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Lexicon Of Martial Arts Terms

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A:
 
ATE "Strike"
ATEMI "Striking Points"
ATEMI WAZA "Striking Point Techniques"
 
B:
 

BAJUTSU "Horsemanship"

BATTOJUTSU "Combative Sword Drawing"

BO "Stave" A six foot hardwood stave

BOJUTSU "Stave Combat Art"

BOKKEN "Stave Sword" A length of hardwood shaped to represent a Katana and used in many systems of martial arts training, most notably Kenjutsu. Also known as Boken, Bokuto & Boto

BU "Military / Martial"  

BUDO "Martial Way" 

BUGEI "Warrior Virtue"

BUGEI JUHAPPAN "The 18 Warrior Virtues" The individual combative abilities that a Samurai must study in order to become the complete warrior.

BUJUTSU "Martial Art"

BUKI-DORI "Unarmed Defence Against Assorted Weaponry"

BUSHI "Warrior"

BUSHIDO "Way Of The Warrior"

C:
 
CHIBURI "Blood Shake" The rapid movement made with a sword used to expell the blood from the blade. The Chiburi is also used in part to ritually purify the blade of any spiritual coruption.
CHIGIRIKI "Ball And Chain" The Chigiriki is a Japanese style of war flail that consists of a three foot pole to which is attached a three foot length of weighted chain.

CHIKUJOU "Fortifications Knowledge"
D:
 

DAN "Step" The Rank commonly indicated by wearing a black belt.

 

          Shodan "Black Belt 1st Dan"

          Nidan "Black Belt 2nd Dan"

          Sandan "Black Belt 3rd Dan"

          Yondan "Black Belt 4th Dan"

          Godan "Black Belt 5th Dan"

          Rokudan "Black Belt 6th Dan"

          Shichidan "Black Belt 7th Dan"

          Hachidan "Black Belt 8th Dan"

          Kyudan "Black Belt 9th Dan"

          Judan "Black Belt 10th Dan"

 

DAITO "Large Sword" Any single edge dagger made in a similar manner and proportions as the Katana.

DAISHO "Large And Small" The combination of Daito and Shoto or Daito and Tanto worn as a badge of office by all Samurai.

DO "Path / Way / Method"

DOJO "Place Of The Way" A martial arts training hall
DOMARU "Torso Covering Armour" A style of Yoroi that wraps around the torso of the wearer and fastens under the right armpit.
DOSHIN "Feudal Policeman"

E:
 
EKU "Oar" A large Oar used as an improvised weapon and as a method of strengthening a swordsmans arms.
 

F:
 
FUKUMIBARI "Needle Spitting" 
 

G:
 
GENDAI "New School / Modern System" A system of Japanese styles martial arts founded in or after 1886.
GODAN "Black Belt 5th Dan"
 
H:
 
HACHIDAN "Black Belt 8th Dan"

HANBO "Short Stave" A three foot stave

HARA "Abdomen / Belly" The seat of the soul (KI) in Japanese belief.
HARAMAKI "Belly Wrapping Armour" A style of Yoroi that wraps around the torso and is fastened down the wearers back.

HEIHO "Military Strategy"

HOJOJUTSU "Rope Tying Arts"

HOJUTSU "Musketry" 

HOSHIN "Self Defence / Fighting Ability"
 

I:
 
IAI "Sword Drawing"
IAIDO "Sword Drawing Method"
IAIJUTSU "Sword Drawing Art"
IAITO "Practice Drawing Sword" A Katana Formed with a blunt blade so that sword drawing practice may be performed safely.
 
J:
 
JINGAMA "Battle Sickle" A style of Kama favoured by some Japanese nobleman and often featuring a hand guard and a signed folded blade.

JO "Stave" The four-foot stave.

JOUHOU KAISHUU "Information Gathering"

JU "Flexibile / Compliant / Gentle / Yielding" 

JUDAN "Black Belt 10th Dan"

JUDO "Way Of Gentleness" A system of Jujutsu created by Kano Jigoro Sensei.

