Japanese Terms

There are many Japanese terms in jiu jitsu and this page contains a fair number of the most common ones. Producing an exhaustive list is not an easy task and there are around 500 listed below. Many terms that actually get used will be made up of one or more of the terms below.

Please note that these terms have been Romanised so that all of us who can read tthe Roman alphabet but not kanji can have a go at reading them. There is no set spelling as such so please don't e-mail saying that one of the Japanese words is spelt incorrectly .. of course if you spot a mistake in the English (there are bound to be some here and there ) - please do let us know.

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

Abara - Ribs
Age - Rising
Ago - Jaw/chin
Ai - Harmony
Ai hanmi - Uke and tori in identical stances
Ai uchi - Simultaneous strike
Aiki - Harmony
Aiki Jutsu - A style of jiu jitsu from which Aikido was primarily developed
Aikido - Martial Art style formed by Morihei Ueshiba taking techniques from many styles, including Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jutsu.
Aikidoka - Student of Aikido
Aite - Opponent
Arashi - Storm
Arigato - Thank you (informal)
Arigato Gozaimasu - Thank you
Ashi - Foot / ankle
Ashi-kubi - Ankle - neck of the foot
Asoko - Over there
Atama - Top of the head
Atemi - Strike
Ato - Move back
Ayumi ashi - Walking

B

Barai - Sweep
Bassai - To break a defence
Batto - To draw the sword
Battojutsu - Sword-drawing art
Bo - 6 foot staff
Bojutsu - The art of the bo-staff
Bokken - Wooden katana length sword
Bokuto - Wooden sword
Bu - Martial
Budo - Martial Way
Budoka - Martial Artist
Bujutsu - Fighting arts of the Japanese warrior class (Samurai)
Bunkai - Application of form
Bushi - Japanese warrior class
Bushido - The way of the warrior

C

Chiburi - Shaking excess blood from the blade of a sword
Chokkaku - Right angles
Choku - Straight
Chokusen - A straight line
Chokusen no irimi - To enter behind an opponent
Chototsu - Atemi point between the eyes
Chudan - Middle (of body, i.e. torso).

D

Dachi - Stance
Daisho - Long and short - the collective name for a katana and wakizashi
Daitai - The thigh
Daito - Long sword
Dan - Black belt grades
Deai - Push
Deshi - Student
Do - Way
Dogi - A martial artist's uniform
Dojo - Martial arts practice hall
Domo - Thanks (informal)
Domo Arigato - Thank you (formal)
Domo Arigato Gozaimas'ta - Thank you very much (very formal) (for something that has just ended)
Domo Arigato Gozaimasu - Thank you very much (very formal) (for something that is happening)
Dori - Grab
Dosa - Movements
Doshu - Master
Dozo - Please

E

Eku - Oar, used as a weapon in Okinawan Karate.
Empi - The elbow
En - Round
Eri - Collar / lapel

F

Fu - Wind (as in breeze)
Fudo - Rooted
Fukushiki-kokyu - Abdominal breathing
Fumikomi - Stamping kick

G

Gaeshi - Twist
Gai Jin - Outsider - commonly used by Japanese as a term for a foreigner
Gake - Prop
Gammen - Between the eyes
Ganmen - The face
Gari - Reap
Gatame - Hold
Gedan - Below the waist
Genshin - Intuition
Geri - Kick
Gi - A generic term for a uniform
Giri - Cut
Go - Five
Gohon - Five-finger strike
Gomen nasai - Excuse me, I'm sorry
Goshi - Hip
Goshin - Self defense
Guruma - Wheel
Gyaku - Reverse

