Japanese Martial Arts Dictionary & Definitions
Numbers
- Ichi – One
- Ni – Two
- San – Three
- Shi – Four
- Go – Five
- Roku – Six
- Shichi – Seven
- Hachi – Eight
- Ku – Nine
- Ju – Ten
A
- Aite:
- Opponent
- Anatoshi:
- Trapping
- Ashiko:
- Foot Band
- Ate:
- Strike
- Atemi:
- Strike
B
- Bajutsu:
- Horsemanship
- Barai:
- Sweep
- Bisento:
- Battlefield Halbred
- Bojutsu:
- Stick Fighting
- Bo Ryaku:
- Stratergy
- Boshi Ken:
- Thumb Strike
- Budo:
- Martial Way
- Budoka:
- Student of the martial way
- Bugie:
- Martial arts
- Bujin:
- Warrior spirit
- Bujutsu:
- Martial arts techniques
- Bushi:
- Warrior
- Bushido:
- Way of the warrior
C
- Chi:
- Earth
- Chi Mon:
- Geography
- Cho Ho:
- Espionage
- Chu:
- Middle
- Chunin:
- Mid level Ninja agent
D
- Daisho:
- Pair of swords
- Daito:
- Large Sword
- Dakenjutsu:
- Striking, Kicking, Blocking
- Do:
- Way
- Dojo:
- Training hall
- Doko:
- Angry Tiger
- Dori:
- To sieze or capture
- Dai:
- large, big, great
- Daisho:
- the set of katana and kodachi
- Daito:
- longer Japanese sword
- Dakentaijutsu:
- striking body methods
- Dan:
- level or degree of black belt
- Deai:
- initiatory action in combat
- Den:
- legend, tradition
- Densho:
- traditional scrolls (see also makimono)
- Deshi:
- student; disciple
- Do:
- path, road, way; motion; change
- Do Jime:
- choke applied to opponent’s sides
- Dojo:
- training hall, place of the way
- Doko:
- angry tiger
- Dome:
- stop; arrest
- Dori:
- seize, catch
- Doshin:
- Tokugawa period law enforcement official
E
- Empi:
- Elbow strike
- Eri:
- collar
- Eri Jime:
- Collar strangulation technique
F
- Fu:
- Wind
- Fudo Ken:
- Clench Fist (also known as Immovable fist)
- Fudoshin:
- Immovable spirit
- Fudoza:
- Immovable seat
- Fukiya:
- Blowgun
- Futari dori:
- Held by two opponents
G
- Gaeshi:
- Counter-attack
- Gake:
- Hook
- Ganseki Nage:
- Throwing the big rock
- Garami:
- Entangle
- Gawa:
- Side
- Gedan Uke:
- Low Block
- Genin:
- Low level Ninja agent
- Genjutsu:
- Art of illusion
- Geri:
- Kick
- Gi:
- Martial arts uniform
- Godai:
- Five elements
- Gokui:
- Secret
- Gotono:
- Using natural elements for evasion
- Gyaku:
- Reverse
H
- Hai:
- Yes
- Haibu Yori:
- From behind
- Hajime:
- Begining
- Hajutsu:
- Escaping techniques
- Han:
- Half
- Hanbo:
- 3′ Staff
- Hanbojutsu:
- Stick fighting
- Happa Ken:
- One handed strike
- Happo Uchi:
- Eight direction strike
- Hasso:
- Attack
- Heiho:
- Combat Stratergy
- Henka:
- Variation
- Hensojutsu:
- Disguise and Impersonation arts
- Hicho:
- Flying bird
- Hidari:
- Left
- Hiji:
- Elbow
- Hiki:
- Pull
- Hishi:
- Caltrops made from dried water chestnuts
- Hodoki:
- Escape
- Hojo:
- Bind, Tie up
- Hojutsu:
- Firearms Arts
I
- Iai:
- Sword drawing
- Igadama:
- Caltrops made of spiked iron
