Glossary of Japanese Terms


Term Japanese
(Kanji)		 English Equivalent
0
Ichi 一 One
Ni 二 Two
San 三 Three
Shi (Yon) 四 Four
Go 五 Five
Roku 六 Six
Shichi (Nana) 七 Seven
Hachi 八 Eight
Kyu 九 Nine
Ju 十 Ten
A
Ai Hanmi 相半身 Mutual stance: both partners in right posture, or both in left posture. Compare: gyaku hanmi.
Aikido 合氣道 “The Way of Harmony with Universal Energy.”
Aikikai 合氣会 “Aiki-community”: an organisation for the teaching of Aikido.
Ashi 足 Foot, or leg. Also “a way of walking”, as in suri ashi.
Atemi 当て身 “To strike the body”: an actual or feigned blow to a weak point to unbalance or distract one's oppponent.
B
Bokken 木剣 Wooden sword; the wooden equivalent of the katana.
Bu 武 Martial. For example, budo, the martial way.
C
Chi 地 Earth, or ground.
Chudan 中段 Mid-level. Used to describe the part of the body between the mid-chest and abdomen, or a technique executed at this level. Compare: gedan and jodan.
D
Dan 段 Level, or grade. For example, chudan. Used to denote “black belt” ranks, as opposed to kyu for “white belt” ranks.
Do 道 Way, or path. For example, Aikido, the way of Aiki.
Do 胴 Torso, or trunk of the body. For example, do kiri, a horizontal cut aimed at the torso.
Dojo 道場 “Way-place”: a place given over to the practice of a “way” such as Aikido.
Dori 取り To hold, or to take. For example, katate dori or jo dori.
E
Ei Mei Kan 英明館 “The House of England's Light.”
G
Garami 絡み To entangle, or to entwine. For example, ude garami nage.
Gedan 下段 Low-level. Used to describe the part of the body below the abdomen, or a technique executed at this level. Compare: chudan and jodan.
Gokyo 五教 “Fifth teaching”: the fifth basic technique, applying pressure to the wrist. Often used to remove a knife or other weapon.
Gyaku 逆 Opposite, or reverse.
Gyaku Hanmi 逆半身 Opposite stance: one partner in right posture and the other in left posture. Compare: ai hanmi.
Gyakute 逆手 Opposite hand, or reverse grip: to hold a jo with the palm of the hand facing downwards.
H
Haishin Undo 背身運動 “Back of body movement”, i.e. back stretch.
Hakama 袴 Traditional Japanese men's over-trousers. The divided skirt work by senior practitioners of Aikido (of both genders).
Hara 腹 The lower abdomen; the physical and spiritual centre.
Hanmi 半身 “Half-body”: the oblique stance that is the standard posture in Aikido practice.
Hanmi Handachi Waza 半身半立ち技 “Half-body half-standing technique”: describes techniques in which a standing uke attackes a seated nage. Compare: suwari waza and tachi waza.
Henka 変化 To change. For example, henka waza or tai no henka.
Henka Waza 変化技 To change technique part-way through execution in response to uke or other circumstances. For example, to begin with ikkyo and then execute kote gaeshi.
Hidari 左 Left. Compare: migi.
Hiji 肘 Elbow.
Ho 方 Direction, or side. For example, shiho nage.
Ho 法 Method, rule, or way of doing. For example, kokyu ho.
I
Iaido 居合道 “The Way of Harmonious Being”: the traditional Japanese art of drawing the katana, cutting the opponent, and returning the sword to its sheath.
Ikkyo 一教 “First teaching”: the first basic technique, controlling the elbow.
Irimi 入り身 To enter with the body.
Irimi Nage 入り身投げ “Body-entrance throw“.
J
Jiyu 自由 Free, or freedom. For example, jiyu waza is “free technique”, i.e. application of any technique in response to the attack.
Jo 杖 Wooden staff, approximately 1.3 metres long.
Jo Dori 杖取り Techniques used to disarm an attacker wielding a jo.
