Jikishin Ju Jitsu
Martial Arts Terminology - Japanese / English
Here are some useful Japanese words and phrases for the martial artist.
Many of the Japanese Martial Arts use the Japanese names for strikes, kicks, throws, locks and chokes. Within the Jikishin Ju Jitsu syllabus, all of the techniques used are described in English. The following are the translations from Japanese to English of the commonly used terms, and also include both primary and cardinal numbers in Japanese.
Pronunciation of Japanese Syllables & Consonants
| Ai | "Aye" As in Eye |
| Ei | "Ay" as in Hay |
| A | "Ah" as in Large |
| Ae | "Aye" As in Eye |
| E | "Eh" as in Beg |
| I | "Ee" as in Seed |
| O | "Oh" as in Go |
| U | "Oo" as in Too |
| Ui | "Ooee" as in Gooey |
| Ry | Hard R with Roll of tongue |
| G | Hard "G" As in Get |
Japanese Words Relating To Martial Arts
A
| Age | Upward, Rising, Elevate, Lif |
| Age Uke | Rising block |
| Agezuke | Rising punch |
| Ai | Harmony |
| Aikido | The Way of harmony - a martial art |
| Aikuchi | Knife |
| Aite | Opponent |
| Ashi ate | Attack vital points with feet |
| Ashi barai | Foot sweep |
| Ashi guruma | Leg wheel |
| Ashi gatame | Leg lock |
| Ateme | Attack / Strike |
| Atemi Waza | Attack vital points of body |
| Ayumi ashi | Normal foot walk |
B
| Bo | Long staff |
| Bogu | Armour |
| Bojitsu | Art of staff fighting |
| Bokke | Wooden training sword |
| Bu | Martial / Military |
| Budo | Martial Way (spiritual) |
| Bugei | Combat martial arts |
| Bujitsu | Martial Art |
| Bushi | Honourable Warrior |
| Bushido | The Way of the Warrior |
C
| Chiburi | The act of shaking blood from the sword |
| Chikara | Strength |
| Chugaeri | Forward somersault |
D
| Dachi | Stance / Posture |
| Daisho | Sword set consisting of Katana and Wakazashi |
| Daito | Long Sword |
| Dan | Black Belt rank |
| Do | Way (spiritual) |
| Dojo | Martial Arts school or training place |
E
| Embo | Set fighting / locking sequence |
| Empi uchi | Elbow strike |
G
| Gatami | Locking / Holding |
| Garami | To coil, wind around, entwine |
| Gedan barai | Downward forearm parry |
| Gedan tsuki | Downward straight punch |
| Geri | Kick |
| Gi (Judogi / Katategi) | Uniform for martial arts training (Judo Gi / Karate Gi) |
| Goshin jitsu | Art of self defence |
| Gusoku | Armour worn by Samurai |
| Gyaku | Reverse |
| Gyaku tsuki | Reverse punch |
H
| Hachimaki | Headband |
| Hajime | Begin - sparring / practice |
| Hakama | Traditional Japanese culottes (Now worn for weapons training and Aikido) |
| Hanbo | Short stick / Baton |
| Hanmi | Stance |
| Hanshi | High grade of at least 8th Dan |
| Hantei | Decision |
| Happo Kiri | 8 ways of cutting with sword |
| Hara Kiri | Ritual suicide (vulgar) |
| Harai | Sweep |
| Harai goshi | Sweeping hip throw |
| Hi | Blood groove of Sword |
| Hidari | Left |
| Hiza guruma | Knee wheel |
| Hojo jitsu | Art of tying |
| Hon (also Kihon) | Original, fundamental, basic |
| Honbu | The principle dojo is a system of martial arts |
| Hontai | Basic posture |
I
| lai jitsu | Art of the live blade |
| laido | Way of the live blade |
| Ibuki | Breath control |
| Ikkyo | 1st immobilisation (Aikido) |
| Ichiban | ?Number one?, the best |
| Ippon | One point (judo) |
| Ippon ken | One knuckle punch |
| Irimi | Entering movement |
| Irimi Nage | Entering Throw |
| Itami | To cause pain, injure or hurt |
| Itai | ?Ouch? |
