Terms

Definition

Description

Attacks

katatori

shoulder grab

katatori ikkyo, ushiro katatori sankyo

katatetori

one-hand grab

katate tori shiho nage

ryotetori

grab both of partner’s wrists

ryotetori tenchi nage

mune tsuki

punch or thrust to the chest

munetsuki kotegaeshi

morote tori

grab one wrist with both hands

morote tori kokyu nage

shomen uchi

direct strike to the front of the head

shomen uchi ikkyo

ushiro katatori

shoulder grab from behind

ushiro kata tori sankyo

ushiro tekubitori

grab both wrists from behind

ushiro tekubi tori kotegaeshi

yokomen uchi

strike to the side of the face or head

yokomen uchi shiho nage

Throws

ikkyo (omote and ura)

first “form” technique

also, nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo, gokyo for second through fifth form, resp.

kaiten nage (omote and ura)

“wheel” throw

Turn of the wheel

kokyu nage

breath throw

throws relying on timing, body movement and attacker’s speed and strength, rather than joint locks

kote gaeshi

wrist turn throw

randori

attack by multiple, usually 4, uke

shiho nage (omote and ura)

four directions throw

Bokken waza

sword practice

deal with sword attacks

suwari waza

seated techniques

actually techniques executed while kneeling

tenchi nage (omote and ura)

heaven-earth throw

Exercises

fune kogi undo

rowing exercise

hojo walk

posture, moving and breathing exercise during warm ups

kokyu ho

breath exercise

done in a kneeling position (seiza)

misogi breathing (okinaga)

purification breathing

shikko

knee walking

preparation for suwari waza

Japanese Words + Phrases Used in Day-to-Day Practice

bokken

wooden sword

tachi, generic name for a (real) sword

tanden

center of the body, just below the navel

hanmi

stance

lit., half body, as in facing forward with left or right foot forward, in left or right hanmi, respectively

hanmi handachi

half standing

techniques with standing uke attacking a kneeling nage

jiyu waza

freestyle throwing

usually rytotetori kokyunage techniques

jo

staff

kamae

stance

formal posture for attacking or awaiting attack

kokyu

breath or breathing

kokyu nage, kokyu ho

kyu & dan

rank, level or grade in martial arts:

ma’ai

interval

proper distance between nage and uke for attack and defense

men

face or head

tori, or mochi

hold, have

nage

throw or person throwing

shiho nage, irimi nage

onegai shimasu

please

as in, “please work (train) with me”

omote or irimi

front entry

shiho nage, irimi

ryo

both

ryote tori, ryote mochi

seiza

formal Japanese sitting, on the knees

sensei

teacher

Head instructor is Sensei; all other instructors are only addressed as Sensei when they are teaching and on the mat

tanto

knife, lit. short sword

tanto tori waza deal with knife attacks

te

hand

tekubi

wrist

tori

take, grasp

katate tori, ryote tori

uchi

strike

shomen uchi, yokomen uchi attacks

uke

receive, i.e. person being thrown, the attacker

ukemi

the art of attacking, following and taking the fall

“Partner’s ukemi is good”; “we have to work on our ukemi”

ura or tenkan

entry to the back

ikkyo, ura

waza

technique

zanshin

connection

maintain zanshin with your partner throughout the waza or training session