Pronouncing Japanese Words
Use the following guidelines when trying to pronounce Japanese words. This is only a general guide, and there are some instances where these rules will not apply.
a - ah, as in father.
u - ooh, as in flew.
e - eh, as in head.
i - ee, as in see.
o - oh, as in go.
Note: There are no letters "L", "Q", "V", or "X" in the Japanese language.
Counting in Japanese
1- ichi
2- ni
3- san
4- shi
5- go
6- roku
7- shichi
8- hachi
9- kyu
10- ju
Parts of the Body
Ashi - Leg; foot
Atama - Head
Me - Eye
Mimi - Ear
Shi - Finger
Ude - Arm
Yubi - Finger
Weapons
Bo - 6 foot staff
Bokken - Wooden sword
Bisento - A large, very heavy bladed battlefield weapon
Hanbo - 3 foot staff
Jo - 4 foot staff
Ken - sword
Shuriken - Throwing blade
Tanto - Knife
Parts of the Uniform
Do-gi - Martial arts
uniform; pants and jacket
Obi - Belt
Tabi - Split-toe shoe
Direction and Movement
Chu - Middle
Ge - Low
Hidari - Left
Koho - Back; rear
Migi - Right
Omote - Open; obvious
Ue - Up
Ura - Closed; hidden
Ushiro - Back; rear
Zen - Front
Zenpo - Forward direction
Techniques
Aruki - Walk
Henka - Technique variation
Kamae - Stance; position
Kata - A set form of movements to teach a technique
Keri - Kick
Taijutsu - body arts
Taisabaki - body movement
Tobi - Jump
Ukemi - Injury prevention; rolling and breakfall techniques
Waza - Technique
Commands
Hajime - Begin
Mate - Wait
Yame - Stop
General Vocabulary
Bujinkan - "Divine
Warrior Training Hall."
Buyu - "Warrior Friends"
Dan - Black belt grade
Dojo - Training hall; martial arts school
Kunoichi - A female Ninja
Kyu - Below black belt grade
Ninja - A person who studies Ninjutsu
Ninjutsu - The martial art of the Ninja
Sensei - Teacher
Soke - GrandMaster
Ninjautsu words A to Z
Aite - Opponent
Anatoshi - Trapping
Ashiko - Foot Band
Ate - Strike
Bajutsu - Horsemanship
Barai - Sweep
Bisento - Battlefield Halbred
Bojutsu - Stick Fighting
Bo Ryaku - Stratergy
Boshi Ken - Thumb Strike
Budo - Martial Way
Budoka - Student of the martial way
Bugie - Martial arts
Bujin - Warrior spirit
Bujutsu - Martial arts techniques
Bushi - Warrior
Bushido - Way of the warrior
Chi - Earth
Chi Mon - Geography
Cho Ho - Espionage
Chu - Middle
Chunin - Mid level Ninja agent
Daisho - Pair of swords
Daito - Large Sword
Dakenjutsu - Striking, Kicking, Blocking
Do - Way
Dojo - Training hall
Doko - Angry Tiger
Dori - To sieze or capture
Empi - Elbow strike
Fu - Wind
Fudo Ken - Clench Fist (also known as Immovable fist)
Fudoshin - Immovable spirit
Fudoza - Immovable seat
Fukiya - Blowgun
Futari dori - Held by two opponents
Gaeshi - Counter-attack
Gake - Hook
Ganseki Nage - Throwing the big rock
Garami - Entangle
Gawa - Side
Gedan Uke - Low Block
Genin - Low level Ninja agent
Genjutsu - Art of illusion
Geri - Kick
Gi - Martial arts uniform
Godai - Five elements
Gokui - Secret
Gotono - Using natural elements for evasion
Gyaku - Reverse
Hai - Yes
Haibu Yori - From behind
Hajime - Begining
Hajutsu - Escaping techniques
Han - Half
Hanbo - 3' Staff
Hanbojutsu - Stick fighting
Happa Ken - One handed strike
Hasso - Attack
Heiho - Combat Stratergy
Henka - Variation
Hensojutsu - Disguise and Impersonation arts
Hicho - Flying bird
Hidari - Left
Hiji - Elbow
Hiki - Pull
Hishi - Caltrops made from dried water chestnuts
Hodoki - Escape
Hojo - Bind, Tie up
Hojutsu - Firearms Arts
Iai - Sword drawing
Igadama - Caltrops made of spiked iron
Inpo - Hiding
Intonjutsu - Escape and Concealment