H

Ha - Cutting edge of blade
Hachi - Eight.
Hachiji - Open legged
Hachimachi - Towel used as a headband
Hadaka - Naked
Hai - Yes
Haishu - Back of hand
Haisoku - Instep
Haito - Ridge hand
Haiwan - Back of forearm
Hajime - Begin
Hakama - Split skirt worn by some martial artists - a Samurai's equivalent of a cowboy's chaps
Hakkaku - Octagonal
Hanashi-waza - Techniques from escaping from holds
Hanbo - Three foot wooden staff
Hane - Spring
Hantai - Opposite side
Happo - All around - typically cardinal directions
Happo-baraki - Total awareness of one's surroundings
Hara - The lower abdomen - the source of a person's spirit
Hara Kiri - Ritual suicide with a knife, practiced by the Samurai - the informal term for Seppuku
Harai - Sweeping
Hatama - Head
Hayaku - Quickly
Heian - At peace
Heiko - Parallel
Heisoku - Attention
Hi - A groove in the blade of a sword
Hidari - Left
Hiji - Elbow
Hiki - Pull
Hineri - Turn-over
Hiraken - Fore-knuckle
Hishigi - Crush
Hishigi - Crush
Hitai - Forehead
Hitori waza - invisible partner practice
Hiza - Knee
Hiza Gashira - Knee cap
Hon - Fingers

I

Iaido - The art of drawing the sword
Iaito - Blunt training sword slightly longer than a katana
Ibuki - A breathing method featuring a long exhalation, followed by a short cough to clear lungs
Ichi - One
Ido - Movement
Ima - Now
Ippon - Single (point)
Irimi - Enter
Ishi - Stone

J

Jigotai - Defensive posture
Jime - Strangle, or choke.
Jime - Choke / strangle
Jintai - The body
Jitsu - Art
Jitsuka - Practitioner of Jiu Jitsu
Jiu - Gentle or yielding
Jo - Short staff - about 4 feet long
Jobajutsu - Japanese art of horsemanship.
Jodan - Above the shoulders
Jodo - The way of the jo-staff
Joho - Upwards
Johsokutel - Ball of foot
Joseki - The area in a dojo where instructors line up and face the students at the beginning and end of each practice session.
Ju - Ten
Judo - The way of yielding
Judoka - Student of Judo
Ju-ichi - Eleven
Juizo - Kidneys
Juji - Cross

K

Kabuto - A helmet worn by Samurai
Kaeshi - Counter
Kaho - Downwards
Kai - Association
Kaiken - A type of knife about 6 inches long
Kaiso - Founder
Kaiten - Rotation/rotary
Kaiten-juki - The axis of rotation of a technique
Kakato - The heel of the foot
Kake - Completion of a technique
Kama - Sickle
Kamae - Posture
Kamiza - Seat of the Spirits - part of a dojo
Kan - A martial arts school
Kani basami - Crab
Kanji - Japanese or Chinese written characters
Kansetsu - Joint lock
Kara - Empty
Karame - To restrain
Karate - Empty hand
Karategi - A uniform worn by karate students
Karateka - Student of Karate
Kashaki - Continuous
Kashi - Legs
Kasumi - Temple
Kata - A sequence of movements - a form
Kata - Shoulder
Katana - A classic Japanese sword favoured by the Samurai
Katate - One hand
Katsu - Revival techniques
Keage - Hook
Keiko - Training
Kekomi - Thrust
Kempo - Japanese translation of the Chinese 'Chuan Fa', or 'Fist way'
Ken - Sword
Ken - Fist or knuckle
Kendo - The way of the sword
Kenkokotsu - Shoulder blades
Kesa - Diagonal or 'scarf'
Ki - The energy of life
Kiai - Coming together of energy - typically vocalised as a shout
Kiba - Horse
Kihon - Basics
Kikan - Trachea
Kiku - Lower
Kime - Focus
Kinsho - Groin
Kiotsuki - Come to attention
Kiza - On toes from seiza
Ko - Minor
Kodachi - Small sword' - forerunner of the wakizashi.
Kodokan - Headquarters of Judo in Japan.
Kohai - Junior student
Koho - To the back
Koko - Tiger mouth (area between thumb and forefinger)
Kokoro - Intuition
Kokyu - Breath
Komi - Pulling
Konoe - Leaf
Koryu - Old style
Kosa - Cross-legged
Koshi - Hip
Koshi-ta - Back plate on Hakama.
Kotai - Change
Kote - Wrist
Ku - Nine
Kubi - Neck
Kujiki - Strain
Kumitachi - Sword partnership practice
Kumite - Sparring
Kurabashi - Side of ankle
Kusarigama - Sickle with a rope or chain attached
Kusshinuke - To dodge an attack
Kuzushi - Unbalancing - the breaking of balance
Kyu - Student grade
Kyukei - Dismissal after bow
Kyusho - Vital points on the body

