English Terms

There are a number of Japanese terms in jiu jitsu, and whilst most jitsuka are familiar with the Japanese terms, sometimes you may need to translate an English word into Japanese. The list of words and phrases below is taken from the Japanese to English page on this site - but they are ordered by the English. Time permitting in the future, this page will probably be reorganised to make it easier to search for the English terms.

Section: [ 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 ]

A

A (spiritual) purification ceremony - Misogi
A breathing method featuring a long exhalation, followed by a short cough to clear lungs - Ibuki
A catalog of techniques - Moku-roku
A chain about 3 feet long with weights at each end - Manriki Gusari
A classic Japanese sword favoured by the Samurai - Katana
A command to 'relax' - Naotte
A generic term for a uniform - Gi
A groove in the blade of a sword - Hi
A helmet worn by Samurai - Kabuto
A japanese assassin/spy - Ninja
A martial artist's uniform - Dogi
A martial arts school - Kan
A period for questions and answers - Mondo
A polearm with a curved blade - Naginata
A rice beater - a side-handled baton - Tonfa
A sequence of movements - a form - Kata
A short sword with a curved blade - Wakizashi
A small trident - Sai
A straight bladed short sword favoured by the ninja - Ninjato
A straight line - Chokusen
A style of jiu jitsu from which Aikido was primarily developed - Aiki Jutsu
A sword with a real blade - Shinken
A type of knife about 6 inches long - Kaiken
A uniform worn by karate students - Karategi
A wooden short bladed sword about the length of a wakizashi - Shoto
Abdominal breathing - Fukushiki-kokyu
Above the shoulders - Jodan
All - So
All around - typically cardinal directions - Happo
Alternating - Yumi
An accepted student - Montei
An open minded meditative state - Zen
Ankle - neck of the foot - Ashi-kubi
Application of form - Bunkai
Arm - Ude
Armpit - Waki
Art - Jitsu
Association - Kai
At peace - Heian
Atemi point between the eyes - Chototsu
Attack - Shugeki
Attacker - Semete
Attention - Heisoku
Augmented - Moro
Awareness - Zanshin

B

Back fist - Uraken
Back of forearm - Haiwan
Back of hand - Haishu
Back of the hand - Shuhai
Back plate on Hakama. - Koshi-ta
Backwards - Ura
Ball of foot - Johsokutel
Bamboo sword - Shinai
Basics - Kihon
Begin - Hajime
Beginners mind - Shoshin
Below the waist - Gedan
Belt - Obi
Between the eyes - Gammen
Between the eyes - Uto
Black belt grades - Dan
Blade - Shuto
Blind spot - Shikaku
Blunt training sword slightly longer than a katana - Iaito
Body - Tai
Both - Ryo
Bow - Rei
Bow (archery) - Yumi
Breakfall - Ukemi
Breaking demonstration. - Tameshiwari
Breath - Kokyu

C

Calisthenics - Undo
Cat - Necho
Center of balance and "ki", just below the navel - Tanden
Central line of the body - Nakazumi
Chain - Ren
Change - Kotai
Chest - Mune
Choke / strangle - Jime
Circle - Maru
Circular - Marui
Cleaning of a dojo - Soji
Close combat - Sessen
Collar or lapel - Eri
Collarbone - Sakotsu
Combinations - Renraku
Come to attention - Kiotsuki
Coming together of energy - typically vocalised as a shout - Kiai
Command to assume an attentive stance - Naorei
Commenting on someone's technique - Sokatsu
Completion of a technique - Kake
Concentration - Shuchu
Contest - Shiai
Continue - Yoshi
Continuous - Kashaki
Control - Seigyo
Corner - Sumi
Counter - Kaeshi
Crab - Kani basami
Crane - Tsuro
Cross - Juji
Cross-legged - Kosa
Crush - Hishigi
Crush - Hishigi
Cut - Giri
Cutting edge of blade - Ha

D

Death - Shi
Defensive posture - Jigotai
Demon - Oni
Diagonal or 'scarf' - Kesa
Dislocative escapaology - Nawanuke Jutsu
Dismissal after bow - Kyukei
Distracting the eyes - Metsubushi
Dojo etiquette - Reishiki
Downwards - Kaho
Drop - Otoshi