Iri - Enter
Itami - Pain
Jo - 4' Staff
Jodan Uke - High Block
Junan Taiso - Body conditioning
Jutaijutsu - Grappling
Jutsu - Techniques
Ka - Fire
Kaeshi - Counter attack
Kagi - Hook
Kaiten - Rolling
Kaiten Ken - Open hand
Kakusi Geri - Hidden Kick
Kamae - Stance
Kamiza - Shrine
Kata - Set of movements
Kantana - Sword
Katate - One hand
Kayakujutsu - Fire and Explosives Arts
Kenjutsu - Sword fighting
Keppan - Blood oath
Keri - Kick
Ki - Spirit
Kiai - Focused shout
Kikaku Ken - Head Strike
Kinhon - Basic
Kikaku Ken - Demon horns fist
Kiriage - Upwards Cut
Kiten Ken - Sword hand strike
Ko Ashi - Small steps
Kodachi - Small Sword
Kogoroshi - Finger breaking
Koho - Back
Koho Geri - Backwards Kick
Koho Kaiten - Backwards Roll
Koku - Tiger Sky
Kokyu Breath
Koppo Ken - Thumb knuckle strike
Koppojutsu - Bone Smashing Techniques
Koryu - Traditional
Koshijutsu - Organ and Muscle Striking
Kote - Wrist
Ku - Void
Kudaki - Break or Smash
Kuden - Oral Techings
Kuji - Nine Syllables
Kuji in - Hand Posturing
Kuji-Kiri - Protective grid slashing
Kumiuchi - Grappling and close fighting
Kumitachi - Sword practice with a partner
Kunoichi - Female Ninja
Kusari fundo - Short Weighted Chain
Kusari gama - Chain and Sickle
Kuzushi - Breal opponents balance
Kyojitsu Tenkan Ho - Philosophy
Kyoketsu - Cord and dagger
Kyoman - Observation
Kyu - Grade below blackbelt
Kyusho - Pressure points
Mae Kaiten - Front Roll
Maki - Winding
Makimono - Scrolls
Matte - Wait
Mawashi - Rotate
Mawashi Geri - Round Kick
Meiso - Meditation
Meijin - Master
Metsubushi - Blinding Powder
Meysubushi - Distraction
Men Uchi - Strike to the head
Menkyo - Teacing certificate
Migi - Right
Mizu - Water
Mokuso- Meditate
Morote - Both hands
Mute - No hands
Muto Dori - Unarmed defense against a sword
Nagare - to flow
Nage - Throw
Nagashi - Flow
Naginata - Halbred
Naname - Diagonal direction
Neko te - Finger tip weapons (worn by Konoichi)
Nin - Endurance or Stealth
Ninpo - higher order of Ninjutsu
Nuki Ashi - Sweeping step
Ninki - Specialised ninja tools
Obi - Belt
Odashi - Long Sword
Omote - Outside
Oni - Devil
Oni Gedaki - Crushing The Little Devil
Osae - Press down
Oshigiri - Push cut used with sword
Osoto gake - Great outside hook
Oten - Cartwheel
Randori - Sparring
Rei - Bow
Ryote - Tow hands
Ryomune dori - Two handed chest grab
Ryu - Scool or Dragon
Sakki - Intuition of attack
Saya - Scabbard
Satori - Enlightenment
Seishin Teki Kyoyo - Spiritual Refinement
Seiza - Kneeling
Sempai - Senior student
Sensei - Teacher
Shaken - Throwing stars
Shako Ken - Claw Strike
Shi - Finger
Shihan - Senior Instructor
Shikko - Walking on knees
Shikan Ken - Extended Knuckle Fist
Shikomi Zue - Sword Cane
Shin - Heart
Shinai - Bamboo Sword
Shinken gata - Real combat training
Shinobi - Stealth
Shinobi aruki - Ninja walking
Shinpi - Mysticism
Shishin Ken - Finger Strike
Shitan Ken - Thumb Pressure
Shito Ken - Thumb Strike
Shizen Ken - Natural or Body Weapon
Shomen - Front
Shoten no jutsu - Tree Climbing
Shuki Ken - Elbow Strike
Shurinkenjutsu - Blade throwing
Shuko - Spiked hand
Shuto Ken - Open Hand Strike
Soka Gyaku - Toe Strike
Soke - Grandmaster
Sokki Ken - Knee Strike
Sokuho Kaiten - Side Roll
Sokuho Geri - Side Kick
Sokuho Tobi - Sideways leap
Soku Yako - Heel Strike
Sokugyaku Geri - Toe kick
Sui - Water
Sui Ren - Water Training
Sutemi Nage - Sacrificial throw
Tabi - Traditional footwear
Taihenjutsu - Body Movement
