Glossary of Common Martial Arts Terminology

AGE Rising

AGE-TSUKI Rising punch

AGE-UKE Rising block

AGE-UCHI Chin strike

AGURA-WO-KAKU Informal seating position

AI Harmony

AIKIDO (The way of) harmony with the cosmic system; a martial art.

AITE Opponent in a contest.

AIUCHI Simultaneous strike.

ANANKU An Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kata, meaning Light From The South.

ARIGATO Thank you.

ASHI Foot or leg.

ASHI BARAI Foot sweep.

ASWATTE Sit

ATAMA Head.

ATEMI Body strikes.

ATO-UCHI Delayed strike, feint.

BENDOWA Understanding the way through speech: a text by Dogen (1200-1253 A.D).

BO A wooden staff, approximately 6 feet/180 cms in length.

BODAI SHIN The awakened or illuminated mind/spirit; satori.

BODHIKHARMA Indian who introduced Zen Buddiam to China.

BODHISATTVA Living Buddha. One can know his is to devote his life to helping others; the bodhisattva does not withdraw from society to live a contemplative life. Nothing distinguishes him from the rest of mankind, but his spirit is Buddha.

BO-JUTSU Wooden staff art.

BOGU Body armour.

BOGU-KUMITE A method of fighting wearing armour.

BOKKEN/BOKUTO Wooden sword.

BONNOS Desires; illusions. Desire itself is natural and is harmful or misleading only when we cling to or resist it.

BUDDHA The awakened.

BUDO The martial arts. The way of the samurai, more precisely, is Bushido; Budo is (the way of) combat. But the ideogram for bu also means to stop the combat; There is an implication of containment of military power and prohibition of abuse.

BUGEI Martial arts.

BUNKAI The applications of Basic’s and Kata movements.

BUSHI Warrior.

BUSHIDO Spirt/way of the warrior.

BUTSUDO Buddhism.

BUN BU RYODO The twofold way: combined civilian and military education.

CHADO The (way of the) tea ceremony.

CHINTO An Okinawan Isshin-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu kata, meaning Fighting to the East.

CHUDAN Center/middle area.

CHUDAN-TSAKI Center punch.

CHUDAN-UKE Center block.

CHUSOKU Ball of foot.

CONJIE EMBLEM Isshin-Ryu Karate-Do.

DACHI Stance.

DAN Man, A rank denoting black belt level.

DANSUKI Continuous.

DO The way or path.

DOJO Place of the way, where Zen meditation and martial arts are practiced; place of awakening.

DOKAN The ring of the way; repetition, constant practice.

DO KYO Teaching of the way.

DOMO ARIGATO Thank you very much.

DOZO Please.

EKU An oar.

EMBUSEN Lines of direction in a kata.

EMPI 1. Elbow. 2. A Shotokan kata based on the Okinawan

kata, Wanshu.

EMPI UKE Elbow strike.

FUDO Motionless (fu-being a negative prefix).

FUDO CHI CHINMTO

ROKU Mysterious note on motionless wisdom.

FUMIKOMI GERI Stamping kick.

FUMI WAZA Stamping technique.

GAKUDO-YOJIN-AHU Points of the method to follow the true practice; a text by Dogged.

GEDAN Lower level.

GEDAN BARAI Lower parry. Downward sweep.

GEDAN UKE Lower block.

GENJOKOAN The koan of reality; also translated (by Maezumi Rohi) "the way of everyday like;" a central chapter of Dogen’s shobogenzo.

GENMAI Rice soup (sometimes with vegetables), the staple of the Zen monk’s diet.

GERI Kick.

GETA Clogs.

GI Uniform.

GOHON KUMITE Five-step sparring.

GOJU-RYU Hard, soft way. An okinawan style of karate.

GOJUSHIHO An Okinawan kata, meaning 54 steps.

GOKOKU A resuscitation point in the fleshy area between the thumb and index finger.

GYAKU Reverse.

GYAKU UKE Reverse block.

GYAKU ZUKI Reverse punch.

GYODO The true way.

HACHIJI DACHI Natural open leg stance.

HAI Yes.

HAISHU Back hand.

HAISHU UCHI Back hand strike.

HAISHU UKE Back hand block.

HAISOKU Instep.

HAITO Ridge hand.

HAITO UCHI Ridge hand strike.

HAJIME Begin.

HAMI KAMAE Half-facing position.

HANNYA Supreme or transcendent wisdom. Hannya Haramita. Shingyo; the central sutra of Shoto Zen.

HARA Intestines; the center source of physical energy, in the lower abdomen.