| Itsutsu | Five (As in itsusu no kata or forms of five.) |
J
| Jigoro Kano | Originator of Judo |
| Jigoku | Defensive posture |
| Jigotai | Defensive posture |
| Jikan | Referee?s call in a contest denoting competition (or round) time is over |
| Jitsu | Method / martial art |
| Jitte | See?Sai |
| Jiyu kumite | Free sparring |
| Jiyu renshu | Free practice |
| Short staff / stick | |
| Jodan uke | Upward block |
| Jogai | Denoting ?out of bounds? in a contest |
| Joseki | The upper area of a dojo where the higher ranked practitioners and instructors sit |
| Ju | Principle of suppleness |
| Ju Jitsu | Flexible art |
| Judo | Gentle Way - Olympic Sport of throwing and grappling |
| Judoka | In Judo - one who practices, a student or exponent |
| Juji | Cross or 'X' |
| Juji gatame | Cross arm lock |
| Juji uke | Cross or X block |
| Junbiundo | Warming up exercises |
| Juken | A short sword or bayonet |
| Juku | Private school |
K
| Kabuto | Samurai helmet |
| Kaeshi Waza | Counter technique |
| Kai | Association |
| Kaiten | Rotation |
| Kakari / Kari | To hook, hooked to, hung up, suspended |
| Kakari geiko | A form of randori where a student is required to take on consecutive opponents in a specified time limit |
| Kakato geri | Heel kick |
| Kake | Throwing attack |
| Kaku | Corner |
| Kamae | Fighting posture |
| Kami | Divine Spirit also Upper, elevated |
| Kamiza | Upper place The area in a dojo where the sensei or dignitaries sit / Altar - Traditionally to founder and kept in Dojo |
| Kamma | Short scythe / sickle - used as weapon |
| Kan | House, hall or school |
| Kan | Intuitive learning (usually as opposed to Ri, or rational learning) |
| Kan geiko | Winter training |
| Kancho | Grand master |
| Kansetsu Waza | Art of locking & bending of joints |
| Kappo | Art of resuscitation |
| Karate | Art of the Empty Hand |
| Kasumi | Temples |
| Kata | Stylised series of blocks and strikes performed to teach correct form (Form) |
| Kata | Single (also Shoulder) |
| Kata guruma | Shoulder wheel |
| Kata gatame | Shoulder lock |
| Katai | Hard, stiff |
| Katame | To secure, make strong or firm, to guard |
| Katana | Sword of the? Samurai |
| Katsugi | To carry on the shoulders |
| Kawazu gake | Leg entwining. A throwing technique illegal in contest judo |
| Kazushi | 8 ways to break balance |
| Keijo Jitsu | Art of the Jo |
| Keiko | To practice, exercise, to drill. |
| Kekome | Thrust |
| Kempo | Art of Hard Fist |
| Kendo | Sports sword form, the modern form of ken jitsu or sword art |
| Kengi | Sword technique |
| Ken jitsu | Sword art |
| Ken ken | A phrase meaning ?hop hop.? The hopping action taken sometimes when throwing an opponent |
| Kengo | A strong swordsman |
| Keri | To kick |
| Keri waza | Kicking techniques |
| Kesa | A scarf, worn around the neck |
| Kesa gatame | Scarf hold |
| Ki | Inner force - energy - life |
| Kiai | Shout made as an expression of the use of Ki |
| Kibi dachi | Horse stance |
| Kihon renshu | Fundamental practice |
| Kihon | Basics of technique |
| Kiken gachi | Win by injury |
| Kime | Focus during a technique |
| Kiotsuke | Straighten the back (usually from kneeling Rei) |
| Kiritsu | Stand up from knees - command |
| Ko | Minor, small |
| Kobudo | Practice of old martial ways - traditional weapons training |
| Kobushi ate | Attack vitals with fist |
| Kodansha |
A holder of the rank of godan (5th grade) or above |
| Kaeshi | Counter technique |