- Inpo:
- Hiding
- Intonjutsu:
- Escape and Concealment
- Iri:
- Enter
- Itami:
- Pain
- Iaido:
- sword drawing way
- Iaijutsu:
- techniques of sword-drawing
- Ichimonji:
- the written character one in Japanese
- In:
- soft, negative, dark, female (yin)
- Inton:
- concealment and camouflage
- Iri:
- to enter
J
- Jo:
- 4′ Staff
- Jodan Uke:
- High Block
- Junan Taiso:
- Body conditioning
- Jutaijutsu:
- Grappling
- Jutsu:
- Techniques
- Jime:
- to constrict, tighten, choke
- Jin:
- man
- Jissen gata:
- real fighting; true fightingforms
- Jodan:
- upper level
- Jojutsu:
- techniques of the stick; stick art
- Jonin:
- leader ninja
- Jumonji:
- the written character ten in Japanese
- Jutsu:
- techniques,school,art or method
- Jitte:
- Anti sword trunchon
K
- Ka:
- Fire
- Kaeshi:
- Counter attack
- Kagi:
- Hook
- Kaiten:
- Rolling
- Kaiten Ken:
- Open hand
- Kakusi Geri:
- Hidden Kick
- Kamae:
- Stance
- Kamiza:
- Shrine
- Kata:
- Set of movements
- Kantana:
- Sword
- Katate:
- One hand
- Kayakujutsu:
- Fire and Explosives Arts
- Kenjutsu:
- Sword fighting
- Keppan:
- Blood oath
- Keri:
- Kick
- Ki:
- Spirit
- Kiai:
- Focused shout
- Kikaku Ken:
- Head Strike
- Kinhon:
- Basic
- Kinhon Waza:
- Basic Technique
- Kikaku Ken:
- Demon horns fist
- Kiriage:
- Upwards Cut
- Kiten Ken:
- Sword hand strike
- Ko Ashi:
- Small steps
- Kodachi:
- Small Sword
- Kogoroshi:
- Finger breaking
- Koho:
- Back
- Koho Geri:
- Backwards Kick
- Koho Kaiten:
- Backwards Roll
- Koku:
- Tiger Sky
- Kokyu:
- Breath
- Koppo Ken:
- Thumb knuckle strike
- Koppojutsu:
- Bone Smashing Techniques
- Koryu:
- Traditional
- Koshijutsu:
- Organ and Muscle Striking
- Kote:
- Wrist
- Ku:
- Void
- Kudaki:
- Break or Smash
- Kuden:
- Oral Techings
- Kuji:
- Nine Syllables
- Kuji in:
- Hand Posturing
- Kuji-Kiri:
- Protective grid slashing
- Kumiuchi:
- Grappling and close fighting
- Kumitachi:
- Sword practice with a partner
- Kunoichi:
- Female Ninja
- Kusari fundo:
- Short Weighted Chain
- Kusari gama:
- Chain and Sickle
- Kuzushi:
- Breal opponents balance
- Kyojitsu Tenkan Ho:
- Philosophy
- Kyoketsu:
- Cord and dagger
- Kyoman:
- Observation
- Kyu:
- Grade below blackbelt
- Kyusho:
- Pressure points
M
- Mae Kaiten:
- Front Roll
- Maki:
- Winding
- Makimono:
- Scrolls
- Matte:
- Wait
- Mawashi:
- Rotate
- Mawashi Geri:
- Round Kick
- Meiso:
- Meditation
- Meijin:
- Master
- Metsubushi:
- Blinding Powder
- Meysubushi:
- Distraction
- Men Uchi:
- Strike to the head
- Menkyo:
- Teacing certificate
- Migi:
- Right
- Mizu:
- Water
- Mokuso:
- Meditate
- Morote:
- Both hands
- Mute:
- No hands
- Muto Dori:
- Unarmed defense against a sword
N
- Nagare:
- to flow
- Nage:
- Throw
- Nagashi:
- Flow
- Naginata:
- Halbred
- Naname:
