Terminology

Belt Rankings

SENSEI	Minimum rank of 1st Dan. Ability to teach practical techniques.
RENSHI	Minimum Rank of 4th Dan. Detailed understanding with outstanding ability in the Martial Arts. A polished expert. Similar in academics to "Bachelor of Arts"
SHIHAN	Minimum Rank of 6th Dan. "A Chief Instructor," a Doctorate in the Martial Arts. Ability to teach at the highest levels
KYOSHI	Minimum rank of 7th Dan. Highest knowledge of the Martial Arts and traditions. "A master of fine Arts."
HANSHI	Minimum Rank of 8th Dan. An individual of exceptional skill and character. Proven leadership and contribution to the Martial Arts. Similar to the title "Doctor of Philosophy."
MEIJIN	Minimum rank of 10th Dan. This Title is awarded by a special commission/board of examiners. "A Grand Master".

General Terminology

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

A
AGE	rising
ATEMI	striking
B    [Back to top]
BUNKAI	application of form
BUSHIDO	way of the warrior
BUJUTSU	Bushi fighting arts
C    [Back to top]
CHOKU	straight
CHUDAN	mid level (solar plexus)
D    [Back to top]
DACHI	stance
DAN	level
DOJO	place of practice
DENZOOK	no count
DO	way
E    [Back to top]
EKU	Okinawan oar like weapon
ERI	jacket collar
F    [Back to top]
FUDO	rooted {Fudo dachi}
G    [Back to top]
GATAME	arm bar
GEDAN	low level (below belt)
GI	training uniform
GOHON	five finger strike
GYAKU	reverse
H    [Back to top]
HACHIJI	open leg {Hachiji dachi}
HACHIMACHI	towelled headband
HADAKA JIME	naked strangle
HADARI	left
HADJIME	begin
HAISHU	back of the hand
HAISOKU	instep
HAITO	ridge hand [first knuckle of thumb & side of hand]
HAKAMA	split black skirt worn by senseis
HANGETSU	hourglass {Hangetsu dachi}
HATAMA	head
HEISOKU	attention {Heikosu dachi}
HIDARI	left side
HIJI	elbow strike
HITTSUI	knee
HIZA	knee
HON	fingers
I    [Back to top]
IPPON	one
IPPON KEN	one knuckle fist
IPPON NUKITE	one finger spear hand
IRIMI	entering {Irimi waza}
J    [Back to top]
JIGO TAI	defensive posture
JIMI/JIME	choke or strangle
JITSUKA	a practitioner of jitsu
JIU JITSU	gentle art
JIYU KUMITE	free sparring
JODAN	high level (head)
JOHSOKUTEL	ball of foot
JUDOKA	practitoner of judo
JUDO	gentle way
JUJI	cross
K    [Back to top]
KAESHI{GAESHI}	counter
KAGI	hook {Kagi tsuki}
KAKATO	heel
KAKATO UKE	bent wrist lock
KAKE	the point at which a throw will take it's maximal effect
KAMA	sickle
KAMAE	posture
KANKETSU	joint lock
KARA	empty
KARATE	empty hand
KATA	pre arranged stylised techniques/shoulder
KATAME	grappling
KATAME WAZA	mat work
KATANA	long sword [the Samurai's main weapon]
KATSU	revival techniques
KEMPO	way of the fist
KEN	sword or knuckle
KENDO	way of the sword
KERI	kicking
KERU	kick
KI	vital energy
KIAI	shout with vital energy
KIBA	horse {Kiba dachi horse/saddle stance}
KIME	focus
KIRITSU	stand to attention
KITSKAY	attention
KOKO	tiger mouth {Koko uchi}
KOKUTSU	back {Kokutsu dachi}
KUBI	neck
KUMIKATA	methods of holding
KUMITE	sparring
KUSARIGAMA	sickle blade attached to the end of a chain as a weapon
KUCHO	vital body areas
KUZUSHI	unbalancing [nine directions]
KYU	coloured belt degree
KYUKEI	dismissal after bow
KYUSHO	vital point
KYUSHO JITSU	pressure point strikes
L    [Back to top]
M    [Back to top]
MA AI	distance
MAE	front
MAKIWARA	punching board
MATAE	stop
MATSUI	relaxation position
MAWASHI TSUKI	roundhouse punch
MAWATEE	turn
MIGI	right side
MIKAZUKI	crescent
MORO	augmented
MUNE	chest
N    [Back to top]
NAKADAKA IPPON KEN	middle finger one knuckle fist
NAGE	throwing
NAGENOKATA	the forms of throwing
NAGINATA	halberd used by Japanese women
NAORE	adopt attention stance
NECHO	cat
NECHO ASHI DACHI	cat stance
NE WAZA	ground fighting techniques
NIHON NUKITE	two finger spear hand
NUKITE	spear hand
NUNCHAKU	two rods connected by a short chain [weapon]
O    [Back to top]
OBI	belt
OSAE KOMI	hold down
OTAGI NI REI	bow to Dojo & all assembled
P    [Back to top]
Q    [Back to top]
R    [Back to top]
RANDORI	free practice/judo sparring
REI	to bow
RITSUREI	standing bow
RYU	style of martial art
S    [Back to top]
SAI	large three pronged knife
SAMURAI	a Japanese feudal knight
SEIKEN	fore fist
SEIZA	formal kneeling position
SAMPEI	senior
SENAKA	the back
SENSEI	teacher
SENSEI NE REI	bow to instructor
SHIME	choke {Shime waza}
SHIZEN TAI	natural posture
SHOTEI	palm heel strike
SHUTO	knife edge hand
SODE	sleeve
SOKUTO	foot edge
SU DACHI	standing with feet together
SUKUI NAGE	scooping throw
SUTEMI	sacrafice
SUWARU	to sit down into Seiza
T    [Back to top]
TACHI WAZA	standing throwing techniques
TAMESHEWARI	breaking demonstration
TANDEN	point just beneath navel
TANTO	a short straight bladed knife or shortsword
TATAMI	mats
TATE	vertical
TATE TSUKI	a boxer's punch
TE	hand
TEISHO	palm heel
TEIJI	`T' shaped {Teiji dachi}
TEKUBI	wrist
TETTSUI	hammer fist/bottom fist
TONFA	short stick with a handle on one end, similar to a nightstick
TORI	defender/technique demonstrator
TSUKI	punch
TSUKURI	stepping into a throw/take an opponent's balance
TUITE	grappling techniques & joint manipulation by use of pressure points
U    [Back to top]
UCHI	strike
UCHIKOMI	repetitive practice of taking an opponent to kake
UDE	forearm
UKE	block
UKEMI	breakfalling
UKE	attacker, or assistant
UKI	floating
URAKEN	back fist
V    [Back to top]
W    [Back to top]
WAZA	technique
X    [Back to top]
Y    [Back to top]
YAMA	mountain/`U'
YAMAE	stop
YARI	spear
YASUME	relax on spot
YOI/YOHI	make ready
YONHON NUKITE	spear hand
YOSHI	continue
Z    [Back to top]
ZAREI	kneeling bow
ZAZEN	sitting meditation
ZENKATSU	forward {Zenkatsu dachi}
ZORI	sandals