Martial Arts Glossary

GLOSSARY

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 Kata Numbers

Barai (harai)	Parry, sweep
Bo	6 foot wooden staff
Bodai shin	The awakened or illuminated mind / spirit
Bokken	Wooden practice sword
Budo	The way of combat
Bushido	The way of the samurai

Chudan

Middle level

Dan	Level or step
Do	The way
Dogi (gi)	Practice uniform
Dojo	The place of the way
Dokan	The ring of the way (constant practice)
Do kyu	The teaching of the way

Hachiji dachi	Natural, ready stance (feet slightly open)
Hai	Yes
Hajime	Begin
Hakama	Ankle length divided skirt
Hangetsu dachi	Hour glass stance (from Hangetsu kata)
Hanmi	Triangular stance, one foot forward
Hannya	Supreme wisdom
Hara (tanden)	Intestines, centre of physical energy, lower abdomen
Harai (barai)	Sweep
Heian	Peace and tranquility (family of 5 katas)
Heiko dachi	Ready stance (feet parallel)
Heisoku dachi	Ready stance (feet together)
Hidari	Left
Hikite	Pulling in hand
Hishiryo	Think without thinking
Hiza geri	Knee kick

Iaido	Defensive swordmanship, drawing the sword
Ikkyo	First technique
Ippon	A single attack, a dangerous or fatal blow
Irimi	Entering step

Jiyu kumite	Free fighting (using any techniques)
Jo	5 foot wooden staff
Jodan	Upper level
Judo	The way of pliability, the gentle way
Jujitsu (jujutsu)	Grappling martial art

Kaeshi	Counter technique
Kagizuki	Hook
Kaiten	Rotating, turn
Kaitenage	Wheel throw
Kamae	Attitude, posture, ready stance for beginners
Kanji	Ancient Chinese writing
Karate do	Weaponless combat
Karate ka	Pratitioners of karate
Kata	The form of budo
Kata	Shoulder
Kataguruma	Over the shoulder throw
Katana	Japanese sword
Katate	One hand
Katate kosa tori	Cross hand grab of wrist
Katate tori	Same side grab of wrist
Kata tori	Same side grap to lapel, shoulder or sleeve
Katsu	To win Loud cry or shout Resuscitation technique
Keage geri (yoko keage geri)	(Side) snap kick
Keiko (geiko)	Training
Kekomi geri (yoko kekomi geri)	(Side) thrust kick
Kempo	Striking/fist techniques martial art
Kendo	The way of swordmanship
Ki	Energy
Kiai	Loud cry or shout
Kiba dachi	Horse riding stance
Kihon	Basics or rudiments
Kikai	"The ocean of energy" in the lower abdomen
Kime	Tightening of the mind
Kinhin	A special walk performed between 2 periods of zazen
Kizamizuki	Jab
Ko	Behind, follow
Kohai	A fellow student who follows you in the group
Kokutsu dachi	Back stance
Kokyu	Breath
Kokyunage	Breath throw
Kontin	A state of drowsiness in zazen
Kotegaeshi	Back of the hand turn
Kumite	Training with a partner (sparring)
Kusen	Oral teaching during zazen
Kyu	Lower grade, rank
Kyudo	The way of archery
Kyu shin ryu	A school that teaches how to govern the mind

Mae	Front
Mae geri	Front kick
Mae te	Literally front hand, often used as a jabbing attack
Makiwara	Striking post used for training
Mawashi geri	Roundhouse kick
Men	The face
Men uchi	Strike to face
Migi	Right
Migzuki geri	Crescent kick
Mokuso	Silent thoughts, meditation (becoming more aware of your thoughts)
Mondo	The question - answer exchange between student and master
Morote	Two hands, both hands
Morotetori	Two hands grabbing one arm
Morote uke	Supported block
Mu	A negative prefix
Muna / Mune	Torso
Munadori	Chest grab, lapel grab (one hand)
Mushin	Without the mind
Muso	Not posture, unselfconscious

