Terminology 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

PRONUNCIATION

A ah as in father or hajime
E eh as in elephant or eri
I ee as in machine or ppon
O oh as in hello or oshi
U oo as in lulu or uke

A
Ago Chin

Aite Opponent, partner

Aka Red

Antei Stability

Arashi Storm

Ate Attack

Atemi To hit or strike

 

B
Bogyo Defense

Budo Martial arts (ways)

Bujutsu Military arts

Bushido Way of the warrior

Butsukari Bump (Body contact)

 

C
Chairo Brown

Chi kaku Close

Chi kara Strength, power

 

D
Dan (Step) Black belt level

Judansha Black belt
Shodan 1st degree black belt
Nidan 2nd degree black belt
Sandan 3rd degree black belt
Yodan (Yondan) 4th degree black belt
Godan 5th degree black belt
Rokudan 6th degree black belt
Shichidan 7th degree black belt
Hachidan 8th degree black belt
Kudan 9th degree black belt
Judan 10th degree black belt

Dai jobu OK

De Advance

Deshi Student

Do Way of life

Do itashi mastate You're welcome

 

Dojo The place where Judo is practiced

Kamiza Head wall
Joseki Wall to the right of kamiza, place for seniors
Tatami Judo mats
Domo arrigato goziamsu Thank you very much
Dozo Please (When giving something)

 

G
Gambaru Put up with (To resist, stiffen)

Gake Hook

Gari Reap

 

Gi or Judogi Judo uniform

Eri Judo uniform lapel or collar
Obi Belt
Shitage Judo uniform pants
Sode Judo uniform sleeve
Uwagi Judo uniform jacket

Gomen nasai Sorry (Apology)

Guruma Wheel

Gyaku Reverse

 

H
Ha Wing

Hadaka Naked

Hai Yes (I have heard you)

Hane Spring or jump

Hantai Opposite or reverse

Happo no kuzushi 8 Directions of off balance

Harai (barai) (haru) Sweep

Hazumi Momentum

Hidari Left

Hikite Pulling hand

Hon Basic (or, really? - Hon des?)

 

I
Ikioi Impetus

Iie No (but, a negative is rarely used in Japan!)

 

J
Jime (shime) To constrict, strangle

Jita keyoe You-me shining together ("Mutual Glow")

Joto Good

Ju Principle of gentleness or giving way

Judo Gentle way

Juji Cross

Judoka Judo player

Joseki Place of honor for higher ranks, in Dojo

 

K
Kaeshi Counter action

Kake Execution of a throw

Kaku (gaku) Angle or corner

Kamiza Place of honor

Kami Upper, divine spirit, paper

 

Kappo Resuscitation

Eri katsu Lapel holding method
Kogan katsu Kicking coccyx or testicle method
Sasoi katsu Inducing method
Soo katsu Integral method

Kata Form practice

Nage no kata Forms of throwing
Katame no kata Forms of grappling
Kodokan Goshin Jitsu Kodokan self defense forms
Kime no kata Forms of decision or self defense
Kumi kata Forms of combative/opposing grips
Kime shiki Forms of decision
Go no sen no kata Forms of counters
Koshiki no kata Forms of antiquity
Kenka yotsu Competitive grips
Itsutsu no kata Forms of five principals
Joshi judo goshiho Women's self defense techniques
Ju no kata Forms of gentleness
Renkoho no kata Forms of arrest or restraint
Seiryoku zenyo kokumin taiku National physical exercise

Katame/gatame Hold

Kesa Scarf

Keiko Practice in general

Uchi komi Repetition attack practice (fitting in)
Sute geiko Alternate throwing practice
Tandoku renshu Pantomime practice

Keiko onegai shimasu Please practice with me

Ki Spirit (internal power)

Kiai A shout with concentration and commitment

Kiy o tsuke Attention (Take note!)

Ko Little

Kogeki Attack

Komi Pull

Kodokan Place for learning the way

Kuzure Modified

Kuzushi Balance & direction of movement

Kyu Judo rank below black belt level

Mudansha Below black belt
Rokyu 6th class judo rank - yellow belt
Gokyu 5th class judo rank - orange belt
Yonkyu 4th class judo rank - green belt
Sankyu 3rd class judo rank - brown belt
Nikyu 2nd class judo rank - brown belt
Ikkyu 1st class judo rank - brown belt

 

M
Ma In front (e. g. ma sutemi waza)

Maai Distance, space between opponents

Mae Front

Migi Right

Mon Junior grade

 

N
Nage Throw

Nami Normal, regular, natural

 

O
O Big or major, honorific preposition (e. g. O Sensei)

Ohiyo gozaimas Good morning

Otoshi Drop

Okuri To slide

Otoshi To drop

 

R
Rei Bow

Ritsu rei Standing bow
Za rei Kneeling bow

Reigi saho Dojo etiquette

Ryu School (literally "Stream/Flow")

