Bujinkan Rakunin Dojo (武神館 楽忍 道場), Harstad (Norway)

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 Bujinkan Rakunin Dojo Glossary

Regardless of how long they've been training, most westerners have issues with Japanese terms.  To make things a little easier, here are some standard japanese words we use in training and the best translation we could come up with!

 

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  

 
   A

age

to raise, upward

age tsuki

rising punch

age uke

rising block

ago

chin

ai

harmony

aiki

unified energy

aite

opponent

amado

lower neck

anatoshi

trapping

arashi

storm

aruki

walking

ashi

leg; foot

ashi waza

foot techniques

ashiguru

foot soldiers; lowest level of bushi

ashiko

foot claws (see shuko)

atama

head

ate

blow, strike

ate waza

striking technique

atemi

strike; striking the vital points

atemi waza

techniques of striking

atsu

press

awase

to meet; to come together

 

 

   B

bakufu

military government of japan

barai

to sweep; sweeping motion

batto

flowing motion of sword drawing and cutting

battojutsu

sword drawing art

bisento

heavy battlefield halberd; a variety naginata

bo

six foot staff

bo shuriken

straight throwing blades (see shuriken)

bojutsu

six foot staff fighting methods

bokken

wooden practice sword

bokuto

wooden practice sword

boryaku

concepts of battle strategy

boshi ken

thumb drive fist

bu

military arts

budo

martial ways

budo taijutsu

unarmed combat methods of the Bujinkan

budoka

one who studies the martial way

bugei

martial skill

bugo

martial (warrior) name

bugu

martial training weapons

bujin

warrior spirit

Bujinden

Hatsumi Sensei's hombu dojo

Bujinkan ( 武神館)

divine warrior training hall

bujutsu

martial arts; martial techniques

bushi

Japanese warrior

Bushido

way of the warrior; code of conduct

butoku

martial virtue or spirit

 

 

   C

chi

earth

chi ryaku no maki

earth strategy scroll

chimon

earthly forces

chu

middle

chudan

middle level

chunin

middle rank ninja

 

 

   D

dai

large, big, great

Daikomyosai

three day event celebrating Hatsumi Sensei's birthday

daisho

the set of katana and kodachi

daito

longer Japanese sword

dakentaijutsu

striking body methods

dan

level or degree of black belt

deai

initiatory action in combat

den

legend, tradition

densho

traditional scrolls (see also makimono)

deshi

student; disciple

do

path, road, way; motion; change

do jime

choke applied to opponent's sides

dojo ( 道場 )

training hall, place of the way

doko

angry tiger

dome

stop; arrest

donton jutsu

earth concealment techniques

dori

seize, catch

doshin

Tokugawa period law enforcement official

 

 

   E

empi

elbow

enbu

demonstration

eri

collar or lapel

 

 

   F

fu

negation; wind

fudo

immobility

fudo kanashibari no jutsu

method of making an opponent hesitate

fudo ken

clenched fist

fudoshin

imperturbable or immovable spirit

fudoza

immovable seat

fukuro shinai

leather wrapped split-bamboo training sword

furi

to spin or twirl

 

 

   G

gaeshi

turn over, throw; reversal

gakure

to hide, disappear

ganmen

face

ganseki

rock

ganseki nage

big rock throw

garami

to entangle, entwine; bind

gari

to reap; hook

gata

style, type, pattern; single

gatame

to tighten

gawa

side

gedan

lower level

gedan uke

downward receiving flow

genin

low rank ninja

geri

kick

geta

wooden clogs

gi

training uniform (also dogi or keikogi)

gikan

regard for justice

giri

cut, obligation or duty

go

five

go no sen

responsive initiative

godai

five greats

gogyo

five transformations

gojo gyoku

principle of five feelings and desires

gokui

hidden or secret

gokui no uta

a poem given to a deshi as a hint toward his quest for mastery

gokuraku

paradise; heaven

goroshi

to kill; destroy

goshi (or koshi)

hip; loins

goshin waza

self defense techniques

gotonpo

five element concealing and escaping methods

gunryaku heiho

military strategy

gyaku

reverse; joint manipulation

gyaku gi

joint lock techniques

gyaku jime

reverse constriction (choke)

gyaku tsuki

reverse punch

gyoku

gem, jewel; testicles

 

 