E

Ears - Mimi
Edge - Yakiba
Edge of foot - Sokuto
Eight. - Hachi
Elbow - Hiji
Eleven - Ju-ichi
Emptiness - Mu
Emptiness of mind - Mushin
Empty - Kara
Empty hand - Karate
Enlightenment - Satori
Enter - Irimi
Etiquette - Reigi
Excuse me, I'm sorry - Gomen nasai
Eye - Me
Eye contact - Metsuke

F

Family crests on uniform - often used in refernce to stripes on martial arts belts - Mon
Fan (for wafting) - Tessen
Fighting applications from techniques / kata - Oyo
Fighting arts of the Japanese warrior class (Samurai) - Bujutsu
Fighting distance - Maai
Finding victory in defeat - Makete Katsu
Finger - Yubi
Finger pressure - a generic term for Japanese acupressure massage - Shiatsu
Fingers - Hon
Fist or knuckle - Ken
Five - Go
Five-finger strike - Gohon
Floating - Uki
Flow - Nagare
Flowing - Nagashi
Focus - Kime
Foot / ankle - Ashi
Forearm - Zenwan
Fore-fist - Seiken
Forehead - Hitai
Forehead - Zengaku
Fore-knuckle - Hiraken
Formal line up - Seiretsu
Forward - Zenkatsu
Founder - Kaiso
Four - Yon
Four - often 'Yon' is used instead as Shi also means death - Shi
Four Directions - Shiho
Free practice - Randori
Front - Mae
Front - Zenpo
Front / facing - Shomen
Front, outer; that which is obvious - Omote

G

Gentle or yielding - Jiu
Gi trousers - Shitagi
Grab - Dori
Great Middle, the stomach area - Onaka
Groin - Kinsho
Groin - Sokei
Guiding - Michibiku

H

Half - Nami
Hammer fist - Tettsui
Hand - Te
Hand claw used to climb or fight - Shuko
Handguard on a sword - Tsuba
Handle - Tsuka
Harmony - Ai
Harmony - Aiki
Head - Hatama
Head - Men
Head of style - Soke
Headquarters of Judo in Japan. - Kodokan
Heaven and earth - Tenchi
Heavy wooden sword - Suburito
Hip - Goshi
Hip - Koshi
Hold - Gatame
Hook - Keage
Horse - Kiba

I

Immobilise - Osae
Inner - Uchi
Inner pulling - Repeated practice of throwing techniques - Uchikomi
Instep - Haisoku
Intuition - Genshin
Intuition - Kokoro
invisible partner practice - Hitori waza
Iron - Tek

J

Japan - Nippon
Japanese art of horsemanship. - Jobajutsu
Japanese dagger - Tanto
Japanese feudal knight - Samurai
Japanese or Chinese written characters - Kanji
Japanese sock-like footwear - Tabi
Japanese translation of Shaolin. - Shorinji
Japanese translation of the Chinese 'Chuan Fa', or 'Fist way' - Kempo
Japanese warrior class - Bushi
Jaw/chin - Ago
Joint lock - Kansetsu
Jump - Tobi
Junior student - Kohai

K

Kick - Geri
Kidneys - Juizo
Knee - Hiza
Knee cap - Hiza Gashira
Kneeling - Ne
Kneeling bow - Zarei
Kneeling on one calf - Tate hiza
Kneeling position - Seiza
Kneeling position - Za

L

Large sleeves on formal tops. - Tanomo
Leaf - Konoe
Left - Hidari
Legs - Kashi
Lifting - Sasae
Lifting - Tsuri
Line up - Narande
Long and short - the collective name for a katana and wakizashi - Daisho
Long sword - Daito
Lower - Kiku
Lower - Shita
Lower seat' - position in a dojo where the students line up to face their instructor - Shimoza
Lunge - Oi