Jodan 上段 High-level. Used to describe the part of the body above the chest and shoulders, or a technique executed at this level. Compare: chudan and gedan.
Juji Nage 十字投げ “Figure-ten throw“: throw using uke's arms locked against one another. So called because the Sino-Japanese character for ten is a cross-shape: 十.
K
Kaeshi (Gaeshi) 返し To turn back, or to reverse.
Kaeshi Waza 返し技 To reverse technique, i.e. the original uke takes the advantage and executes technique upon the original nage.
Kaiten 回転 Turning, or rotation.
Kaiten Nage 回転投げ Rotary throw.
Kamae 構え Posture, or stance.
Kata 型 Form, style, or posture.
Kata 肩 Shoulder.
Kata Gatame 肩固め To pin the shoulder.
Katame (Gatame) 固め To stabilize, i.e. pin. For example, kata gatame.
Katame Waza 固め技 Pinning technique. Compare: nage waza.
Katana 刀 The traditional long sword of the samurai; the wooden equivalent is the bokken; a lighter blade used for Iaido practice is known as an iaito.
Katate 片手 One hand.
Katate Dori 片手取り Nage has one hand held by one of uke's hands. Compare: morote dori and ryote dori.
Keiko 稽古 Practice, or training.
Keiko Gi 稽古着 The white clothing (jacket, trousers and belt) worn during training.
Kesa 袈裟 The diagonal line of a keiko gi collar from the shoulder to the hip.
Kesa Giri 袈裟切り A diagonal cut from shoulder to hip, along the line of the kesa.
Ki 気 Breath, or energy.
Kihon Waza 基本技 Basic, or foundational, techniques. Compare: ki no nagare.
Ki No Nagare 気の流れ “The flowing of energy.” This term is used to describe advanced, almost formless technique. Compare: kihon waza.
Kiri (Giri) 切り To cut.
Kohai 後輩 Junior; a term for a fellow-student more junior than one's self, but not to be used as a term of address. Compare: sempai.
Kokyu 呼吸 Breath, or breathing.
Kokyu Ho 呼吸法 Breathing method.
Kokyu Nage 呼吸投げ “Breath throw.”
Koshi 腰 The lower back and hips; the lumbar region.
Koshi Nage 腰投げ A throw using the koshi, i.e. a hip throw.
Kote 小手 The wrist; also known as tekubi.
Kote Gaeshi 小手返し Technique in which the wrist is turned backwards towards uke's body.
Kubi 首 Neck.
Kubi Nage 首投げ An advanced technique in which uke is thrown using his/her neck.
Kubi Shime 首締め To squeeze the neck, i.e. strangle.
Kyu 教 Grade, or level. Used to denote “white belt” ranks, as opposed to dan for “black belt” ranks.
M
Mae 前 Front, or forwards. For example, mae ukemi, a forward roll. Compare: ushiro.
Ma Ai 間合 Distance, or spacing. An intuitive sense of “the right distance” between one's self and a potential opponent.
Mi 身 Body, or self.
Migi 右 Right. Compare: hidari.
Morote Dori 諸手取り Nage has one hand held by both of uke's hands. Compare: katate dori and ryote dori.
Mune 胸 Chest, or lapel.
N
Nage (Tori) 投げ A throw, or one who executes a throw (or, by extension, any technique). Compare: uke.
Nage Waza 投げ技 Throwing technique. Compare: katame waza.
Nikkyo 二教 “Second teaching”: the second basic technique, applying pressure across the wrist.
O
Obi 帯 Belt.
Omote 表 Face, or in front; used to denote techniques in which nage passes in front of uke. Compare: ura.
Otoshi 落とし Drop. For example, sumi otoshi.
R
Rei 礼 Respect, or polite courtesy; a bow.
Rokkyo 六教 “Sixth teaching”: the sixth basic technique, applying pressure to the wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Ryo 両 Both. For example, ryokata dori and ryote dori.
Ryokata Dori 両肩取り Nage has both shoulders held.
