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 (also seoi)
zubon trousers
 budoka one who studies the martial way
A ude arm
ude garami coiling arm bar; figure four shoulder lock
age to raise, upward ude uke forearm block
age tsuki rising punch uke receive; one who receives the technique
age uke rising block uke nagashi receiving the attack; receiving flow
ago chin ukemi receiving; receiving techniques in kata; breakfalls
ai harmony ura inside, back, hidden; concepts that are not obvious
aiki unified energy uraken backfist
aite opponent ushiro rear, back
amado lower neck ushiro geri back kick
anatoshi trapping uwagi jacket worn for martial arts training
arashi storm
aruki walking
ashi leg; foot
ashi waza foot techniques W
ashiguru foot soldiers; lowest level of bushi wake gatami elbow lock
ashiko foot claws (see shuko) wakizashi short sword
atama head wapen patch
ate blow, strike washide eagle hand
ate waza striking technique waza technique, ability, skill
atemi strike; striking the vital points
atemi waza techniques of striking
atsu press
awase to meet; to come together
Y
ya arrow
yamabushi mountain warriors priests
B yari spear
yawara term for jujutsu; short wooden stick
bakufu military government of japan yo hard, positive, light, male (yang)
barai to sweep; sweeping motion yoko side; sideways
batto flowing motion of sword drawing and cutting yoko aruki sideways walking
battojutsu sword drawing art yoko geri side kick
bisento heavy battlefield halberd; a variety naginata yokoha the hook of a jutte
bo six foot staff yokomen the side of the head
bo shuriken straight throwing blades (see shuriken) yokomen uchi lateral strike to head
bojutsu six foot staff fighting methods yokomen uchi strike to side of head
bokken wooden practice sword yoriki tokugawa period law enforcement official
bokuto wooden practice sword yoroi a suit of armor
boryaku concepts of battle strategy yoroi kumiuchi battlefield grappling in armor
boshi ken thumb drive fist yoroidoshi dagger-like thrusting blade for use against armor
bu military arts yoshin raising spirit, raising heart
budo martial ways yubi finger
budo taijutsu unarmed combat methods of the Bujinkan yudansha those holding black belt rank
yumi japanese archery; bow uchi uke inside block
uchi waza striking techniques
take bamboo bugei martial skill
taki waterfall bugo martial (warrior) name
tameshigeri test cutting with the sword bugu martial training weapons
tameshiwari tile/board breaking bujin warrior spirit
tanden the abdomen; center of ki Bujinden Hatsumi Sensei's hombu dojo
tanto knife; dagger; dirk Bujinkan divine warrior training hall
taoshi to throw down bujutsu martial arts; martial techniques
tatami straw mat bushi Japanese warrior
tate erect; standing Bushido way of the warrior; code of conduct
tatsujin fully, developed, enlightened human being butoku martial virtue or spirit
te hand; arm buyu warrior friend
tekagi iron hand claws (see shuko)
tekubi wrist
ten heaven, sky; top
ten chi jin ryaku no maki heaven, earth, and man strategy scroll
C
ten ryaku no maki heaven strategy scroll chi earth
tenkan turning chi ryaku no maki earth strategy scroll
tessen iron fan chimon earthly forces
tessenjutsu iron fan techniques chu middle
tetsu iron chudan middle level
tetsubushi caltrops chunin middle rank ninja
to and, door, drop, fell; gain an overpowering will; head; sword
tobi leaping and jumping skills
tobi keri leaping kick
toki top of foot
D
dai large, big, great
tomoe large comma, comma-like pattern Daikomyosai three day event celebrating Hatsumi Sensei's birthday
tomoe nage throwing in a big circle daisho the set of katana and kodachi
tori to seize, catch; the one applying the technique daito longer Japanese sword
torite arrest techniques dakentaijutsu striking body methods
totoku hiyashi avoiding shuriken blades dan level or degree of black belt
tsuba sword guard (hilt) deai initiatory action in combat
tsuke punch den legend, tradition
tsuke waza punching techniques densho traditional scrolls (see makimono)