| Kohai | A jujior member in a dojo - one?s junior in the sempai-kohai system - a younger man |
| Koho ukemi | Back breakfall (Also called ushiro ukemi ) |
| Kokoro | Mind, spirit, mentality |
| Komi | To put into (Mostly used affixed to the verb as in osaekomi) |
| Koryu | Older systems of juj itsu, or the ?traditional? systems, especially those before the Meiji era in 1868 |
| Koshiki | Ancient, the past |
| Koshi waza | Hip throwing techniques |
| Kote waza | Wrist locks |
| Kowaza | A minor technique |
| Kubiri | To strangle or choke |
| Kuden | The oral teachings of a school |
| Kumi | To grapple as a wrestler (Kumi-uchi is a form of combat before the ju jitsu came into use) - To intertwine |
| Kumi-ai | Linked together, hold each other as wrestlers |
| Kumi kata | To be linked together as a pair - the basic grip used in judo and ju jitsu - kata in this phrase indicates doing something as a pair. |
| Kumite | Sparring |
| Kun | Rules of the dojo usually written on hanging wall scrolls |
| Kuruma | Wheel |
| Kuzure | Modified |
| Kuzushi | To unbalance or upset |
| Kyu | Rank below Dan - coloured belts |
| Kyudo | Way of the Archer - the modern budo form of kyu jitsu archery skill |
| Kyu Jitsu | Art of the bow and arrow |
| Kyusho | Vital spot of body / Pressure points |
M
| Ma | Space, distance |
| Maai | Fighting distance / Distance between opponents |
| Mae | Forward / Front |
| Mae ukemi | Front breakfall (Also called zenpo ukemi.) |
| Maegeri | Front kick |
| Mage | To bend |
| Makura | Pillow (As in makura kesa gatame) |
| Maitta | ?I surender? - used verbally when the recipient can?t show submission by tapping |
| Make | To lose |
| Maki | To wrap |
| Maki komi | Winding Throw |
| Makiwara | Punching post / striking board used in karate training |
| Mannaka | Centre |
| Matte | Wait |
| Mawashi | To turn, spin or circle, to turn as a wheel, to wrap around something. A mawashi is also the loin covering of sumo wrestlers. |
| Mawashi geri | Roundhouse kick |
| Mawashi tsuki | Roundhouse punch |
| Meijin | Expert / Master |
| Mi | Person (a person?s body) |
| Michi | Way or philosophy |
| Migi | Right |
| Mojin | Disciple |
| Mokko / Mokuso | Meditation |
| Momi | To make unwarranted violent actions (as in competition) |
| Morote | Both hands (as in morote gari) Moro means both. |
| Mudansha | Having no grade. An ungraded person in the belt rank system |
| Mukashi | Ancient times |
N
| Nage | To throw or propel |
| Nagekomi | Throwing practice |
| Naginata | Pole Arm / Pike |
| Nami | Common, usual |
| Ne | To lay down, to recline |
| Nen | Year (as in years old) |
| Newaza | Grappling - The phase of judo or jujitsu training where groundfighting is emphasized. The phase literally means ?reclining techniques?. |
| Nihon | Japan |
| Nikkyo | 2nd immobilisation (Aikido) |
| Nippon | Japan |
| No | Of (As in nage no kata) |
| Nogare kata |
Escape forms |
| Nori | To ride |
| Nukite | Spear or straight hand |
O
| O | Major, great, big |
| O Sensei | ?Venerable teacher.? |
| Obi | Belt or sash around the waist |
| Ohkiku | To make a very large motion |
| Oizuki | Front thrust |
| Okii | Big, large |
| Okuden | Secret teachings. Each jujutsu system had ?secret teachings? which were revealed to a student after having gone through rigorous training and acceptance into the system?s higher levels of learning. |
| Okuri | To slide, to send after quickly |