   H

hachi

eight

hachimaki

headband

hajime

begin

hajutsu

escaping methods

hakama

pleated divided skirt

hamon

formal expulsion from a tradition

han

half

hanbo

three foot stick

hanbojutsu

techniques of the short staff

hane age

jump up, spring up; raising up; wing

haori

a type of jacket worn over the kimono

happo

eight ways (all directional)

happo hiken

eight way secret sword

hara

belly; center of one's body

haragei

belly art; intuitive thought

harai

to sweep; sweeping motion

harai goshi

brushing the waist; body throw

heiho

strategy; martial principles

henka

change; variation

hi

secret; to fly

hicho

flying bird

hidari

left

hiden

secret traditions

hiji

elbow

hiken juroppo

sixteen hidden weapons (fists)

hiki

to pull

hira

flat, even, level

hira shuriken

flat blades (shaken)

hiza

knee

ho

direction, way; principle; direction

hodoki

free, loosen, unbind

hoi

encircling

hojo

binding and securing

hojojutsu

binding techniques using a tying cord to restrain prisoners

hoko

encircling tiger

hokojutsu

stepping (walking) arts

hombu

main dojo

hon

main; true; regular; normal

hon jime

main constriction (choke)

hyoho

see heiho

hyoshi

rhythm

 

 

   I

i

mind, heart; will, intention

iai

motion of sword drawing and cutting

iaido

sword drawing way

iaijutsu

techniques of sword-drawing

ichi

one

ichimonji

the written character one in Japanese

in

soft, negative, dark, female (yin)

inton

concealment and camouflage

iri

to enter

irimi

entering

itami

pain

 

 

   J

jigoku

hell

jime

to constrict, tighten, choke

jin

man

jin ryaku no maki

man strategy scroll

jissen gata

real fighting; true fighting forms

jo

four foot walking staff; upper

jo sokutei

raised sole

jodan

upper level

jodan uke

upper receiving flow

jojutsu

techniques of the stick; stick art

jonin

leader ninja

ju

ten

jujutsu

techniques of flexibility; art of flexibility

jumonji

the written character ten in Japanese

jumonji uke

cross-arm block

junan taiso

body conditioning and flexibility

jutaijutsu

grappling methods, throws, locks, holds

jutsu

techniques; art or method

jutte

a metal truncheon

 

 

   K

ka

fire

kaeshi

to turn over, throw

kaeshiwaza

reversal (escape) techniques

kage

shadow

kagi

hook

kaiden

master's certificate

kaiten

rolling; overturn

kakato

heel

kakato geri

heel kick

kaku

angle; horn

kama

sickles

kamae

attitude, posture, stance

kami

deities; demi-gods

kanji

Chinese pictographic characters used in written Japanese

kansetsu waza

joint manipulation skills

kappo

resuscitation methods

karate

empty hand; (older: Chinese hand)

kashira

cap end

kata

shoulder; arranged forms; single, one; style, type, pattern

kata dori

shoulder grab

katana

Japanese sword; long sword

katate

one-handed, single hand

katsu

resuscitation methods

kawa

side

keiko

training; practice

ken

fist; heavy straight-blade sword; weapon

kendo

way of the sword; modern Japanese fencing

kenjutsu

sword methods, swordsmanship

kenpo

fist way; sword way

keri

to kick

kesa giri

diagonal cut

ki

internal energy, spirit, mind, heart, soul, rise

kiai

spirit shout, focus life energy.

kiaijutsu

techniques of kiai

kihon

foundation, basic, fundamental

kihon happo

fundamentals eight ways

kihon waza

fundamental techniques

kikaku ken

head-strike fist

kime

restraint, focus (mental, spiritual or physical); chest muscle

kimono

traditional dress of the Japanese

kiri

to cut, mist, fog

kishomon

vow on entering a classical tradition

ko

child; hook, barb; small; tiger

ko ashi

small walking steps

kobudo

classical martial ways

kobuto wari

helmet splitter

kocho

butterfly

kodachi

short sword

koe

body weak point at hip and groin joint (femoral artery); voice; tone

kogoroshi

killing the child

kogusoku

grappling; usually in armor

kohai

junior

koho

rear, back

kokoro

spirit, heart, or mind

koku

ancient weight measurement to specify income

kokyuho

breathing method

koppojutsu

bone striking method

koroshi

to kill

koryu

classical or old tradition

kosei

offensive

koshi

hip area; loins

kote

wrist, forearm

kote gaeshi

wrist reversal; wristlock

kotsu

essence, point; bone

ku

air, sky; emptiness; void; nine

kubi

neck

kubi nage

neck throw

kudaki

crush, break, smash; shatter

kuden

oral teachings

kuji in

nine syllable seals

kukan

"space" and the timing within the space

kumi uchi

grappling position

kumite

free sparring

kumiuchi

grappling position

kunoichi

'nine plus one'; female ninja

kusarifundo

short chain with weighted ends

kusarigama

sickle and chain

kukan

"space" and the timing within the space

kuzushi

to break; breaking opponent's balance

kyo

unpreparedness; false

kyojitsu

truth and deception; feinting

kyojitsu tenkan

theory of alternating appearances of reality

kyoketsu shoge

sickle blade weapon with weighted cord

kyoman

observation and perception

kyomon

religious understandings

kyu

step, grade; rank of green belt

kyuba

archery and horsemanship

kyudo

archery; way of the bow

kyusho

vital points, pressure points, weak points

 

