Regardless of how long they've been training, most westerners have
issues with Japanese terms. To make things a little easier, here
are some standard japanese words we use in training and the best
translation we could come up with!
| A |
|
|
|
age |
to raise, upward |
|
age tsuki |
rising punch |
|
age uke |
rising block |
|
ago |
chin |
|
ai |
harmony |
|
aiki |
unified energy |
|
aite |
opponent |
|
amado |
lower neck |
|
anatoshi |
trapping |
|
arashi |
storm |
|
aruki |
walking |
|
ashi |
leg; foot |
|
ashi waza |
foot techniques |
|
ashiguru |
foot soldiers; lowest
level of bushi |
|
ashiko |
foot claws (see shuko) |
|
atama |
head |
|
ate |
blow, strike |
|
ate waza |
striking technique |
|
atemi |
strike; striking the
vital points |
|
atemi waza |
techniques of striking |
|
atsu |
press |
|
awase |
to meet; to come
together |
 |
| B |
|
|
|
bakufu |
military government of
japan |
|
barai |
to sweep; sweeping
motion |
|
batto |
flowing motion of sword
drawing and cutting |
|
battojutsu |
sword drawing art |
|
bisento |
heavy battlefield
halberd; a variety naginata |
|
bo |
six foot staff |
|
bo
shuriken |
straight throwing blades
(see shuriken) |
|
bojutsu |
six foot staff fighting
methods |
|
bokken |
wooden practice sword |
|
bokuto |
wooden practice sword |
|
boryaku |
concepts of battle
strategy |
|
boshi ken |
thumb drive fist |
|
bu |
military arts |
|
budo |
martial ways |
|
budo
taijutsu |
unarmed combat methods
of the Bujinkan |
|
budoka |
one who studies the
martial way |
|
bugei |
martial skill |
|
bugo |
martial (warrior) name |
|
bugu |
martial training weapons |
|
bujin |
warrior spirit |
|
Bujinden |
Hatsumi Sensei's hombu
dojo |
|
Bujinkan ( 武神館) |
divine warrior training
hall |
|
bujutsu |
martial arts; martial
techniques |
|
bushi |
Japanese warrior |
|
Bushido |
way of the warrior; code
of conduct |
|
butoku |
martial virtue or spirit |
| |
| C |
|
|
|
chi |
earth |
|
chi ryaku
no maki |
earth strategy scroll |
|
chimon |
earthly forces |
|
chu |
middle |
|
chudan |
middle level |
|
chunin |
middle rank ninja |
| |
| D |
|
|
|
dai |
large, big, great |
|
Daikomyosai |
three day event
celebrating Hatsumi Sensei's birthday |
|
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 ( 道場
) |
training hall, place of
the way |
|
doko |
angry tiger |
|
dome |
stop; arrest |
|
donton
jutsu |
earth concealment
techniques |
|
dori |
seize, catch |
|
doshin |
Tokugawa period law
enforcement official |
| |
| E |
|
|
|
empi |
elbow |
|
enbu |
demonstration |
|
eri |
collar or lapel |
| |
| F |
|
|
|
fu |
negation; wind |
|
fudo |
immobility |
|
fudo
kanashibari no jutsu |
method of making an
opponent hesitate |
|
fudo ken |
clenched fist |
|
fudoshin |
imperturbable or
immovable spirit |
|
fudoza |
immovable seat |
|
fukuro
shinai |
leather wrapped
split-bamboo training sword |
|
furi |
to spin or twirl |
| |
| G |
|
|
|
gaeshi |
turn over, throw;
reversal |
|
gakure |
to hide, disappear |
|
ganmen |
face |
|
ganseki |
rock |
|
ganseki
nage |
big rock throw |
|
garami |
to entangle, entwine;
bind |
|
gari |
to reap; hook |
|
gata |
style, type, pattern;
single |
|
gatame |
to tighten |
|
gawa |
side |
|
gedan |
lower level |
|
gedan uke |
downward receiving flow |
|
genin |
low rank ninja |
|
geri |
kick |
|
geta |
wooden clogs |
|
gi |
training uniform (also
dogi or keikogi) |
