Glossary
c. 1995-1997
A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P R S T U W Y Z
age (ah-gay): rising
age empi uchi (ah-gay M-P oo-chee): rising elbow strike
age uke (ah-gay oo-kay): rising or up block
ai (eye): to concentrate
aikido (eye-key-doh): a Japanese martial art which uses an opponent’s momentum against himself
ainuke (eye-new-kay): simultaneous strikes with simultaneous blocks or avoidance; endless missing of techniques
aiuchi (eye-uu-chee): simultaneous strikes; mutual slaying (see ainuke)
aiumi (eye-yume-me): a step or pace
aiumiashi (eye-yume-me-ah-she): the normal stepping forward or backward done in a crescent-shaped manner
Amaterasu (ah-mah-tear-ah-sue): the legendary sun goddess who founded Japan and gave birth to the royal line still holding the office in Japan
Aoinagi (ah-oh-ee-naw-ghee): the name of our system; the name means “green willow tree.” It may also be written Aoyagi, Aoinage or Seiryu (believe it or not). Aoi (Sei): = Green; Nagi, Yagi, Ryu = willow or willow tree
arigato (ah-rhee-gah-toe): thank you (semi polite)
ashi (ah-she): foot or leg
ashi barai (ah-she bah-rye): foot sweeps
ashiwaza (ah-she-wah-zah): foot techniques; in judo these are foot sweeps, etc; in karate these are ways of moving and turning using the feet
ategeiko (ah-teh-gay-ko): striking practice; a training method where one person continuously strikes at the other in rapid succession of techniques
atemi waza (ah-tem-ee wah-zah): techniques for striking vital targets
ato (ah-toe): backwards, usually used in a command to move backwards using a technique instead of forward using the technique (compare to mae)
ato no saki: see go no sen
awase uke (ah-wah-say): a block with the wrists “tied” together
banzai (bahn-zai): many lives!, hurrah!, charge!
barai (bar-eye): sweeping
bo (boh): a six foot long fighting stick; also called kon, rokushakubo
Bodhidharma (boh-hid-dar-mah): daruma, to-ma, ma-to, the 28 patriarch of buddhism and the patriarch of zen buddhism that took Dhyana (Chan, Zen): teachings from India to China in 520 AD. He is the legendary founder of Shaolin wushu from which karate developed nearly a thousand years later
bojutsu (boh-jew-tzoo): art of using the staff
bokken (boh-ken): wooden sword
bu (boo): military, martial
Bubishi (boo-bee-she): Chinese book (wu pei chih): on military tactics discussed by the famous karate masters Miyagi Chojun, Higashionna Kanryo and Mabuni Kenwa
budo (boo-doe): the martial way of life (“do” denotes self-development as opposed to “jutsu” which denotes technical proficiency in combat alone):
budo jiten (gee-ten): a budo dictionary (you are looking at one now):
bugei (boo-gay): old style martial arts (pre 1600s)
bujutsu (boo-jew-tzoo): martial combat techniques
buke (boo-kay): samurai family (See kuge)
bunkai (bune-ka-ee): the application of the movements of kata against an opponent sometimes done as a competition in tournaments
busen (boo-sen): military college
bushi (boo-she): a warrior; lit. war-person; see shugyosha, samurai
bushido (boo-she-dough): the way of the warrior; a code of ethics and etiquette that guides the martial artist in his/her effort to lead a respectable life
Butokukai (boo-toh-ku-ka-ee): the Japanese martial arts organization; lit. military virtue organization (See Dai Nippon Butokukai, Zen Bei Butokukai)
butokuden (boo-toh-ku-den): headquarters of the Dai Nippon Butokukai
Chatan Yara (cha-tawn yah-rah): a famous Okinawan karate master of the 17th century
chi (chee): the breath, vital force or spirit (ki, prana)
chi kung (chee-gung): chinese art of internal energy
Chito Ryu (chee-toe rue): style of karate founded by Dr. Chitose
chotto (cho-toe): just a minute, wait; a more polite way is “chotto matte kudasai”
chotto matte kudasai (mah-tay koo-dah-sa-ee): one moment please
chu (chew): middle
chui (chew-ee): a warning given at a tournament for breaking a rule (see hansoku)
ch’uan (chew-ahn): fist or boxing
Ch’uan fa (chew-ahn-fah): way of the fist, Chinese precursor of karate
chudan (chew-dawn): middle (as in the level of a punch)
chudan gamae: middle guard position
dachi (dah-chee): stances
fudo dachi: immovable stance
gyaku zenkutsu dachi: reverse front stance
hangetsu dachi: half-moon stance (used in Seisan kata)
heiko dachi: parallel feet shoulder stance
heisoku dachi: feet together
kiba dachi: horse stance
kokutsu dachi: back stance
metsubi dachi: like heisoku dachi only toes apart
nekoashi dachi: cat (foot) stance
neo dachi: gyaku zenkutsu dachi
sagiashi dachi: crane stance
sanchin dachi: hourglass stance, triple pressure stance
sochin dachi: fighting stance
soto hachiji dachi: toes out shoulder stance
shiko dachi: straddle stance
uchi hachiji dachi: toes in shoulder stance
zenkutsu dachi: front stance
daimyo (dah-me-yo): a landed overlord in feudal Japan
damashi (dah-mah-she): raw fighting spirit
dai (die): large, larger, greater
Dai Nippon Butokukai (die-knee-pone boo-tok-ku-ka-ee): The Greater Japanese Military Virtue Organization
daisho (die-show): a pair (big and small); a pair of swords
daito (die-toe): sword, wooden sword, katana
Daito Ryu (die-toe rue): a style of armed and unarmed martial arts dating from the Heian period in Japanese history. It was founded by Minamoto Yoshimitsu who passed it down through 16 generations of the Takeda family to Yoshida Kotaro and through him to Sensei Richard Kim.
