Links to Terms & Definitions

A

Aikido

ashi waza

atemi waza

B

bo

bokken

C

D

dojo

E

F

G

goshi waza

H

hadaka jime

hane goshi

hara

hira basami

I

irimi nage

J

Ju

Judo

Jujitsu

K

kansetsu waza

Karate

kata

ki

ko guruma

ko kutsu dachi

kuzushi

L

M

mae ude garami nage

mae ushiro nage

men gaeshi nage

morote gari

mudansha

N

nage waza

nidan

O

obi goshi

o goshi

o guruma

obi otoshi

okuri eri jime

osae komi waza

osoto gari

P

Pakua ch'uan

Q

R

renwaku waza

S

sai

sandan

sensei

shime waza

shodan

shuto uke

soto ude garami

sutemi waza

T

Tae kwon do

T'ai chi ch'uan

te waza

tekiyo

tonfa

tori

tsuki waza

U

uchi kote mawashi

uchi waza

ude garami

ude gatami

uke

uke waza

ukemi waza

V

W

XYZ

yodan

yoko guruma

yudansha

Terms and Definitions

Aikido

Literally "the way of harmony". A martial art founded in this century by Ueshiba Morihei based on older styles of Jujitsu.

ashi waza

Leg techniques. These include kicks as well as throws where the leg or foot acts as the pivot point.

atemi waza

Percussive techniques including punches, strikes, blocks and kicks.

bo

Wooden staff, approximately 6 ft. (2 meters) long.

bokken

Wooden sword.

dojo

Literally translates from Japanese as "place of the way". Traditionally where martial arts and other paths of personal development are practiced in Japan. In Korean martial arts the term is dojang.

goshi waza

Throws using the hip as a pivot point (also called koshi waza).

hadaka jime

Naked arm choke. A shime waza technique.

hane goshi

Spring hip throw. Illustrated in many judo books.

hara

A Japanese term that refers to the abdominal region. The specific region is just below the navel. In Chinese this is refered to tan t'ien and in Korean as tan jon. It is thought to be the place where ki is stored and used.

hira basami

"Tiger's mouth" strike. The striking surface is the web portion of your hand (between thumb and first finger) or the first knuckle of the first finger. It is the opposite surface from a shuto hand.

irimi nage

Entering throw. A momentum throw that is described in many Aikido books.

Ju

The concept of giving way. As opposed to using force on force.

Judo

Literally "the way of gentleness". Modern Japanese martial art and Olympic sport that involves throwing, choking and pinning ones opponent. Judo was founded by Kano Jigoro from older styles of Jujitsu.

Jujitsu

Literally "the gentle art". An older Japanese martial art and combat style. There are many variations (schools) of this art.

kansetsu waza

Joint controlling techniques used to control, immobilize or throw an opponent.

Karate

Literally "empty hand" or "Chinese hand". A modern Japanese martial art based on older styles of striking martial arts from Okinawa.

kata

These are formal exercises where the student goes through a pre-set series of percussive or grappling movements (solo or with partners) meant to emulate fighting situations.

ki

Ki (chi in Chinese) is the energy developed and concentrated in the hara. Ki is a concept that refers to life energy. It is thought that one can cultivate healthy, powerful ki through proper breathing and proper living in general. In the martial arts, one should try to focus their ki into their techniques.

ko guruma

Minor wheel throw. A winding or waist type of momentum throw.

ko kutsu dachi

Back stance where approximately 80% of your weight is on your back leg. Illustrated in many books about karate and related styles.

kuzushi

Off balancing a person in preparation for throwing them or otherwise bringing them to the ground and under control.

mae ude garami nage

Front arm wrap throw. This throw compromises the shoulder causing the recipient to be more easily thrown..

mae ushiro nage

Front Rear Throw or front arm throw. This is similar to Yonkyo in Aikido and is sometimes called the "pancake throw". For afficionados of the old Star Trek series, James Tiberius Kirk does this throw quite a bit.

men gaeshi nage

Head turn throw.

morote gari

Double leg sweep or double leg take-down.

mudansha

Those who hold rank below shodan.

nage waza

Techniques of throwing by using the momentum and power of the attacker. Such techniques are used in judo.

nidan

Second dan or second degree black belt

obi goshi

Literally belt waist throw. A type of momentum throw.

obi otoshi

Literally belt waist drop. Also known as "crotch" throw. A type of momentum throw.

o goshi

Major hip throw. This is probably the most basic type of hip throw.

o guruma

Major wheel throw. A winding or waist type of momentum throw.

okuri eri jime

Sliding collar choke. A choking technique described in many judo books.

osae komi waza

Techniques of pinning and immobilizing.

osoto gari

Major outer sweeping throw. An ashi waza throw that is illustrated in many judo books.

pakua ch'uan

A martial art from China. Considered to be an "internal" martial art like taiji. Characterized by practice where one walks in a circle.

renwaku waza

Combinations of techniques.

sai

Farming implement of Okinawan origin used as a weapon.

sandan

Third dan or third degree black belt.

sensei

Japanese term for a teacher. Literally "one who has gone before". This is a similar concept to sabum in Korean and sifu in Chinese martial arts.

shime waza

Techniques of choking (cutting off the blood flow) or strangling (cutting off the air flow) through the neck.

shodan

First dan or first degree black belt.

shuto uke

Blocks where you use the "knife hand" (edge of the hand near the pinky). This includes using both hands in a shuto block known as morote shuto uke. These blocks can be done from the outside (soto) or inside (uchi) relative to the attacker's centerline.

soto ude garami

The literal translation is "Outer Arm Wrap.

sutemi waza

Literally "techniques of letting go". More often called sacrifice techniques where you "sacrifice" your position to throw a person.

Tae Kwon Do

Korean martial art emphasizing kicks and punches.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Literally, "supreme ultimate fist". A Chinese martial art that is usually practiced with slow, calm and smooth movements for purposes of increased health. Some styles and schools will also teach the martial applications of t'ai chi movements. T'ai chi ch'uan is sometimes spelt taijiquan.

te waza

Hand techniques.These can be atemi waza or nage waza.

tekiyo

Self defense or combat applications of techniques.

tonfa

Farming implement (used as a grinding wheel handle) of Okinawan origin also used as a weapon.

tori

The person doing a technique.

tsuki waza

Punching techniques.

uchi kote mawashi

Inner wrist wheel lock. Called sankyo in Aikido.

uchi waza

Striking techniques.

ude garami

Literally translates as "arm wrap". This generally is a kansetsu waza against the elbow. This can be inner (uchi ude garami) or outer (soto ude garami) referring to your position relative to that of the person recieving the technique.

ude gatami

Literally "arm bar". These are kansetsu waza against the elbow.

uke

Person recieving a technique.

uke waza

Blocking techniques.

ukemi waza

Techniques for rolling and falling safely. These techniques are often illustrated in Aikido and Judo books.

yodan

Fourth degree black belt.

yoko guruma

Side wheel thow. A type of sutemi waza.

yudansha

Holders of first degree black belt or above in a martial art.

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