JUJUTSU "Art Of Gentleness" Also known as Yawara, Jujitsu, JiuJitsu, Jiujutsu and Jiujiutsu.

JUJUTSUKA "Student Of The Art Of Gentleness"

JUNSEI "Truth / Purity"

JUTSU "Art / Combative Method / Military Science" Also known as Jitsu and Jiutsu.

JUTTE "Ten In The Hand" A Single Pronged Baton carried by Samurai and Doshin as a defence against a sword.

 

K:

 
KABUTO "Helmet"
KAI "Class / School"
KAMA "Sickle"
KAMA YARI "Sickle Spear"
KAMI "Spirit / Divine / God"
KAMIDANA "Shelf Of the Gods" A small shrine laid out in dedication to one or more sets of Kami.
KANCHO "Head Master"

KATA “Formal Prearranged Movements” 

KATANA "Long Sword" The single edged curved longsword worn throught the Obi or hakama with the blades edge up.

KEN "Sword" An Archaic term for any style of Nihonto.

KENGO "Strong Swordsman"

KENSEI "Sword Saint" A swordsmaster so gifted that he becomes deified after his death. Miyamoto Musashi is the most famous historical example of a Kensei. 

KENSHUSEI "Trainee Instructor" A title awarded to a gifted student who assists other Sensei with teaching but has not yet become a Sensei himself.

KI “Life force / Spirit” The essence of life found in all living things. 

KIAI “To Summon Up Ones Spirit” The loud shout emanating from the Hara and primarily used to reinforce ones blocks and strikes.

KEIBO "Clubbing Stave"

KO "Small or Ancient"

KOBU "Ancient Warrior"

KOBUDO "Way Of The Ancient warrior"

KOBUJUTSU "The Ancient Warrior Arts"

KORYU "Old School / Ancient System" A system of martial arts founded in Japan before 1886.

KUSARI "Chain"

KUSARIGAMA "Sickle And Chain" A length of chain to which is attached a single Kama or Jingama.

KUZUSHI “Off Balance” The act of shifting an opponents balance prior to throwing them. 

KYUDAN "Black Belt 9th Dan"

 
M:
 
MANRIKIGUSARI "Ten Thousand Power Chain" A Length of chain weighted at either end and used as a weapon.
MENKYO "Certificate" A Certificate awarding a new grade or title upon a student.
MISOGI "Ritual Purification" Any of the Shinto purification rites designed to test the bodies endurance to pain and discomfort whilst also purifying the soul in the process. Common methods of Misogi include standing beneath waterwalls and waist deep in rivers for extended periods of time. 

MUDANSHA “Unranked Student” The Collective term for all students who are not of Yudansha grade.          

MUSHIN "No Mind" The ability to react effectively in any combat or high stress situation without the use of conscious thought.
 

N:
 
NAGE "Throw / Projection"
NAGINATA "Moving down Sword" A large Polearm featuring a large single edged curved blade. The Naginata was the favoured weapon of the Sohei but fell out of favour amongst the Samurai and became reduced in size and addopted as the primary weapon of the Onna Bugeisha.
NIDAN "Black Belt 2nd Dan"
NINJA "Stealer In" The term Ninja is used to describe the spies, assassins and covert operatives of feudal Japan. Traditionally the arts of subterfuge were taught as an integeral part of the Bugei Juhappan.
NUNCHAKU "Rice Flails" A weapon generally believed to have been developed from the agricultural flails used by farmers. Alternative names include, Nunchuk, Nunchucks, Chucks, Rice Flails, Numchucks, Sosetsukon, Sosetsubo, Soshikon, Shuang Jie Gun, Soeng Zit Gwan, Liang Jie Gun, Er Jie Gun, Ssang Jul Gon, Con Nhi Khuc, Chako, Tabak, Toyok, Chain Stick and Hand Flails
 

O:
 
O "Great / Huge"
OBI "Belt / Sash"
ONNA BUGEISHA "Noble Warrior Woman" A female member of the Feudal Japanese warrior caste.
O-YOROI "Great Armour" An archaic style of Yoroi characterised by its box like construction. Although rather bulky the O-Yoroi remained popular as a symbol of status amongst the Samurai elite.
 