HEIAN Peace, tranqility. Funakoshi renamed the pinan kata "Heian."

HEIKO DACHI Parallel open stance.

HEISOKU Instep.

HEISOKU DACHI Informal attention stance.

HEN-O Responding.

HIDARI Left.

HIJI Elbow.

HIRAKEN Fore knuckle fist.

HIDARI Flat hand.

HISHIRYO Think without thinking, consciousness beyound though.

HIZA Knee.

HIZA GERI Knee kick.

HIZA UKE Knee block.

HOJO-JUTSU The art of tying.

HOKYO ZAN MAI The samadhi of the precious mirror, or the essence of the way; a basic Soto Zen text (8th century).

HOMBU Headquarters.

IAI Swordplay.

IAIDO Defensive swordsmanship.

IBUKI Breathing method.

IPPON One point (score).

IPPON KEN One knuckle fist.

IPPON KUMITE One step (controlled) sparring.

IPPON NUKITE One finger spear hand.

I SHIN DEN SHIN From my soul to your soul: directly, nonverbally.

ISSHIN-RYU "One Heart Method." An Okinawan style of karate.

JION A Shorei Ryu kata.

JIYU-IPPON KUMITE Semi-free one-step sparring.

JIYU-KUMITE Free sparring.

JO A wooden staff, 4 feet (120cms) in length.

JODAN Upper level.

JODAN TSUKI Upper punch.

JODAN UCHI Upper strike.

JODO Way of 4 foot staff.

JOGAI Out of bounds.

JU Soft, gentle.

JUDO (The way of) using weakness or flexibility to overcome strength---ju means pliable, adaptable.

JUJI UKE X block.

JUJUTSU Art of gentleness.

JUTTE 1. A Shorie Ryu kata. 2. A forked iron truncheon.

KACHI Win, victory.

KADO (The way of) flower arranging, or ikebana.

KAGI ZUKI Hook punch.

KAISHO Open handed techniques.

KAKATO Heel of foot.

KAKATO GERI Heel kick.

KAKE Hook or hooking.

KAKE DACHI Hook stance.

KAKE GERI Hook kick.

KAKE UKE Hooking block.

KAKIWAKE UKE Wedge block.

KAKUTO Heel of hand.

KAKUTO UKE Heel of hand block.

KAMA Grass sickle (an okinawan weapon).

KAME Attitude, posture; very important in the martial arts.

KANJI Ideogram; the ancient Chinese writing, adopted by Japan and now greatly simplified in both countries.

KANKU DAI A Shotokan kata, meaning "To view the sky." Developed from the Okinawan kata Kusanku.

KANSETSU WAZA Joint locking techniques.

KARATE An "empty handed" (weaponless) form of combat, not indigenous to Japan.

KARATE-DO The way or path of karate.

KATA The "form" of Budo. Every martial art-karate, judo, kendo, aikido, etc.--has its own forms, actions, procedures.

KATANA The longer of the two swords worn by Samurai.

KATE DAMESHI Test of strenght.

KATSU Has three meanings (all pronounced the same): 1.) to win; 2.) particular kind of loud cry or shout, same as kiai; 3.) a technique of resuscitation or stimulation of energy.

KEAGE GERI Snap kick.

KEIKO Chicken beak hand.

KEIKO UKE Chicken beak hand block.

KEKOMI Thrusting kick.

KEKOMI GERI Thrust block.

KENDO (The way of) swordsmanship.

KENTSUI Hammer fist.

KI Invisible activity filled with the energy of the cosmos; becomes the material energy in every cell of our body.

KIAI Spirit meeting." A loud yell or shout. See under katsu (2).

KIBA DACHI Horse stance.

KI GAI YUKU The energy has escaped or fled.

KIHON Basic techniques.

KIHON-IPPON KUMITE Basic one-step sparring.

KIKAI "The ocean of energy" (lower abdomen); also kikaitanden.

KIMI Focus.

KIN GERI Front kick with the instep (aimed at groin).

KINHIN A special walk performed between two periods of zazen meditation.

KIOTSUKE Attention.

KIRI GERI Cutting or sickle kick.

KOAN Initially, a law, principle of goverment; later, a paradoxical problem of existence or a principle of eternal truth transmitted by a master; more specifically, the riddles, questions, etc., used by Zen (especially Rinzai) masters to educate their disciples and shake them free of their mental categories.

KOBAYAHI RYU "Small Forest" An okinawan form of Shorin Ryu karate.

KOBUDO Ancient warrior art. Usually refers to weapons training.

KOKO Tiger mouth hand.

KOKEN Bent wrist.