dan (dahn): a step (on a flight of stairs): a level or grade or degree (of black belt)
Daruma (dahr-uum-ah): see bodhidharma
deshi (deh-she): disciple, student
do (doe): torso, waist, chest protector in kendo
do (doe): the way; art practiced as a way of life (Chinese = Tao)
Dogen (doe-ghen): the founder of Soto Zen in 1228
dojo (dough-joe): the training hall, place-of-the-way
dojo kun (dough-joe koon): dojo precepts
domo (doe-moe): thanks, sorry; this is a familiar form of thank you; for comparison see arigato
domo arigato (ah-rhee-gah-toe): thank you very much; this is a very polite form of thank you
domo arigato gozaimasu (goh-zah-ee-mah-su): this is an extremely polite form of thank you very much for what you have done
dozo (doe-zoh): please, do this
embu (M-boo): a prearranged 45-65 second skit for competition
embusen (M-boo-sen): the line of force between opponents; the performance line of a kata
Empi (M-pee): “Flying Swallow” kata
empi uchi (M-pee oo-chee): elbow strikes (see hiji ate): there are five; age, yoko, mawashi, ura, otoshi
empi uke: elbow block
en (N): circle
en uke: circle block, also known as cho uke
escrima (es-cree-mah): a Philippine weapon system where two short sticks are used (see kali)
fudo (fuu-doh): immovable
fudo dachi: immovable stance; stance used by sumo wrestlers similar to a shiko dachi with toes turned all the way out
fudo myo (fuu-doh me-yoh): a buddhist divinity of immovability and fire
fudo shin: immovable mind
fuji san: famous Mount Fuji in Japan
fuko gamae (foo-ko ga-mah-ee): a stance with one knee on the ground
fumikomi geri (foo-mee-koh-mee): stomping type kicks (mae, ushiro, uchi, soto)
Funakoshi Gichin (1867-1957): a famous Okinawan karate master for whom Shotokan karate is named (Shoto was his martial arts name)
gaijin (gah-ee-gene): a foreigner in Japan
gakko (gah-ko): school
Gankaku (gahn-kaw-koo): kata formerly known as Chinto; it means “Crane Standing on a Rock”; lit. Crane Rock
gassho (gah-show): bow or salutation done with hands together in prayer position
gasshuku (ga-shoe-koo): extracurricular training outside the dojo
gedan (gay-dawn): lower as in a punch to the lower abdomen
gedan barai (bah-rye): low sweeping
gedan kamae (kah-my): low guard position
gedan morote uke (moh-roh-teh): low reinforced block
gedan tsuki (tzoo-key): low punch; also pronounced gadanzuki
gedan ude uke (uu-day): low forearm block
geri (gehr-rhee): kicking technique, kick (see keri)
getsu (geht-tzoo): the moon
gi (ghee): the uniform of karate training
giri (ghee-ree): obligation, duty
go (go): five; hard
godan: a fifth degree black belt; the fifth in a series
Goju Ryu (goh-jew rue): one of four styles of karate; this style was created by Miyagi Chojun
Gojushiho (goh-jew-she-hoe): 54, an advanced gyo kata
gokyu (goh-key-uu): first green belt; 5th kyu
gomen nasai (goh-men-nah-sah-ee): excuse me
go no sen: a developmental martial skill which means after-comes-before; also called “ato no saki”; as your opponent begins his attack you catch him off guard and strike him first
“Go Rin No Sho”: Miyamoto Mushashi’s “Book of Five Rings”, written in the last weeks of his life in 1645 while he lived in a cave; it is a book of strategy
Goshinjitsu (goh-shin-jit-t’sue): a style of karate; lit. self defense
guruma (goo-rue-mah): wheel
guruma geri: wheel kick
gyaku (ghee-ya-ku): reverse, usually referring to a body position
gyaku mikazuki geri (me-kah-zoo-key): reverse crescent kick
gyaku shuto (ghee-ah-koo shu-toe): reverse chop
gyaku zenkutsu dachi (zen-koo-tzoo): reverse front stance
gyakuzuki (gyaku tsuki): (ghee-ya-ku-zoo-key): reverse punch (left hand when right foot forward)
gyo (ghee-yoh): training; the first license in the menkyo system
gyosha (ghee-yoh-shaw): a trainee
ha (hah): leaf, branch, often used to signify a branch of an organization, i.e., Aoinagi-ha
hachi (ha-chee): eight
hachi maki (mah-key): headband; worn mostly by Goju-ryu practitioners; signifies the student is ready to work hard
hachidan (ha-chee-dahn): eighth degree black belt; eighth in a series
hachikyu (ha-chee-key-uu): high blue belt; 8th kyu
Hachiman (ha-chee-mahn): The shinto religion’s god of War
Hagakure (ha-gah-kur-re): a book of stories and lessons about ancient martial arts training
