Martial Arts – Japanese Terminology
Even for experienced martial artist, learning and remembering Japanese terminology can be very confusing. It can also be very difficult to find out the meaning/definition of many words if you don’t know where to look.
It is also important to note that the meaning of words can have slight variations between martial arts styles. This page focuses upon terminology and meaning that is relevant to the arts studied by members of Bujutsu Martial Arts and Fitness Centre.
So why do we do it? Why don’t we just use English terms?
There are two main reasons why it is important to learn the Japanese terminology of the art you are training;
1. You are are not just studying techniques, you are studying an art, its history and way of life. The japanese terminology is a big part of that.
2. I regularly train overseas, in countries all around the world. It doesn’t matter what country I go to, whether it be Japan, an English speaking country or a country that speaks some other language, because I know Japanese terminology I am able to train where ever I go.
I have put this list of words together that will assist to make your martial journey even easier.
A
AGE
Rising
AGE HIJIATE
Rising elbow strike
AGE UKE
Rising block
AGO
Chin
AIUCHI
Both competitors scored at the same time
AKAOBI
Red belt
AKA NO KACHI
Red side winner
ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU
Thank you very much
ASHI
Foot or leg
ATAMA
Head
B
BARAI
A wide swing or sweep
BUDO
Martial Arts
BUJUTSU
Martial arts for real world or battlefield situations
BUNKAI
Meaning of the technique
BUSHIDO
The way of the warrior
C
CHI ISHI
Stone weighted training tools for upper body conditioning
CHOKU ZUKI
Straight punch
CHOTTO
A little
CHUDAN
Mid section
CHUDAN SOTO UKE
Middle Outside Block
CHUDAN UCHI UKE
Middle Inside Block
CHUDAN ZUKI
Middle punch
D
DACHI
Stance
DAN
Black belt rank
DO GI
Uniform
DOJO
Training Hall
E
EMBU
Demonstration
EMBUSEN
Returning to starting position – 1 step allowance
EMPEI
Elbow
F
G
GANBATTE
Do your best
GEDAN
Lower part of body, groin and below
GEDAN BARAI
Lower block
GEDAN KAKIWAKE
Low Wedge Block
GERI
Kick
GO
Number 5
GODAN
5th Degree Black Belt
GOHON KUMITE
5 step sparring
GOSHINGI
Self Defence training
GYAKU KAITEN
When the hips rotate in the opposite direction to the technique
GYAKU ZUKI
Reverse punch
H
HACHI
Number 8
HACHI DAN
8th Degree Black Belt
HAI
Yes
HAITO
Ridge hand
HAIWAN
Square Block
HAJIME
Start
HANMI
Hips are at 45%
HANSHI
Grand Master – this title can be awarded to the rank of 8th Dan and above
HANSOKU
Disqualification
HANSOKU CHUI
Warning
HANTAI
Change sides
HANTEI
Decision
HIEKO DACHI
Feet shoulder width apart
HEISOKU DACHI
Feet together from heels to toes
HIDARI
Left
HIJI
Elbow
HIKIWAKE
Draw
HITAI
Forehead
HIZA
Knee
HIZA GERI
Knee strike
HONBU
Headquarters
I
ICHI
Number 1
IDOU KIHON
Moving Basics
IPPON
One point
ISHI
A large rock that you can carry around to build strength
ISHI SASHI
Stone or concrete hand weights
J
JARI BAKO
Bucket filled with sand to condition fingers and hands
JODAN
Facial area
JODAN ZUKI
Punch to face
JOGAI CHUI
Out of bounds warning
JYU
Number 10
JYU DAN
10th Degree Black Belt
JUN KAITEN
When hips rotate in the same direction as the technique
JUNZUKI
Lunge punch
K
KAICHO
The President of an organisation
KAKATO
Heel
KAKIWAKE
Wedge Block
KAKATO GERI
Axe kick, back of heel down the face
KAKE UKE
Open hand semi-circular deflecting block
KAMAE
Guard position
KANCHO
Owner of school
KARATE DO
Empty hand way
KATA
Formal pattern
KATA
Neck
KEIKOKU
Caution
KEKOMI GERI
Thrust kick
KEN
Fist
KENTSUI
Hammer fist
KEOTSUKI
Come to attention
KIAI
A sharp sounding yell projecting inner strength
KIBA DACHI
Horse riding stance – feet at 90 degrees