R:
 

RANDORI “Freestyle Practice”     

REIGI "Etiquette" 

RENMEI "Federation / Union"              

RENSHI “Polished Expert” A senior rank amongst martial arts students. The title Renshi is normally awarded to the most promising of students from whom the inheritor of the system will be chosen. The Title of Renshi is not normally awarded to students below the rank of Yondan. 

ROKUDAN "Black Belt 6th Dan"

RONIN “Man Of The Waves” A Samurai without a master.

RYU "School / Style"

 
S:
 
SAI "Trident / Baton" generally belived to have been developed from the head of a fishing trident the Sai has been used throughout Asia as a deadly weapon of defence. Alternative names include Sai Daggers, Hand Trident, Sai Trident, Tekpi, Chabang, Cabang, Tjabang & Trishula
SAKI "Intention To Kill"
SAKURA "Cherry Blossom"

SAMURAI "One Who Serves" A Male member of the Feudal Japanese warrior caste.

SANDAN "Black Belt 3rd Dan"

SEIKA TANDEN “Lower Abdomen”                    

SEIZA “Formal Kneeling Position”                    

SENSEI “Teacher”

SEPPUKU “Ritual suicide” Most commonly executed by cutting a blade deep into the Hara. 

SHICHIDAN "Black Belt 7th Dan"

SHIHAN “Master Teacher” The title of Shihan is used to indicate the senior most Sensei of any Ryu or in some cases the senior most sensei below the Soke.
SHODAN "Black Belt 1st Dan"
SHOTO "Short Sword" Any short bladed sword made in the manner of the Katana.
SOHEI "Warrior Monk"
 

T:
 
TACHI "Slung Long Sword" The single edged deeply curved longsword worn hanging at ones side with the blades edge down.

TANDEN “Abdomen” Also known as the Hara.

TANTO "Dagger" A single edge dagger made in a similar manner as the Katana. Tanto were occasionally worn as part of a Daisho in place of the Wakizashi.

TATAMI “Matting” The matting used to cover the floors of traditional Japanese houses. The term is now used to describe the padded mats used in a Dojo to allow for safer training when thrown. 

TETSUKEIBO "Iron Fixtures Clubbing Staff"

TO "Sword" An Archaic term for any style of Nihonto.

TONFA "Mill Handle" A weapon used throughout Asia developed from the detachable handles of hand rotated grain mills. Alternative names include Tong Fa, Tuifa, Mae Sun Sawk, Tui-Fa, Side Handle Baton, Nightstick, Tunfa, Japanese Baton, Karate Baton & Mill Handle

TORI “Defender” A person executing a technique. Also known as a Torite.

TORII "Shinto Gate" The gigantic ornamental gateways wound at Shinto sites all across the islands of Japan. The Torii is most commonly painted bright red but some black and white example are known to exist.

TORITE “Defender” A person executing a technique. Also known as a Tori.

 
U:
 

UKE “Attacker” The person who is having a technique performed upon them.         

UKEMI “Break Falling” The numerous methods of landing safely when thrown or tripped.
 

W:
 
WABOSHI "Bandana" A length of cloth worn tied over the head and covering almost all of the wearers hair.
WAKIZASHI "Side Sword" A single edge Sword made to be a similar version of the Katana. Wakizashi were worn alongside the Katana to form part of the Daisho.
WAZA "Technique"
 
Y:
 
YARI "Spear"
YAWARA "An alternative name for Jujutsu"
YONDAN "Black Belt 4th Dan"
YOROI "Armour"
YUDANSHA "Graded Student" A title denoting that the student is of Shodan grade or above.
 

Z:
 
ZANSHIN "Remaining Mind" The state of relaxed alertness prior to any combat.
 
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