hai (ha’yee): yes, correct
Haiku (ha-ee-ku): a form of Japanese poetry 3 lines of 5-7-5 syllables often used in samurai life
haishu (ha-ee-shoe): back of the hand
haishu uchi: back of the hand strike
haishu uke: back of the hand block while the hand is open
haito (ha-ee-toe): ridge hand
hajime (ha-gee-meh): a command to begin
hakama (haw-kaw-maw): culottes worn at times, it’s like a baggy pair of pants which look like a skirt
han (hahn): half
Hangetsu (hahn-geht-tzoo): A kata meaning Half-Moon; same kata as Seisan
hangetsu dachi: half-moon stance (used in Seisan kata); is like a wide sanchin dachi
hanshi (hahn-she): master instructor, honorary title given at or after hachidan
hanshi dai: the heir apparent of a school; headmaster of a school (ryu)
hansoku (hahn-so-koo): a violation or foul; usually indicates expulsion from a match at a
hantei (hahn-tay): a judge or his judgment at a tournament
hara (hah-rah): the belly or abdomen
hasami (hah-sah-me): scissors
hashi (hah-she): chopsticks
hasso gamae (hah-sew gah-my): holding a weapon up by one’s shoulder
Heian (hay-ahn): Heian Kata is Pinan Kata; Japanese name for Okinawan word Pinan; means Peaceful-Peaceful; an era of early Japanese history
heiho (heh-hoe): strategy
heiko dachi (heh-koe): shoulder stance with the feet parallel
heiko tsuki: parallel punch with both hands simultaneously
heisoku dachi (heh-soh-ku): a stance like standing at attention with the toes/feet together
henka (hen-kah): change
Henshuho (hen-shoe-hoe): a specific set of 22 prearranged defenses usually performed with an opponent
hidari (hee-dar-ee): left (as opposed to right)
Higashionna Kanryo: Okinawan karate master of Naha-te karate
hiji ate (hee-gee ah-tay): another way to say empi uchi (elbow strikes):
hiraken (here-ah-ken): back fist technique (see uraken)
“Hito kata san nen”: “One kata-three years” A saying made famous by Funakoshi Gichin; branch of the style Shito-ryu
Hirakiashi (here-ah-key-ah-she): side stepping
hiza (he-zah): knee
hiza geri (hee-zah): knee kick
hombu (home-boo): headquarters of an organization, school
hyaku (hee-yah-koo): hundred; fast; indicates the benefit of training a long time on one kata tournament (see chui)
hyaku hachi: 108; the name of an advanced kata; also known as peichurin, suparumpei
iai (ee-eye): literally, to exist together usually connoting the existence of a bushi and his sword
iaido (ee-eye-doh): the art or way of drawing the sword
ichi (ee-chee): one
ichiban (ee-chee-bahn): the best, number one
I-ching (ee-ching): The Book of Changes; an ancient chinese classic of numerology; attributed to Kung-fu-tsu (Confucius) by some people but this is improbable
“ichi-go, ichi-e”: a dojo maxim that teaches every time is the only time, every time is the last time; do your best now
Iie (ee-ee-eh): no
ikebana (ee-kay-bahn-ah): the art of flower arranging
ikkajo (ee-kah-joe): the first technique of daito ryu
ikkyu (ee-key-uu): the highest mudansha grade; a high brown belt; 1st kyu
inyo (eeN-yo): contrast especially in art, such as fast and slow are contrast in the art of karate; the active and receptive principles of nature symbolized by Yin-Yang ideology
ippon (ee-pone): one; one point given in a tournament for a very good technique
ippon ken: one raised-knuckle strike
ippon kumite (koo-me-teh): one step sparring
ippon seioinge: one arm over the shoulder throw in judo techniques
ippon shobu (show-boo): one point match
isshin (ee-she-N): oneness of concentration, un-disturbed attention; lit. one heart
Isshin Ryu: style of karate founded by Shimabuku Tatsuo
Itadakimasu (ee-tah-dah-key-mass): I humbly accept; a statement made by the head of the table at supper before eating any food
Itosu Yasutsune: karate master (d 1915); taught Mabuni Kenwa, Funakoshi Gichen and others
Iwa no mi (ee-wah no me): a body like a rock, physically powerful and undefeatable
jigotai (gee-goh-tah-ee): a resistance or strongly defensive stance usually used in judo shiai especially by beginners
jitsu (gee-tsu [like chew with ts sound]): calm concentration
jiten (gee-ten): dictionary
jo (joe): a four foot long fighting stick
jodan (joe-dawn): high (in direction), upward
jodan uke (joe-dawn ou-key): up block
ju (jew): ten; soft or gentle
