There are a bewildering number of terms for Japanese body parts. This list will get you started. It’s focused on what martial artists actually target, strike, block, or use.
Core Body Parts (Major Targets)
Atama (頭・あたま) — head
Fukubu (腹部・ふくぶ) — abdominal region
Hara (腹・はら) — abdomen (“center”)
Kao (顔・かお) — face
Kubi (首・くび) — neck
Men (面・めん) — face / mask (kendo term)
Mikata / Suigetsu (水月・すいげつ) — solar plexus (“moon on the water”)
Mune (胸・むね) — chest
Nodo (喉・のど) — throat
Senaka (背中・せなか) — back
Limbs & Joints
Ashi (足・あし) — leg / foot (context determines whether “ashi” = foot or leg)
Ashikubi (足首・あしくび) — ankle
Hiji (肘・ひじ) — elbow
Hiza (膝・ひざ) — knee
Kakato (踵・かかと) — heel
Sune (脛・すね) — shin
Te (手・て) — hand
Tekubi (手首・てくび) — wrist
Ude (腕・うで) — arm
Yubi (指・ゆび) — fingers
Strike & Cut Targets
Dō (胴・どう) — torso, trunk (kendo armor term; general body)
Gansei (眼精・がんせい) — eyes (as a target)
Inazuma / Myōō (命門・めいもん) — “life gate” (lower spine)
Intai (陰部) — groin (technical anatomy)
Kakudo (角度) — jaw angle (used in atemi)
Kansetsu (関節) — joints (in general)
Kansetsu-bu (関節部) — joint areas targeted for locks
Kaso (下層) — groin area
Kata (肩・かた) — shoulder
Kōke (肚臍・へそ) — navel
Komekami (こめかみ) — temples (side of head)
Koshi (腰・こし) — hips / lower back
Sodeguchi (袖口・そでぐち) — “sleeve opening,” but used as a shoulder-line target in some koryū
Waki (脇・わき) — armpit / flank (Common sword target / armor gap)
Sword-Specific Targets (Kenjutsu/Iaido)
Kubi (首) — neck
Yokomen (横面) — side of the head
Dō (胴) — torso
Suihei (水平) — horizontal cut line
Hiji-ura (肘裏・ひじうら) — inside of the elbow
Fukuro (脇腹・わきばら) — ribs / side
Suso (裾) — thigh area (older usage)
Fumoto (麓) — groin / upper thigh region (rare koryū term)
Structural & Balance Points
Ashisaki (足先・あしさき) — tips of the feet
Mata (股・また) — inner thigh / groin
Kansetsu-sen (関節線) — joint line (judo/aiki principle)
Seichūsen (正中線・せいちゅうせん) — centerline of the body
Tanden (丹田・たんでん) — lower abdominal energy center
Kokkyō (骨橋) — “bone bridge” (collarbone area)
