Glossary of Terms
Comprehensive glossary of martial arts terminology
The head of a traditional Japanese school where leadership is usually inherited. He decides on the school's teaching and on awarding the highest certificates.
JapanThe outer edge of the foot, literally “foot sword”. The striking surface of the side kick yoko-geri, especially the thrusting yoko-geri kekomi.
Reversed stance with the right hand and right foot forward, typical of left-handers. The right-hander stance is called orthodox.
United StatesVictory over an opponent by a joint lock or choke, when the opponent gives up. In BJJ, grappling and MMA it ends the match.
Judo throws in which the attacker deliberately falls and pulls the opponent down along. The Kodokan divides them into throws falling on the back (5) and on the side (16).
Rolling the opponent over from the bottom position in guard so that the fighter ends up on top. In BJJ it earns two points under IBJJF rules.
BrazilJapanese socks with a separated big toe. In martial arts they are worn mainly in kyudo and in some weapon schools where people do not train barefoot.
The opening clash in sumo, when both wrestlers charge at each other at the same time from a crouch. It often decides the whole bout.
Whole-body movement that takes a fighter out of the line of attack into an advantageous position. It combines footwork with turning the hips.
Bringing an opponent from standing to the ground so that the attacker ends up on top. It includes shots at the legs and throws.
Tapping out: the signal by which a fighter gives up under a joint lock or choke. The fighter taps a hand on the opponent or the mat, or gives up verbally.
A traditional Japanese floor mat made of rice straw and rush. In the dojo the name also covers today's foam mats used for training and competition.
Hand in Japanese. As a word element it is in the name karate and in terms such as te-waza or tegatana. In Okinawa it was also the name of the local martial art.
Thai word for a kick. In muay thai it mainly means a curved shin kick with a full hip rotation, aimed at the legs, torso or head.
ThailandA group of judo throws in which the arms and shoulders mainly carry the throw. The Kodokan lists 16 techniques in it, among them seoi-nage and tai-otoshi.
A turn of the body on the spot by which the defender blends with the direction of the attack and leads it onward. Together with irimi it forms the basis of movement in aikido.
Lower, little-finger side of the clenched fist, literally “iron hammer”. In karate it strikes from above or from the side like a hammer.
The practitioner who performs the technique in a pair, literally “the one who takes”. Their partner, who receives the technique, is called uke.
Hojo undo tool: a bundle of bamboo rods tied at the top and bottom or in the middle. The fingers are thrust into it to condition the fingertips.
The guard of a Japanese sword between the blade and the grip. It protects the hand and balances the sword. Decorated tsuba are a collectible art in their own right.
The grip of a Japanese sword. On a katana it is covered with ray skin and wrapped in a cord that improves the hold. The practice sword shinai has a grip too.
Second and third phase of a judo throw: tsukuri is moving into position, kake the execution itself. They are preceded by off-balancing the opponent, kuzushi.
Paired exercise in taijiquan and other internal styles. Practitioners, in hand contact, try to unbalance each other and sensitively neutralize the other's pressure.
ChinaRepeated practice of entering a throw without completing it, a basic training method of judo. In kendo the same term denotes practice of strikes.
The practitioner who attacks and receives the technique in a pair, literally “the one who receives”. Must be able to fall safely, ukemi.
A group of blocks in karate, literally “receiving techniques”. It includes age-uke, soto-uke, uchi-uke and gedan-barai, which lacks the word uke in its name.
The art of falling safely, literally “receiving body”. In judo, aikido and jujutsu it is the first skill a beginner learns.
Back of the clenched fist, literally “reversed fist”. In karate it delivers the snapping strike uraken-uchi, usually to the face or temple.
The jacket of the keikogi training uniform. It is wrapped left over right and held by the obi belt. In judo it is made of heavy fabric to withstand grips.
A trio of timing terms in German fencing: who holds the initiative (Vor), who reacts (Nach), and the moment when the initiative can be gained (Indes).
GermanyA Thai greeting with palms pressed together and a slight bow of the head. In muay thai a fighter uses it to greet the trainer, the opponent and the spectators.
Pre-fight ritual in muay thai in which a fighter pays respect to teachers, parents and ancestors. It is followed by the ram muay dance.
Japanese for “technique”, skill. In compounds it denotes groups of techniques: nage-waza, katame-waza, ashi-waza, uke-waza.
Second-highest score in judo and karate, literally “technique is here”. In judo two waza-ari give ippon, in WKF karate it is worth two points.
Chinese martial morality, literally “martial virtue”. A set of principles that master and student should observe so as not to misuse martial arts.
Chinese martial arts school and training hall, literally “martial hall”. In Cantonese mo gun, in English often kwoon. Counterpart of the Japanese dojo.
The command “stop” in Japanese martial arts. In karate the referee uses it to interrupt a match, in the dojo the coach to end an exercise.
The highest rank in professional sumo. A yokozuna cannot be demoted, but is expected to retire after weak results.
Alertness that continues after a technique is finished, literally “remaining mind”. In kendo it is a condition for a valid ippon strike.
Costume of Mongolian wrestlers in bökh: a short vest with sleeves and an open chest (zodog) and tight short trousers (shuudag).
MongoliaThe trousers of the keikogi training uniform. The word came into Japanese from the French jupon, so it is written in katakana as a foreign word.