tsuki to thrust, to attach, fix deshi student; disciple
do path, road, way; motion; change

U do jime choke applied to opponent's sides

dojo training hall, place of the way
doko angry tiger
uchi inside, to attack, defeat, destroy, conquer, strike
uchi gake throwing down by leg work dome stop; arrest
uchi gari inner reaping-throw donton jutsu earth concealment techniques
uchi mata inner thigh dori seize, catch
doshin Tokugawa period law enforcement official godai five greats
gogyo five transformations
shomen uchi forehead strike
shoten no jutsu climbing to the heavens (vertical climbing)
E shoto short sword
shu hand; arm
empi elbow shugyo austere training
enbu demonstration shuko hand claws (also tekagi)
eri collar or lapel shuriken throwing blades, throwing stars
shurikenjutsu techniques of throwing darts; throwing blade art

F shuto knifehand
sode sleeve
sodedori sleeve grab (at the elbow)
fu negation; wind
fudo immobility sojutsu spear arts
fudo kanashibari no jutsu method of making an opponent hesitate soke head of family; grandmaster
fudo ken clenched fist sokugyaku ball of foot kick
fudoshin imperturbable or immovable spirit sokuho kaiten sideways roll
fudoza immovable seat sokuho tobi sideways leap
fukuro shinai leather wrapped split-bamboo training sword sokushi ken toe kick
furi to spin or twirl sokuto geri foot edge kick
sokuyaku foot strike
soto outer
G sui water
suihei horizontal
gaeshi turn over, throw; reversal suiren water training
gakure to hide, disappear suki a momentary opening in guard; opening
ganmen face sutemi sacrifice techniques, giving up balance to control opponent
ganseki rock sutemi waza sacrifice technique
ganseki nage big rock throw suwari waza seated techniques
garami to entangle, entwine; bind
gari to reap; hook
gata style, type, pattern; single
gatame to tighten
T
gawa side tabi traditional footwear of the japanese
gedan lower level tachi japanese sword; can be a general term or
gedan uke downward receiving flow tachi long sword, a longer version of the katana. worn hanging from the belt edge
genin low rank ninja down
geri kick tai large, big, great; the body
geta wooden clogs tai kai lit. great party; annual seminar given by dr. Hatsumi
gi training uniform (also dogi or keikogi) tai sabaki body evasion; natural movements for evading attacks
gikan regard for justice taihenjutsu body change arts; rolling, leaping, silent movement, tumbling,
giri cut, obligation or duty breakfalls
go five taijutsu body techniques, unarmed combat methods
go no sen responsive initiative taikyoku first cause
taiso flexibility exercise; stretches shizen tai natural body posture
takagi tall tree, large tree shoden basic level
kiai spirit shout, focus life energy. shomen the front
sennin mystic gokui hidden or secret
sensei one who was born before; teacher or instructor gokui no uta a poem given as a hint toward quest for mastery
sensen no sen pre-active, preemptive initiative gokuraku paradise; heaven
setsu snow goroshi to kill; destroy
shaken throwing stars goshi (or koshi) hip; loins
shako ken claw and palm strike goshin waza self defense techniques
shi finger; four gotonpo five element concealing and escaping methods
shiai matches or contests gunryaku heiho military strategy
shibari to tie gyaku reverse; joint manipulation
shibumi elegance gyaku gi joint lock techniques
shichi seven gyaku jime reverse constriction (choke)
shidoshi teacher of the warrior way; godan or higher gyaku tsuki reverse punch
shidoshi-ho assistant teacher of the warrior way gyoku gem, jewel; testicles
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
H
shikko the method of walking on one's knees hachi eight
shikomi zue a walkinging stick with hidden weapon hachimaki headband
shime to choke, constrict, tighten hajime begin
shime waza constricting techniques, choke holds hajutsu escaping methods
shin heart, mind, spirit hakama pleated divided skirt
shinai practice sword made of split bamboo hamon formal expulsion from a tradition
shinken live blade, a real sword, also refers to real combat han half