Tai Ken - Total Body Weapon
Taijutsu - Unarmed combat / Skill with the body
Take - Bamboo
Taisabaki - Natural body movements
Taiso - Body Conditioning
Taki Ori - Breaking Bamboo
Tanto - Knife
Tantojutsu - Knife Fighting
Tatami - Straw Mat
Te - Hand
Teki - Enemy
Tenmon - Meteorology
Tesson - Iron war Fan
Tetsubushi - Metal Caltrops
Toamijutsu - Fish Net Skills
Tobi - Leap
Tobi Keri - Leap with Kick
Tori - The one who executes
Tsuba - Handguard on a sword
Tsugi bune - Collapsible boat
Tsuki - Thrust
Uchi Gata - Take down using legs
Uke - The one who receives
Ukemi - Breakfalls
Ura - Inside
Wakizashi - Short Sword
Waza - Technique
Ya - Arrow
Yamabushi - Mountain warrior priest
Yame - Stop
Yari - Spear
Yoi - Ready
Yoko Geri - Sideways Kick
Yoko Aruki - Sideways walking
Yoroi - Armour
Yubi - Finger
Yumi - Bow
Zenpo Kaiten - Forward Roll
Zenpo Geri - Forward Kick
Ai: Blending, harmony, joining, or union. Also, to concentrate or focus. (Japanese)
Aiki: United spirit. The spiritual principle of destroying an adversary's will to fight, or the physical act of dominating an adversary by harmonizing with his force and redirecting it. (Japanese)
Aikido: Modern jujitsu system derived from Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. (Japanese)
Bushido: Literally "Way of the Warrior." A feudal code of Japanese warrior ethics evolved from Confucian thought. (Japanese)
Ch'an: The Chinese meditative sect of Mahayana Buddhism. (Chinese)
Chi : Vital energy or spirit. (Chinese)
Chung Do Kwan : Blue Wave School. Taekwondo (originally Tae Soo Do) system founded in 1941 by Won Kook Yi. (Korean)
Daito Ryu : Great Eastern School. A school of classical martial arts dating from the Heian period and passed down to the Takeda family. Source of the family of aiki-arts. (Japanese)
Do : A suffix meaning "way." (Japanese and Korean)
Dobok: A training uniform. (Korean)
Dojang: Training hall. (Korean)
Dojo : Literally "place of the way." A training hall. (Japanese)
Dhyana: The Indian meditative sect of Mahayana Buddhism. (Indian)
Gi: A training uniform. (Japanese)
Giri: Literally "right reason." A sense of obligation or duty. (Japanese)
Hakama: Pleated, skirt-like pants worn by practitioners of the classical Japanese martial arts and some traditional budo systems. (Japanese)
Hakko Ryu: Eighth-Light School. Jujutsu system developed by Ryubo Okuyama in 1941 from Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. (Japanese)
Hanshi: A master instructor or the headmaster of a ryu. (Japanese)
Hantachi: Literally "half standing." A stance on one knee. Also, a training format in which one student is standing and the other kneeling. (Japanese)
Hara : Literally "belly." The center of the body where one's soul resides. (Japanese)
Hwarang-Do: The ethical code developed by warriors in the 6th century Korean kingdom of Silla. Also the name of a modern martial way founded by Joo Bang Lee. (Korean)
I: Mind. (Chinese)
In: The soft, female, dark, or negative principle of nature. (Japanese)
Jinja: A shrine. (Japanese)
Ju: Suppleness, flexibility, or yielding. (Japanese)
Judo : Yielding way. Modern budo and combative sport derived from jujutsu. Founded by Jigoro Kano in 1881. (Japanese)
Jujutsu: Art or technique. (Japanese)
Kami: A spirit as conceived in the Shinto religion. (Japanese)
Kamiza: Literally "spirit seat." A shelf on the front wall of a Japanese style training hall where a shrine often resides.