M

Major - O
Martial - Bu
Martial Art style formed by Morihei Ueshiba taking techniques from many styles, including Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jutsu. - Aikido
Martial Artist - Budoka
Martial arts practice hall - Dojo
Martial Way - Budo
Master - Doshu
Master instructor - usually 6th Dan or higher - Shihan
Mat - Tatami
Meditation - Mokuso
Meditative position - Matsui
Middle - Naka
Middle (of body, i.e. torso). - Chudan
Mind and body - Shinshin
Minor - Ko
Momentum - Sudori
Mountain - Yama
Move back - Ato
Movement - Ido
Movement - Sabaki
Movements - Dosa
Multiple attackers - Tateki

N

Naked - Hadaka
Natural body - Shizen
Natural posture - Shizen-tai
Natural step - Seigan
Neck - Kubi
Nine - Ku
No - Lie
No sword - Muto
Now - Ima

O

Oar, used as a weapon in Okinawan Karate. - Eku
Octagonal - Hakkaku
Old style - Koryu
On toes from seiza - Kiza
One - Ichi
One - Sho
One hand - Katate
One thousand - Sen
Open legged - Hachiji
Opponent - Aite
Opposite side - Hantai
Outer - Soto
Outsider - commonly used by Japanese as a term for a foreigner - Gai Jin
Over there - Asoko

P

Palm - Shu
Palm heel - Teisho
Parallel - Heiko
Penetrating gaze - Mikomi
Pine - Matsu
Pivot - Tenkan
Please - Dozo
Posture - Kamae
Practitioner of Jiu Jitsu - Jitsuka
Prop - Gake
Public demonstrations - Shucho Enbu
Pull - Hiki
Pulling - Komi
Punch - Tsuki
Punching board - Makiwara
Push - Deai
Push - Oshi

Q

Quickly - Hayaku

R

Ready - Yoi
Reap - Gari
Relax - Yasume
Repairs - Shuzen
Response - Oji
Return to original position - Modotte
Reverse - Gyaku
Reverse - Ushiro
Revival techniques - Katsu
Ribs - Abara
Rice flail - two batons attached by a short length of cord or chain - Nunchaku
Ridge hand - Haito
Right - Migi
Right angles - Chokkaku
Rising - Age
Ritual suicide with a knife, practiced by the Samurai - the informal term for Seppuku - Hara Kiri
Ritualistic suicide performed by samurai - Seppuku
Rooted - Fudo
Rotation/rotary - Kaiten
Round - En

S

Sacrifice - Sutemi
Safe spot - Shizoku
Sandals - Zori
Scabbard - Saya
Scooping - Sukui
Seat of the Spirits - part of a dojo - Kamiza
Seated meditation - Zazen
Secret techniques scroll - Okuden
Seize - Tsukami
Self defense - Goshin
Senior student - Sempai
Separation. - Wakara
Seven (impolite) - see Nana - Shichi
Seven (polite) - Nana
Shaking excess blood from the blade of a sword - Chiburi
Sheathing the sword - Noto
Short staff - about 4 feet long - Jo
Short stick - Tanbo
Short stick used in the palm for blocks and strikes - Yawara
Shoulder - Kata
Shoulder - Seio
Shoulder blades - Kenkokotsu
Sickle - Kama
Sickle with a rope or chain attached - Kusarigama
Side of ankle - Kurabashi
Side. - Yoko
Simultaneous strike - Ai uchi
Single (point) - Ippon
Six - Rokku
Six foot staff - Bo
Sleeve - Sode
Sliding or accompanying - Okuri
Sliding step - Tsugi ashi
Slow - Yukuri
Small - Sho
Small sword' - forerunner of the wakizashi. - Kodachi
Solar plexus - Suigetsu
Someone 'giving' a technique - Tori
Someone who 'recieves' a technique - Uke
Sparring - Kumite
Spear - Yari
Spine - Seikichu
Spirit - Shin
Spirit Seat (see Kamiza) - Shinza
Split in side of hakama - Matadachi
Split skirt worn by some martial artists - a Samurai's equivalent of a cowboy's chaps - Hakama
Spring - Hane
Stamping kick - Fumikomi
Stance - Dachi
Standing - Ritsu
Standing - Tachi
Standing with feet together - Su dachi
Stomach - Tomoe
Stone - Ishi
Stop - Matte
Stop - Yamae
Storm - Arashi
Straight - Choku
Straight ahead - Massugu
Strain - Kujiki
Strangle - Shime
Strangle, or choke. - Jime
Stretched out - Nobashi
Strike - Atemi
Student - Deshi
Student grade - Kyu
Student of Aikido - Aikidoka
Student of Judo - Judoka
Student of Karate - Karateka
Style - Ryu
Sweep - Barai
Sweeping - Harai
Sword - Ken
Sword partnership practice - Kumitachi
Sword-drawing art - Battojutsu