judo: an olympic sport of throwing and mat work, lit. gentle way
jukyu (jew-key-uu): orange belt; 10th kyu
juikkyu (jew-ee-key-uu): white belt; 11th kyu but usually not considered a kyu at all
jutsu (jew-tzoo): technique or techniques
kiba dachi: horse stance
kokutsu dachi: back stance
kabuto (kah-boo-toe): helmet
kachi (kah-chee): winner, victory
kagato (kaw-gaw-toe): heel of the foot
kagato geri: heel kick, back kick (see ushiro geri)
kage tsuki (kah-gay): cross body punch
kai (kah’ii): organization, i.e., butoku kai; an oar as used on small boats which are sometimes used as makeshift weapons
kaiden (ka’ee-den): the deep intuitive secrets of a master which are learned only by years of experience, and can only be taught by similar experience
kakare geiko (kah-kar-eh gay-ko): lit. cutting practice (see ategeiko)
kakete (kah-keh-teh): a hook or trapping block
kakete uke nagashi (nah-gah-she): a hooking sweep block as in Henshuho 20
kakiwake uke (kah-key-wah-kay): separation block where both hands pry an opponent’s grip loose as he grabs your shoulders
kakuto uke (kah-koo-toe): bent wrist or chicken-head block
kali (kah-lee): a Philippine fighting system which uses two short sticks called escrima
kama (kah-mah): a weapon like a sickle usually used in pairs
kamae (kah-mah-ee): any position for fighting
kamaete (kah-mah-ee-teh): a command to assume a fighting position
kami (kah-mee): God, gods, divine, spirit
kamikaze (kah-me-kah-zeh): divine wind (named from a typhoon that destroyed the Mongol invasion in 1284); a Japanese suicide pilot in the Second World War
kan (kahn): intuition, intuitive part of life; having had so much experience that one can flow through a situation acting on deeply learned lessons and a minimum of thinking. As an example, a well-practiced automobile driver applies the brakes without any thought immediately as he/she sees a child run in front of the car. A well-trained martial artist while on the street applies a block without any thought as he/she is attacked.
Kanku (kahn-kuu): the name of a kata which we usually call Kosokun or even Kushanku. The meaning of the name varies but Kanku means “To View the Sky”
Kano Jigoro (kahn-no gee-gore-oh): founder of modern judo
kansetsu waza (kahn-set-tzoo-wah-zah): joint locking techniques
kansetsu geri: kick against a joint
karate (kah-rah-teh, note that the Japanese do not say kah-rah-tea): Okinawan/Japanese empty hand martial art, derived from the ancient tode of Okinawa
karate ka: practitioner of karate
“karate ni sente nashi”: a philosophical tenet that there is no advantage in the first strike in a fight
kashi (kah-she): oak or oak tree
kata (kaw-taw): prearranged art forms of karate designed to train karateka mentally and physically for life and death battles; the shoulder of the body
katana (kah-tan-ah): a long samurai sword
kawa (kah-wah): river
kawa no kokoro (kah-wah no koh-koh-roe): a mind like the river, ever flowing onward; continuity; un-stoppable
kaze (kah-zeh): wind
keagi (kay-ah-ghee): snapping kicks (see kekomi)
keiko (kay-ee-ko): practice, usually a set of techniques done with a partner
kekomi (kay-ko-me): thrusting type kicks (see keagi)
kendo (ken-doh): Japanese sport of swordsmanship
kenpo (ken-poe): fist method, the Japanese pronunciation of chuan fa
kensei (ken-say): the name of a kata; sword-life; fist-life
kensho (ken-show): sudden enlightenment
keri waza (kay-rhee wah-zah): kicking techniques
ki (key): internal spirit, life-force, breath
kiai (key-eye): the yell of karate; lit. to concentrate spirit; a shout delivered for the purpose of focusing all of one’s energy into a single moment; a manifestation of ki (simultaneous union of spirit and expression of physical strength); integration of mind, body, spirit into one integral unit
kiba dachi (key-bah): male horse-riding stance, horse stance (feet straight forward)
kihon (key-hone): the basics of karate
Kim, Sensei Richard: the chief instructor and head of all the Zen Bei Butokukai schools and Aoinagi dojo
kime (key-may): focus (of a strike on a target); moment of impact where the summation of all physical and mental forces occurs
kimochi (key-moh-chee): feeling; lit. to have spirit; the use of emotional expression, usually in kata, to deliver ki.
