Age

from ageru, to lift or raise, elevate

Age uke

in karate, a rising block

Aikido

way of harmony; modern martial art based on using opponent's energy against themselves

Aite

opponent

Amado

kyusho (rain doors), lymph glands around lower neck

Anado

both sides

Anatoshi

trapping

Ankoku toshinjutsu

techniques for seeing in the darkness

Arashi

storm

Asagasumi

kyusho (morning mist), just under chin (or the chin itself)

Ashi

leg; foot

Ashiko

spiked foot bands, see also shuko

Ashikubi

ankle

Ate

blow, strike

Atemi

a strike to setup a technique

Atsu

press

Atto

press down

Awase

from awaseru, to meet together

Bakufu

military government of Japan

Barai

from harau, to sweep

Bansenshukai

10,000 rivers gather into the sea; ancient (ca. 1676) book on ninjutsu

Battojutsu

sword-drawing techniques; art of drawing the sword

Benkai

inside of shinbone

Bikenjutsu

art of the sword, swordsmanship

Bisento

heavy broad-bladed halbard

Bo

stick; (usually six-foot) staff, also Rokushaku bo

Bo jutsu

art of fighting with a staff

Bo shuriken

straight throwing blades

Bobi no kamae

defensive stance

Boryaku

battlefield strategy

Bokken

wooden sword

Boku

tree

Boshi ken

thumb strike, also shito ken

Bu

martial

Budo

martial ways

Budoka

one who studies the martial ways

Bufu ikkan

may the martial wind blow every day

Bugei

martial arts

Bugeisha

martial artist

Bugei juhappan

eighteen warrior skills, can vary depending on period

Bujin

warrior spirit

Bujutsu

martial arts, martial techniques

Bumon

martial gate

Bushi

Japanese warrior

Bushido

way of the bushi

Butsumetsu

kyusho (day the buddha died), four places by 3rd rib

Buyu

martial friends

Chi

earth

Chimon

geography

Cho ho

espionage

Chu

middle

Chudan

middle level

Chunin

historically, a mid-level (organizer) ninja agent; see also jonin and genin

Dai

large, big, great

Daikomyo

In Buddhism, it is the big bright light of Buddha. In ninjutsu, it is the illumination from the inside to the outside. This can be experienced as the light of your heart on the physical plane. See also shikin haramitsu daikomyo.