 

   M

ma ai

distancing; correct distance

mae

front

mae geri

front kick

maki

volume, book, twirling; rolled

makimono

scroll

makiwari

striking board

manrikigusari

ten thousand power chain; weighted chain

marishiten

Buddhist warrior goddess

mata

crotch, thigh, groin

matte

stop

mawashi

to rotate

me

eye

men

head; all parts of the head, the face

men uchi

a strike to the head

menkyo

license or certificate

menkyo kaiden

license of complete transmission

metsubushi

eye blinding powder, smoke, sand, pepper, etc.

metsuke

focal point

mi

body; person

migi

right

mikkyo

esoteric Buddhism

mimi

ear

moguri

sinking (ducking)

mokuroku

catalog of techniques; transmission scroll or license

morote dori

two-hand grab (two hands on one)

mu

mist, fog

mudansha

below black belt level

muga

selflessness

mune

chest

munedori

lapel grab

munen muso

no desires, no thoughts

musan

scattering fog

musha

warrior

musha shugo

warrior quest

mushin

mind to mind; conscious but without thought

muso

without thought

muto

no sword

mutodori

unarmed against a sword

 

 

   N

nagamaki

sword blade attached to a pole; (naginata) halberd variation

nagare

flowing

nagashi

receiving flow; parry; deflect

nage

to throw

nage waza

throwing techniques

naginata

long pole with curved blade; halberd

naname

diagonal

nashi

none

neko no me no jutsu

skill, or knowledge of the cats eyes (ninja code)

nekote

finger tip weapons of steel for kunoichi

ni

two

nidan geri

double kick

nin ( 忍)

perseverance

ningu

ninja tools

ninja juhakkei

eighteen skills of the ninja

ninja no hachimon

eight fields of knowledge

ninjato

straight-bladed sword of the ninja

nito

two swords

no

of (possessive article)

nuki ashi

sweeping step ninja use in walking

 

 

   O

o

large, big, great

o dachi

great sword, four to five feet in blade length

obi

belt or sash

okuden

hidden teachings

okuri ashi

sliding footwork

omote

outside, front, apparent, concepts easily understood

oni

devil, demon, monster

onshinjutsu

art of invisibility

ori

to break, fold

osae

to press down

osoto nage

major outer throw

otoshi

to drop

otoshi uke

dropping block

oyagoroshi

killing the parent

 

 

   P

po

direction, way; side

 

 

   R

rai

thunder

raku ( 楽)

comfort, enjoyment or ease

randori

freestyle practice, (a method of sparring)

ransetsu

blizzard

rei

bow, salute

ritsu rei

standing bow

roku

six

rokushakubo

a six foot staff (also bo)

ronin

wave man; warrior unattached to a feudal lord

ryaku

abridgment; outline; strategy

ryo

both; two

ryote

two-handed

ryotedori

two-hand grab (hand to hand)

ryu

dragon; flowing; school, tradition; family; a style

ryuha

style, school of a certain art

 

 

   S

sabaki

evasion, footwork

samurai (see bushi)

japanese warrior

san

three

sanjaku tenugi

three foot hand towel

sanshaku bo

three-foot stick (also hanbo)

sanshin no kata

movement form, (with much depth)

saya

japanese sword scabbard

seiken

forefist

seiza

seated posture, correct sitting

sempai

any student senior to another

sen no sen (also tai no tai)

taking the initiative

senban nage

techniques for throwing star

sennin

mystic

sensei

one who was born before; teacher or instructor

sensen no sen

pre-active, preemptive initiative

setsu

snow

shaken

throwing stars

shako ken

claw and palm strike

shi

finger

shi

four

shiai

matches or contests

shibari

to tie

shibumi

elegance

shichi

seven

shidoshi

teacher of the warrior way; godan or higher

shidoshi-ho

assistant teacher of the warrior way

shihan

honorary title of master teacher; hachidan and above

shiho nage

four-corner directional throw

shiho wari

breaking boards on four side to test power

shikan ken

extended knuckle fist

shikko

the method of walking on one's knees

shikomi zue

a walkinging stick with hidden weapon

shime

to choke, constrict, tighten

shime waza

constricting techniques, choke holds

shin

heart, mind, spirit

shinai

practice sword made of split bamboo

shinken

live blade, a real sword, also refers to real combat

shinken gata

real fighting form or feeling

shinobi

used to refer to agents of espionage

shinobi aruki

ninja walking

shinobi ho

the art of stealth

shinobi no juhappan

eighteen ninja skills

shinobi no mono

shadow warriors

shinobi shozoku

ninja costume

shinobi tanto

ninja knife

shinobi waza

the art of stealth

shinobi zue

staffs and canes of varying sizes

shinobigatana

short straight ninja sword

shinodake

thin bamboo under water breathing tube

shintai

body movement

shishin ken

finger needle strike

shitan ken

thumb pressure strike

shizen

natural

shizen ken

the body as a natural weapon

shizen tai

natural body posture

shoden

basic level

shomen

the front

shomen uchi

forehead strike

shoten no jutsu

climbing to the heavens (vertical climbing)

