Glossary for Jujutsu (Classical Japanese Unarmed Combat)
Jujutsu (Classical Japanese Unarmed Combat): 7 documented terms. Of those: classification of techniques, arts and schools (4), training method (2), anatomy, target levels and striking surfaces (1). Among them Ukemi, Nage-waza, Kyusho.
Terms: Jujutsu (Classical Japanese Unarmed Combat)
Strikes to the opponent's body in the Japanese arts. In aikido and jujutsu they serve mainly to break balance or attention before a throw or a lock.
JapanJoint-lock techniques in judo, jujutsu and aikido. In competitive judo only the elbow may be locked, and the Kodokan lists ten techniques.
A sensitive or vulnerable spot on the body targeted by strikes and pressure. Literally “urgent place”, in everyday Japanese also “weak spot”.
Collective name for all throws in judo and jujutsu. The Kodokan lists 68 of them, divided into standing throws and throws that sacrifice one's own balance.
Free practice in judo, aikido, jujutsu and some karate styles. Partners try techniques against real resistance, but without aiming to win.
Choking techniques in judo and jujutsu. The Kodokan lists twelve, and in competition a choke ends with ippon when the opponent submits or loses consciousness.
The art of falling safely, literally “receiving body”. In judo, aikido and jujutsu it is the first skill a beginner learns.
Shared martial arts terms — Japan
Terms shared by most martial arts of this culture: etiquette, titles, clothing and the training hall.
Japanese for leg or foot. It is the root of ashi-waza (foot and leg throws in judo), ashi sabaki (footwork) and ashi garami.
Head in Japanese. As a target it belongs to the upper level, jodan. A head strike is called zutsuki, with the same character read zu.
Japanese for “martial way”: the collective name for Japanese martial arts in which, besides technique, the aim is the education and development of the person.
The middle height level a technique is aimed at: the torso from neck to waist. In kendo, it is also the name of the basic stance with the sword tip toward the opponent.
A master grade in Japanese and Korean martial arts, usually with a black belt. First awarded in 1883 by Kano Jigoro in judo.
Hall where Japanese martial arts are practised. Literally “place of the way”, with its own etiquette, cleaning and a fixed arrangement of the space.
An immovable mind that fear, anger or surprise cannot throw off balance. The concept comes from Buddhism.
The lower height level a technique is aimed at: from the waist down. The best-known technique with this word is the block gedan barai.
Modern Japanese martial arts that arose after the Meiji reforms in 1868, such as judo, karate, aikido or shorinji kempo.
Taking the initiative only after the opponent's attack. The fighter blocks or evades it and immediately strikes the opening that results.
The command “begin” in Japanese martial arts. In judo and karate the referee uses it to start a match, the coach to start an exercise, kata or randori.
The highest of the three shogo teaching titles, next to renshi and kyoshi. In kendo it can be earned no sooner than eight years after kyoshi and eighth dan.
The belly, in martial arts chiefly the lower belly as the body's center of gravity. The point below the navel is seika tanden, the Japanese counterpart of the Chinese dantian.
Japanese 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.
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.
Guard 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.
A prescribed sequence of movements against imaginary opponents or with a partner, literally “form”. The core of teaching in karate, judo, kendo and aikido.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brief silent meditation in seiza at the start and end of training, literally “silent contemplation”. It is ended by the command mokuso yame.
A state of mind that does not cling to a thought or emotion and therefore responds spontaneously. The concept comes from Zen, and the monk Takuan brought it into swordsmanship.
The belt of the training garment, which holds the jacket and shows rank by its color. It is tied with the koma-musubi knot, similar to a reef knot.
Chinese concept of life energy, breath and vitality. Ki in Japanese, gi in Korean. In the internal arts, cultivating qi is the main goal of practice.
ChinaThe bow and respect in general in Japanese martial arts. One bows standing (ritsurei) and kneeling (zarei) on entering the dojo, to a partner and to the teacher.
A set of rules of proper conduct, literally “law of respect”. In the martial arts it governs bowing, sitting, dressing and the handling of weapons.
Japanese for “stream”, in the sense of school or style. A suffix of the names of styles and old schools: Goju-ryu, Wado-ryu, Katori Shinto-ryu.
Formal Japanese kneeling on the heels, literally “correct sitting”. In the dojo one bows, meditates and practises iaido and part of aikido from it.
Striking the opponent at the moment they begin to attack. One of three ways of taking the initiative, whose exact interpretation differs between schools.
An older colleague in a dojo, school or company who started earlier. Toward the younger kohai he has a duty to help and advise, and they show him respect.
Japanese form of address for a teacher, literally “one who was born earlier”. In the dojo it goes to the training leader, in Japan also to a doctor or lawyer.
A competitive match in Japanese martial arts, literally “mutual testing”. Unlike randori, it has a referee, rules and a winner.
An honorary title of a high-ranking teacher. Literally “exemplary teacher”. Who receives it and under what conditions differs by organization.
The triad of mind, technique and body. It expresses the ideal that a practitioner should develop all three equally, since none is enough alone.
The first master grade, literally “beginning grade”. In 1883 Kano Jigoro awarded it to two students, the first such grade in martial arts.
“Beginner's mind”: openness and willingness to learn that a practitioner should keep even as a master. The concept comes from Zen.
Long-term hard training in which the practitioner improves both physically and mentally. The word comes from Buddhism, where it means ascetic practice.
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.
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.
The practitioner who performs the technique in a pair, literally “the one who takes”. Their partner, who receives the technique, is called uke.
The practitioner who attacks and receives the technique in a pair, literally “the one who receives”. Must be able to fall safely, ukemi.
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.
Japanese for “technique”, skill. In compounds it denotes groups of techniques: nage-waza, katame-waza, ashi-waza, uke-waza.
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.
Alertness that continues after a technique is finished, literally “remaining mind”. In kendo it is a condition for a valid ippon strike.
The 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.