shinken gata real fighting form or feeling hanbo three foot stick
shinobi used to refer to agents of espionage hanbojutsu techniques of the short staff
shinobi aruki ninja walking hane age jump up, spring up; raising up; wing
shinobi ho the art of stealth haori a type of jacket worn over the kimono
shinobi no juhappan eighteen ninja skills happo eight ways (all directional)
shinobi no mono shadow warriors happo hiken eight way secret sword
shinobi shozoku ninja costume hara belly; center of one's body
shinobi tanto ninja knife haragei belly art; intuitive thought
shinobi waza the art of stealth harai to sweep; sweeping motion
shinobi zue staffs and canes of varying sizes harai goshi brushing the waist; body throw
shinobigatana short straight ninja sword heiho strategy; martial principles
shinodake thin bamboo under water breathing tube henka change; variation
shintai body movement hi secret; to fly
shishin ken finger needle strike hicho flying bird
shitan ken thumb pressure strike hidari left
shizen natural hiden secret traditions
shizen ken the body as a natural weapon hiji elbow
hiken juroppo sixteen hidden weapons (fists) jodan uke upper receiving flow
hiki to pull jojutsu techniques of the stick; stick art
hira flat, even, level jonin leader ninja
hira shuriken flat blades (see shaken) ju ten
hiza knee ori to break, fold
ho direction, way; principle; direction osae to press down
hodoki free, loosen, unbind osoto nage major outer throw
hoi encircling otoshi to drop
hojo binding and securing otoshi uke dropping block
hojojutsu binding techniques using a tying cord to restrain prisoners oyagoroshi killing the parent
hoko encircling tiger
hokojutsu stepping (walking) arts
hombu main dojo
hon main; true; regular; normal
P
hon jime main constriction (choke) po direction, way; side
hyoho strategy; martial principles
hyoshi rhythm
R
I rai thunder
randori freestyle practice, (a method of sparring)
ransetsu blizzard
i mind, heart; will, intention
iai motion of sword drawing and cutting rei bow, salute
iaido sword drawing way ritsu rei standing bow
iaijutsu techniques of sword-drawing roku six
ichi one rokushakubo a six foot staff (also bo)
ichimonji the written character one in Japanese ronin wave man; warrior unattached to a feudal lord
in soft, negative, dark, female (yin) ryaku abridgment; outline; strategy
inton concealment and camouflage ryo both; two
iri to enter ryote two-handed
irimi entering ryotedori two-hand grab (hand to hand)
itami pain ryu dragon; flowing; school, tradition; family; a style
ryuha style, school of a certain art

J S
jigoku hell
jime to constrict, tighten, choke sabaki evasion, footwork
jin man samurai (see bushi) japanese warrior
jin ryaku no maki man strategy scroll san three
jissen gata real fighting; true fighting forms sanjaku tenugi three foot hand towel
jo four foot walking staff; upper sanshaku bo three-foot stick (also hanbo)
jo sokutei raised sole sanshin no kata movement form, (with much depth)
jodan upper level saya japanese sword scabbard
seiken forefist
seiza seated posture, correct sitting okuden hidden teachings
sempai any student senior to another okuri ashi sliding footwork
sen no sen (also tai no tai) taking the initiative omote outside, front, apparent, concepts easily understood
senban nage techniques for throwing star oni devil, demon, monster
munedori lapel grab onshinjutsu art of invisibility
munen muso no desires, no thoughts jujutsu techniques of flexibility; art of flexibiity
musan scattering fog jumonji the written character ten in Japanese
musha warrior jumonji uke cross-arm block
musha shugo warrior quest junan taiso body conditioning and flexibility
mushin mind to mind; conscious but without thought jutaijutsu grappling methods, throws, locks, holds
muso without thought jutsu techniques; art or method
muto no sword jutte a metal truncheon
muto dori unarmed against a sword

N K
ka fire
nagamaki sword blade attached to a pole; naginata; halberd variation kaeshi to turn over, throw
