Index

  • Aikidō 合気道 Aikidō (合気道) is a Japanese martial art focused on blending with an attacker’s force instead of meeting it… ...
  • Anza 安座 Anza (安座) is an old Japanese word meaning “peaceful sitting” or “sitting calmly.” 安 (an) means peace, calm,… ...
  • Ashisabaki 足捌き Ashisabaki (足捌き) is a standard Japanese budō term meaning “footwork.” It refers to the coordinated, efficient movement of… ...
  • Atarito 当刀 Atarito 当刀 means “a direct draw-cut that meets and strikes the opponent’s attack immediately.” It describes the principle… ...
  • Body Parts There are a bewildering number of terms for Japanese body parts. This list will get you started. It's… ...
  • Breakfall A breakfall, known in Japanese martial arts as ukemi (受け身), is a technique for safely absorbing the impact… ...
  • Bu 武 Bu 武 means martial principle or warrior spirit and is the foundational concept behind all Japanese martial traditions.… ...
  • Buki 武器 Buki is a broad umbrella term in the martial arts that means "weapons." It includes mêlée weapons such… ...
  • Chi 地 Chi 地, meaning earth, ground, or land, is very important in martial arts philosophy. In traditional Japanese sword… ...
  • Chiburi 血振 Chiburi 血振 is a term used in Japanese sword arts to mean “blood-shaking,” the motion of flicking or… ...
  • Class Commands Etiquette Rei (礼) — Bow Seiza (正座) — Sit in formal kneeling position Mokuso (黙想) — Meditation (close… ...
  • Dan 段 In modern budō, dan 段 ref refers to advanced ranks (black-belt levels), beginning at shodan (1st dan) and… ...
  • Directions The general Japanese term for “directions” is Hōgaku — 方角. It can mean directions, orientation, or bearings. It's… ...
  • Dojo 道場 Originally, dōjō (道場) was a Buddhist term, referring to: “The place where enlightenment is sought.” In ancient temples, monks called… ...
  • Empi-Uchi 肘打ち Empi-uchi (肘打ち) is a standard Japanese martial-arts term meaning elbow strike. You may find it in karate, jujutsu,… ...
  • Empty Hand Strikes Empty-hand strikes (無手打撃 mude dakyoku / 打撃 dageki) are offensive techniques delivered without weapons, using parts of the… ...
  • Hanmi No Kamae 半身の構え Hanmi No Kamae 半身の構え means Half Body Stance. Hanmi is one of the core structural ideas of all… ...
  • Hōbaku (捕縛) Hōbaku (捕縛) refers to a set of skills used in the Edo period of Japan for capturing and… ...
  • Iaido 居合道 Iaido (居合道) is the art of drawing the Japanese sword (katana), cutting, and resheathing it — performed with… ...
  • Japanese Numbers Japanese numbering systems can seem somewhat opaque and irregular to westerners. There are basically two types of number… ...
  • Japanese Sword Types Chart Sword Kanji Length (approx.) Worn How Typical Use Notes Tantō 短刀 15–30 cm In belt or carried Dagger… ...
  • Jo in Aikido The jō (杖 – wooden staff, usually 50”) in Aikidō is fascinating because it’s not just a weapon… ...
  • Kamae 構え In budō and koryū, kamae 構え is more than just a physical stance; it refers to a stance… ...
  • Keiko 稽古 Keiko 稽古 means practice or training through the study and transmission of classical tradition; literally “to reflect on… ...
  • Kirigami 切紙 In classical Japanese martial arts (古流武術 – koryū bujutsu), kirigami (切紙) refers not to decorative paper art, but… ...
  • Komekami こめかみ Komekami (こめかみ) is the common everyday term specifically referring to the temple area on the side of the… ...
  • Koryū Bujutsu 古流武術 In classical Japanese martial arts, Koryū Bujutsu (古流武術) is best described as pre-modern samurai combat systems preserved through… ...
  • Koshi Mawashi 腰回し Koshi mawashi (腰回し) is a widely used Japanese term, both in martial arts and general body movement training.… ...
  • Kufu 工夫 Kufū 工夫 in the martial arts means training through thinking and insight, along with creative problem-solving in training;… ...