L

Lie - No

M

Maai - Fighting distance
Mae - Front
Makete Katsu - Finding victory in defeat
Maki - Wrapped around
Makikomi - Winding
Makiwara - Punching board
Manabu - To learn by emulation
Manriki Gusari - A chain about 3 feet long with weights at each end
Marai - Tapping the hand to show submission.
Maru - Circle
Marui - Circular
Massugu - Straight ahead
Mata - The inner part of the thigh
Matadachi - Split in side of hakama
Matsu - Pine
Matsui - Meditative position
Matte - Stop
Mawashi - Turning
Mawatte - Turn around
Me - Eye
Men - Head
Metsubushi - Distracting the eyes
Metsuke - Eye contact
Mi - The blade of a knife or sword
Michibiku - Guiding
Migi - Right
Mikomi - Penetrating gaze
Mimi - Ears
Misogi - A (spiritual) purification ceremony
Mitori Geiko - To learn through observation rather than practice
Mizu - Water
Modotte - Return to original position
Moku-roku - A catalog of techniques
Mokuso - Meditation
Momo - Upper leg
Mon - Family crests on uniform - often used in refernce to stripes on martial arts belts
Mondo - A period for questions and answers
Montei - An accepted student
Montsuki - Wide sleeved, formal kimono with mon on chest, sleeves and back
Moro - Augmented
Morote - With both hands
Mu - Emptiness
Mune - Chest
Mushin - Emptiness of mind
Musubi - Union
Muto - No sword
Myaku - Vessel

N

Nagare - Flow
Nagashi - Flowing
Nage - Throw
Naginata - A polearm with a curved blade
Naka - Middle
Nakazumi - Central line of the body
Nami - Half
Nana - Seven (polite)
Naorei - Command to assume an attentive stance
Naotte - A command to 'relax'
Narande - Line up
Nawanuke Jutsu - Dislocative escapaology
Ne - Kneeling
Necho - Cat
Ni - Two
Ninja - A japanese assassin/spy
Ninjato - A straight bladed short sword favoured by the ninja
Ninjutsu - The art of the ninja.
Nippon - Japan
Nobashi - Stretched out
Nodo - Throat
Noto - Sheathing the sword
Nunchaku - Rice flail - two batons attached by a short length of cord or chain

O

O - Major
Obi - Belt
Oi - Lunge
Oji - Response
Okuden - Secret techniques scroll
Okuri - Sliding or accompanying
Omote - Front, outer; that which is obvious
Omote Waza - Techniques that are revealed to the public
Onaka - Great Middle, the stomach area
Oni - Demon
Osae - Immobilise
Oshi - Push
Osu - Thank you
Otoshi - Drop
Oyo - Fighting applications from techniques / kata

Randori - Free practice
Rei - Bow
Reigi - Etiquette
Reishiki - Dojo etiquette
Ren - Chain
Renraku - Combinations
Ritsu - Standing
Rokku - Six
Ronin - Wave (tossed) man - the name for a masterless Samurai
Ryo - Both
Ryu - Style

