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