KIHON
Basics
KIHON IDO
Moving basics
KIHON IPPON KUMITE
1 step sparring
KIKEN
Withdrawal from event
KIME
Power and focus
KIN GERI
Groin kick
KOHKOTSU DACHI
Back stance
KOSHI
Hips
KUBI
Neck
KUMITE
Sparring
KUROBI
Black belt
KYOSHI
Expert teacher 6th and 7th Dan ranks
KYU
Number 9
KYU DAN
9th Degree Black Belt
M
MAAI
Distance
MAE
Front
MAE GERI
Front kick
MAKIWARA
A wooden striking post for condition hands and legs
MASSUGU
Forward
MAWASHI
Round
MAWASHI GERI
Roundhouse kick
MAWASHI UKE
Circular block
MAWATE
Turn around
ME
Eyes
MIGI
Right
MOICHIDO
One more time
MOKUSO
Close your eyes for meditation
MOROTE ZUKI
Double fist punch
MOTTO
More
MUBOUBI CHUI
Not defending warning
MUNE
Chest
N
NAGASHI UKE
Deflecting Block
NAGE WAZA
Throwing technique
NANA
Number 7
NAORE
Return to attention
NEKO ASHI DACHI
Cat stance
NI
Number 2
NIDAN
2nd Degree Black Belt
NIGIRI GAME
Gripping jars used to develop hand strength
NUKITE
Spear Hand
O
OBI
Belt
OI ZUKI
Lunging punch, same as junzuki
OSU
A formal acknowledgement
OTAGI NI
Bowing to each other
R
REI
Bow, show respect
RENGERI
Chudan Maegeri then Jodan Maegeri
RENSHI
A polished teacher, polished expert or polished master
RENZOKU WAZA
Consecutive techniques
ROKU
Number 6
ROKU DAN
6th Degree Black Belt
RYU
School or style
S
SAGI MAKIWARA
Hanging version of Makiwara
SAI SHIAI
Rematch
SAI SAI SHIAI
Second rematch
SAN
Number 3
SANBON
Three of a kind such as 3 punches
SANDAN
3rd Degree Black Belt
SANGATE
To the rear
SEIKEN
Front two knuckles of fist
SEIRETSU
Line up
SEIZA
Sit in kneeling position
SENPAI
Senior student or assistant instructor
SENSEI
Teacher
SENTEI KATA
Intermediate Kata
SHIRO NO KACHI
White side winner
SHODAN
1st Degree Black Belt
SHI
Number 4
SHICHI
Number 7
SHICHIDAN
7th Degree Black Belt
SHIHAN
Master teacher, 5th dan rank and above
SHIKKAKU
Absolute disqualification from tournament
SHIKO DACHI
Horse riding stance, feet at 45 degrees
SHITEI KATA
Basic Kata
SHIZEN TAI
Natural Stance
SHOMEN
Forward direction
SHUTO
Knife hand
SHUTO UCHI
Knife hand strike
SHUTO UKE
Knife hand block
SIERETSU
Line Up
SO
Okay
SOHONBU
International Head Quarters
SOKUMEN
Side
SOKUTO
Outside edge of foot
SOTO UKE
Outside Block
SUBURITO
a heavy wooden practice sword or bo that is used for building strength
SUNDOME
The moment when the attack reaches it’s target but stopping a few mm’s before the target
T
TAI-SABAKI
Moving your body out of the way of an attack in such away that you can counter attack
TAKETABA
A bundle of bamboo used for finger strikes
TATE
Vertical
TE
Hand
TEISHO
Palm Heel
TODE
Chinese hand, Karate was originally called Tode
TOKUI KATA
Favourite Kata
TSUKI
Punch
U
UCHI
Strike
UCHIDESHI
Apprentice instructor
UCHI UKE
Inside Block
UDE
Forearm
UKE
To receive, block
UNSOKU
Feet movements
URAKEN
Back fist
USHIRO
To the rear
USHIRO URAKEN
Back fist to the rear
W
WAZA
Technique
WAZA ARI
Half a point
Y
YAKUSOKU KUMITE
Pre-arranged sparring
YAME
Stop
YOl
Get ready
YOKO
Side
YOKO GERI
Side kick
YOKO GERI KEAGE
Side snap kick
YOKO GERI KEKOMI
Side thrust kick
YOKO URAKENUCHI (yoh koh, oo rah oo chee)
Back fist to the side
YON
Number 4, also Shi
YONDAN
4th Degree Black Belt
YORI ASHI
2 feet simultaneously sliding
YUBI
Finger
YUDANSHA
A black belt
YUKURI
Slowly
Z
ZANSHIN
Alert, aware, focus
ZENKUTSU DACHI
Forward Stance
ZENWAN
Forearm
Zen Ken Ren Iaido Terminology
These terms have been taken directly from the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei 2009 Iai Manual.
ASHI SABAKI
Footwork or movement of the feet
AYUMI ASHI
Ordinary walking footwork, where both feet move naturally.
BOKKEN
A wooden shaped sword usually made from Japanese Oak.
BUDO
Term given to generally mean all types of Japanese fighting arts.
CHAKUZA
Sitting down from a standing posture.