Nagashi uke	Sweeping block
Nage	A throw, the defender
Nami gaeshi	Inside leg sweep/block (used in Tekki shodan)
Neko ashi dachi	Cat stance
Nidan	Second level
Nidan geri	Double kick
Nikyo	Second technique
Nukite	Spear hand

Obi	Belt
Oizuki	Straight punch (stepping forward)
Osu	A pledge to do ones best and to endure

Rei	Respect, courtesy, bow
Rondori (Randori)	Freestyle practice, many attackers, one defender
Roshi	A master
Ryu	A school

Sabaki	Turning the body to avoid a strike
Samadhi	Total concentration
Sanbon kumite	Three step sparring
Sandan	Third level
Sankyo	Third technique
Sanran	A state of excessive tension in zazen
Satori	Awakening to the truth, enlightenment
Sei	Life
Seiza	Kneeling position (often used as a meditation posture)
Sen	Ahead, precede
Senpai	A fellow student who precedes you in the group (senior)
Sensei	One who is ahead of you in life (teacher)
Sesshin	A period of intensive zazen training
Shihan	Master
Shihonage	Four direction throw
Shikko	Walking on knees from seiza
Shin	Spirit, mind, inspiration
Shindo	The way of the spirit
Shinke	Pressure points
Shizentai	Natural stance (spirit alert but body relaxed)
Sho	First or beginning
Shodan	First level
Shojin	The first period of training
Shomenuchi	Vertical overhead strike to the face
Shuriken	Weapons thrown by hand (stars, double ended knives etc.)
Shuto	Knife hand
Shuto uke	Knife hand block
Sifu	Instructor (Chinese)
Sokuto	Edge of foot
Soto	Outside
Suki	Opportunity
Sutemi	Abandon the body

Tachi	Japanese sword Standing
Tachi waza	Standing technique
Tai	Body
Taigi	Body exercises
Tanden	Lower abdomen, the one point (centre of physical energy)
Tanto	Wooden knife
Tatami	Thick mats made of rice straw
Te	Hand
Teisho	Palm heel
Teisho barai	Palm heel parry or sweep
Tenchinage	Heaven and earth throw
Tenkan	Turning step
Tettsui	Bottom of fist
Tettsui uke	Bottom of fist strike
Tobi	Jumping
Tobi geri	Jumping kick
Tori	Grab
Tsuki	Strike, thrust

Wasa (Waza)

Technique

Yakusoku kumite	Agreed fighting (only certain techniques are practiced)
Yame	Stop
Yawara	Traditional judo
Yodan	Fourth level
Yoi	Ready, to be prepared
Yoko	Side
Yoko geri	Side kick (see keage geri and kekomi geri)
Yokomenuchi	Diagonal overhead strike to side of head
Yonkyo	Fourth technique
Yuki	To be brave

Zafu	Round cushion used for zazen
Zanshin	Watchful, unattached mind
Zazen	The practice of sitting meditation
Zen	Pure human spirit
Zenkutsu dachi	Front stance
Zenshin	Whole body
Zuki	Strike
Zuzuki	Head butt

Kata

Taikyoku Shodan Taikyoku Nidan Taikyoku Sandan	First kata. First cause. Second kata (often not practiced) Third kata (often not practiced)
Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yodan Heian Godan	Family of five katas with Heian meaning 'peaceful mind'. Previously called Pinan
Bassai Dai Bassai Sho	'Breaking the fortress'. Two katas with a similar theme. Previously called Passai
Kanku Dai Kanku Sho	'To view the sky'. Previously called Kushanku, Kwanku and Shankyu
Enpi or Empi	'Flight of the swallow'. Previously called Wanshu
Gankaku	'Crane on a rock'. Previously called Chinto
Jutte or Jitte	'Ten hands'
Hangetsu or Hengetsu	'Crescent' or 'Half moon'. Previously called Seishan
Tekki Shodan Tekki Nidan Tekki Sandan	'Horse riding' or 'Iron horse'. Previously called Naihanchi
Meikyo	'Mirror of the soul' or 'Clean mirror'. Previously called Rohai
Jion	Named after a Buddist saint
Unsu	'Parting of the clouds'

Numbers