T

Tactics - Senjutsu
Tapping the hand to show submission. - Marai
Teacher - Sensei
Technique - Waza
Techniques from escaping from holds - Hanashi-waza
Techniques that are revealed to the public - Omote Waza
Temple - Kasumi
Ten - Ju
Thank you - Osu
Thank you (formal) - Domo Arigato
Thank you (informal) - Arigato
Thank you very much (very formal) (for something that has just ended) - Domo Arigato Gozaimas'ta
Thank you very much (very formal) (for something that is happening) - Domo Arigato Gozaimasu
Thank you - Arigato Gozaimasu
Thanks (informal) - Domo
The area in a dojo where instructors line up and face the students at the beginning and end of each practice session. - Joseki
The arm as sword - Tegatana
The art of drawing the sword - Iaido
The art of the bo-staff - Bojutsu
The art of the ninja. - Ninjutsu
The axis of rotation of a technique - Kaiten-juki
The back of the body - Senaka
The blade of a knife or sword - Mi
The body - Jintai
The elbow - Empi
The energy of life - Ki
The face - Ganmen
The heel of the foot - Kakato
The human body - Shintai
The inner part of the thigh - Mata
The jacket part of a gi - Uwa-gi
The lower abdomen - the source of a person's spirit - Hara
The person who takes the initiative - Sente
The thigh - Daitai
The way of the jo-staff - Jodo
The way of the sword - Kendo
The way of the warrior - Bushido
The way of yielding - Judo
Three foot wooden staff - Hanbo
Three sided - a triangle - Sangaku
Three. - San
Throat - Nodo
Throw - Nage
Throwing stars - Shurikens
Thrust - Kekomi
Tiger mouth (area between thumb and forefinger) - Koko
To break a defence - Bassai
To dodge an attack - Kusshinuke
To draw the sword - Batto
To enter behind an opponent - Chokusen no irimi
To kneel down - Suwaru
To learn by emulation - Manabu
To learn through observation rather than practice - Mitori Geiko
To restrain - Karame
To the back - Koho
To the left - Uho
To the right - Saho
To the side - Sokuho
To tip over - Taoshi
Top of the head - Atama
Total - Zentai
Total awareness of one's surroundings - Happo-baraki
Towel used as a headband - Hachimachi
Trachea - Kikan
Training - Keiko
Training, pursuit of knowledge - Shugyo
True - Sei
T'-shaped - Teiji
Turn around - Mawatte
Turning - Mawashi
Turn-over - Hineri
Twist - Gaeshi
Two - Ni

U

Uke and tori in identical stances - Ai hanmi
Unbalancing - the breaking of balance - Kuzushi
Union - Musubi
Up - Ue
Upper leg - Momo
Upwards - Joho
Utility cords carried on some swords, used by modern styles as belting cords - Sageo

V

Valley - Tani
Vertical - Tate
Vessel - Myaku
Vital points on the body - Kyusho

W

Walking - Ayumi ashi
Walking on the knees - Shikko
Water - Mizu
Water - Sui
Wave (tossed) man - the name for a masterless Samurai - Ronin
Way - Do
Wheel - Guruma
Wide sleeved, formal kimono with mon on chest, sleeves and back - Montsuki
Wind (as in breeze) - Fu
Winding - Makikomi
With both hands - Morote
Wooden katana length sword - Bokken
Wooden sword - Bokuto
Wrapped around - Maki
Wrist - Kote
Wrist - Tekubi

X

None

Y

None

Z

Yes - Hai

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