| Omote | Front, to face something, face up |
| Oroshi | Descending |
| Osae | Immobilise, to press upon or against, to retrain, keep down |
| Osaekomi | To apply an immobilisation |
| Osoi | Slow |
| Osu | Push |
| Oshi | To push or shove |
| Otoshi | To drop / allow to fall in |
| Owaza | Major technique |
R
| Randori | ?Free practice.? Opposite of kata where there is little option in the training. Randori implies freedom of reasoning or choice |
| Rei | To bow |
| Reigisaho | Dojo etiquette |
| Ri | Reason, the natural laws (Ri is the method of training which emphasises rational learning as opposed to kan, or intuitive learning) |
| Ritsurei | Standing bow |
| Renmei | Federation |
| Renshi | Student, brother |
| Renshu | To drill or exercises |
| Renzoku | To continue without interruption |
| Ryo | Both |
| Ryote | Both hands |
| Ryu | Means ?stream? but is interpreted to mean a system or school of training, thought or philosophy, latterly school. |
S
| Sageo | Sword cord |
| Sai | Steel three prong weapon used in pairs |
| Samurai | Warrior |
| Sankaku, Sangaku | Triangle, literally 3 angles or corners |
| Sasae | To block |
| Saya | Scabbard |
| Sei | Essential quality of anything, natural (as in seibu, or essentials of anything martial) - also strength or vigor. |
| Seiza | Kneeling / Sitting position |
| Sempei | Assistant to?Sensei / Senior member of dojo |
| Sen | Initiative in applying mental, physical or technical ability to gain advantage over an opponent |
| Sen no sen | Superior initiative where one attacks the opponent before he has a chance to attack - taking the initiative away from the opponent. |
| Sensei | Teacher / Instructor / Coach (plural same) |
| Seoi | To carry over the back |
| Seoi nage | Shoulder throw |
| Seppuku | Ritual suicide |
| Shiai | Contest - single combat as a trial of skill |
| Shiai jo | Contest area |
| Shiatsu | Type of massage |
| Shigaku | The ?blind spot? (Literally means ?dead corner?) |
| Shihan | Highest ranking teacher / Master |
| Shihan | One who has trained under the?Soke |
| Shiho | Four corners |
| Shikko | Knee walk |
| Shime | To squeeze (As in shime waza) |
| Shime waza | Strangulation techniques |
| Shimoseki / Shimoza | Lower area of dojo where the lower ranked students sit |
| Shimpan | Referee |
| Shin | Sincere, truth, faith, real, genuine, straight, mental application of being sincere |
| Shinai | Practice sword in kendo made of bamboo |
| Shintai | Foot advance / retreat |
| Shiruken | Round or multi-pointed throwing weapons (Ninja) |
| Shisei | Posture |
| Shita | Down |
| Shizen hontai | Natural basic posture |
| Shobu | A contest |
| Shochu geiko | Summer training |
| Shodan | First Degree Black Belt |
| Shugyo | Austere training - cultivation of virtue - similar to medieval knights, Samurai may go on a quest to test their martial skills and learn from experience |
| Sode | The sleeve |
| Shoshin | Novice, beginner |
| Shotokan | Style of?Karate |
| Shuriken | Straight throwing weapons |
| So | Spear |
| Sogai | Compound / Enclosed area |
| Soke | Head, Founder or Successor |
| Soke dai | Appointed Successor |
| Sono mama | ?Do not move? A phrase said by referee in a contest when the situation is necessary, as in a possible injury or to judge a hold |
| Sore made | ?That is all.? The phrase used by referee to signal end of contest |
| Sotai renshu | Practicing with a partner |
| Soto | Outer, Outside |
