Terminology

The following glossary includes most of the Japanese terminology which is in common use
in judo. It is not intended to be a fully-comprehensive dictionary of Japanese terms, only a
guide to cover most judo circumstances. Generally, the names of techniques area derived from verbs, which when changed into a noun undergo certain superficial changes. In the glossary, therefore, the noun form is given, and then in brackets, the verb form (which can be looked up in a dictionary ),
for example - HARAI (v.HARAU) to sweep.

Information courtesy of the British Judo Association

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  A                   

AIKI - A form of self-defence, based on special principles (lit. harmony of spirit)

AIKIDO - The 'way' of Aiki.

AITE - Opponent, partner.

ARASHI - Storm (e.g. yama arashi = mountain storm).

ASHI - Leg, foot.

ASHIWAZA - Leg/foot technique.

ATAMA - Head.

ATE - Strike, hit.

ATEMIWAZA - Hitting or punching technique.

AYUMI ASHI - A manner of walking in which each foot leads the other successively.

      B                   

BUDO - Military arts/concepts.

BUJITSU - Martial arts (all inclusive)

BUSHI - A knight of feudal Japan (a social class).

BUSHIDO - The moral ethical code of the Bushi, formulated                              originally c.14th century.

BUTSUKARI - See UCHIKOMI.    

      C                  

CHITSAI - Small.

CHIKARA - Strength.

CHUI - A caution (penalty equivalent to 5 points).

      D                

DAN - 'Leader', grade, generally Black Belt.

DE -(v.DERU) - To come out, to advance. (e.g. deashiharai).

DO - (a) Way, path, etc. This word was used frequently in Chinese and Japanese philosophy in the sense of the way of doing an act in the moral and ethical spheres well as the simple physical. Professor Kano 'borrowed' it from these sources.

(b) Trunk of the body.

DOJO - Hall or room in which judo is practised.

      E-G      

ERI - Collar, of a jacket.

FUSEGIKATA - Method, form, of defending.

FUSEGU - To defend.

GAKE-(v. KAKERU) - To hang, hook, block.

GARAMI-(v. GARAMU)- To entangle, wrap, bend.

GENKI - Energetic, lively, active.

GONOKATA - Forms of strength.

GOSHINJITSU - The art of self-protection (in all its forms).

GYAKU - Reserve, upside down.

      H                       

HA - Wing.

HADAKA - Naked.

HAIRIKATA - The way of entering for a (technique).

HAJIME - Start, referee's call to commence a contest.

HANE - Spring (e.g hanegoshi = spring hip).

HANSOKU - Disqualification (penalty ; equivalent to ten points).

HANTAI - To oppose.

HANTEI - Judgement, the referee's call at the end of a drawn contest calling on the corner judges to indicate who in their opinion was the better of the two contestants.

HARA - Stomach.

HARAI (BARAI) (v. HARU) - Sweep, reap.

HIDARI - Left.

HIJI - Elbow.

HIKI-(v. HIKU) - Pull.

HISHIGE-(v. HISHIGU) - To crush, squash, smash.

HIZA - Knee.

HON - (a) Point (see Ippon); ultimate score awarded in a contest.

          (b) Basic.

          (c) Number suffix for counting long cylindrical objects, therefore Ippon  

               seoinage = one arm shoulder throw.

      I-J 

IPPON - One point (score value of ten points).

IPPON SOGO GACHI - Compound win by IPPON made up of a score of WAZA-ARI added to the benefit of a KEIKOKU penalty.

ITSUTSUNOKATA - Forms of five.

JI - A Japanese ideograph.

JIGOTAI - Defensive posture.

JIKAN - Time out (the referee's instruction to the timekeeper when a break or pause in the contest is necessary).

JITA KYOYEI - The principle that individual advancement benefits society as a whole.

JITSU (JIUTSU or JUTSU) - Art.

JOSEKI - The place in a dojo or hall where the seniors of VIP's sit.

JU - (a) Soft, gentle. This word is a word taken from Taoist philosophy and embodies the opposite of hard, extreme, unreasonable. Hence the use of ju in Judo does not imply soft (as a synonym of easy), but rather reasonable, efficient. Physical action in judo is not meant to be easy (weak) so much as economic, by using the body to its best advantage and taking active advantage of any and all weaknesses the opponent may offer, so that maximum effect can be attained with maximum efficiency.

(b) Ten.

JUDO - A form of wrestling in which clothes are worn by the contestants. The clothes and belt (encircling the waist twice) allow for greater range of technique. The depth of judo in the use of TACHIWAZA (techniques done in the standing position) and NEWAZA (techniques done in the groundwork positions) require skill plus physical and metal fitness being increasingly raised to an extremely high standard. In promotion examinations (grading contests) no allowance is conceded to size or weight; success depends solely on the individual's attributes.

