Japanese Martial Arts Terminology

Japanese Terminology

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Terms | Kanji | Drills | Kobudo | Counting

Japanese	English	Category
Juji Gatame	A cross arm bar on the ground.	Technique
Ne Waza	Ground work, or ground technique	Technique
Age Zuki	Rising punch	Strikes
Atemi Waza	Striking technique, or attacking vital areas	Strikes
Chudan Zuki	Middle punch	Strikes
Empi Uchi	Elbow Strike	Strikes
Gedan Zuki	Low punch	Strikes
Gyaku Zuki	Reverse punch	Strikes
Haito	Ridge hand. A open hand strike using the index finger side of the hand. Opposite striking surface to a Shuto.	Strikes
Keiko Ken Zuki	Forefinger knuckle punch	Strikes
Nihon Nukite	Two finger strike	Strikes
Nukite	Four finger strike or spear hand	Strikes
Oi Zuki	Chase punch or lunge punch	Strikes
Shotei Uchi	Palm heel strike	Strikes
Shuto	Edge of hand strike	Strikes
Tate Zuki	Vertical punch	Strikes
Tettui Zuki	Hammer fist strike	Strikes
Ura Zuki	Upper cut or no turn punch	Strikes
Uraken	Back fist	Strikes
Chudan Uke	Middle block	Blocks
Chudan Soto Uke	Outside middle block	Blocks
Chudan Uchi Uke	Inside middle block	Blocks
Gedan Uke	Low block	Blocks
Hai Shu	Back of hand block	Blocks
Hantai	Opposite	Direction
Harai (-Barai)	Parry or block (Barai when used with a prefix)	Blocks
Jodan Uke	High block	Blocks
Juji Uke	X block	Blocks
Kake Uke	Hooking block	Blocks
Kakiwake Uke	Wedge block	Blocks
Kakuto Uke	Bent wrist block, crane hand block	Blocks
Keito Uke	Inside wrist block	Blocks
Morote Uke	Augmented forearm block or double block	Blocks
Osae Uke	Pressing block	Blocks
Sukui Uke	Scooping block	Blocks
Tettui Uke	Hammer fist block	Blocks
Tsukami Uke	Grasping block	Blocks
Fumikomi Geri	Stomping kick	Kicks
Kagato Geri	Axe or heel kick	Kicks
Kake Geri	Hook kick	Kicks
Keage	Snap kick	Kicks
Keri (-Geri)	Kick (Geri when used with a prefix)	Kicks
Keri Waza	Kicking technique	Kicks
Mae Geri	Front kick	Kicks
Mae Kekomi Geri	Front thrust kick	Kicks
Mae Tobi Geri	Jump front kick	Kicks
Mawashi Geri	Round house kick	Kicks
Mawashi Tobi Geri	Jump round house kick	Kicks
Mikazuki Geri	Crescent kick	Kicks
Ushiro Geri	Back kick	Kicks
Ushiro Kekomi Geri	Back thrust kick	Kicks
Ushiro Tobi Geri	Jump spinning back kick	Kicks
Yoko Geri	Side kick	Kicks
Yoko Kekomi Geri	Side thrust kick	Kicks
Yoko Tobi Geri	Jump side kick	Kicks
Fudo Dachi	Immoveable stance, not moving stance, heels together feet at 45 degree angles	Stances
Hachiji Dachi	Spread out stance, feet shoulder width. (literally the number 8 stance because the stance looks like the character for the number 8)	Stances
Tsuru Dachi	Crane stance	Stances
Zenkutsu Dachi	Lunge or forward stance	Stances
Haku Tsuru Dachi	Hooked crane or white crane stance	Stances
Hanmae Kiba Dachi	Half front horse or straddle stance	Stances
Heisoku Dachi	Attention stance, feet together stance	Stances
Kake Dachi	Hooked leg stance	Stances
Kiba Dachi	Straddle stance or horse stance	Stances
Ko Neko Dachi	Long cat stance	Stances
Kokutsu Dachi	Back stance	Stances
Kosa Dachi	Crossed leg stance	Stances
Mitsurin Dachi	Leopard or jungle stance	Stances
Musubi Dachi	Preparation stance, heels together & toes out	Stances
Neko Ashi Dachi	Cat leg stance	Stances
Sanchin Dachi	Hourglass stance with toes pointed inward	Stances
Shiko Dachi	Horse stance with feet turned out at a 45º angle	Stances
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)	Stances
Tachi (-Dachi)	Stance (Dachi when used with a prefix such as Kiba Dachi)	Stances
Ashi Barai	Foot sweep	Throws & Takedowns
Irimi	Entering technique	Throws & Takedowns