| Soto uke | Outside block |
| Sukashi | An evasive action taken against opponent?s attack |
| Sukoshi | A little |
| Sumi | Corner |
| Sukui | To scoop |
| Sumo | Japanese style of wrestling - highly stylised |
| Sute | To throw away |
| Sute geiko | ?Throwing practice? where a more skillful partner offers no resistance and to the less-experienced partner who performs the technique |
| Sutemi | To throw the body away. Sacrifice throw |
| Sutemi waza | Sacrifice techniques |
| Suwari | Kneeling on both knees |
| Suwari waza | Sitting Technique (defence) |
T
| Tabi | Japanese socks / shoes wth big toe separated |
| Tachi | To stand, standing / Mounted ceremonial sword |
| Tachi Waza | Standing Technique (defence) |
| Tai jutsu | Body techniques- forerunner of ju jitsu |
| Tai otoshi | Body Drop |
| Tai sabaki | Evasion technique / Turning movement of body |
| Taiho jitsu | Body skill or art - the martial art used by Japanese police agencies - arrest techniques |
| Taiko | A ceremonial drum used in a dojo calling the training session to start |
| Taisabaki | Body management, body movement |
| Taiso | Exercises |
| Tameshiwari | Breaking |
| Tandoku renshu | Solo exercise or practice |
| Tani | Valley (As in tani otoshi) |
| Tanto | Fighting dagger |
| Taoshi | To throw down / push a man over |
| Tatami | Training mat |
| Tate | Height or length, a row from top to bottom, vertical |
| Teko | Knuckle duster |
| Tenkan | Circular turning movement (Aikido) |
| Tesabaki | Hand movement, management or manipulation |
| Tessen | Iron war fan |
| Tomoe nage | Stomach throw |
| Tonfa | Side handled baton |
| Tobi | To jump - tobi watare means to jump across, tobi komi means to jump or spring into |
| Toketa | The referee?s command that a hold is broken or ended - literally means to be untied or ended |
| Tokui | Proficient (As in tokui waza, or favorite or best technique.) |
| Tomodachi | Friend |
| Tori | Defender / To take - The person who performs the technique |
| Tsuba | Sword guard |
| Tsubame | A swallow-flight bird (As in tsubame gaeshi) |
| Tsugi ashi | Follow-foot movement, a form of footwork |
| Tsuka | Sword hilt / handle |
| Tsuke | Punch / Thrust |
| Tsuri | To suspend, pull up |
| Tsurikomi | ?Pull into.? The act of lifting and pulling into the body (As in tsurikomi goshi.) |
| Tsuri te | Pulling hand |
| Tsuyoi | Strong |
U
| Uchi | Knife hand strike / Inner |
| Uchideshi | ?Inside student.? A live-in student working directly with a sensei. |
| Uchikomi | The repeated practice of a single part of a throwing technique |
| Uchimata | Inner thigh throw |
| Ude garame | Arm lock |
| Uke | Block / opponent / attacker / receive / receiver / Block a punch or kick |
| Ukemi | Breakfailing |
| Ukeme | Rolling breakfail |
| Uki | Floating (As in uki otoshi) |
| Undo | Exercises, calisthenics |
| Ura | Opposite / Rear |
| Ushiro | Rear / Back / Behind |
| Ushiro geri | Back kick |
| Ushiro ukemi | Back breakfall (Also called koho ukemi) |
| Utsuri | Changing, to change |
| Uwagi | The training jacket, an overcoat |
| Uye/Ue | Up |
W
| Wa | Harmony, peace |
| Wakazashi | Short sword usually paired with?Katana |
| Wake, Wakare | To divide or separate |
| Wana | Trap, ensnare |
| Wari | To split |
| Waza | Technique |
| Waza-ari | ?Almost a technique? (A score in judo where the person almost completes the technique enough to score the ippon - full point) |
Y