|
gikan |
regard for justice |
|
giri |
cut, obligation or duty |
|
go |
five |
|
go no sen |
responsive initiative |
|
godai |
five greats |
|
gogyo |
five transformations |
|
gojo gyoku |
principle of five
feelings and desires |
|
gokui |
hidden or secret |
|
gokui no
uta |
a poem given to a deshi
as a hint toward his quest for mastery |
|
gokuraku |
paradise; heaven |
|
goroshi |
to kill; destroy |
|
goshi (or
koshi) |
hip; loins |
|
goshin
waza |
self defense techniques |
|
gotonpo |
five element concealing
and escaping methods |
|
gunryaku
heiho |
military strategy |
|
gyaku |
reverse; joint
manipulation |
|
gyaku gi |
joint lock techniques |
|
gyaku jime |
reverse constriction
(choke) |
|
gyaku
tsuki |
reverse punch |
|
gyoku |
gem, jewel; testicles |
| |
| H |
|
|
|
hachi |
eight |
|
hachimaki |
headband |
|
hajime |
begin |
|
hajutsu |
escaping methods |
|
hakama |
pleated divided skirt |
|
hamon |
formal expulsion from a
tradition |
|
han |
half |
|
hanbo |
three foot stick |
|
hanbojutsu |
techniques of the short
staff |
|
hane age |
jump up, spring up;
raising up; wing |
|
haori |
a type of jacket worn
over the kimono |
|
happo |
eight ways (all
directional) |
|
happo
hiken |
eight way secret sword |
|
hara |
belly; center of one's
body |
|
haragei |
belly art; intuitive
thought |
|
harai |
to sweep; sweeping
motion |
|
harai
goshi |
brushing the waist; body
throw |
|
heiho |
strategy; martial
principles |
|
henka |
change; variation |
|
hi |
secret; to fly |
|
hicho |
flying bird |
|
hidari |
left |
|
hiden |
secret traditions |
|
hiji |
elbow |
|
hiken
juroppo |
sixteen hidden weapons
(fists) |
|
hiki |
to pull |
|
hira |
flat, even, level |
|
hira
shuriken |
flat blades (shaken) |
|
hiza |
knee |
|
ho |
direction, way;
principle; direction |
|
hodoki |
free, loosen, unbind |
|
hoi |
encircling |
|
hojo |
binding and securing |
|
hojojutsu |
binding techniques using
a tying cord to restrain prisoners |
|
hoko |
encircling tiger |
|
hokojutsu |
stepping (walking) arts |
|
hombu |
main dojo |
|
hon |
main; true; regular;
normal |
|
hon jime |
main constriction
(choke) |
|
hyoho |
see heiho |
|
hyoshi |
rhythm |
| |
| I |
|
|
|
i |
mind, heart; will,
intention |
|
iai |
motion of sword drawing
and cutting |
|
iaido |
sword drawing way |
|
iaijutsu |
techniques of
sword-drawing |
|
ichi |
one |
|
ichimonji |
the written character
one in Japanese |
|
in |
soft, negative, dark,
female (yin) |
|
inton |
concealment and
camouflage |
|
iri |
to enter |
|
irimi |
entering |
|
itami |
pain |
| |
| J |
|
|
|
jigoku |
hell |
|
jime |
to constrict, tighten,
choke |
|
jin |
man |
|
jin ryaku
no maki |
man strategy scroll |
|
jissen
gata |
real fighting; true
fighting forms |
|
jo |
four foot walking staff;
upper |
|
jo sokutei |
raised sole |
|
jodan |
upper level |
|
jodan uke |
upper receiving flow |
|
jojutsu |
techniques of the stick;
stick art |
|
jonin |
leader ninja |
|
ju |
ten |
|
jujutsu |
techniques of
flexibility; art of flexibility |
|
jumonji |
the written character
ten in Japanese |
|
jumonji
uke |
cross-arm block |
|
junan
taiso |
body conditioning and
flexibility |
|
jutaijutsu |
grappling methods,
throws, locks, holds |
|
jutsu |
techniques; art or
method |
|
jutte |
a metal truncheon |
| |
| K |
|
|
|
ka |
fire |
|
kaeshi |
to turn over, throw |
|
kaeshiwaza |