nagare flowing kaeshiwaza reversal (escape) techniques
nagashi receiving flow; parry; deflect kage shadow
nage to throw kagi hook
nage waza throwing techniques kaiden master's certificate
naginata long pole with curved blade; halberd kaiten rolling; overturn
naname diagonal kakato heel
nashi none kakato geri heel kick
neko no me no jutsu skill, or knowledge of the cats eyes (ninja code) kaku angle; horn
nekote finger tip weapons of steel for kunoichi kama sickles
ni two kamae attitude, posture, stance
nidan geri double kick kami dieties; demi-gods
nin perseverance kanji Chinese pictographic characters used in written Japanese
ningu ninja tools kansetsu waza joint manipulation skills
ninja juhakkei eighteen skills of the ninja kappo resuscitation methods
ninja no hachimon eight fields of knowledge karate empty hand; (older: Chinese hand)
ninjato straight-bladed sword of the ninja kashira cap end
nito two swords kata shoulder; arranged forms; single, one; style, type, pattern
no of (posessive article) kata dori shoulder grab
nuki ashi sweeping step ninja use in walking katana Japanese sword; long sword
katate one-handed, single hand
katsu resuscitation methods
O kawa side
keiko training; practice
o large, big, great ken fist; heavy straight-blade sword; weapon
o dachi great sword, four to five feet in blade length kendo way of the sword; modern Japanese fencing
obi belt or sash kenjutsu sword methods, swordsmanship
kenpo fist way; sword way kumite free sparring
keri to kick kumiuchi grappling position
kesa giri diagonal cut kunoichi 'nine plus one'; female ninja
ki internal energy, spirit, mind, heart, soul, rise kusarifundo short chain with weighted ends
kiai spirit shout, focus life energy. kusarigama sickle and chain
kiaijutsu techniques of kiai kuzushi to break; breaking opponent's balance
kihon foundation, basic, fundamental kyo unpreparedness; false
kihon happo fundamentals eight ways kyojitsu truth and deception; fienting
kihon waza fundamental techniques kyojitsu tenkan theory of alternating appearances of reality
kikaku ken head-strike fist kyoketsu shoge sickle blade weapon with weighted cord
kime restraint, focus (mental, spiritual or physical); chest muscle kyoman observation and perception
kimono traditional dress of the Japanese kyomon religious understandings
kiri to cut, mist, fog kyu step, grade; rank of green belt
kishomon vow on entering a classical tradition kyuba archery and horsemanship
ko child; hook, barb; small; tiger kyudo archery; way of the bow
ko ashi small walking steps kyusho vital points, pressure points, weak points
kobudo classical martial ways
kobuto wari helmet splitter
kocho butterfly
kodachi short sword
M
koe body weak point at hip and groin joint (femoral artery); voice; tone ma ai distancing; correct distance
kogoroshi killing the child mae front
kogusoku grappling; usually in armor mae geri front kick
kohai junior maki volume, book, twirling; rolled
koho rear, back makimono scroll
kokoro spirit, heart, or mind makiwari striking board
koku ancient weight measurement to specify income manrikigusari ten thousand power chain; weighted chain
kokyuho breathing method marishiten buddhist warrior goddess
koppojutsu bone striking method mata crotch, thigh, groin
koroshi to kill matte stop
koryu classical or old tradition mawashi to rotate
kosei offensive me eye
koshi hip area; loins men head; all parts of the head, the face
kote wrist, forearm men uchi a strike to the head
kote gaeshi wrist reversal; wristlock menkyo license or certificate
kotsu essence, point; bone menkyo kaiden license of complete transmission
ku air, sky; emptiness; void; nine metsubushi eye blinding powder, smoke, sand, pepper, etc.
kubi neck metsuke focal point
kubi nage neck throw mi body; person
kudaki crush, break, smash; shatter migi right
kuden oral teachings mikkyo esoteric buddhism
kuji in nine syllable seals mimi ear
kukan "space" and the timing within the space moguri sinking (ducking)
kumi uchi grappling position 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