Daimon

kyusho (big gate), middle of shoulder joint

Daisho

pair of swords worn in the belt

Daito

large sword, worn blade facing up

Dakentaijutsu

striking (punching and kicking) methods of ninjutsu

Dan

lit. step; indicates level above black belt

Den

legend, tradition

Densho

transmission scrolls or manuscripts, see also makimono

Do

i) motion; change; ii) path, road, way; iii) the trunk of the body

Do jime

torso choke

Dojo

lit. way place; a training hall

Dojo Cho

leader or head of a dojo

Doko

angry tiger

Doko no kamae

angry tiger defensive stance

Dokkotsu

kyusho (single bone), Adam's apple

Dome

from tomeru, to stop

Don ton jutsu

earth concealment techniques

Dori

from toru, to seize, capture; also tori

Empi

elbow

Eri

lapel; collar

Fu

i) negation; ii) wind

Fudo

immobility

Fudo ken

clenched fist

Fudoshin

immovable spirit

Fudoza

immovable seat

Fukiya

blowguns

Fukuro shinai

bamboo training sword covered in leather

Fuko

crouching tiger

Furi

to swing

Futari dori

dual catch, held by two opponents

Gaeshi

from kaesu, to turn over, roll, throw, counter-attack; also kaeshi

Gake

hook; also kagi and kake

Gakure

from kakureru, to hide, disappear

Ganbette

keep going; persevere

Ganmen

the face

Ganseki

a rock

Garami

from karamu, to entangle, entwine

Gari

from karu, to reap

Gassho no kamae

greeting stance

Gata

i) one; ii) style, type, pattern

Gatame

from katameru, to tighten; also katame

Gawa

side

Ge

low

Gedan

lower level

Genin

historically, a low-level (operative)ninja agent; see also chunin and jonin

Genjutsu

arts of illusion

Geri

from keru, to kick; see keri

Gi

martial arts uniform

Gikan

regard for justice

Giri

i) duty; obligation; ii) to cut, also kiri

Go

five

Godai

lit. big five; refers to five elements; see also gogyo

Goe

voice; tone

Gogyo

five principles; also refers to five elements, earth, water, fires, air and void

Gojo gyoku

principle of five feelings and desires

Gokui

hidden; secret

Gokuraku

paradise

Gomen nasai

excuse me, I'm sorry

Go no sen

seizing the initiative at the moment the opponent attacks

Gorin

kyusho (five rings), around the stomach

Goroshi

from korosu, to kill

Gotonpo

five element concealing and escaping methods

Gyaku

reverse; opposite; inverted

Gyaku jime

reverse choke

Gyoku

gem, jewel; testicles

Hachi

eight

Hachimaki

white cotton headband

Hadome

kyusho (pallet), one inch below ear, end of tooth line

Hai

yes

Haibu yori

from behind

Hajime

start

Hajutsu

escaping techniques

Hakama

formal divided skirt; wide legged pants

Han

half

Hanbo

lit. half-staff; stick (usually 3 feet)

Hanbo jutsu

stick fighting techniques

Hane

i) from haneru, to leap, spring up; ii) wing

Hane age

jump up, spring up

Hane goshi

in judo, spring hip throw

Hane maki komi

in judo, winding hip throw

Hanmi

in aikido, half-forward stance; similar to taijutsu's ichimonji

Happa

eight leaves, clapping the ears

Happa ken

open-handed strike

Happo

eight sides; in all directions

Happo hiken

eight methods of secret swords

Happo shuriken

eight pointed throwing blades

Harai

from harau, to sweep; also barai

Harai goshi

sweeping hip throw

Haramitsu

also known in Sanscrit as paramita which is Buddha's satori or a permanent state of spiritual awakening that transcends the limitations of life and death. The general idea behind the 6 paramita is freedom from bearing grudges, pain, jealousy and building a relationship with the world outside of yourself. See also shikin haramitsu daikomyo.

Hashigo yari

a ladder spear

Hasso

to attack

Heiho

martial principles, military strategy

Henka

variation

Henso jutsu

disguise and impersonation techniques

Hi

i) secret; ii) to fly

Hicho

flying bird

Hicho no kamae

crane defensive stance

Hidari

left

Hiden

concealed, secret; also gokui

Hiji

elbow, also empi

Hiji ate

elbow strike, also shuki ken

Hiji ori

elbow break

Hiken Juroppo

sixteen secret fist methods of ninjutsu

Hiki

from hiku, to pull

Hira

flat, even, level

Hira no kamae

one-line receiving stance

Hira shuriken

flat blades

Hiryuran

kyusho (flying dragon confuser), eyeballs

Hishi

dried water chestnuts used as caltrops

Hiso ken

secret spear fist

Ho

i) used to express concept of the Buddhist Darma (law/truth); methods, ii) direction, way, rule; also po

