skills |
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| U | |
| Uke | Defender or blocking |
| Ukemi | Falling technique |
| Ura Zuki | Upper cut or no turn punch |
| Uraken | Back fist |
| Ushiro Geri | Back kick |
| Ushiro Kekomi Geri | Back thrust kick |
| Ushiro Tobi Geri | Jump spinning back kick |
| Utsu | Striking vulnerable & paralyzing areas, also known as Kobushi Ate |
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| W | |
| Waza | Technique
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| Y | |
| Yame | Stop immediately |
| Yasume | Relax |
| Yoi | "Stand by," or "get ready"
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| Yoko | Side |
| Yoko Geri | Side kick |
| Yoko Kekomi Geri | Side thrust kick |
| Yoko Tobi Geri | Jump side kick |
| Yoshi | Begin |
| Yudansha | Black belt holder, of dan
rank
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| Z | |
| Zanshin | Continued alertness, remaining mind, extending
ki
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| Zazen | Seated meditation |
| Zenkutsu Dachi | Lunge or forward stance |
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