Kaiten-Nage	Rotary throw	Throws & Takedowns
Kubi Nage	Neck throw	Throws & Takedowns
Nage	The thrower in a throwing technique	Throws & Takedowns
Nage Waze	Throwing techniques	Throws & Takedowns
O-Goshi	Major hip throw	Throws & Takedowns
O-Soto-Gari	Major outer reap	Throws & Takedowns
Otoshi	Drop or throw down	Throws & Takedowns
Seoi-Nage	Shoulder throw	Throws & Takedowns
Tai-Otoshi	Body drop throw. Tori drops in order to throw Uke.	Throws & Takedowns
Tani-Otoshi	"Valley drop" throw	Throws & Takedowns
Tomoe-Nage	Circle Throw	Throws & Takedowns
Tsukuri	A preparatory move or entry prior to making a throw	Throws & Takedowns
Ukemi	Falling technique	Throws & Takedowns
Arigato	Thank you	Commands & Etiquette
Arigato Gozaimashita	Thank you very much	Commands & Etiquette
Hai	Yes	Commands & Etiquette
Hajime	Command meaning to begin.	Commands & Etiquette
Hitosus	I will	Commands & Etiquette
Iie	No	Commands & Etiquette
Kon Ban Wa	Good evening	Commands & Etiquette
Matte	Wait, stop	Commands & Etiquette
Naotte	As you were, return to the previous position	Commands & Etiquette
Onegai Shimasu	Please teach me	Commands & Etiquette
Otagai Ni Rei	Bow to each other	Commands & Etiquette
Rei	Bow	Commands & Etiquette
Sayonara	Goodbye	Commands & Etiquette
Shugo	Line up	Commands & Etiquette
Sumimasen	Excuse me	Commands & Etiquette
Yame	Stop immediately	Commands & Etiquette
Yasume	Relax	Commands & Etiquette
Yoi	"Stand by," or "get ready"	Commands & Etiquette
Yoshi	Begin	Commands & Etiquette
Ashi	Foot or leg	Body Parts
Empi	Elbow	Body Parts
Hara	Stomach or belly	Body Parts
Hiji	Elbow	Body Parts
Hiza	Knee	Body Parts
Kagato	Heel of foot	Body Parts
Seiken	Forefist	Body Parts
Sokuto	Edge of foot	Body Parts
Tako	Calluses	Body Parts
Tanden	Physical center of gravity in the body	Body Parts
Te	Hand, also used to describe martial arts indigenous to Okinawa	Body Parts
Appaku	Applied pressure	Miscellaneous
Ashi Sabaki	Foot work	Technique
Embussen	The floor pattern of a Kata	Technique
Gasho	Praying position	Miscellaneous
Gi	Traditional Karate uniform first used in Judo	Miscellaneous
Godan	A fifth degree black belt	Rank
Goshindo	The way of self-defense	Miscellaneous
Gyaku Te	Reverse hand	Miscellaneous
Hadaka Jime	Naked choke	Technique
Hanshi	Eighth dan or above, master of style	Rank
Hebi	Snake	Animal
Heno	To react without thinking	Miscellaneous
Hi Neri	Twist	Miscellaneous
Hidari	Left	Direction
Hineri	Twisting	Miscellaneous
Hiraken	Leopard fist	Animal
Hyo	Leopard	Animal
Bugei	Martial arts	Miscellaneous
Buji	Sensitivity	Miscellaneous
Bunkai	Application of form, study of martial arts techniques	Miscellaneous
Bushi	Samurai or warrior	Miscellaneous
Bushido	Way of the warrior or warrior way	Miscellaneous
Dozo	Please	Miscellaneous
Ibuki	A form of breathing, hard breathing, synchronization of the breath and body action	Miscellaneous
Ippon	One point	Miscellaneous
Ippon Kumite Kata	One point fighting form	Technique
Joseki	Upper side of dojo on the left side the kamiza (right when facing the kamiza, opposite of Shimoseki)	Direction
Ju	Ten	Numbers
Jyu Jyutsu	Science of softness. Empty hand techniques developed by the Samurai. (Sometimes spelled as Ju Jutsu, Jiu-Jitsu and Ju Jitsu)	Miscellaneous
Jyutsu	Art or skill (Sometimes spelled as Jutsu).	Miscellaneous
Kaeshu	Reversals or counters	Technique
Kake	Hook. Also the final movement or executions of a throw.	Miscellaneous
Kamae	Posture or ready position	Miscellaneous
Kamiza	"Seat of the deity," the spiritual center of the dojo.	Miscellaneous
Kansetsu	Joint, as in knee joint or elbow joint.	Body Part