reversal (escape)
techniques |
|
kage |
shadow |
|
kagi |
hook |
|
kaiden |
master's certificate |
|
kaiten |
rolling; overturn |
|
kakato |
heel |
|
kakato
geri |
heel kick |
|
kaku |
angle; horn |
|
kama |
sickles |
|
kamae |
attitude, posture,
stance |
|
kami |
deities; demi-gods |
|
kanji |
Chinese pictographic
characters used in written Japanese |
|
kansetsu
waza |
joint manipulation
skills |
|
kappo |
resuscitation methods |
|
karate |
empty hand; (older:
Chinese hand) |
|
kashira |
cap end |
|
kata |
shoulder; arranged
forms; single, one; style, type, pattern |
|
kata dori |
shoulder grab |
|
katana |
Japanese sword; long
sword |
|
katate |
one-handed, single hand |
|
katsu |
resuscitation methods |
|
kawa |
side |
|
keiko |
training; practice |
|
ken |
fist; heavy
straight-blade sword; weapon |
|
kendo |
way of the sword; modern
Japanese fencing |
|
kenjutsu |
sword methods,
swordsmanship |
|
kenpo |
fist way; sword way |
|
keri |
to kick |
|
kesa giri |
diagonal cut |
|
ki |
internal energy, spirit,
mind, heart, soul, rise |
|
kiai |
spirit shout, focus life
energy. |
|
kiaijutsu |
techniques of kiai |
|
kihon |
foundation, basic,
fundamental |
|
kihon
happo |
fundamentals eight ways |
|
kihon waza |
fundamental techniques |
|
kikaku ken |
head-strike fist |
|
kime |
restraint, focus
(mental, spiritual or physical); chest muscle |
|
kimono |
traditional dress of the
Japanese |
|
kiri |
to cut, mist, fog |
|
kishomon |
vow on entering a
classical tradition |
|
ko |
child; hook, barb;
small; tiger |
|
ko ashi |
small walking steps |
|
kobudo |
classical martial ways |
|
kobuto
wari |
helmet splitter |
|
kocho |
butterfly |
|
kodachi |
short sword |
|
koe |
body weak point at hip
and groin joint (femoral artery); voice; tone |
|
kogoroshi |
killing the child |
|
kogusoku |
grappling; usually in
armor |
|
kohai |
junior |
|
koho |
rear, back |
|
kokoro |
spirit, heart, or mind |
|
koku |
ancient weight
measurement to specify income |
|
kokyuho |
breathing method |
|
koppojutsu |
bone striking method |
|
koroshi |
to kill |
|
koryu |
classical or old
tradition |
|
kosei |
offensive |
|
koshi |
hip area; loins |
|
kote |
wrist, forearm |
|
kote
gaeshi |
wrist reversal;
wristlock |
|
kotsu |
essence, point; bone |
|
ku |
air, sky; emptiness;
void; nine |
|
kubi |
neck |
|
kubi nage |
neck throw |
|
kudaki |
crush, break, smash;
shatter |
|
kuden |
oral teachings |
|
kuji in |
nine syllable seals |
|
kukan |
"space" and the timing
within the space |
|
kumi uchi |
grappling position |
|
kumite |
free sparring |
|
kumiuchi |
grappling position |
|
kunoichi |
'nine plus one'; female
ninja |
|
kusarifundo |
short chain with
weighted ends |
|
kusarigama |
sickle and chain |
|
kukan |
"space" and the timing
within the space |
|
kuzushi |
to break; breaking
opponent's balance |
|
kyo |
unpreparedness; false |
|
kyojitsu |
truth and deception;
feinting |
|
kyojitsu
tenkan |
theory of alternating
appearances of reality |
|
kyoketsu
shoge |
sickle blade weapon with
weighted cord |
|
kyoman |
observation and
perception |
|
kyomon |
religious understandings |
|
kyu |
step, grade; rank of
green belt |
|
kyuba |
archery and horsemanship |
|
kyudo |
archery; way of the bow |
|
kyusho |
vital points, pressure
points, weak points |
| |
| M |
|
|
|
ma ai |
distancing; correct
distance |
|
mae |
front |
|