  • Kyōtsuke 気をつけ Kyōtsuke (気をつけ or 注目・気を付け) is a command used in Japanese martial arts meaning “Attention!” or “Stand at attention!”… ...
  • Kyū and Dan Ranks The overall term for “ranking system” is 段級制 (dankyū-sei) which is the dan-kyū ranking system. The category of… ...
  • Miyamoto Musashi Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) was one of Japan’s most accomplished martial artists and most renowned swordsman. He founded a… ...
  • Morote 諸手 Morote 諸手 means “both hands,” “all hands,” or “reinforced hands,” with both hands applied to one point. Unlike… ...
  • Renshū 練習 In budō and martial arts, renshū 練習 is a general word for practice or training. It refers to:… ...
  • Riai 理合 Riai (理合) is an important classical budō concept meaning the underlying principles that make a technique work —… ...
  • Ryote 両手 The literal meaning of ryōte 両手 is “both hands,” meaning two hands as a pair. In martial arts,… ...
  • Sashi-Ai 差合 Sashi-ai 差合 is a classical budō and kenjutsu term that generally means mutual thrusting or simultaneous attacking. In… ...
  • Sensei 先生 Sensei (先生) is one of the most central and culturally rich words in Japanese, especially within the dōjō… ...
  • Seven Virtues of Bushido The spirit of Bushido, or the way of the warrior, encompasses a set of ethical and moral principles… ...
  • Shin 心 / 真 / 神 Shin (しん / シン) is a Japanese reading that can mean several different things depending on the kanji… ...
  • Shinzen 神前 Shinzen (神前) means Place of God. The first kanji 神 "shin" means 'God' and the second 前 "zen"… ...
  • Shogō 称号 Shōgō (称号) is a term for the honorary instructor titles of Japanese martial arts, such as Renshi, Kyōshi,… ...
  • Shokyū/Chūkyū/Jōkyū These are grading levels used in Japanese budō and other traditional arts. They divide kyū-ranks into beginner, intermediate,… ...
  • Shomen 正面 In a Japanese training hall, the shōmen (正面) is the front, most honored wall of the dōjō, where… ...
  • Shomin Yawara 庶民柔術 The phrase Shomin Yawara 庶民柔術 means “common‑people jūjutsu” — a civilian‑oriented self‑defense system rather than the full, warrior‑class jūjutsu.… ...
  • Shugyo 修行 Shugyō 修行 is a term used in the martial arts to describe life-encompassing ascetic training and discipline aimed… ...
  • Shūren 修練 In budō and koryū contexts, shūren 修練 refers to: training that develops character, not just skill; internal refinement… ...
  • Suigetsu — 水月 In budō and koryū, suigetsu 水月 refers to the solar plexus or upper abdomen region. Anatomically, it corresponds… ...
  • Suiō-ryū 水鷗流 Suiō-ryū (水鷗流) is a classical Japanese martial tradition (koryū) founded during the early Edo period (c. 1615). It… ...
  • Tabi 足袋 Tabi 足袋 are traditional Japanese split-toe socks. The big toe is separated from the other toes, originally to… ...
  • Tachi 太刀 A Tachi (太刀) is a classical Japanese curved long sword predating the katana that is worn suspended edge-down… ...
  • Tachi 立ち In Japanese the general term for standing is tachi (立ち) but is changed to dachi when used as… ...
  • Tanren 鍛錬 Tanren 鍛錬 is hard conditioning and forging, both physically and mentally. It has strong connotations of hardship. This… ...
  • Tehodoki Waza 手解き技 Tehodoki Waza 手解き技（てほどき・わざ）is a Japanese martial arts term meaning “Hand-release techniques” or “Escapes from grabs.” It appears in… ...
  • Tento Uchi 天頭打ち Tento Uchi 天頭打ち is an uncommon term used in koryu styles to mean a strike to the top… ...
  • Uchikomi 打ち込み Uchikomi (打ち込み) is a common Japanese martial-arts term meaning “repeated entry practice” or “striking or thrusting repetitions.” The… ...
  • Uke Nagashi 受け流し Uke Nagashi 受け流し, which means “receiving and flowing,” is a classical sword movement where you receive an incoming… ...