 

S
Sasae Lower prop

Sayonara Good bye

Seiryo ku zenyo Maximum efficiency with minimum effort

Sensei Teacher/instructor

Sensei ne rei Bow to sensei/instructor

Seoi To carry on the back

 

Shiai Contest

Chui A serious or repeated penalty
Shido Slight penalty or infringement
Hajime Begin (referee's command)
Hansoku make Disqualification
Hiki wake Draw or tie
Hantei Call for decision (majority of 3)
Ippon Full point
Itemi wake Loss by injury
Jikan Time (referee's command)
Jo gai Outside contest area
Keikoku A serious penalty or repeated Chui
Koka Less than a Yuko, slight superiority
Make Loss
Matte Stop (referee's command)
Maitta "I surrender"
Osae komi Hold-down (referee's command)
Sen shu Champion
Shiai jo Contest area
Shido A slight penalty. Or infringement
Sono mama Freeze (referee's command)
Sore made Time is up (referee's command)
Suwate Sit down
Toketa Hold broken (referee's command)
Waza ari Half point
Wazari aswasete ippon 2 half points make a full point
Win by deafult
     Fusen gachi Win by forfeit or default
     Kiken gachi Win by withdrawal
     Sogo gachi Combination win by half point
     Yusei gachi Win by decision
Yoshi Continue (referee's command)
Yuko Not quite a half point

Shihan Master teacher (7^th Dan and up)

Shiho Corner/quarter

Shintai Advance-retreat, body movement

Shiroi White

Shisei Posture in general

Anza Sitting cross-legged
Ayumi ashi Normal walking
Hon Basic
Hon tai Basic body posture
Jigo Defensive
Jigo hon tai Basic defensive posture
Seiza Sitting on knees
Shizen Natural
Shizen hon tai Basic natural posture
Tsugi ashi Sliding foot walking

Sode Sleeve

Soto Outside

Sukui To scoop up

Sumi Corner

Sumimassen I am sorry (apology)

Sutemi Sacrifice

Swate Sit down

 

T
Tai Body

Ago Jaw or chin
Ashi Foot
Ashi kubi Ankle
Atama Head
Do Waist
Ha Tooth, teeth
Nana Nose
Hara Stomach
Hiji Elbow
Hiza Knee
Kata Shoulder
Koa Face
Koshi or Goshi Waist/hip
Kubi Neck
Kuchi Mouth
Mata Inside upper thigh
Mune Chest
Nodo Throat
Seoi Back
Te Hand
Te kubi Wrist
Ude Forearm

Tai sabaki Body turning movement & control

Mae sabaki Front movement control
Mae mawari sabaki Front turn movement control
Ushiro sabaki Back movement control

Taiso Exercises in general

Junbi undo Warm up exercises
Shumatsu undo Cooling-off exercises
Randori Free practice

Tani Valley

Tate Vertical, length wise

Tomodashi Judo friend

Tomoe To turn over

Tori One who throws the attacker

Tsukuri Entering or fitting in for a throw

Tsuri Lift

 

U
Uchi Inner

Uke Receiver of action (to receive)

Ukemi Break fall

Uki To float or floating

Ura Back, rear

Ushiro Behind, back of

Utsuri To change, move

 

W
Wakare To divide, separate

Waza Technique

Atemi waza Striking techniques
Bogyo Defense
Nage waza Throwing technique
Go kyo no waza Five sets of technique (1st 40 throws)
Kaeshi waza Counter techniques
Renraku waza Combination techniques
Sutemi waza Sacrifice techniques

Ma sutemi waza Back falling sacrifice techniques
Obi nage Belt throw
Obi tori gaeshi Belt grab reversal
Sumi gaeshi Corner reversal
Tawara gaeshi Rice bag reversal
Tomoe nage Circle Throw
Ura nage Inside out or rear throw
Uki waza Floating throw
Yoko sutemi waza Side falling sacrifice techniques
Daki wakare Encircling separation
Hane makikomi Springing wrap around throw
Harai makikomi Hip sweep wrap around
Hikikomi gaeshi Locked rolling reversal
Kani basami Scissors or crab throw
Soto makikomi Outside wrap around throw
Tani otoshi Valley drop
Uchi mata makikomi Inner thigh wrap around throw
Yoko gake Side hook
Yoko guruma Side wheel
Yoko otoshi Side drop
Yoko tomoe nage Side circle throw
Yoko wakare Side separation