mae geri |
front kick |
|
maki |
volume, book, twirling;
rolled |
|
makimono |
scroll |
|
makiwari |
striking board |
|
manrikigusari |
ten thousand power
chain; weighted chain |
|
marishiten |
Buddhist warrior goddess |
|
mata |
crotch, thigh, groin |
|
matte |
stop |
|
mawashi |
to rotate |
|
me |
eye |
|
men |
head; all parts of the
head, the face |
|
men uchi |
a strike to the head |
|
menkyo |
license or certificate |
|
menkyo
kaiden |
license of complete
transmission |
|
metsubushi |
eye blinding powder,
smoke, sand, pepper, etc. |
|
metsuke |
focal point |
|
mi |
body; person |
|
migi |
right |
|
mikkyo |
esoteric Buddhism |
|
mimi |
ear |
|
moguri |
sinking (ducking) |
|
mokuroku |
catalog of techniques;
transmission scroll or license |
|
morote dori |
two-hand grab (two hands
on one) |
|
mu |
mist, fog |
|
mudansha |
below black belt level |
|
muga |
selflessness |
|
mune |
chest |
|
munedori |
lapel grab |
|
munen muso |
no desires, no thoughts |
|
musan |
scattering fog |
|
musha |
warrior |
|
musha shugo |
warrior quest |
|
mushin |
mind to mind; conscious
but without thought |
|
muso |
without thought |
|
muto |
no sword |
|
mutodori |
unarmed against a sword |
| |
| N |
|
|
|
nagamaki |
sword blade attached to
a pole; (naginata) halberd variation |
|
nagare |
flowing |
|
nagashi |
receiving flow; parry;
deflect |
|
nage |
to throw |
|
nage waza |
throwing techniques |
|
naginata |
long pole with curved
blade; halberd |
|
naname |
diagonal |
|
nashi |
none |
|
neko no me
no jutsu |
skill, or knowledge of
the cats eyes (ninja code) |
|
nekote |
finger tip weapons of
steel for kunoichi |
|
ni |
two |
|
nidan geri |
double kick |
|
nin (
忍) |
perseverance |
|
ningu |
ninja tools |
|
ninja
juhakkei |
eighteen skills of the
ninja |
|
ninja no
hachimon |
eight fields of
knowledge |
|
ninjato |
straight-bladed sword of
the ninja |
|
nito |
two swords |
|
no |
of (possessive article) |
|
nuki ashi |
sweeping step ninja use
in walking |
| |
| O |
|
|
|
o |
large, big, great |
|
o dachi |
great sword, four to
five feet in blade length |
|
obi |
belt or sash |
|
okuden |
hidden teachings |
|
okuri ashi |
sliding footwork |
|
omote |
outside, front,
apparent, concepts easily understood |
|
oni |
devil, demon, monster |
|
onshinjutsu |
art of invisibility |
|
ori |
to break, fold |
|
osae |
to press down |
|
osoto nage |
major outer throw |
|
otoshi |
to drop |
|
otoshi uke |
dropping block |
|
oyagoroshi |
killing the parent |
| |
| P |
|
|
|
po |
direction, way; side |
| |
| R |
|
|
|
rai |
thunder |
|
raku ( 楽) |
comfort, enjoyment or ease |
|
randori |
freestyle practice, (a
method of sparring) |
|
ransetsu |
blizzard |
|
rei |
bow, salute |
|
ritsu rei |
standing bow |
|
roku |
six |
|
rokushakubo |
a six foot staff (also
bo) |
|
ronin |
wave man; warrior
unattached to a feudal lord |
|
ryaku |
abridgment; outline;
strategy |
|
ryo |
both; two |
|
ryote |
two-handed |
|
ryotedori |
two-hand grab (hand to
hand) |
|
ryu |
dragon; flowing; school,
tradition; family; a style |
|
ryuha |
style, school of a
certain art |
| |
| S |
|
|
|
sabaki |
evasion, footwork |
|
samurai (see
bushi) |
japanese warrior |
|
san |
three |
|
sanjaku
tenugi |
three foot hand towel |
|
sanshaku bo |
three-foot stick (also
hanbo) |
|
sanshin no
kata |
movement form, (with
much depth) |
|
saya |