| Yama | Mountain (As in yama arashi, or mountain storm.) |
| Yame / Yamei | Halt / Stop Immediately / Come to ready |
| Yari | Spear |
| Yari Jitsu | Art of spear fighting |
| Yawara | Ancient name for?Ju jitsu |
| Yoi | The command to ?get ready? |
| Yoko | Side |
| Yoko geri | Side kick |
| Yoko ukemi | Side fall - also called sokohu ukemi |
| Yonkyo | 4th immobilisation (Aikido) |
| Yoshi | Continue |
| Yoten | Key points in a technique or teaching a subject |
| Yowai / Yowari | Weak, not strong |
| Yudansha | Black belt holder |
| Yudanshakai | Black belt association |
| Yusei gachi | A win by superiority |
Z
| Za?rei | Kneeling bow |
| Zanshin | Alert posture |
| Zen | Virtue, goodness |
| Zenpo kaiten | Front rolling fall |
| Zenpo ukemi | Front breakfall (Also called Mae ukemi) |
| Zori | Sandals made of straw |
| Zubon | The pants in a dogi or judogi |
Counting
Primary Numbers
| Ichi | One |
| Ni | Two |
| San | Three |
| Shi | Four |
| Go | Five |
| Roku | Six |
| Shichi | Seven |
| Hach | Eight |
| Ku | Nine |
| Jyu | Ten |
| Jyu Ichi | Eleven (and so on up to Nineteen) |
| Ni Ju | Twenty |
| Ni Ju Ichi | Twenty One (and so on up to Twenty Nine) |
| San Ju | Thirty |
| Yon Ju | Forty |
| Go Ju | Fifty |
| Roku Ju | Sixty |
| Sichi Ju (or Nana Ju) | Seventy |
| Hachi Ju | Eighty |
| Ku Ju | Ninety |
| Hyaku Ju | One Hundred |
| Zen (or Sen) | One Thousand |
| Ichiman | Ten Thousand |
Cardinal Numbers
| Sho | 1st |
| Ni | 2nd |
| San | 3rd |
| Yon | 4th |
| Go | 5th |
| Roku | 6th |
| Sichi | 7th |
| Hachi | 8th |
| Ku | 9th |
| Ju | 10th |
Parts of the Body
| Abara | The side of the chest / Ribs |
| Ago | Jaw |
| Ashi | Leg or foot |
| Ashikubi | Ankle |
| Ashi no Yubi | Toes |
| Atama | Head |
| Chikubi | Nipple |
| Chudan | Middle level / Midriff |
| Chusoki / Chusoku | Ball of foot |
| Dokko | Mastoid Process |
| Fukurahagi | Calf |
| Goshi | Hip |
| Ha | Teeth |
| Hai | Lung |
| Haiso | Instep (of foot) |
| Haito | Ridge hand |
| Hana | Nose |
| Hara | Point in body (centre) where all energy is centred (lower abdomen) / Trunk of body |
| Hichu | Adam?s Apple |
| Hiji | Elbow |
| Hizagashira | Knee cap |
| Hiraken | Half fist |
| Hiza | Knee |
| Hone | Bone |
| Jinchu | Philtrum (under nose, upper lip) |
| Jinzo | Heart |
| Jodan | Upper body area |
| Kagato | Heel (of foot) |
| Kokoro | Heart |
| Kakuto | Top of bent wrist (as in kakuto uchi) |
| Kami no Ke | Hair |
| Kansetsu | A joint of the body |
| Kao | Face |
| Kata | Shoulder |
| Ken | Knuckle |
| Kin | Testicles |
| Kobushi | Fist |
| Koshi | Hip |
| Kote | Forearm / Wrist |
| Kubi | Neck |
| Kuchi | Mouth |
| Kurubushi | Ankle |
| Mata | The crotch / groin |
| Me | Eyes |
| Mimi | Ear |
| Momo | Thigh |
| Mune | Chest |
| Nodo | Throat |
| Nukite | Spear or straight hand |
| Odeko | Forehead |
| Oheso | Navel |
| Oshiri | Buttocks |
| Oya-yubi | Thumb |
| Rokkotsu | Ribs |
| Se | The back |
| Seiken | Fist / Forefist |
| Senaka | Spine |
| Shiri | Buttocks |
| Shomen | Head |
| Shotei | Palm heel |
| Shute | Palm of hand |
| Shuto | Knife hand |
| Sokuto | Knife edge of foot |
| Suigetsu | Solar Plexus |
| Tai | Body |
| Tanden | Abdomen |
| Te | Hand |
| Tekubi | Wrist |
| Tetsui | Hammer fist |
| Tsumasaki | The ball of the foot |
| Ude | Arm / Forearm |
| Uraken | Half fist / Back fist |
| Uto | Bridge of nose |
| Waki | Side of the body or chest (armpit) |
| Yoko | Side |
| Yubi | Finger / Toes |