Ryote Dori 両手取り Nage has both hands held by both of uke's hands. Compare: katate dori and morote dori.
S
Sankyo 三教 “Third teaching”: the third basic technique, turning the wrist.
Seiza 正座 “Proper sitting“: kneeling with the toes flat. Also known as zaho.
Sempai 先輩 Senior; a polite term of address for a fellow-student more senior than one's self. Compare: kohai.
Sensei 先生 Teacher, or instructor.
Shidoin 指導員 A certified instructor.
Shihan 師範 Master teacher, a teacher of teachers.
Shiho Nage 四方投げ “Four-directional throw.”
Shikko 膝行 Knee walking.
Shime (Jime) 締め To tighten, or to squeeze. For example, kubi shime, to strangle.
Shinai 竹刀 A bamboo sword of the type commonly used in kendo. Made from many strips of bamboo, whereas a bokken is carved from a single piece of wood.
Sho 初 First, or the beginning. For example, someone holding a first dan grade is said to be shodan.
Shomen Uchi 正面打ち To strike the front of the opponent's head.
Shoto 小刀 Wooden short sword; the wooden equivalent of the wakizashi.
Sode 袖 Sleeve. For example, sode dori, grabbing the sleeve.
Soto 外 Outer, or outside. Compare: uchi.
Suburi 素振り Cutting practice with a weapon.
Sumi Otoshi 隅落とし “Corner drop.”
Suwari Waza 座り技 “Seated technique”: describes techniques in which both uke and nage are steated at ground level at the beginning of the encounter. Compare: hanmi handachi waza and tachi waza.
Suri 擦り To slide, to scrape, or to rub. For example, suriashi.
Suriashi 擦り足 “Sliding foot”, i.e. a sliding step.
T
Tachi Dori 刀取り Techniques used to disarm an attacker wielding a bokken or katana.
Tachi Waza 立ち技 “Standing technique”: describes techniques in which both uke and nage are fully standing at the beginning of the encounter. Compare: hanmi handachi waza and suwari waza.
Tai 体 Body, or object.
Tai No Henka 体の変化 “Change of body”, i.e. turning motion.
Tai Sabaki 体捌き “Body management.”
Tanto 短刀 Knife, or dagger.
Tanto Dori 短刀取り Techniques used to disarm an attacker wielding a tanto.
Tatami 畳 Traditional Japanese matting.
Te 手 Hand.
Tegatana 手刀 “Hand-blade”: the outer edge of the hand.
Tekubi 手首 Wrist; also known as kote.
Ten 天 Heaven, or sky.
Tenchi Nage 天地投げ “Heaven-and-earth throw.”
Tenkan 転換 Turning motion.
Tsuki 突き Thrust, or punch.
U
Uchi 内 Inner, or inside. Compare: soto.
Uchi 打ち To strike, or to hit.
Uchideshi 内弟子 A live-in student of a dojo. Often, an uchideshi is training to become a teacher.
Ude 腕 Arm.
Ude Garami Nage 腕絡み投げ “Arm entanglement throw.”
Uke 受け “The receiver”: the person whose rôle in practice is to receive the technique. Compare: nage.
Ukemi 受身 To receive (technique) with the body.
Undo 運動 Movement, or exercise. For example, haishin undo.
Ura 裏 Behind; used to denote techniques in which nage passes behind uke. Compare: omote.
Ushiro 後ろ Back, or behind. Compare: mae.
W
Wakizashi 脇差 “Side-arm”: the traditional short sword of the samurai; the wooden equivalent is the shoto.
Waza 技 Technique.
Y
Yokomen Uchi 横面打ち To strike the side of the opponent's head.
Yonkyo 四教 “Fourth teaching”: the fourth basic technique, applying pressure to the forearm.
Z
Zaho 座法 “Sitting method“: another term for seiza.
Zanshin 残心 “Lingering mind”, or awareness: a connection that persists between nage and uke after the completion of a technique.
Zazen 座禅 Sitting meditation.

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