japanese sword scabbard |
|
seiken |
forefist |
|
seiza |
seated posture, correct
sitting |
|
sempai |
any student senior to
another |
|
sen no sen
(also tai no tai) |
taking the initiative |
|
senban nage |
techniques for throwing
star |
|
sennin |
mystic |
|
sensei |
one who was born before;
teacher or instructor |
|
sensen no
sen |
pre-active, preemptive
initiative |
|
setsu |
snow |
|
shaken |
throwing stars |
|
shako ken |
claw and palm strike |
|
shi |
finger |
|
shi |
four |
|
shiai |
matches or contests |
|
shibari |
to tie |
|
shibumi |
elegance |
|
shichi |
seven |
|
shidoshi |
teacher of the warrior
way; godan or higher |
|
shidoshi-ho |
assistant teacher of the
warrior way |
|
shihan |
honorary title of master
teacher; hachidan and above |
|
shiho nage |
four-corner directional
throw |
|
shiho wari |
breaking boards on four
side to test power |
|
shikan ken |
extended knuckle fist |
|
shikko |
the method of walking on
one's knees |
|
shikomi zue |
a walkinging stick with
hidden weapon |
|
shime |
to choke, constrict,
tighten |
|
shime waza |
constricting techniques,
choke holds |
|
shin |
heart, mind, spirit |
|
shinai |
practice sword made of
split bamboo |
|
shinken |
live blade, a real
sword, also refers to real combat |
|
shinken gata |
real fighting form or
feeling |
|
shinobi |
used to refer to agents
of espionage |
|
shinobi
aruki |
ninja walking |
|
shinobi ho |
the art of stealth |
|
shinobi no
juhappan |
eighteen ninja skills |
|
shinobi no
mono |
shadow warriors |
|
shinobi
shozoku |
ninja costume |
|
shinobi
tanto |
ninja knife |
|
shinobi waza |
the art of stealth |
|
shinobi zue |
staffs and canes of
varying sizes |
|
shinobigatana |
short straight ninja
sword |
|
shinodake |
thin bamboo under water
breathing tube |
|
shintai |
body movement |
|
shishin ken |
finger needle strike |
|
shitan ken |
thumb pressure strike |
|
shizen |
natural |
|
shizen ken |
the body as a natural
weapon |
|
shizen tai |
natural body posture |
|
shoden |
basic level |
|
shomen |
the front |
|
shomen uchi |
forehead strike |
|
shoten no
jutsu |
climbing to the heavens
(vertical climbing) |
|
shoto |
short sword |
|
shu |
hand; arm |
|
shugyo |
austere training |
|
shuko |
hand claws (also called
'tekagi') |
|
shuriken |
throwing blades,
throwing stars |
|
shurikenjutsu |
techniques of throwing
darts; throwing blade art |
|
shuto |
knifehand |
|
sode |
sleeve |
|
sodedori |
sleeve grab (at the
elbow) |
|
sojutsu |
spear arts |
|
soke |
head of family;
grandmaster |
|
sokugyaku |
ball of foot kick |
|
sokuho
kaiten |
sideways roll |
|
sokuho tobi |
sideways leap |
|
sokushi ken |
toe kick |
|
sokuto geri |
foot edge kick |
|
sokuyaku |
foot strike |
|
soto |
outer |
|
sui |
water |
|
suihei |
horizontal |
|
suiren |
water training |
|
suki |
a momentary opening in
guard; opening |
|
sutemi |
sacrifice techniques,
giving up balance to control opponent |
|
sutemi waza |
sacrifice technique |
|
suwari waza |
seated techniques |
| |
| T |
|
|
|
tabi |
traditional footwear of
the japanese |
|
tachi |
japanese sword |
|
tachi |
long sword, a longer
version of the katana. worn hanging from the belt edge down |
|
tai |
large, big, great; the
body |
|
tai kai |
lit. great party; annual
seminar given by dr. hatsumi |
|
tai sabaki |
body evasion; natural
movements for evading attacks |
|
taihenjutsu |