- Diagonal direction
- Neko te:
- Finger tip weapons (worn by Konoichi)
- Nin:
- Endurance or Stealth
- Ninpo:
- higher order of Ninjutsu
- Nuki Ashi:
- Sweeping step
- Ninki:
- Specialised ninja tools
O
- Obi:
- Belt
- Odashi:
- Long Sword
- Omote:
- Outside
- Oni:
- Devil
- Oni Gedaki:
- Crushing The Little Devil
- Osae:
- Press down
- Oshigiri:
- Push cut used with sword
- Osoto gake:
- Great outside hook
- Oten:
- Cartwheel
R
- Randori:
- Sparring
- Rei:
- Bow
- Ryote:
- Tow hands
- Ryomune dori:
- Two handed chest grab
- Ryu:
- Scool or Dragon
S
- Sakki:
- Intuition of attack
- Saya:
- Scabbard
- Satori:
- Enlightenment
- Seishin Teki Kyoyo:
- Spiritual Refinement
- Seiza:
- Kneeling
- Sempai:
- Senior student
- Sensei:
- Teacher
- Shaken:
- Throwing stars
- Shako Ken:
- Claw Strike
- Shi:
- Finger
- Shihan:
- Senior Instructor
- Shikko:
- Walking on knees
- Shikan Ken:
- Extended Knuckle Fist
- Shikomi Zue:
- Sword Cane
- Shin:
- Heart
- Shinai:
- Bamboo Sword
- Shinken gata:
- Real combat training
- Shinobi:
- Stealth
- Shinobi aruki:
- Ninja walking
- Shinpi:
- Mysticism
- Shishin Ken:
- Finger Strike
- Shitan Ken:
- Thumb Pressure
- Shito Ken:
- Thumb Strike
- Shizen Ken:
- Natural or Body Weapon
- Shomen:
- Front
- Shoten no jutsu:
- Tree Climbing
- Shuki Ken:
- Elbow Strike
- Shurinkenjutsu:
- Blade throwing
- Shuko:
- Spiked hand
- Shuto Ken:
- Open Hand Strike
- Soka Gyaku:
- Toe Strike
- Soke:
- Grandmaster
- Sokki Ken:
- Knee Strike
- Sokuho Kaiten:
- Side Roll
- Sokuho Geri:
- Side Kick
- Sokuho Tobi:
- Sideways leap
- Soku Yako:
- Heel Strike
- Sokugyaku Geri:
- Toe kick
- Sui:
- Water
- Sui Ren:
- Water Training
- Sutemi Nage:
- Sacrificial throw
T
- Tabi:
- Traditional footwear
- Taihenjutsu:
- Body Movement
- Tai Ken:
- Total Body Weapon
- Taijutsu:
- Unarmed combat / Skill with the body
- Take:
- Bamboo
- Taisabaki:
- Natural body movements
- Taiso:
- Body Conditioning
- Taki Ori:
- Breaking Bamboo
- Tanto:
- Knife
- Tantojutsu:
- Knife Fighting
- Tatami:
- Straw Mat
- Te:
- Hand
- Teki:
- Enemy
- Tenmon:
- Meteorology
- Tesson:
- Iron war Fan
- Tetsubushi:
- Metal Caltrops
- Toamijutsu:
- Fish Net Skills
- Tobi:
- Leap
- Tobi Keri:
- Leap with Kick
- Tori:
- The one who executes
- Tsuba:
- Handguard on a sword
- Tsugi bune:
- Collapsible boat
- Tsuki:
- Thrust
U
- Uchi Gata:
- Take down using legs
- Uke:
- The one who receives
- Ukemi:
- Breakfalls
- Ura:
- Inside
W
- Wakizashi:
- Short Sword
- Waza:
- Technique
Y
- Ya:
- Arrow
- Yamabushi:
- Mountain warrior priest
- Yame:
- Stop
- Yari:
- Spear
- Yoi:
- Ready
- Yoko Geri:
- Sideways Kick
- Yoko Aruki:
- Sideways walking
- Yoroi:
- Armour
- Yubi:
- Finger
- Yumi:
- Bow
Z
- Zenpo Kaiten:
- Forward Roll
- Zenpo Geri:
- Forward Kick