kimono (key-moh-noh): Japanese robe
kin geri: a kick to the groin
kiri (key-ree): to cut
kobudo (koe-boo-doh): the ancient Okinawan weapons such as the bo, sai, tonfa, nunchaku
kohai (koe-high): a person who has been training a shorter time than you; younger brother, younger sister (see sempai)
koko (koh-koh): tiger mouth, a throat strike hitting with the web between the thumb and the index finger
kokoro (koe-koe-roe): spirit, heart, mind (see shin)
kokyu (ko-key’uu): the breath
kon (kone): another word for bo or fighting stick
konban wa (kone-bahn wah): good evening/night
konnichi wa (kone-ni-chee wah): good morning, good day
kosa dachi (koh-sah): cross-leg stance (kusure=female horse riding stance)
koshi (koh-she): hips
kote (koh-teh): wrist
kote gaeshi (gah-eh-she): a wrist lock and throw
ku: nine
kudan (kuu-dan): a 9th dan (also kyudan)
kuge (koo-gay): aristocratic family in ancient Japan (See buke):
kukyu (koo-key’uu): first blue belt (9th kyu):
kumade (ku-mah-day): bear claw strike (with the palm of the hand fingers bent inward)
kumite (ku-me-teh): sparring, lit. mixing of hands
kung-fu: a termed used for Chinese martial arts by Americans. The more proper term is wushu
kuro (kuu-roe): black
kuro obi: black belt
kusure (koo-sue-reh): a variation from normal
kusurikama (ku-sue-rhee-kah-mah): a weapon best described as a chain and sickle
kuzushi (ku-zoo-she): to set up a momentum when beginning a throw of your opponent, to break the balance of an opponent in a throwing technique
Kwannon (ku’wa-nohn): the oriental legendary goddess of mercy
Kyan Chotoku (key-ahn cho-toe-ku): Shorin ryu master and student of Matsumura and Itosu
Kyokushinkai (key-oh-ku-shin-ka’ee): Oyama Masutatsu’s karate organization
kyoo (key-yo): confusion as opposed to jitsu (calm concentration)
kyoshi (key-yo-she): honorary title given at about the 7th dan or above level depending on contributions to the art
kyu (key-you): an under black belt (mudansha): grade
kyucho: the senior mudansha in a dojo
kyudan (key’uu-dahn): ninth degree black belt
kyudo: the Japanese art of archery
ma ai (mah-eye): critical distance
Mabuni Kenwa (mah-boo-knee ken-wah): founder of Shito Ryu karate
mae (mah-ee): front; correct distance
mae geri: front kick
mae keagi geri: front snap kick
mae kekomi geri: front thrust kick
mae tobi geri (toe-be): flying front kick
makikomi (mah-key-ko-me): a wrapping, to wrap; a throw in judo and aikido
makiwara (mah-key-wa-rah): a training device as a pole in the ground with a straw striking surface
mato (mah-toe): target
mato uke: target block
Matsumura Sokon (mah-tsu-mur-ra): karate master in Shuri, Okinawa; founder of Shorin Ryu and developer of the Gojushiho system
mawashi (mah-wah-she): a rotation, round, roundhouse
mawashi empi uchi (mah-wah-she): round elbow strike
mawashi geri: roundhouse kick
mawashi kagato geri (kah-gah-toe): spinning back kick
mawashi ushiro geri (ou-shee-roe): spinning back kick
mawatte (mah-wah-tay): a command to turn around
meijin (meh-gene): one who has achieved self mastery in an art beyond physical prowess
men: face or head; to strike to the head; head protector padding
menkyo (men-key-yo): license; a series of training licenses leading towards mastership in martial arts (see gyo, shugyo, sensei, sozosha, shihan)
menkyo kaiden (ka-ee-den): a license usually given only once in a sensei’s lifetime indicating that a student has learned the major secrets of the sensei
metsubi dachi (met-tzoo-be): natural stance used when bowing
metsubi dachi: like heisoku dachi only toes apart
michi (me-chee): road, path, way (see do)
migi (me-ghee): right (as opposed to left)
mikazuki (me-kah-zoo-key): crescent moon, lit. half-moon
mikazuki geri (me-kah-zoo-key geh-rhee): crescent kick, lit. half-moon kick
