Glossary of Terms
Comprehensive glossary of martial arts terminology
Pulling hand. In karate the arm drawn back to the hip during a strike or block, in judo the hand that holds and pulls the opponent's sleeve.
JapanJapanese for knee. As a striking surface it appears in the knee strike hiza geri, as the point of the block in the judo throw hiza guruma.
Trunk protector in taekwondo. At WT competitions it is electronic and registers kick hits by itself. Blue or red color marks the fighter.
South KoreaSupplementary strength exercises of Okinawan karate with traditional tools: the weights chi ishi, ishi sashi, the jars nigiri game and the makiwara.
Self-defense techniques in Korean arts, mainly in hapkido and taekwondo. They include escapes from grips, joint locks and defense against a weapon.
Korean term for sets of techniques, the counterpart of the Japanese kata. WT taekwondo calls them poomsae, ITF taekwondo teul, older and other arts hyeong.
Forceful breathing in Goju-ryu and Kyokushin karate: a loud, long exhalation with a tightened trunk, typical of the kata Sanchin.
The highest score in Japanese martial arts competitions, “one full point”. In judo it ends the match, in kendo it is the basic unit of scoring.
A forward movement into the attacker's space, off the line of his attack. Together with tenkan it forms the basis of movement in aikido.
Hojo undo tool: a hand weight shaped like a padlock, traditionally made of stone. It comes from China, where it is called shisuo.
The upper height level a technique is aimed at: head, face and neck. In kendo, it is also the name of the stance with the sword raised above the head.
A prescribed sequence of movements in pencak silat, similar to a kata. Every school has its own jurus.
IndonesiaFull draw of the bow, the sixth of the eight phases of shooting in kyudo. The archer looks calm outwardly, but the draw keeps growing until the shot comes.
The heel. In karate the striking surface of the back kick ushiro-geri and the downward kick kakato-geri, in which the heel drops vertically down.
Training hall of kalaripayattu in Kerala, after which the art is named. A traditional kalari is sunk into the ground and has a shrine.
IndiaGuard and ready stance in the Japanese martial arts. In kendo, five basic kamae are distinguished, from chudan to waki.
The command “take your guard”. In karate the instructor or referee uses it to call on practitioners to move into the fighting position kamae.
The place of honor in the dojo, literally “upper seat”. It is usually at the front wall with a kamidana shrine or a portrait of the founder, toward which practitioners bow.
Title of the head of a dojo or of an entire organization, literally “head of the building.” Used mainly in karate organizations.
Joint-lock techniques in judo, jujutsu and aikido. In competitive judo only the elbow may be locked, and the Kodokan lists ten techniques.
A prescribed sequence of movements against imaginary opponents or with a partner, literally “form”. The core of teaching in karate, judo, kendo and aikido.
Collective name for immobilization techniques in judo: holds on the ground, chokes and joint locks. The Kodokan lists 32 of them in three groups.
Training garment of Japanese martial arts: the jacket uwagi, trousers zubon and belt obi. Kano Jigoro established the white garment in judo in 1907.
A muay thai training camp. Fighters often live there, train twice a day and carry the camp's name as part of their fighting name.
ThailandThai for knee and a knee strike. In muay thai, knees are among the main weapons, especially in the clinch.
A short energetic shout in Japanese martial arts. It tightens the trunk, supports the exhalation and in kendo is a condition for a strike to be scored.
Combat shout in Korean arts, the counterpart of the Japanese kiai with the same characters (氣合). It tightens the body during a strike and focuses power.
Basic techniques of Japanese martial arts and their repeated practice: stances, punches, kicks and blocks. In karate it forms a triad with kata and kumite.
In karate, the instant tensing of the body at the right moment of a technique, focused in the abdomen. Literally “decision”, from the verb kimeru.
A junior colleague in a dojo, school or company who joined later. The counterpart of the senpai, to whom he shows respect and from whom he receives advice.
Ball of the foot below the toes, literally “tiger toes”. The striking surface of straight kicks mae-geri, the toes are pulled up during the kick.
Hip rotation, the source of the power of strikes, kicks and throws. In karate it is practised in every basic technique.
A group of judo throws in which the attacker's hips serve as the support and axis of the throw. The Kodokan lists ten techniques in it, for example o-goshi.
Wrist and forearm. In kendo both a valid target and the name of the gloves of the bogu gear, in aikido and jujutsu an area of locks such as kote-gaeshi.
The way of gripping the opponent in judo and the fight for a favourable grip. Whoever controls the grip sets the direction of off-balancing and so which throw can be done.
The part of karate in which one trains against an opponent: from pre-agreed exchanges through semi-free sparring to free and competition fights.
Jacket for sambo, red or blue, with shoulder epaulettes and belt loops. It differs from the judo jacket.
RussiaBreaking the opponent's balance. In judo the first of the three phases of a throw, without which the throw rests on brute strength alone and often fails.
Korean martial arts school, literally “hall”. Taekwondo emerged from the first kwans after 1945. The head of a school is called a kwanjang.
The second of the three shogo teaching titles, between renshi and hanshi. In kendo, a holder of renshi and seventh dan can reach it after two years at the earliest.
A student grade before the master dan grades. It is counted downward, from a high number to first kyu, and in Korean is called gup.
A sensitive or vulnerable spot on the body targeted by strikes and pressure. Literally “urgent place”, in everyday Japanese also “weak spot”.
The distance between opponents from which one can strike or evade. It is not only meters but also the time an attack needs to cross the distance.
Okinawan striking board, literally “rolled-up straw”. Strikes are practised on a springy post with a pad, which also conditions the striking surfaces.
Cunning and craftiness as part of the capoeira game. The player deceives the opponent, changes the rhythm and sets traps.
BrazilThai for fist and a punch. A fighter who scores mainly with the fists is called muay mat. The verb chok means to box.
Referee's command in judo, literally “wait”. It stops the match and the clock, the fighters return to their marks and the match resumes with the command hajime.
The belt that is the only garment of a sumo wrestler. It is wrapped around the waist and between the legs, and the opponent may grab it.
Portuguese for master, the highest title in capoeira. Besides technique it covers music, singing, knowledge of tradition and leading a group.
Light MMA gloves with open fingers. They protect the knuckles while allowing grips, joint locks and chokes.
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