This glossary is to help you out with some common terms you may hear while training.
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-B | (back to top) |
| ARUKI | Walking technique |
| BO | 6-foot long staff |
| BOKKEN | Wooden training sword |
| BUDO | "Way of the Warror"; Japanese martial arts |
| BUJINKAN | "Hall of the Warrior Spirit"; Grandmaster Hatsumi's overseeing organization, comprised of nine historical martial lineages. |
| C-D | (back to top) |
| CHUDAN | Middle-level |
| DAKENTAIJUTSU | Subset of Budo Taijutsu primarily dealing with striking techniques. |
| DOGI | Training uniform |
| DOJO | Training hall; martial arts school |
| E-F | (back to top) |
| EBI | Also referred to as "shrimping". Ground escape technique. |
| G-H | (back to top) |
| GEDAN | Lower-level |
| GOGYO NO KATA | Same as Sanshin no Kata |
| HANBO | 3-foot long half-staff |
| HENKA | Adaptation of a technique, a variation |
| I-J | (back to top) |
| JODAN | Upper-level |
| JUTAIJUTSU | Subset of Budo Taijutsu primarily dealing with grappling techniques. |
| K-L | (back to top) |
| KAMAE | "Stances" used in taijutsu. More appropriately labeled as "postures" or "attitudes" rather than stances, as the feeling is more fluid and relaxed than rigid and tense. |
| KATA | Pre-arranged fighting scenario; Almost all kata in the Bujinkan curriculum are practiced in class with a partner |
| KATANA | Japanese sword |
| KEN | see KATANA |
| KERI | Kicking technique |
| KIHON HAPPO | "Eight
Directions"; Eight Basics; The fundamentals of Taijutsu. They are: 1) Omote Gyaku (outside twist or reverse) 2) Ura Gyaku (inside twist or reverse) 3) Ganseki Nage (throwing a rock) 4) Musha Dori (capturing a warrior) 5) Oni Kudaki (crushing a demon) 6) Ichimonji (figure 1) 7) Jumonji (figure 10) 8) Hicho (flying bird) |
| KOHAI | Student who is junior to you |
| KUSARI FUNDO | Short chain with weighted ends |
| KYU | Junior-level ranking; (green belt) there are 9 such rankings before 1st degree black belt |
| KYUSHO | Pressure points |
| M-N | (back to top) |
| NAGARE | Flowing; Flow of one movement to the next |
| NAGE | Throwing technique (ie: ganseki nage) |
| NEWAZA | Ground fighting techniques |
| O-P | (back to top) |
| OBI | Sash or belt |
| OMOTE | Outward, outside |
| Q-R | (back to top) |
| ROKUSHAKUBO | 6 foot staff |
| S-T | (back to top) |
| SANSHIN NO KATA | "Three
Hearts Techniques"; First set of five basic techniques found in ninjutsu. They are used to become familiar with the proper
movement and feelings used in taijutsu. They are: 1) Chi no Kata (Earth) 2) Sui no Kata (Water) 3) Ka no Kata (Fire) 4) Fu no Kata (Wind) 5) Ku no Kata (Void) |
| SEMPAI | Student who is senior to you |
| SHIME | Choking technique |
| SHUKO | Hand claws used as a climbing tool |
| SHURIKEN | Throwing blades |
| SOKE | Grandmaster of a martial arts school (ie: Hatsumi Soke) |
| TAIHENJUTSU | Subset of Budo Taijutsu dealing with ukemi, aruki, sabaki, and other subjects involving body movement. |
| TAIJUTSU | "Art of using the body"; Unarmed defense art |
| TAISABAKI | Evasive body movement |
| TAISO | Stretching and body conditioning, warm-ups |
| TANTO | Japanese knife |
| TSUKI | Thrusting attack |
| U-V | (back to top) |
| UKE | Training partner who receives a technique, usually the aggressor in the sequence. |
| UKEMI | Methods of safely receiving attacks to avoid injury; rolling and breakfalls |
| URA | Inner, inside |
| W-X | (back to top) |
| WAZA | A technique |
| Y-Z | (back to top) |
| YOKO | Sideways |