Tachi waza Standing techniques

Ashi waza Foot techniques
Ashi guruma Leg whirl
De Advance
De ashi harai Advancing foot sweep
Harai tsuri komi ashi Sweeping pulling lift throw
Hiza guruma Knee wheel
Kawazu gake Wrapping opponent's leg with own
Kibisu gaeshi Heel trip
Ko soto gake Small outside hook
Ko soto gari Little outside reaping throw
Ko soto harai Minor outside clip
Ko uchi gaeshi Little inner reaping counter
Ko uchi gari Little inside reaping throw
Nidan ko soto gari Double little outside reap
Okuri ashi harai Assist foot sweep
O soto gaeshi Major outer reaping counter
O soto gari Major outer reaping
O soto guruma Big outside whirl
O soto otoshi Major outer dropping throw
O uchi gaeshi Major inner reaping counter
O uchi gari Major inside reaping throw
Sasae tsuri komi ashi Foot stop lift pull throw
Tsubame gaeshi Swallow counter
Yama arashi Mountain storm
Yoko gake Side hook

Koshi waza or Goshi waza Hip techniques

Eri tsuri komi goshi Lifting lapel hip throw
Hane goshi Springing hip throw
Hane goshi gaeshi Springing hip reversal
Harai goshi Sweeping hip throw
Harai goshi gaeshi Sweeping hip counter
Koshi guruma Hip wheel throw
Kubi nage Headlock throw
Ogoshi Major hip throw
O guruma Big wheel throw
Sode tsurikomi goshi Lifting sleeve pull hip throw
Tsurikomi goshi Lifting pull hip throw
Uchi mata Inner thigh reaping throw
Uchi mata gaeshi Inner thigh reaping counter
Uchi mata sukashi Inner thigh reaping slip
Uki goshi Floating hip throw or rising hip throw
Ushiro goshi Back lift throw
Utsuri goshi Hip shift throw
Tsuri goshi Lifting pulling hip throw

Te waza Hand techniques

Eri seoi nage Lapel shoulder throw
Ippon seoi nage Single arm shoulder throw
Kata guruma Shoulder whirl
Kuchiki taoshi Dead tree drop or one hand drop throw
Morote gari Two arm clip
Morote seoi nage Two arm shoulder throw
Obi otoshi Belt grab drop
Seoi nage Back-carry throw
Sumi otoshi Corner drop
Sukui nage Scoop throw
Soto maki komi Outside wrap around throw
Tai otoshi Body drop
Ude gaeshi Arm reversal or counter
Uki otoshi Floating drop
Uki waza Floating side throw

Ne waza Mat techniques

Hikikomi gaeshi Locking and rolling action into mat work
Kansetsu waza Joint locking techniques

Ashi garami Entangled leg lock - illegal
Juji gatame Arm taking across arm lock
Hiza gatame Knee hold
Ude garami Figure 4 joint lock or arm wrap
Ude hishigi hara gatame Arm taking stomach armlock
Ude hishigi hiza gatame Knee armlock
Ude hishigi juji gatame cross armlock
Ude hishigi ude gatame Arm armlock
Ude hishigi waki gatame Armpit armlock
Waki gatame Armpit armlock

Osae komi waza Holding techniques

Ashi garami Entangling of the legs for escape
Dojime Leg scissoring the trunk - illegal
Fusegi Escape
Kuzure Modified
Hairi kata Mat entry techniques
Kumi kata Gripping techniques
Kami shiho gatame Upper quarter hold
Kata gatame Shoulder hold
Kesa gatame Scarf hold
Kuzure kesa gatame Modified scarf hold
Kuzure kami shiho gatame Modified upper corner hold
Kuzure yoko shiho gatame Modified side quarter hold
Makura kesa gatame Pillow scarf hold
Tate shiho gatame Vertical four direction hold
Ushiro kesa gatame Rear scarf hold
Yoko Side
Yoko shiho gatame Side quarter hold

Shime waza Choking techniques

Ashi jime Foot strangle
Gyaku juji jime Reverse cross strangle
Hadaka jime Naked strangle
Jigoku jime Hell strangle
Kata juji jime Single cross strangle
Kataha jime Single wing strangle
Katate jime One hand strangle
Nami juji jime Normal cross strangle
Obi jime Belt strangle
Okuri eri jime Sliding lapel strangle
Ryote jime Both hands lock
Sankaku jime Triangular strangle
Sode guruma jime Sleeve wheel strangle
Suso jime Jacket end strangle
Tsuk komi jime Thrust strangle
Ushiro kataha jime Reverse single wing strangle

Renraku waza Combination techniques

Ukemi waza Falling techniques

Koho ukemi Back falls
Zempo ukemi Forward falls
Kaiten Front rolling
Zempo kaiten ukemi Front rolling falls

 

Y
Yama Mountain

Yoko Side

 

Z
Zori Sandals

 

Counting In Japanese

Ichi One
Ni Two
San Three
Chi (Yon) Four
Go Five
Roku Six
Shichi Seven
Hachi Eight
Ku Nine
Ju Ten

Online Dictionaries:  EDICT  WWWJDIC  
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