body change arts;
rolling, leaping, silent movement, tumbling, breakfalls |
|
taijutsu |
body techniques, unarmed
combat methods |
|
taikyoku |
first cause |
|
taisabaki |
(see tai sabaki) |
|
taiso |
flexibility exercise;
stretches |
|
takagi |
tall tree, large tree |
|
take |
bamboo |
|
taki |
waterfall |
|
tameshigeri |
test cutting with the
sword |
|
tameshiwari |
tile/board breaking |
|
tanden |
the abdomen; center of
ki |
|
tanto |
knife; dagger; dirk |
|
taoshi |
to throw down |
|
tatami |
straw mat |
|
tate |
erect; standing |
|
tatsujin |
fully, developed,
enlightened human being |
|
te |
hand; arm |
|
tekagi |
iron hand claws (see
shuko) |
|
tekubi |
wrist |
|
ten |
heaven, sky; top |
|
ten chi jin
ryaku no maki |
heaven, earth, and man
strategy scroll |
|
ten ryaku no
maki |
heaven strategy scroll |
|
tenkan |
turning |
|
tessen |
iron fan |
|
tessenjutsu |
iron fan techniques |
|
tetsu |
iron |
|
tetsubushi |
caltrops |
|
to |
and, door, drop, fell;
gain an overpowering will; head; sword |
|
tobi |
leaping and jumping
skills |
|
tobi keri |
leaping kick |
|
toki |
top of foot |
|
tomoe |
large comma, comma-like
pattern |
|
tomoe nage |
throwing in a big circle |
|
tori |
to seize, catch; the one
applying the technique |
|
torite |
arrest techniques |
|
totoku
hiyashi |
avoiding shuriken blades |
|
tsuba |
sword guard (hilt) |
|
tsuke |
punch |
|
tsuke waza |
punching techniques |
|
tsuki |
to thrust, to attach,
fix |
| |
| U |
|
|
|
uchi |
inside, to attack,
defeat, destroy, conquer, strike |
|
uchi gake |
throwing down by leg
work |
|
uchi gari |
inner reaping-throw |
|
uchi mata |
inner thigh |
|
uchi uke |
inside block |
|
uchi waza |
striking techniques |
|
ude |
arm |
|
ude garami |
coiling armbar/figure
four shoulder lock |
|
ude uke |
forearm block |
|
uke |
receive; one who
receives the technique |
|
uke nagashi |
receiving the attack;
receiving flow |
|
ukemi |
receiving; receiving
techniques in kata; breakfalls |
|
ura |
inside, back, hidden;
concepts that are not obvious |
|
uraken |
backfist |
|
ushiro |
rear, back |
|
ushiro geri |
back kick |
|
uwagi |
jacket worn for martial
arts training |
| |
| W |
|
|
|
wake gatami |
elbow lock |
|
wakizashi |
short sword |
|
wapen |
patch |
|
washide |
eagle hand |
|
waza |
technique, ability,
skill |
| |
| Y |
|
|
|
ya |
arrow |
|
yamabushi |
mountain warriors
priests |
|
yari |
spear |
|
yawara |
term for jujutsu; short
wooden stick |
|
yo |
hard, positive, light,
male (yang) |
|
yoko |
side; sideways |
|
yoko aruki |
sideways walking |
|
yoko geri |
side kick |
|
yokoha |
the hook of a jutte |
|
yokomen |
the side of the head |
|
yokomen uchi |
lateral strike to head |
|
yokomen uchi |
strike to side of head |
|
yoriki |
tokugawa period law
enforcement official |
|
yoroi |
a suit of armor |
|
yoroi
kumiuchi |
battlefield grappling in
armor |
|
yoroidoshi |
dagger-like thrusting
blade for use against armor |
|
yoshin |
raising spirit, raising
heart |
|
yubi |
finger |
|
yudansha |
those holding black belt
rank |
|
yumi |
japanese archery; bow |
| |
| Z |
|
|
|
zanshin |
increased awareness of
events in a fight |
|
zarei |
kneeing salutation (bow) |
|
zenpo |
forward, front direction |
|
zenpo geri |
forward stomp kick |
|
zenpo kaiten |
forward roll |
|
zeoi |
to carry on one's back
(see seoi) |
|
zubon |
trousers |
| |