shoto

short sword

shu

hand; arm

shugyo

austere training

shuko

hand claws (also called 'tekagi')

shuriken

throwing blades, throwing stars

shurikenjutsu

techniques of throwing darts; throwing blade art

shuto

knifehand

sode

sleeve

sodedori

sleeve grab (at the elbow)

sojutsu

spear arts

soke

head of family; grandmaster

sokugyaku

ball of foot kick

sokuho kaiten

sideways roll

sokuho tobi

sideways leap

sokushi ken

toe kick

sokuto geri

foot edge kick

sokuyaku

foot strike

soto

outer

sui

water

suihei

horizontal

suiren

water training

suki

a momentary opening in guard; opening

sutemi

sacrifice techniques, giving up balance to control opponent

sutemi waza

sacrifice technique

suwari waza

seated techniques

 

 

   T

tabi

traditional footwear of the japanese

tachi

japanese sword

tachi

long sword, a longer version of the katana. worn hanging from the belt edge down

tai

large, big, great; the body

tai kai

lit. great party; annual seminar given by dr. hatsumi

tai sabaki

body evasion; natural movements for evading attacks

taihenjutsu

body change arts; rolling, leaping, silent movement, tumbling, breakfalls

taijutsu

body techniques, unarmed combat methods

taikyoku

first cause

taisabaki

(see tai sabaki)

taiso

flexibility exercise; stretches

takagi

tall tree, large tree

take

bamboo

taki

waterfall

tameshigeri

test cutting with the sword

tameshiwari

tile/board breaking

tanden

the abdomen; center of ki

tanto

knife; dagger; dirk

taoshi

to throw down

tatami

straw mat

tate

erect; standing

tatsujin

fully, developed, enlightened human being

te

hand; arm

tekagi

iron hand claws (see shuko)

tekubi

wrist

ten

heaven, sky; top

ten chi jin ryaku no maki

heaven, earth, and man strategy scroll

ten ryaku no maki

heaven strategy scroll

tenkan

turning

tessen

iron fan

tessenjutsu

iron fan techniques

tetsu

iron

tetsubushi

caltrops

to

and, door, drop, fell; gain an overpowering will; head; sword

tobi

leaping and jumping skills

tobi keri

leaping kick

toki

top of foot

tomoe

large comma, comma-like pattern

tomoe nage

throwing in a big circle

tori

to seize, catch; the one applying the technique

torite

arrest techniques

totoku hiyashi

avoiding shuriken blades

tsuba

sword guard (hilt)

tsuke

punch

tsuke waza

punching techniques

tsuki

to thrust, to attach, fix

 

 

   U

uchi

inside, to attack, defeat, destroy, conquer, strike

uchi gake

throwing down by leg work

uchi gari

inner reaping-throw

uchi mata

inner thigh

uchi uke

inside block

uchi waza

striking techniques

ude

arm

ude garami

coiling armbar/figure four shoulder lock

ude uke

forearm block

uke

receive; one who receives the technique

uke nagashi

receiving the attack; receiving flow

ukemi

receiving; receiving techniques in kata; breakfalls

ura

inside, back, hidden; concepts that are not obvious

uraken

backfist

ushiro

rear, back

ushiro geri

back kick

uwagi

jacket worn for martial arts training

 

 

   W

wake gatami

elbow lock

wakizashi

short sword

wapen

patch

washide

eagle hand

waza

technique, ability, skill

 

 

   Y

ya

arrow

yamabushi

mountain warriors priests

yari

spear

yawara

term for jujutsu; short wooden stick

yo

hard, positive, light, male (yang)

yoko

side; sideways

yoko aruki

sideways walking

yoko geri

side kick

yokoha

the hook of a jutte

yokomen

the side of the head

yokomen uchi

lateral strike to head

yokomen uchi

strike to side of head

yoriki

tokugawa period law enforcement official

yoroi

a suit of armor

yoroi kumiuchi

battlefield grappling in armor

yoroidoshi

dagger-like thrusting blade for use against armor

yoshin

raising spirit, raising heart

yubi

finger

yudansha

those holding black belt rank

yumi

japanese archery; bow

 

 

   Z

zanshin

increased awareness of events in a fight

zarei

kneeing salutation (bow)

zenpo

forward, front direction

zenpo geri

forward stomp kick

zenpo kaiten

forward roll

zeoi

to carry on one's back (see seoi)

zubon

trousers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2009 Bujinkan Rakunin Dojo