Miyagi Chojun (me-yah-ghee): founder of Goju Ryu Karate
Miyaji, James (me-yah-ji): Botokukai Sensei in Waipahu, Hawaii
Miyamoto Musashi (me-yah-mo-toe moo-saw-she): master swordsman and samurai in the 17th century; writer of the Go Rin No Sho (Book of Five Rings)
mizu (me-zoo): water
mizu no kokoro: a mind like water, a mental state where the mind is like the surface of a calm body of water-absorbing everything-reflecting everything-attached to nothing
moichido (moh-e-chee-dough): lit. one more time; please do it again
mokuso (mo-ku-sew): meditation
mon (mone, rhyme with bone): family crest (symbol): of the samurai
morote (moh-roh-tay): with both hands
morote tsuki: simultaneous two handed punch to face and groin
morote uke: a reinforced block
moto no ichi: a command to return to your original position during a karate match
mudansha (moo-dawn-shaw): a karate training person who has not yet attained a black belt or shodan
mushin (moo-she-n): mind unencumbered by thought; mind of no-mind
muzukashi (moo-zoo-ka-she): difficult, “this is difficult”
myo (me-yoh): mystery, mysterious
nagashi (nah-gah-she): sweep, sweeping, flow
nagashi uke: sweeping block
nagashi uke kakete (kah-keh-teh): sweeping block capturing with the other hand; lit sweep-block-hook
nage (nah-gay): a throw of an opponent as in judo
naginata (nah-ghee-naw-tah): halberd; for three-hundred years the Japanese women’s traditional weapon
Naha (nah-ha): port city of Okinawa and major center of karate
naha te (nah-ha tay): style of karate founded by Higashionna Kanryo and practiced in the city of Naha, Okinawa; precursor to Goju Ryu
naka (nah-kah): inside as opposed to outside
nakadaka ippon ken (nah-ka-dah-ka ee-pone ken): fist with the middle knuckle extended
naka uke (nah-ka oo-kay): in block
namiashi (nah-me-ah-shi): a block, kick or sweep with the foot, done by raising the foot towards the groin; lit. wave foot
nanadan (naw-naw-dahn): seventh dan (shichidan)
naname (naw-naw-meh): diagonal
naore (nah-or-ray): a command in a tournament to return to the original position
nekoashi dachi (neh-ko-ah-she dah-chee): cat stance
neo dachi: gyaku zenkutsu dachi
ni: two
nidan (knee-dahn): second in a series, second degree black belt
nidan geri: flying double kicks
Nihon (knee-hone, rhyme with bone): Japan; also said Nippon (knee-pone)
Nihonjin (knee-hone-gee-n): a Japanese person
nihon nukite (knee-hone new-key-teh): two finger thrust
nikajo (knee-kah-joe): the second set of techniques in Daito Ryu
nikkyu (knee-key’uu): middle brown belt; 2nd kyu
Nippon (knee-pone; rhyme with bone): the proper name for Japan; lit. sun-source; the land of the rising sun
nukite (new-key-tay): finger-tip strike, spear hand (ippon, nihon, sambon, yonhon, gohon = the number of fingers straight during the strike)
nunchaku (noon-chaw-kuu): a weapon of two short sticks tied together by a flexible chain or rope (some call these nunchucks)
nyunanshin (new-nahn-she-n): a pliable spirit, lack of resistance to the lesson or teacher
obi (oh-be): the belt of the uniform
ohayo gozaimasu (oh-high-yo go-zah-ee-mah-su): “good morning”
Ohtsukare (oh-su-kar-eh): (Ohtsukare sama deshita): “Well done, good training everybody. I appreciate and recognize your efforts and thank you for all the positive energy and spirit you put in your training (tiredness well deserved and very healthy!). Good bye, and I am looking forward to seeing you again!”
oizuki (oitsuki): (oh-ee-zoo-key): jab or lunge punch (right hand when right foot forward):
oji (oh-gee): the defensive person or people in practice (see shikaki)
okuriashi (oh-koo-rhee-ah-she): a movement forward or backwards where the stance becomes longer then shorter
omedeto gozaimasu (oh-meh-deh-toe go-za-ee-ma-su): “congratulations!”