CHUDAN NO KAMAE
One of the 5 postures of holding the sword in the middle position
DOJO
A hall or training place where students train in their respective disciplines
ENBU
The act of demonstrating Budo normally to an audience
ENZAN NO METSUKE
Literally no meaning to gaze at the distant mountains. A term meaning to look at the whole, not something specific
FURI OROSHITE
To swing the sword down from above the head
GEDAN NO KAMAE
One of the 5 postures where the sword is lowered to the knee level
HA
The cutting edge of the sword
HAKAMA
Skirt-like pleated trousers worn by practicing Japanese martial arts
HANMI
A stance where the body is sideways on to the opponent
HASSO NO KAMAE
One of the 5 basic postures of holding the sword near the shoulder
HASUJI
The cutting line of the sword blade
IAIDO
A form of sword fighting where drawing the blade quickly results in a single motion to defeat the enemy. Founded by Shigenobu Hayashizaki in the latter half of the 16th century. Many schools were formed in the Edo period (1600-1868). In the 1956 the Iaido division was set up in the All Japan Kendo Federation, and in 1969 the All Japan Kendo Federation Iai Kata were established
JORDAN NO KAMEA
One of the 5 postures; where the sword is held above the head
KAMAE
General word or term given to mean posture or stance
KATA
Word given to mean form or set movement of techniques
KATANA
Single edged weapon usually given to mean a Japanese sword
KATSUNINKON/KATSUJINKEN
Zen Buddhist term given to mean “The Positive Way” of using the sword
KEITO SHISEI
Term used in Iaido to refer to the position whereby the sheathed sword is held on the left hip as compared with Kendo which generally uses only Taito Shisei to describe the same position holding a Shinai
KI GAMAE
A state where the body is alert and ready to act in a moment
KIGURAI
A state of commanding presence derived from confidence after much practice
KOIGUCHI
The mouth of opening of the sword sheath or Saya. Given because of the similarity between that of the open mouth of a Japanese Koi carp
KURAI
A word given to mean the degree to which character is combined with skill
MATSUKE
Correct positioning or looking with the eyes
MIZUOCHI
See Suigetsu
MOROTE
The action of using both hands to grip or hold the sword
MOROTE ZUKI
The act of thrusting the sword using both hands
MUNE
The back edge of the Japanese sword. Also called Mine
NIHON TO
A general name given to mean a sword manufactured in a Japanese way
NOTO
The act of placing the sword in sheath. One of the basic movements in Iai
OBI
A long narrow sash worn around the waist to support the sword
OKURI ASHI
One of the basic kinds of footwork where the right foot is kept forward
REI
Behaviour and conduct showing respect and courtesy to others
REI HO
Courtesy or politeness. Etiquette required throughout all Budo
RYU HA
Literal meaning school. Usually meant to mean by a founder or originator
SAGE TO
The standing posture holding a sword or Bokuto naturally at arms length
SEIZA
A way of sitting with the knees in line and the shins and the tops of the feet on the floor. The big toes of both feet should be adjacent or one on top of the other, and the buttocks resting on the heels. This back is straight, and the hands are placed on the upper part of the thighs with the fingers together. A formal way of sitting in Japan
SHINKEN
An actual or real sword with a cutting edge
SHINOGI
On the blade of the sword, the raised ridge on the flat on the blade which runs from the sword guard to the tip point (Kissaki)
SHINZA
The shrine or revered place in a dojo or training hall
SHOMEN
A word meaning the front. For example; Shomen E No Rei.
SUIGETSU
The depressed area below the sternum that is referred to as the pit of the stomach, solar plexus or Mizo-uchi
TACHI
A type of sword that is curved and generally longer than 60cm
TAITO
The act of placing the sword in the Obi ( sash or belt) or of placing the hand on the left hip when using a Bukoto
TATTEHIZA
Sitting on the left leg with the right knee raised
TEITO
See Sageto
TENOUCHI
The overall use of the hands when cutting, holding, tightening or loosening the grip of the handle
TSUBA
Sword guard; usually ornate, but essentially a piece of metal that is inserted between the hilt and the blade of the sword to protect the hands
TSUBA MOTO
The area of a sword blade near or next to the sword guard
TSUKA
The hilt of a sword; the area which is usually gripped with the hands
TSUKA GASHIRA
The very end bottom of the sword handle (pommel)
TSUKU
To thrust at the throat, chest or solar plexus
UJENAGASU
To parry the striking opponents sword, deflecting it to the side with the Shinogi of ones sword. The move is found in the third Kata Ukenagashi
WAKI GAMAE
One of the 5 postures where the sword is placed to the side of the body, obscuring it from the front opponent’s view
WAZA
A motor skill which is gained through long, hard training of cutting movements, and the learning of set techniques or Kata
ZANSHIN
The body posture and stand of mind in which, even after cutting one is alert and ready to respond instantly to any counterattack by the opponent. Generally speaking, after cutting, one should always be mindful of the distance between oneself and the opponent
ZAREL
A bow made from the formal kneeling position
