Ryu – Style of an art
Ryukyu – The chain of Islands southwest of Japan
Kobudo – Old martial ways. The practice of traditional weapons to better ones character.
Kobujutsu – Old martial arts. The practice of traditional weapon techniques.
Kyu – The ranks before black belt
Dan – The ranks of black belt level
Mudansha – A person who does not hold a dan rank
Yudansha – A person who holds a dan rank
Senpai – Senior student
Sensei – Teacher
Dojo – Training hall
Shugo – Assemble, line up
Kiotsuke – Attention
Seiza – Formal sitting position
Mokuso – Translates as “meditation”, it literally means “still thoughts”.
Sensei, ni rei – Bow to the teacher
Otogai ni rei – Bow to each other
Dozo Onegasimasu – Please teach me
Domo Arigato gozaimashita – Thank you for teaching me
Hajime – Begin
Yame – Stop
Yasume – Rest
Mawatte – Turn Around
Kiai – A shout to focus energy
Yoi – Ready
Counting: 1 – ichi 2 – ni 3 – san 4 – shi 5 – go 6 – roku 7 – shichi 8 – hachi 9 – ku 10 – ju
Kihon – Basics
Kamae – Combative posture
Uchi – Strike
Tsuki – Thrust
Zuki – Punch
Uke – Block
Kata – Prearranged forms
Kumite – Fighting
Bunkai – Application of kata
Jodan – Upper
Chudan – Middle
Gedan – Lower
Kime – Focus, the concentration of mind and body to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Mushin – No mind. In combat when the mind is empty. To move without being conscious of it.
Zanshin – The state of total awareness and composure before, during and after an encounter.
Go No Sen – block and counter attack the opponent after their attack has finished
Sen No Sen – block and counter attack while the opponent is attacking
Sen-Sen No Sen – attacking and counter attacking the opponent while they are attacking
Deai – you sense your attackers attack coming and you counter attack before the opponent can fully start his offensive attack
Ma-ai – Distance between opponents.
Tai Sabaki – Body shifting
Ashi Sabaki – Foot Work
Hikite – Pulling hand
Hiki ashi – Pull back the foot
Itsku – Glued, stiff feet
Ukimi – Suspension, floating feet
Yori Ashi – Sliding the front foot forward
Sugi Ashi – Shuffling forward, both feet move
Ayumi Ashi – Walking in short quick steps
Mawashi Ashi – Circular Footwork used to move the body off the line of attack
Hiraki Ashi – Stance-opening Footwork used to move the body off the line of attack
Kosa Dachi – Cross-legged Stance
Kiba Dachi – Straddle Stance, feet turned inward
Shiko Dachi – Straddle Stance, feet turned outward
Fudo Dachi – Rooted Stance
Kokutsu Dachi – Back Stance
Sanchin Dachi – Hour Glass Stance
Zenkutsu Dachi – Front Stance
Nekoashi Dachi – Cat-foot Stance
Bo – a wooden staff (approximately six feet in length)
Sai – A trident shaped truncheon made of steel
Tonfa – A wooden weapon shaped from a handle
Nunchaku – A wooden flail
Kama – A bladed weapon in the shape of a sickle with a wooden handle
Tekko – Metal hand bands; Knuckle dusters