onegaishimasu: “I humbly request a lesson”; “Oss” is considered a contraction of this term
oni (oh-knee): a demon
osae (oh-saw-ee): press, push
osae uke: pressing block
o-sensei: a high ranking Sensei
oss: a peculiar karate term used to enliven spirit
“otagai ni, rei” (oh-tah-gah-ee knee ray): “Bow to each other”
otoshi (oh-toe-shee): a drop
otoshi empi uchi (oh-toe-she M-P oo-chee): descending elbow strike
otoshi shuto uchi: descending chop strike
oyasumi (oh-yah-sue-me): relax, rest
“oyasumi nasai” (nah-sah-ee): way of saying “good night”
oyayubi uchi (oh-yah-you-be): thumb strike
pakua (pah-qua): an internal style of Chinese martial arts; lit. eight trigrams
Passai/Patsai (paw-saw-ee or pot-saw-ee): old Okinawan name for the kata Bassai
peichin (pay-chee-n): an Okinawan honorific title bestowed on a samurai for distinguished service
Pinan (Pee-nahn): a kata meaning “peaceful, peaceful.”; Heian in Japanese
Pingan (ping-nhnn): old name for Pinan
randori (rahn-door-ee): free style practice in judo and jujutsu
rei (ray): a bow, a bend at the waist; respect
renoji dachi (ren-oh-ji dah-chee): an “L” shaped stance
renshi (rehn-shee): an honorific certificate given to high ranking Sensei
roku (row-koo): six
rokudan (row-koo-dahn): the sixth in a series; sixth degree black belt
rokkyu: high purple belt, 6th kyu
rokushakubo (row-koo-shaw-koo-bow): a six feet long fighting stick
ronin (roe-nin): a masterless samurai
ryu (rue): a style of an art, a method of teaching important lessons of an art
Ryukyu (rhee-uu-kyu): Okinawa; lit. “rope in the offing”
Ryukyu kempo: old name for Okinawan karate; kem = fist; po = way
sabaki (sah-bah-key): body shifting
sabi (sah-bee): simplicity; life without complexity
sagiashi dachi (sah-ghee-ah-she): crane stance
sai (saw-ee): an iron weapon about 18 inches long usually used in pairs
saifa (sah-ee-fah): a type of shugyo task of the saifa class (life, limb or honor dependent); lit. ultimate limit; one of the kata
saiha: a type of shugyo task of the saifa class (high importance)
saikai (sah-ee-kah-ee): a type of shugyo task of the saifa class (totally experiential)
sakura (sah-ku-rah): cherry tree, cherry blossom; symbol of the samurai life
samurai (sahmm-uhr-eye): lit. one who serves; a fierce warrior of feudal Japan
sanbon kumite (sah-nn-bone): three step sparring
sanbon zuki (zoo-key): triple punch
sanchin dachi (sah-n-chee-n): hourglass stance, triple pressure stance
sandan (sah-n-dah-n): third in a series; third degree black belt
sankajo (sah-n-kah-joe): the third technique of Daito Ryu
sankyu (sah-n-key-uu): low brown belt; 3rd kyu
san: three
satori (sah-tore-ee): a state of having life’s burdens lightened, enlightenment
sayonara (sah-yoh-nah-rah): “good bye”
seiken (say-ee-ken): fist
seiken tsuki (say-ee-ken tzoo-key): straight punch
seiretsu (say-rets): the lineup order; command to go to line up order
seiza (say-ee-zah): formal seated position sitting on your heels
semeriwaza (seh-mehr-ee-wa-zah): attacking techniques; old term for shikakiwaza
sempai (sem-pie): a person who has been training longer than you; older brother or older sister (see kohai)
sen no sen: before comes before, seizing the initiative just as an opponent thinks about attacking (also known as saki no saki)
sen: before; ability to block and counter; impenetrability in fighting
sensei (sen-say): teacher, doctor, professor; third license in the menkyo system
“sensei ni rei”: “bow to the teacher”
seppuku (sep-pu-ku): ritual suicide; hara kiri
shakuhachi (shaw-ku-hah-chee): a type of flute
shi (she): four (be careful also means pain, death)
shiai (she-eye): a contest, tournament
shiatsu (she-ot-tsu): a form of massage applying acupuncture principles
shibumi (she-boo-me): restrained elegance
shichi (she-chee): seven
shichidan (she-chee-dahn): the seventh in a series; seventh degree black belt
shichikyu (she-chee-key-uu): first purple belt; 7th kyu
shihan (she-han): mastership, completion; fifth license in the menkyo system
shiho: four corners or directions
shihonage: a Daito Ryu throw called “four corner throw”
shikaki (she-kaw-key): the offensive person or people in practice (see oji):
shikakiwaza: offensive techniques
shiko dachi (she-ko): straddle stance (knees deeply bent, feet slightly outward)
shime (she-may): a neck choke
shin (she-n): heart or mind; kokoro
shinai (she-nah-ee): a bamboo sword used in kendo
Shingon (she-n-go-n): an esoteric school of Buddhism
Shinto (she-n-toe): the native animistic religion of Japan
shiro (she-roe): white (noun)
shiroi (she-ro-ee): white (adjective)
shiro-naka (nah-kah): black belt with a white stripe on the inside
shiro-soto (soe-toe): black belt with a white stripe on the outside
Shito-ryu (she-toe rue): style of karate founded by Mabuni Kenwa
shizentai (she-zen-tah-ee): any of a number of natural non-offensive looking stances
shobu ippon (ee-pone): a one point contest
shobu (show-boo): an official contest
shodan (show-dahn): the first in a series; first degree black belt
shodan-ho: probationary black belt
Shogun (show-gune): the military dictator of ancient Japan
shomen (show-men): the front of the dojo
“shomen ni, rei”: “face the front and bow.”