KOKORO A message point, the area between the ribs below the solar plexus.

KOMBAN-WA Good evening on meeting.

KONNICHI-WA Good day.

KONTIN In zazen, a state of drowsiness or somnolence.

KOSHI 1. ) Ball of foot. 2.) Hips.

KOSON A resuscitation point near the middle of the foot.

KU Vacuity, existence, without enduring substance. Also, the Buddhism, the Invisible, a concept of God. All the essence cannot be apprehended.

KUMADE Bear paw hand.

KUMITE Free style of fighting.

KUN Oath.

KUSANKU An Okinawan Isshin-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu kata. Named after a Chinese master.

KUSEN Oral teaching during zazen.

KWATZ The same as kiai, but specificallly the shout of Rinzai masters.

KYU Boy or rank below black belt.

KYUDO (The way) archery.

KYU SHIN RYU The school that teaches how to govern the mind.

KYUSHO Vital point.

MA AI Distancing.

MAE Front.

MAE GERI Front kick.

MAKIWARA Striking post.

MATTE Stop (wait).

MAWASHI GERI Roundhouse kick.

MAWASHI TSUKE Roundhouse punch.

MAWATTE Turn.

MEIJIN Expert.

MIGI Right.

MIKAZUKI GERI Crescent kick.

MIKAZUKI UKE Crescent block.

MIZU GAMI Sea goddess (Isshin-Ryu Patch).

MOKATO Silence (meditate).

MONDO Question-answere exchange between disciple and master.

MOROTE Both hands.

MOROTE TSUKI Double punch.

MOROTE SHUTO Double knife hand strike.

MU A negative prefix.

MU GEN RYU The "no-eye" school (kendo).

MUJO Impermanence.

MUNE Chest.

MU NEN RYU "No-consciousness" school (kendo).

MUSHIN Not-mind, without cerebration, without reasoning.

MU SHIN RYU "No-mind" school (kendo).

MUSHOTOKU Without desire for gain or profit.

MUSO Not-posture; unselfconscious, undeliberate posture.

MUSUBI DACHI A stance with heels touching, toes splayed at 45 degress.

MU TE KI RYU "No-enemy" school (kendo).

MU TO RYU "No-sword"school (kendo).

NAGASHI UKE Sweeping open handed block.

NAZE WAZA Throwing techniques.

NAKADATE IPPON KEN Middle finger one knuckle punch.

NAIHANCHIN Name of Okinawan Issshin-Ryu karate kata and stance.

NAMI ASHI Inside snapping kick.

NAMI GAEISHI Return wave kick.

NEKO ASHI DACHI Cat stance.

NIHON NUKITE Two finger spear hand.

NIHON KEN Two knuckle fist.j

NUKITE Finger tips or spear hand.

NUNCHAKU An Okinawan weapon. Two 1 foot length of wood hinged together by cord. Was probably developed from a horse bridle ( and not rice flail ).

OBI Belt.

O HAYO Good morning.

OI TSUKI Lung punch.

OKINAWA One of a group of island South East of Japan. Where karate was developed.

OSAE UKE Pressing block.

OTOSHI Dropping (descending).

OTOSHI UKE Drop block.

O YASUMI NASAI Good night on parting.

PASSAI An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata, meaning unknown.

PINAN A series of 5 kata formulated by Itosu in 1903.

REI Bow.

REMNEI Association.

RENZUKI Formal bow.

RINZAI A Ch’an master and founder of a school known in Chinese as Lin Tsi. In Rinzai Zen more formal use is made of koans; and zazen, which is practiced facing the center of the room, tends to be the center of the room, tends to be seen as means of obtaining satori.

ROSHI A master.

RYU A "school" or specific approach, with a tradition, masters, and adherents.

SAI A short tipped sword. A steel pronged truncheon.

SAKOTSU Collor bone.

SAMAKHI Perfect, total concentration.

SAMPAI Prostration before the Buddha or master; forehead on the ground, plams turned upward on either side of the head (symbolically, to receive the Buddha’s feet).

SANCHIN Core of most Okinawan styles of karate. An Isshin-Ryu kata and name of a stance.

SANSHO An area of the body to the left of the fifth dorsal vertebra.

SAN OF KAI The inner-penetration/union of essence and phenomena; one of the basic texts of Soto Zen (8th century).

SANRAN In zazen, a state of excessive tension or agitation.

SATORI Awakening to the truth of the cosmos.

SHIKEN Fore fist.

SEIPAI An Okinawan Shorei Ryu kata.

SEISAN An Okinawan Isshin-Ryu kata. Name of an Isshin-Ryu stance. Also an Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata.

