A
Age Tsuki – 上げ突き – Rising punch.
Age Uke – 上げ受け – Rising block, from above.
Arigatō – ありがとう – “Thank you.” An expression of respect and gratitude.
Arigatō gozaimashita – ありがとうございました – “Thank you for what you have taught me.” Said at the end of training.
Ashi – 足 – “Foot.” Used in techniques such as Ashi Barai (foot sweep).
Ateji – 当て字 – Kanji assigned to a word for their sound rather than their meaning. The characters 押忍 for Osu are ateji.
Atemi – 当て身 – A strike applied to vital points.
Ayumi Ashi – 歩み足 – Natural stepping movement, an ordinary walking step.
B
Budō – 武道 – “The martial way.” The philosophy of the traditional martial arts.
Bunkai – 分解 – The applied analysis of the techniques contained in a Kata.
Bushidō – 武士道 – “The way of the warrior.” A term rarely used before the Meiji era; the coherent system known today owes much to Nitobe Inazō’s book of 1900.
C
Choku Tsuki – 直突き – Straight punch delivered from a standing position.
Chūdan – 中段 – Middle level, at the trunk.
D
Dan – 段 – “Higher grade.” Black belt level.
Dō – 道 – “Path”, “way”, “discipline”. The central concept of the Japanese arts.
Dōgi – 道着 – The traditional training uniform. Often shortened to Gi.
Dōjō – 道場 – “The place where the Way is practised.” The martial arts training space.
Dōjō Kun – 道場訓 – The precepts, or code of conduct, of the Dojo.
E
Empi / Enpi – 猿臂 – Elbow strike.
Ensō – 円相 – The circle drawn in a single brush stroke in Zen calligraphy; a symbol of completeness and of the moment.
F
Fudō Dachi – 不動立ち – A firm, “immovable”, rooted stance.
Fudōshin – 不動心 – “Immovable mind.” Composure that is not disturbed by circumstance.
G
Gedan – 下段 – Lower level, below the belt.
Gedan Barai – 下段払い – Downward sweeping block.
Geri – 蹴り – Kick. Appears in compounds such as Mae Geri and Yoko Geri.
Gi – 着 – The training uniform; the short form of Dōgi.
Go – 五 – Five (5).
Gyaku Tsuki – 逆突き – Reverse punch, delivered with the hand opposite the leading leg.
H
Hachi – 八 – Eight (8).
Hachiji Dachi – 八字立ち – Natural stance, feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned outward. (八 is the kanji for eight.)
Hajime – 始め – “Begin!” The official command in the Dojo.
Hanshi – 範士 – The highest traditional teaching title, above Kyōshi.
Hara – 腹 – “The energetic centre of the body”, in the lower abdomen. Fundamental to breathing and stability.
Heihō – 兵法 – Martial strategy.
Heijōshin – 平常心 – “Everyday mind.” Remaining ordinary and steady under pressure.
Heikō Dachi – 平行立ち – Parallel stance.
Heisoku Dachi – 閉足立ち – Stance with the feet together.
Hidari – 左 – Left.
Hiza – 膝 – Knee. Also a knee strike (Hiza Geri).
Hokkai Jōin – 法界定印 – The hand position used in seated meditation: left hand over right, palms up, thumb tips lightly touching.
I
Ibuki – 息吹 – A method of forced breathing under dynamic tension, specific to Gōjū-ryū and Kyokushin. Not a synonym for Kiai.
Ichi – 一 – One (1).
Ichi-go ichi-e – 一期一会 – “One meeting, one chance.” The value of a moment that will not return.
Ikken Hissatsu – 一拳必殺 – “One fist, certain destruction.” The ideal of the decisive single blow.
J
Jōdan – 上段 – Upper level, at the head and neck.
Jū – 十 – Ten (10).
K
Kaizen – 改善 – “Continuous improvement.” Progress through small, steady steps.
Kamaete – 構えて – “Take your guard” / “assume the fighting position”.
Kanchō – 館長 – The head of a school or organisation.
Karate-dō – 空手道 – “The way of the empty hand.” A martial art practised without weapons.
Kata – 型 – “Form”, “pattern”. A codified sequence of techniques.
Kiai – 気合 – A shout of energy, synchronised with the exhalation. Literally “the meeting of spirit”.
Kiba Dachi – 騎馬立ち – The horse-riding stance.
Kihon – 基本 – “Fundamental techniques.” The basis of correct execution.
Kime – 決め – “Decision.” The concentration of energy within a fraction of a second.
Kiritsu – 起立 – “Stand up.” The command to rise from Seiza.
Kizami Tsuki – 刻み突き – Quick jab, delivered with the leading hand.
Kōhai – 後輩 – A more recent practitioner; a junior.
Kōkutsu Dachi – 後屈立ち – Back stance, with the weight on the rear leg.
Koshi – 腰 – The hips. The source of power in most techniques.
Kyū – 級 – Student grade, held before the black belt.
Kyōshi – 教士 – A senior teaching title, above Renshi.
L
Lom Pran – In the Thai tradition, the “wind of life” said to flow along the sen lines.
