The following is a simple reference for most of the words a student of aikido, judo, and jodo might need to know. For a simplified guide to Japanese pronunciation, click here.
A
ai : harmony, coming together
aigamae : matching stance
aikido : they way of harmony
aikidoka : one who practices aikido
ashi : foot or feet
atari : to crush
ate : strike
atemi : strike or striking
ayumi ashi : alternating feet (walking)
B
barai : to sweep (also “harai”)
bokken : wooden practice sword
budo : study of martial arts
budoka : one who studies martial arts
D
dan : rank or grade, as in “shodan”
deashi : forward/advanced foot
do : path or way
do : body, torso
dojo : practice hall
dori : against
dosa : action
E
eri : lapel or collar
G
gaeshi : twist (also “kaeshi”)
gake : hook
gamae : posture, stance (also “kamae”)
gari : to reap
gatame : lock (also “katame”)
gatana : blade (also “katana”)
gedan : low
geiko : training (also “keiko”)
gi : uniform worn by budoka
giri : cut
go : five
go no sen : taking initiative after an opponent has attacked
godo geiko : informal practice with two or more dojo without a set lesson (a “play day”)
Gokyo no Waza : the five groups of throwing techniques in judo
goshi : hip (also “koshi”)
guruma : wheel
gyaku : revearse
H
ha : wing
hachi : eight
hadaka : naked, bare
hajime : start
hakama : Japanese pleated pant-skirt
hanasu : release
hane : spring, bounce
hara : the center (lower abdomen) of gravity, life energy, etc.
harai : sweep
hasso : all eight directions
hazumi : force created through the movement of one’s own center of gravity
hazushi : to evade
henka : variation of a technique
hidari : left
hiki : elbow (also “hiji”)
hineri : turn, twist
hishigi : lock
hissage : to lower, make drop
hiza : knee
ho : corner
hon : normal, basic
hyoshi : timing, of footsteps, of gripping, or a center moving through space
I
ichi : one
ikioi : force created independent of the center, such as with hands, arms of feet
ippon : one point
irimi : entering
J
jigotai : defensive posture
jime : choke (also “shime”)
jiyu waza : free-style techniques
jo : short staff
jodan : high
jodo : the study of the short staff
jodoka : one who studies jodo
joseki : upper area of the dojo, where the instructor sits
ju : gentle
ju : ten
judo : the gentle way
judoka : one who practices judo
juji : crossed
jutsu : skill, art
K
kaeshi : reverse, counter (also “gaeshi”)
kaiten : rotation
kake : the throw (see kazushi and tsukuri)
kamae : stance, position
kami : upper
kangeiko : winter training
kansetsue : joint
kasumi : haze
kata : prearranged series of techniques
kata : shoulder
katame : to hold, to secure (also “gatame”)
katana : long sword
katate : single hand
keiko : training (also “geiko”)
keikogi : training uniform
ken : sword
kesa : diagonal lapel
ki : internal energy, spirit
kihon : fundamental techniques
kiyotsuke : attention
ko : minor, small
kohai : between partners this is the lower ranked, or less experienced
koryu : old school
koshi : hip (also “goshi”)
kote : wrist
ku : nine
kubi : neck
kuri : to guide
kuzure : modified
kuzushi : off-balance
kyu : grades or ranks below shodan
M
ma : space
ma ai : space betwen opponents
mae : front
maita : I surrender!
maki : to envelope
makikomi : to wrap, winding
makura : pillow
masutemi : back sacrifice
mata : thigh
matte : wait, attention
mawashi : to turn, spin or circulate
men : head
metsuke : focal point of vision
midare dome : turbulence control
migi : right
mitori geiko : to train by watching
monomi : a vision of things
morote : both hands
mune : chest
mushin : no mind
N
nage : throwing
nagekomi : throwing practice
nami : common, usual
nafudakake : a name board displayed in a dojo showing members’ names and seniority
nana : seventh
newaza : grappling
ni : two
ni : see “Knights Who Say”
O
O : great, big, honorable
obi : belt
okuri : to slide, follow
omote : front, to face something
osae komi : control, hold down
oshi : push
osu : to push
otoshi : to drop
R
rai uchi : thunderous strike
ran : chaos
randori : practice of techniques
rei : bow
renraku waza : combination of techniques
renshu : to drill, practice
roku : six
ryote : both hands
ryote dori : two hands grasping
ryu : style or school
S
sage jo / sage to : neutral jo / neutral sword
sakan : penetrate from the left
sakeru : evasion
san : three
sankaku : triangle
sasae : to prop
seigan : in the eyes
seiza : sitting on the knees
sempai : between partners this is the higher ranked or teacher
seoi : to carry on the back
sensei : teacher
sempai : senior partner
Sen no sen : simultaneous attack
Sen sen no sen : attacking before an opponent has a chance to attack, taking the initiative away
shaman : diagonal
shi : four
shiai : competition, tournament
shichi : seven
shidachi : receiving sword
shigaku : blind spot
shihan : master teacher
shiho : four corners
shikko : walking on the knees
shime : strangle
shisei : posture
shizumi : sinking body
sho : first
shomen : front of the head
sode : sleeve
sotai : in pairs
soto : outside
suburi : practice a motion through many repetitions
suigetsu : solar plexus
sukashi : evasive movement
suki : opening, vulnerability, moment of inattention
sukui : to scoop
sumi : corner
sutemi : sacrifice
suwari : kneeling
T
tachi : standing
tachi : sword
tandoku : solo, alone
tani : valley
tomoe : circular
tanto : knife
taoshi : push down
te : hand
tegatana : hand blade
tekubi : wrist
tenkan : turning
tenkai : circular
tobi : fly, leap (as in tobi ukemi)
tokui : proficient
tokui waza : favorite technique
tori : receiver of a technique
tsube : hilt of the sword
tsubame : a swallow (bird)
tsugi ashi : sliding step (walking)
tsuki : thrust
tsukomi : grip
tsukuri : fitting in
tsurikomi : lift and pull into
U
uchi : inside
uchi : strike
uchidachi : attacker (jodo)
uchideshi : live-in student
uchikomi : repetitive fitting-in drill
ude : arm
uke : attacker
uki : floating
ukemi : falling
ura : moving behind
ura waza : reversal of a technique
ushiro : rear, behind
utsuri : to switch
uwagi : training, jacket
W
waki : side of chest
wakizashi : short sword
wari : to split
waza : techniques
Y
yama : mountain
yame : stop
yoi : get ready
yoko : side
yon : fourth
yudansha : black belt ranks
yoshi : continue
Z
zanshin : unbroken concentration
zubon : pants of a dogi