SEIRYUTO Ox jaw hand.

SEIUCHIN An Okinawan Isshin-Ryu kata. Name of a Okinawan Isshin-Ryu stance.

SEIZA Kneeling position.

SEMPAI Senior.

SENSEI In Japanese the word Sen means ahead or before. The word Sei has the essence meaning--life, birth, pure, genuine, raw. If the two are put together, they form the word Sensei, which is poorly translated as "teacher."

SENSIE-NI-REI Bow to the teacher.

SEPPUKU Is Japanese ritual suicide. In vulgar parlance this has become better known as hara kiri (lit. to slit one’s belly), but is an inelegant reference for what is considered to be the consummate act of purity within the Japanese cultrual.

SHIHAN Master.

SHIHO Transmission.

SHIKI Phenomena, the visible world.

SHIKO DACHI Square stance, weight distributed 50/50.

SHIN Spirit-mind-inspiration-wind-breath-intuition-soul-attitude.

SHINTO Religion of Japan which precede and coincided with Buddhism.

SHIRO White.

SHI SEI Form and force of posture.

SHITOGI Uniform pants.

SHOJIN The first period of training.

SHOMEN Front of dojo. Wall of honor.

SHOMEN-NI-REI Bow to front. Bow to Wall of Honor.

SHOREI RYU An Okinawan karate system which originated in Naha.

SHORIN RYU A major style of Okinawan karate, meaning "Pine Forest"school.

SHOTEI Plam heel.

SHOTEI UKE Plam heel block.

SHOTOKAN A style of Japanese karate developed by Funakoshi.

SHURIKEN Throwing star.

SHURI-TE An ancient Okinawan style of karate - the forerunner of Shorin Ryu.

SHUTO Knife hand.

SHUTO UCJI Knife hand strike.

SHUTO UKE Knife hand block.

SIMBAN Referee.

SOKUTO Foot edge.

SOTO Outside.

SOTO UKE Outside to inside middle block.

SUKI Opportunity, opening.

SUKUE UKE Scooping block.

SUTEMI Abandon the body.

SUWATE Sit or kneel down.

SUNSU An Okinawan Isshin-Ryu karate kata.

TACHI Cut; (in O-dachi) the long sword.

TAI Body.

TAI-CHI A weaponless form of combat, employing movements, blows, feints, and tricks, practiced by the monks of China.

TAI SABAKI Body shifting/evasion.

TAIKYOKU Basic formal exercise.

TAMESHIWARI To test and to break.

TANDEN Abdomen.

TASHI REI Standing bow.

TATAMI Thick mats made of rice straw.

TATE Vertical fist.

TATE ZUKI Vertical fist punch.

TE Hand.

TEISHO Plam heel.

TETTSUI Hammer fist.

TE WAZA Hand techniques.

TOBI Jumping.

TOBI GERI Jumping kick.

TOHO Sword peek hand.

TUFIA Commonly known in Americal as "Tonfa." An Okinawan weapon, similar to the PR-14 used by police.

TSUKI Punch.

TSUKI UKE Punching block.

TSUMI SAKI Toes.

TSURIASHI DACHI Crane stance.

UCHI 1.) Strike. 2.) Inner.

UCHI UKE Inner to outer middle block.

UDE Forearm.

UDE UKE Cross body forearm strike.

UKE Block.

UKEMI Breakfalling.

URA Opposite, reverse.

URAKEN Inverted back fist strike.

URA UCHI Back hand strike.

USHIRO Back, behind.

USHIRO GEIR Back kick.

USHIRO EMPI UCHI Backwards elbow strike.

UWAGI Uniform jacket.

WA Peace.

WADO RYU Way of peace. A Japanese style of karate.

WAKIZASHI The shorter of two swords worn by the Samurai.

WANSU An Okinawan Isshin-Ryu kata named after a Chinese master. Also an Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata.

WAZA Technique.

YAMA TSUKE U punch.

YAME Stop.

YASIME Preparation move before a kata.

YAWARA Traditional judo; the yielding way.

YOI Ready position.

YOKO Side.

YOKO GERI Side kick.

YONHON NUKITE Four finger spear hand.

YUBI Finger.

YUBI WAZA Finger technique.

YUDANSHA Holder of black belt.

ZANSHIN The watchful, unattached mind.

ZAZEN The practice of Zen; sitting meditation.

ZEN Ch’an in Chinese; dhyana in Sanskrit. True, profound silence. Commonly translated as objectless concentration or meditation; or, the original, pure human spirit.

ZENKUTSU DACHI Forward stance.