Karate : Empty hand. System of combat developed on Okinawa emphasizing striking. (Japanese)
Karate-Do: Modern budo form of karate. (Japanese)
Kata : A formal, prearranged exercise. (Japanese)
Katsu: Victory. (Japanese)
Kenjutsu: Sword art. Classical Japanese swordsmanship. (Japanese)
Ki : Spirit, breath, the life force. (Japanese and Korean)
Kiai: Focused or concentrated life force. Also a "spirit shout."
Koan: A riddle with no logical answer used in the Rinzai sect of Zen to confound the conscious mind and allow the aspirant to achieve spontaneous insight. (Japanese)
Kung Fu: Generic name (Mandarin) for a wide range of Chinese combative systems. The Cantonese term in "gung fu." (Chinese)
Kuzushi: To off-balance an opponent before executing a throw or some other technique. (Japanese)
Kyu : Class. A category of rank for ungraded students, those who haven't reached the "black belt" ranks.
Li : Strength. (Chinese)
Make: Defeat. (Japanese)
Meijin: A great master. (Japanese)
Menkyo: A license or certificate. (Japanese)
Ninja : Stealth. A feudal Japanese group of spies and assassins. (Japanese)
On: A debt, obligation, or favor. A burden. (Japanese)
Renshi: A trainer. A teaching certificate roughly equivalent to fourth or fifth dan. (Japanese)
Ronin: Literally "wave man." A masterless samurai. A rogue. (Japanese)
Ryo: A feudal monetary measure of gold. (Japanese)
Ryu : A style of an art. A school. (Japanese)
Sabum: A teacher. (Korean)
Samurai : Literally "one who serves." A warrior in feudal Japan. A member of the elite class in feudal Japan's four-caste (merchant, artisan, peasant, warrior) social order. (Japanese)
San: An honorific title meaning mister, miss, etc. (Japanese)
Sumo: A modern sport-version of sumai, a grappling art dating the 8th century. (Japanese)
Sun Tzu : Author of "The Art of War" over 2,000 years ago.
Taekwondo : Way of smashing with feet and fists. A modern martial way and combative sport emphasizing high kicking and body punching. Also spelled "tae kwon do" and "taekwon-do." (Korean)
Tai Chi Ch'uan : Soft, internal art usually practiced in slow, graceful forms. Modern versions used mostly to promote health. (Chinese)
Tai Otoshi: Leg drop. A commonly used judo throw. (Japanese)
Tanden: The body's center, two inches below the belly button. (Japanese)
Tang Soo Do: China hand way ("tang" referring to China's T'ang Dynasty). Modern martial way and combative sport emphasizing foot fighting and punching. Also spelled "tang su do." (Korean)
Tao : The Way. (Chinese)
Tao Te Ching : The Way of Changes, a Chinese classic written by Lao Tzu around the 3rd century B.C. It is the fundamental text of Taoism. (Chinese)
Te: Hand. Old name for striking arts on Okinawa. (Japanese)
Tensho: Okinawan karate kata employing dynamic tension and sanchin stance. (Japanese)
Tori: Defender; Nage. The person who applies the technique. (Japanese)
Uechi Ryu: Internal system of Okinawan karate founded by Uechi Kanbun (1877-1948) after he returned from studying kung fu in China. (Japanese)
Wa: The classical concept of nonresistance or fusion. (Japanese)
Yakuza: The Japanese mafia. (Japanese)
Yamate Ryu: Mountain-Hand School. School of aikijujutsu. Originally Yamanote Ryu, or "Hand-of-the-Mountain School." (Japanese)
Yang : The hard, male, light, or positive principle of nature. (Chinese)
Yin : The soft, female, dark, or negative principle of nature. (Chinese)
Yo : The hard, male, light, or positive principle of nature. (Japanese)
Zen: The Japanese meditative sect of Mahayana Buddhism. (Japanese)
Ninjutsu (the art of the Ninja),
Bushijutsu (the art of the Samurai),
Kunoichijutsu (the art of the Female Ninja),
Ko-Ninjutsu (the art of the Young Ninja)
Chambara (the art of Theatrical Combat and Stunts).
Each system is studied independently and students rarely cross-train, except in the case of Chambara, which is available to any student within the clan.
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