S

Sabaki - Movement
Sageo - Utility cords carried on some swords, used by modern styles as belting cords
Saho - To the right
Sai - A small trident
Sakotsu - Collarbone
Samurai - Japanese feudal knight
San - Three.
Sangaku - Three sided - a triangle
Sasae - Lifting
Satori - Enlightenment
Saya - Scabbard
Sei - True
Seigan - Natural step
Seigyo - Control
Seiken - Fore-fist
Seikichu - Spine
Seio - Shoulder
Seiretsu - Formal line up
Seiza - Kneeling position
Semete - Attacker
Sempai - Senior student
Sen - One thousand
Senaka - The back of the body
Senjutsu - Tactics
Sensei - Teacher
Sente - The person who takes the initiative
Seppuku - Ritualistic suicide performed by samurai
Sessen - Close combat
Shi - Death
Shi - Four - often 'Yon' is used instead as Shi also means death
Shiai - Contest
Shiatsu - Finger pressure - a generic term for Japanese acupressure massage
Shichi - Seven (impolite) - see Nana
Shihan - Master instructor - usually 6th Dan or higher
Shiho - Four Directions
Shikaku - Blind spot
Shikko - Walking on the knees
Shime - Strangle
Shimoza - Lower seat' - position in a dojo where the students line up to face their instructor
Shin - Spirit
Shinai - Bamboo sword
Shinken - A sword with a real blade
Shinshin - Mind and body
Shintai - The human body
Shinza - Spirit Seat (see Kamiza)
Shita - Lower
Shitagi - Gi trousers
Shizen - Natural body
Shizen-tai - Natural posture
Shizoku - Safe spot
Sho - One
Sho - Small
Shomen - Front / facing
Shorinji - Japanese translation of Shaolin.
Shoshin - Beginners mind
Shoto - A wooden short bladed sword about the length of a wakizashi
Shu - Palm
Shucho Enbu - Public demonstrations
Shuchu - Concentration
Shugeki - Attack
Shugyo - Training, pursuit of knowledge
Shuhai - Back of the hand
Shuko - Hand claw used to climb or fight
Shurikens - Throwing stars
Shuto - Blade
Shuzen - Repairs
So - All
Sode - Sleeve
Soji - Cleaning of a dojo
Sokatsu - Commenting on someone's technique
Soke - Head of style
Sokei - Groin
Sokuho - To the side
Sokuto - Edge of foot
Soto - Outer
Su dachi - Standing with feet together
Suburito - Heavy wooden sword
Sudori - Momentum
Sui - Water
Suigetsu - Solar plexus
Sukui - Scooping
Sumi - Corner
Sutemi - Sacrifice
Suwaru - To kneel down

T

Tabi - Japanese sock-like footwear
Tachi - Standing
Tai - Body
Tameshiwari - Breaking demonstration.
Tanbo - Short stick
Tanden - Center of balance and "ki", just below the navel
Tani - Valley
Tanomo - Large sleeves on formal tops.
Tanto - Japanese dagger
Taoshi - To tip over
Tatami - Mat
Tate - Vertical
Tate hiza - Kneeling on one calf
Tateki - Multiple attackers
Te - Hand
Tegatana - The arm as sword
Teiji - T'-shaped
Teisho - Palm heel
Tek - Iron
Tekubi - Wrist
Tenchi - Heaven and earth
Tenkan - Pivot
Tessen - Fan (for wafting)
Tettsui - Hammer fist
Tobi - Jump
Tomoe - Stomach
Tonfa - A rice beater - a side-handled baton
Tori - Someone 'giving' a technique
Tsuba - Handguard on a sword
Tsugi ashi - Sliding step
Tsuka - Handle
Tsukami - Seize
Tsuki - Punch
Tsuri - Lifting
Tsuro - Crane

U

Uchi - Inner
Uchikomi - Inner pulling - Repeated practice of throwing techniques
Ude - Arm
Ue - Up
Uho - To the left
Uke - Someone who 'recieves' a technique
Ukemi - Breakfall
Uki - Floating
Undo - Calisthenics
Ura - Backwards
Uraken - Back fist
Ushiro - Reverse
Uto - Between the eyes
Uwa-gi - The jacket part of a gi

V

None

W

Wakara - Separation.
Waki - Armpit
Wakizashi - A short sword with a curved blade
Waza - Technique

X

None

Y

Yakiba - Edge
Yama - Mountain
Yamae - Stop
Yari - Spear
Yasume - Relax
Yawara - Short stick used in the palm for blocks and strikes
Yoi - Ready
Yoko - Side.
Yon - Four
Yoshi - Continue
Yubi - Finger
Yukuri - Slow
Yumi - Bow (archery)
Yumi - Alternating

Z

Za - Kneeling position
Zanshin - Awareness
Zarei - Kneeling bow
Zazen - Seated meditation
Zen - An open minded meditative state
Zengaku - Forehead
Zenkatsu - Forward
Zenpo - Front
Zentai - Total
Zenwan - Forearm
Zori - Sandals

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