M
Maai – 間合い – The correct distance between practitioners.
Mae – 前 – Front, forward.
Mae Geri – 前蹴り – Front kick.
Mawashi Geri – 回し蹴り – Roundhouse kick.
Mawatte – 回って – “Turn around.”
Migi – 右 – Right.
Mokuso – 黙想 – “Silent meditation.” A moment of centring before and after training.
Mokuso Yame – 黙想止め – “End of meditation / open your eyes.”
Mushin – 無心 – “Mind without thought”, free of ego and hesitation; free, spontaneous action.
Musubi Dachi – 結び立ち – Stance with the heels together and the toes apart, forming a V.
N
Naore – 直れ – “Return to the starting position.”
Nana / Shichi – 七 – Seven (7).
Neko Ashi Dachi – 猫足立ち – “Cat stance”, with the weight on the rear leg.
Ni – 二 – Two (2).
Nogare – 逃れ – The soft counterpart of Ibuki: quiet, controlled breathing.
Nuad Boran – “Ancient massage.” The traditional Thai bodywork practised along the sen lines.
O
Oi Tsuki – 追い突き – Lunge punch, delivered while stepping forward.
Onegaishimasu – お願いします – “Please teach me.” Said at the beginning of training or of a partner exercise.
Osu / Oss – 押忍 – Martial greeting. A compound of 押 (oshi, “to push”) and 忍 (shinobu, “to endure”). The characters are ateji; the philosophical reading came after the word.
Otagai – お互い – “Mutual”, one towards another.
Otagai ni Rei – お互いに礼 – “Bow to one another.” The mutual bow between practitioners.
R
Rei – 礼 – “Respect”, “salutation”. The fundamental gesture of the martial arts.
Reishiki – 礼式 – Dojo etiquette; the whole body of formal conduct.
Renshi – 錬士 – The first of the traditional teaching titles.
Ritsurei – 立礼 – The standing bow.
Roku – 六 – Six (6).
Ruesi Dat Ton – ฤๅษีดัดตน – “The hermit’s self-stretching.” The Thai system of assisted stretches led by the breath.
S
San – 三 – Three (3).
Sanbon Tsuki – 三本突き – Three successive punches.
Seishin – 精神 – Spirit, mind, inner disposition.
Seiza – 正座 – The formal kneeling position, sitting on the heels.
Sempai – 先輩 – A practitioner of greater experience; a senior.
Sen (Sib Sen) – In the Thai tradition, the ten principal energy lines along which Nuad Boran is worked.
Sensei – 先生 – “One who has gone before.” Instructor, mentor.
Sensei ni Rei – 先生に礼 – “Bow to the instructor.”
Shi / Yon – 四 – Four (4).
Shihan – 師範 – “Master teacher.” A title given to senior instructors.
Shōmen – 正面 – “The place of honour”, the front of the Dojo.
Shōmen ni Rei – 正面に礼 – “Bow to the front.” The bow towards the line of transmission.
Shoshin – 初心 – “Beginner’s mind.” The openness of one who does not assume he already knows.
Shōtō – 松濤 – “Pine waves.” Gichin Funakoshi’s pen name, from which Shotokan takes its name.
Shuto Uke – 手刀受け – Knife-hand block, using the edge of the palm.
Soto Uke – 外受け – Block from the outside.
Suri Ashi – 摺り足 – Sliding step.
Susokukan – 数息観 – The counting of breaths, from one to ten, used in Zen meditation.
T
Tai Chi / Taiji – 太極 – Chinese internal art, based on slow, continuous movement and controlled breathing.
Tanden – 丹田 – “The centre of internal energy”, close to Hara; used in abdominal breathing.
Te – 手 – Hand.
Tora no Maki – 虎の巻 – “The tiger scroll.” The definitive manual of an art. The origin of the Shotokan tiger.
Tsugi Ashi – 継ぎ足 – Approaching step.
Tsuki – 突き – Punch. Appears in compounds such as Oi Tsuki and Gyaku Tsuki.
U
Uchi Uke – 内受け – Block from the inside.
Ude – 腕 – Arm.
Uke – 受け – Block; also the partner who receives a technique.
Ushiro – 後ろ – Back, rearward.
Ushiro Geri – 後ろ蹴り – Back kick.
W
Wa – 和 – Harmony. One of the founding values of Japanese culture.
Wai Khru – ไหว้ครู – The Thai gesture of gratitude to one’s teachers, performed before a session.
Y
Yame – 止め – “Stop.”
Yoi – 用意 – “Ready.”
Yoko – 横 – Side, lateral.
Yoko Geri – 横蹴り – Side kick.
Yori Ashi – 寄り足 – Short sliding side step.
Z
Zanshin – 残心 – “The remaining spirit.” Continuous attention and presence after a technique has ended.
Zarei – 座礼 – The bow performed from Seiza, palms on the floor before the knees.
Zazen – 座禅 – Seated Zen meditation, the source of the Dojo’s Mokuso.
Zenkutsu Dachi – 前屈立ち – Front stance, with the leading knee bent.