G E N E R A L W O R D L I S T
Cardinal Numbers
Ichi
One
Ni
Two
San
Three
Shi (yon)
Four
Go
Five
Roku
Six
Shichi (nana)
Seven
Hachi (happo)
Eight
Ku (kyu)
Nine
Jyu
Ten
Jyu Ichi
Eleven
Jyu Ni
Twelve
Ni Jyu
Twenty
San Jyu
Thirty
Hyaku
One Hundred
Sen
One Thousand
Ordinal Numbers
Ipponme
Number One
Nihonme
Number Two
Sanbonme
Number Three
Yonhonme
Number Four
Gohonme
Number Five
Ropponme
Number Six
Nanahonme
Number Seven
Happonme
Number Eight
Uniform
Dogi (gi)
Uniform (top and bottom)
Hakama
Split trousers
Haori
Sleeveless vest
Obi
Belt
Tabi
Socks
Zori
Sandals
Bowing
Mokuso
Meditation (usually done at the end and beginning of class)
Otagai ni rei
Bow to each other
Rei
Bow
Sensei ni rei
Bow to the teacher(s)
Katana ni rei
Standing bow to the sword
Zarei
Formal bow from
Seiza
Commands
Hajime
Start
Hayaku
Quickly (hurry)
Kamae
Stand in stance (if you're working with a partner, then face them in stance)
Kiotsukete
Be careful
Matte
Wait
Yoi
Ready
Yukuri
Slow
Dame
Not like that, wrong
Directional
Chudan
Middle
Gedan
Low
Gyaku
Reverse, opposite, inverted
Hidari
Left
Ichimonji
Straight line
Jodan
High
Mae
Forward
Migi
Right
Omote
To the front
Sasen
Counter-clockwise
Sayu
From left to right, or right to left
Shiho
"Four directions"
Shomen
Front, forward. See "Mae"
Soto
Outside
Uchi
Inside
Ura
To the rear
Usen
Clockwise
Ushiro
Rearward, behind
Yoko
Horizontal, to the side
Waki
Side
Spoken Phrases
Arigato
Thank you (informal)
Domo
Thanks (informal)
Domo Arigato
Thank you (formal)
Domo Arigato Gozaimasu
Thank you (very formal)
Dozo
Please, go ahead
Gomen Nasai
Excuse me, I'm sorry
Hai
Yes
Iie
No
Onegai Shimasu
Please (when asking for something, usually as in 'please lets practice together')
Oshiete Kudasai
"(Please) teach me", such as a polite way to get a game with an older better player at a Go club, or before keiko with a visiting high ranked sensei.
Sumimasen
Excuse me (to attract attention)
Wakari Masen
I don't understand
Wakari Masu
I understand
Wakari Masu Ka ?
Do you understand ?
Positions
Ai Hanmi
Opponents face each other in the same stance
Gyaku Hanmi
Opponents face each other in opposite stances (mirrored stance)
Hanmi
Forward stance
Hohaba
Stance and balance
Kamae
A ready posture
Seiza
The proper kneeling position
Sonkyo
Squatting position
Movement
Ashi Sabaki
Foot work
Irimi
entering
Kaiten
turning
Mae Mawari
Stepping forward and turning 180° around by moving one foot behind the other (Tenkan)
Mawari
Swinging around
Nage
Throw
Shikko
Method of walking on the knees
Taisabaki
Body movement (
Tai
- body,
Sabaki
- movement)
Taiso
Warm up exercises
Tsugi Ashi
Sliding step
Titles & Ranks
Dan
Advanced ranking levels starting at
Shodan
(black belt)
Deshi
Student
Kaiso
"Founder" of a school or organization
Kohai
Junior Student
Kyu
Student ranking level before
Shodan
(black belt)
Mudansha
Members with
Kyu
level ranking
Sempai
Senior Student
Sensei
Teacher or instructor
Shihan
Senior master level instructor
Soke
The inheritor and/or headmaster of some styles or
Ryu-ha
Uchi-Deshi
"Live in student". An older system of apprenticeship
Yudansha
Members with
Dan
level ranking
The Body
Ashi
Foot or leg
Ashi Kubi
The ankle
Atama (men)
Head
Do
Chest / side of body at ribs
Hara
Abdomen
Hiji
Elbow
Kata
Shoulder
Koshi
Hip
Kote
Wrist (forearm)
Kubi
Neck
Omote
Open / palm of hand
Shomen
Front or top of head
Sui Getsu
Solar Plexus
Tanden
Center of balance, below navel
Te
Hand
Te Kubi
Wrist
Ude
Arm
Ura
Back of hand
Yokomen
Side of head
Yubi
Finger / toe
Miscellaneous
Ai
Harmony
Budo
Military way/techniques. Terms used to refer to Japanese martial arts. Also called 'Bujutsu'
Bushido
An Edo era term referring to the Bushido code of honor, behavior and general conduct
Chikara
Power
Chosoku
Breathing
Dai no Budo
"Large martial art". The effects of Budo on a larger scale
Daimyo
A feudal era ruler of a fief or prefect
Dan / Kyu
The modern ranking system used in many styles of Budo
Dento
Tradition
Dojo
Training hall or school (place to train in 'the way')
Embu
Demonstration
Fuzoku
Manner, custom
Heiho
Fighting strategy
Heijyoshin
Even temperament
Honbu
Home dojo or headquarters (also written "
Hombu
")
Hyoshi
Rhythm
Jinchuro
The Principle of using the power of the body's center
Jinsei
Life
Jokyu
Advanced
Keiko
Practice
Ki
Spirit, energy, inner strength
Kiai
A focused projection of energy and intention, usually vocalized
Kihon
Fundamental or basic
Kime
Focus
Kokyu
Breath control
Ma
Distance, space, interval (in time)
Maai
Mutual distance (in space)
Mesen
Eye placement when facing an opponent
Metsuke
Gaze
Nage
Performer of technique
Oyowaza
Applied techniques
Reiho
Etiquette, manner
Riai
The application of techniques or art, fundamental theory
Samurai
"To serve / attend". The term used to denote the warrior class in feudal Japan
Seido
System, method
Shaku
1
Shaku
= 10
Sun
= 100
Bu
= 30.3 cm = 11.93" (0.995')
Shiai
Competition
Sho no Budo
"Small martial art". The effects of Budo on a smaller scale
Shogun
"Military commander"
Shugyo
Severe or austere training
Sokudo
Speed
Suki
An opening in an opponents defense
Tanryoku
The energy used and projected while performing physical training
Tori
Attacker
Uke
Receiver (of technique)
Waza
Technique
Zanshin
"Lingering awareness". The feeling of alertness found in combative situations. Most martial arts encourage this feeling while training
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