Karate	Empty hand	Miscellaneous
Karate-do	Empty hand way	Miscellaneous
Karate-ka	A practitioner of Karate	Miscellaneous
Kata	Prearranged self-defense movements in a set pattern, a form	Miscellaneous
Kesa-Gatame	Position from Judo. Means "scarf hold." You are sitting in side position putting pressure on opponent's chest while one arm secures his head, and your other secures his near arm.	Technique
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.	Miscellaneous
Kiai	Shout to focus energy, develop spirit and disorient opponent	Technique
Kihon	Basic	Technique
Kime	Focus	Miscellaneous
Kobushi Ate	Striking vulnerable & paralyzing areas, also known as Utsu	Miscellaneous
Kohai	A student of Budo who trains under the direction of a sempai.	Miscellaneous
Kote Aite	Body conditioning, arm pounding drills	Technique
Kotegaeshi	Bending the forearm away from the body through control of the wrist	Technique
Kumite	Sparring or fighting	Miscellaneous
Kun	Creed	Miscellaneous
Kuro Obi	Black belt	Rank
Kuzushi	Balance	Miscellaneous
Kyoku	Strength of the technique alone	Miscellaneous
Kyoshi	A martial art's title referring to an expert teacher of 6th Dan or above who has attained a degree of inner perfection.	Rank
Kyoshu Jitsu	Striking vital points or pressure point techniques	Miscellaneous
Maai	Distance between you and your opponent	Miscellaneous
Makiwara	Striking post	Miscellaneous
Migi	Right (as in side)	Direction
Morote Jime	Two handed choke	Technique
Obi	Belt	Miscellaneous
Osaekomi	Hold down	Technique
Ryochi	Intuitive wisdom	Miscellaneous
Ryu	Style, as in a particular style of an art	Miscellaneous
Satori	Enlightenment; understanding	Miscellaneous
Seiza	Formal sitting position with lower legs folded under you	Miscellaneous
Sempai	Senior Student	Rank
Sen	Before, initiative	Miscellaneous
Sen No Sen	Attacking at the moment of opponent's attack	Miscellaneous
Sensei	(Lit. One who has gone before) Teacher	Rank
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.)	Numbers
Shihan	One who points the way, Master level instructor, Instructor of instructors	Rank
Shime (-Jime)	Choking (Jime when used with a prefix)	Technique
Shimoseki	Lower side of dojo on the right side the kamiza (left when facing the kamiza, opposite of Joseki)	Direction
Shomen	To the front	Direction
Taezu Naru Waza	Continuous motion technique	Technique
Taisabaki	Body movement or shifting, stepping and dodging	Technique
*Tatsu*	Dragon hand	Animal
Te Uke	Chambered fist covered by other fist	Technique
Tekatana Uke	Chambered fist covered by an open hand	Technique
Tenkan	Body pivoting or turning	Technique
Tode	Chinese hand. An early name for Okinawan Karate.	Miscellaneous
Tora	Tiger	Animal
Tori	Attacker	Miscellaneous
Tsugime	Joint bending	Technique
Tsuru	Crane	Animal
Tuite	Grappling skills	Miscellaneous
Ude Osae	Arm pinning through control of opponent's elbow	Technique
Uke	Defender or blocking	Miscellaneous
Utsu	Striking vulnerable & paralyzing areas, also known as Kobushi Ate	Technique
Waza	Technique	Technique
Chikara	Strength or power	Miscellaneous
Dan	Black belt grade	Rank
Deshi	Student or pupil	Rank
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.'	Miscellaneous
Do Itashimashite	You are very welcome	Miscellaneous
Dojo	'Way place,' school, or place of enlightenment	Miscellaneous
Yoko	Side	Direction
Yudansha	Black belt holder, of dan rank	Rank
Zanshin	Continued alertness, remaining mind, extending ki	Miscellaneous
Zazen	Seated meditation	Miscellaneous

Thank you 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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