Shorei Ryu (show-ray rue): another name for Naha-te a style which uses in-close fighting techniques and pronounced breathing
Shorin Ryu: a method of karate which includes Shuri te and Tomari te whose origins are more from Honan than Fukien province in China
Shorinji (show-rin-ji): Japanese pronunciation of Chinese word Shaolin (young forest temple); shorin = young forest; ji = temple
Shorinji Ryu (rue): style practiced by Sensei Richard Kim
Shoshin (show-she-n): beginner’s mind
Shotokan (show-toe-kahn): a Japanese style of karate originated by Funakoshi Gichen whose karate name was Shoto
Shugyo (shoe-ghee-yoh): severe training; the training of a samurai; the second license in the menkyo system
Shugyosha (shoe-ghee-yoh-shaw): severe trainee; see bushi, samurai
Shuri (shu-ri): the old capital of Okinawa
Shuri te: the type of karate that originated from around Shuri, Okinawa; see Shorin Ryu
Shuriken (shu-ri-ken): sharp bladed round or star shaped weapons used for throwing
shuto uchi (shoe-toe): chop strike, sword-hand strike
shuto uke: chop block
sochin dachi (sew-chee-n): a fighting stance little different from a front stance except that the back leg is bent
sokuto (so-koo-toe): the lateral side of the foot used in a side kick
soto (so-toe): outside as opposed to inside
soto hachiji dachi: toes out shoulder stance
soto uke: out block
sozosha (so-zoh-shaw): artist, creator; the fourth license in the menkyo system
sugi ashi (sue-ghee ah-she): see tsugi ashi
suki (sue-key): a gap in concentration; see kyoo
sutemi (sue-teh-me): sacrifice
sutemi waza (sue-teh-me wah-zah): sacrifice technique
Tanden (tahn-den): the center of the body; the center of gravity of the body; a point located in the middle of the lower abdomen just deep to where the karate belt knot ties
Te (deh): an old term for Okinawan karate
Tetsubo (teht-sue-bow): an iron training bo
Tettsui (teht-sue-ee): an iron fist strike, a bottom fist strike
Tewaza (teh-wah-zah): hand techniques (usually referring to judo throwing techniques but may be fist striking techniques also)
tobi geri (toe-bee): flying kicks (of various kinds; yoko, mae, nidan)
tode (toe-day): an older term for Okinawan karate meaning fighting hand of the Tang dynasty
tomaru (toe-mar-uu): a dangerous situation where you allow your mind to stop on something unimportant while you are trying to do something more important
tonfa (tone-faw): a wooden weapon usually used in pairs
tsugiashi (tzoo-ghee-ah-she): skipping forward or backwards
tsuki (tzoo-key): punch
tsuki uke: punch block
tsuki no kokoro: a mind like the moon; the moon shines its light on everything evenly without distortion
tuifa (too-ee-faw): a wooden weapon usually used in pairs (same as tonfa)
uchi (u-chee): strike, usually a round action strike
uchideshi (oo-chee deh-shee): in old days selected severe training students would live on the compound of their sensei. This type of severe training was called uchideshi as were those who undertook it.
uchi hachiji dachi: strong feeling shoulder stance (toes pointed inward)
uke (u-kay): blocking technique
ura (u-rah): back
ura empi uchi: backwards elbow strike
uraken: backfist technique (see hiraken)
ushiro (u-she-row): back
ushiro geri: back kick (see kagato geri)
Wabi (wah-bee): rusticity; the living of life remote from civilization, without all the societal props and conveniences we get so used to: cars, dishwashers, telephones, etc. that are non-essential to human life. See H.D. Thoreau as a proponent of wabi and sabi
Wazari (wah-zah-rhee): a half point given in a tournament for a fairly good technique (see ippon)
Wushu (woo-shoe): the Chinese term for martial arts
Yame (yah-meh): a command to stop what you are doing
yoko empi uchi: side elbow strike
yoko geri (yoh-ko): side kick (kekomi/keagi also applies to yoko geri)
yoi (yoh-ee): ready, prepared condition
yonkyu (yohn-key-uu): high green belt; 4th kyu
yudansha (you-dahn-shaw): a person who has earned a black belt (see mudansha)
yuka (you-kaw): floor
yuka geri: floor kicks
Zanshin (zahn-sheen): perfect finish, the complete physical and emotional overwhelming of an opponent
Zen Bei Butokukai (zen bay boo-toh-ku-kah-ee): the Greater American Military virtue Organization headed by Sensei Richard Kim
zenkutsu dachi (zen-koo-tzoo): front stance, bow-and-arrow stance