Hodoki

get loose, get untied, escape

Hoi

encircling

Hojo

binding; securing

Hojo jutsu

binding techniques; using a cord to restrain prisoners

Hoko

encircling tiger

Hoko no kamae

encircling tiger receiving stance

Hon

true; principal; main; foundation

Hon gamae

basic set-up position

Hon gyaku

base reversal to the wrist

Hon jime

basic choke

Hontai

i) main body; ii) morality

Hoshi

kyusho (star), nerve point near armpit

Hoshi shita

kyusho (under the stars), elbow joint

I

mind, heart; will, intention

Iaido

way of sword-drawing

Iaijutsu

sword-drawing techniques

Ichi

one

Ichimonji

the character for one in Japanese, left to right

Ichimonji no kamae

one-line defensive stance

Igadama

spiked iron or steel balls used as caltrops

Iie

no

In

kyusho (shadow), xiphoid bone

Inashi gata

form of skillfully avoiding and upsetting opponent's attack

Inpo

the art of hiding

Inton

concealment and camouflage

Iri

from hairu, to enter

Irimi

entering, moving in

Itaken

broad blades

Itami

pain

Itami jime

painful choke

Itto

sword

Jakkotsu/jakkin

kyusho (weak bone/weak muscle), upper arm between bone and biceps

Jigoku

hell

Jihi no kokoro

benevolent heart

Jime

from shimeru, to tighten or constrict; also shime

Jin

man, low

Jinbujin fusatsu

God's rule for bujin not to kill people

Jinchu

kyusho (center of man), base of the nose

Jo

i) medium length stick (usually 4 feet); ii) top

Jodan

upper level

Jowan

upper arm

Ju

ten

Jujiro

kyusho (crossroads), front of shoulder

Jumonji

the character for ten in Japanese, a cross

Jumonji no kamae

cross offensive stance

Junan taiso

taijutsu conditioning exercises

Jutaijutsu

grappling techniques; throws, locks, chokes and holds

Jutsu

techniques; art

Jutte

single-tined truncheon

Ka

fire

Kaeshi

from kaesu, turn over, throw, counter-attack; also gaeshi

Kaeshi waza

counter techniques

Kagi

hook, also kake

Kaiten

rolling

Kakitsubo

kyusho (side bowl), hollow area of armpits

Kake

hook; also kagi and gake

Kaku

angle; horn, knee

Kakushi buki

hidden weapons, refers to all small weapons that can be hidden

Kakushi geri

sweeping, crescent kick

Kamae

stance, posture

Kami yari

sickle spear

Kamiza

gods; shrine honoring the spirits

Kansetsu

joints; used with techniques to describe dislocating

Kansetsu geri

in karate, knee-joint kick

Kappi

lively jump

Karamu

to entangle, entwine

Karate

lit. empty hand, or china hand; a martial art that stresses punching and kicking techniques

Kashira

head

Kasumi

kyusho (fog, mist), temple

Kata

i) one; ii) style, type, pattern iii) pre-arranged forms

Kataginu

stiff sleeveless robe for samurai on ceremonial occasions

Katame

from katameru, to tighten; also gatame

Katana

sword

Katate

one hand

Katate dori kubijime

single-hand neck choke

Kawa

side

Ken

i) fist; ii) sword

Ken no michi

the way of the sword

Kenkotsu

kyusho (healthy bone), 4 points on skull around tenkotsu

Kenshi

expert swordsman

Keppan

blood oath made when entering a ryu

Keri

from keru, to kick; see geri

Ki

i) rise; ii) spirit, mind, heart, soul

Ki ken

spirit fist

Kiai

a focused shout to disrupt the opponent

Kiaijutsu

techniques of kiai

Kihon

basic, fundamental

Kikaku ken

kyusho (demon horns fist), head butt; also zu tsuki

Kime

focus, both physical and mental

Kimon

kyusho (monster gate), chest muscle

Kimono

traditional Japanese dress

Kinketsu

kyusho (forbidden opening), sternum

Kiri

i) from kiru, to cut; ii) mist, fog; i ii) neck

Kiriage

rising cut; cutting upwards

Kiten ken

sword hand strike, also shuto ken

Ko ashi

small steps for walking through foliage and water

Ko

i) child; ii) hook, barb; i ii) small; iv) tiger

Kobudo

ancient martial ways

Kocho

butterfly

Kodachi

short sword

Koe

kyusho (voice), hollow area of hip bones

Kogoroshi

killing the child, pinky break

Koho

rear, back

Koho geri

back kick

Kokoro

spirit, heart, mind; also shin

Koku

empty space

Kokyu

breath, breathing

Kongo ken

hammer fist

Koppo

i) bone; ii) secret

Koppo ken

thumb knuckle strike

Koppojutsu

bone-breaking techniques

Koroshi

from korosu, to kill

Koryu

classical or old tradition

Kosei

kyusho (tiger force), testicles, also suzu

Kosei no kamae

tiger offensive stance

Koshi

hip, loin

Koshijutsu

organ and muscle strikes

Koshitsubo

kyusho (hip bowl), middle or inside ridge of hip bone

Kote

wrist

Kote gaeshi

outside wrist turn, also omote gyaku

Kotsu

bone

Ku

i) air, sky; emptiness; void; ii) nine

Kubi

neck

Kubi ura jime

rear neck choke

Kubisuji

nape of neck

Kudaki

from kudaku, to break, smash, shatter

Kuden

oral teachings

Kuji

nine signs; mudra used in esoteric Buddhism

Kuji kiri

used by ancient ninjas to channel energy

Kujiki

from kujiku, to wrench, sprain

Kukan

space

Kuki

air, formless energy

Kumiuchi

grappling, close fighting