Glossary of Terms!!!!!

ichi - one
ni - two
san - three
shi / yon - four
go - five
roku - six
shichi / nana - seven
hachi - eight
ku / kyu - nine
ju - ten


Ashi - leg

Arashi - storm

Bokken - Wooden training Sword

Chi - earth

Chi no kata - form of earth

Dojo - Training Hall

Dan - Floor/level. Used for blackbelt ranks

Edda-kappo - bone crushing techniques

Fu - wind

Fu no kata - form of wind

Geri/Keri - kick

Gi - Martial arts uniform

Giri - duty or obligation (loosely translated)

GoDan - 5th degree black belt

Go-Gyo no kata - "form of five forces", refers to the 5 elemental training exercises in Gyokko Ryu

Hanbo - 3 foot wooden staff

Hanbojutsu - skill with the hanbo

Hara - the area approximately 1 inch below the navel and halfway through the body.

Henka - variations

Ichi-monji no kamae - posture of 1, part of the basic 8 techniques

Jo - 4 foot wooden staff

Ju monji no kamae - posture of 10, part of the basic 8 techniques

-Jutsu - skill

Kamae - posture or "mindset"

Kamiza - spirit seat

Katana - traditional samurai sword approximately 3-4 feet in length with a curved blade

Kenjutsu - skill with the sword

Ken Tai Ichi Jo - "the body and sword as one"

Ki - universal power or energy; life force

Kiai - spirit shout

Kihon happo - the 8 basic techniques of the Bujinkan Dojo

Kishoo - patch worn by members of the Bujinkan

Ku - void, emptiness, pure potential

Ku no kata - form of potential

Kusari-fundo - Chain weapon with weights at both ends

Kusari-gama - traditional chain and sickle weapon

Kyu - Step. Used for ranks below 1st degree black belt

Me - eyes

Mo ichi do - "one more way", a phrase used to urge students to try something again, but a little different than last time

Mo ikkai - "once more"

Nagare - flow

Nawa-bundo - Training verson of kusari-fundo, made of rope

Obi - Belt

Onegai-shimasu - Please assist me

Omiagi - a gift for an honored guest

Omote - outside

Rei - a bow in Japan

Ryu - a suffix added to a name to denote a style of martial arts

Samurai - one who serves

Sanshin-no-kata - 5 basic "3 step" exercises

Seiza - solid seat

Sensei - Teacher

Seppuku - traditional method of suicide for the samurai

Shidoshi - Title for go-dan (5th degree black belt) instructors which means "teacher of the warrior's code"

Shihan - Title for ju-dan (10th degree black belt) instructors

Shikin haramitsu daikomyo - May the next thing I do bring enlightenment (Part of bow-in)

Shinai - bamboo training sword

Shihan - master teacher

Shinai - bamboo training sword

Shizentai no kamae - natural body posture

Shuto - Sword Hand

Shuriken - multi-pointed thin plate throwing weapons, meant mainly for distraction

Soke - "head of the family", the term used to describe the grandmaster of the Bujinkan

Sui - water

Sui no kata - form of water

Shodan - 1st degree black belt

Tabi - Split toe tradidional Japanse footwear

Tai - body

Taijutsu - skill with the body

Tatami - reed mats

Te - hand

Tanto - knife

Tobi - leap

Uke - In training, refers to the attacker

Ukemi - ground hitting techniques, including breakfalls, rolling, and nagare

Ura - inside

Yame! - STOP!