JUDOGI - The clothes worn when practising of competing at judo.

JUDOKA - A person who practise judo. A very senior player (at least 4th dan).

JU-JUTSU (JIUJITSU)- A name covering all forms of fighting, without weapons, with very drastic methods.

JUNOKATA - The forms of 'gentleness'. Showing the principles of 'giving way'.

JUSHIN - Centre of gravity.

      K                           

KAESHI (GAESHI) - To counter (e.g osotogaeshi = major outer-counter).

KAESHIWAZA - Counter techniques.

KAKE - The point of the throw, the point of maximum power.

KAI (KWAI) - Society, club.

KAKU (GAKU) - An angle.

KAMI - (a) Upper, top.

           (b) Paper.

           (c) God(s).

KAMIZA - 'Upper seat'; the instructor's side of the DOJO.

KANSETSU - A joint, articulation.

KANSETSUWAZA - Technique of locking limb joints.

KAO - Face.

KARATE - (Literally empty handed) a system of fighting without weapons, striking with the hand, feet, elbows, etc.

KARATEDO - The 'way' of karate.

KARUI - Light.

KATA - (a) Form. A stylized set of techniques used to develop the performer's posture, balance and appreciation of the various judo techniques.

            (b) One side.

            (c) Shoulder (e.g. kataguruma = shoulder wheel).

KATAI - Hard.

KATAME (GATAME) (v. KATEMERU) - To harden, tighten , hold (e.g. katagatame = shoulder hold.

KATSU (or KAPPO) - Methods of resuscitation.

KEIKO - Practise.

KEIKOKU - Warning (penalty; equivalent to 7 points).

KEMPO - A method of fighting, similar to boxing.

KEN - Sword.

KENDO - The 'way' of the sword (japanese two handed fencing).

KENDOGU - General equipment for practising kendo.

KERU - To kick.

KESA - A Buddhist monk's surplice, worn diagonally across the body. Thus there is the technique known as kesagatame but which in free translation into English is referred to as scarf hold.

KI - Psychic energy said to be centred in the SAIKATANDEN.

KIAI - A shout used to harden the body and strengthen the will when maximum effort is required.

KIME (v. KAKERU) - To decide.

KIMENOKATA - Forms of decision, which is the kata of self-protection.

KIRI (v. KIRU) - Cut, as with a knife.

KO - (a) small, minor (e.g. kouchigari = minovr inner reaping).

        (b) Old ancient.

        (c) Lecture, study, think.

KODOKAN - The headquarters of judo in Japan (Tokyo).

KOKA - A score, almost a yuko (value of score; 3 points).

KOSHI (GOSHI) - Hips, (e.g. koshiwaza = hip techniques).

KOSHIKINOKATA - The forms of the old style. All techniques are supposed to be performed in armour.

KUBI - Neck.

KUMIKATA - Method of holding the judogi.

KURUMA (GURUMA) - (a) Wheel (e.g. oguruma = major wheel).

                                  (b) Vehicle.

KUZURE (v. KUZURERU)-To crumble, collapse, break-down. Thus a free translation of kuzurekesagatame would be broken scarfhold.

KUZUSHI - The balance broken.

KYU - A judo 'student' grade.

      L-M   

MA - Exact, just, absolutely.

MACHI-DOJO - Back-street gymnasium.

MAE - Front.

MAKIKOMI - To wrap or roll up, to throw by rolling oneself so that the opponent is whipped off his feet.

MANAKA - Centre.

MASUTEMIWAZA - Technique whereby the performer (tori) falls straight on to his back.

MATA - The inside top of the thigh.

MATTA - Wait, break.

MAWARI (v. MAWARU) - To turn round.

MEIJIN - Expert, master.

MI - Body (human).

MIGI - Right (as opposed to left).

MIZU - Water.

MOMO - Thigh.

MON - Gate, junior grade.

MOROTE - Both hands, two hands (e.g. morote seoinage = both hands shoulder throw).

MUNE - Chest.

      N-O      

NAGE (v. NAGERU) - To throw (e.g. nage waza = throwing techniques).

NAGENOKATA - The forms of throwing. 15 selected throws executed both left and right to train the participants in body control and appreciation of judo technique.

NAME - Wave (of water).

NAMI (v. NARUBERU)- To place in a line, range in a row.

NE (v. NERU) - To lie down.

NEWAZA - Technique done in a lying down position.

O - Big, Large, Major (e.g. ouchigari = major inner reaping).

OBI - Belt.

OKII - Big.

OKURI (v. OKURU) - To send forward (e.g. okurierijime = sliding lapel neck-lock).

OSAEKOMI - Holding (e.g. osaekomiwaza = holding technique(s)); referee's call signalling to the timekeeper that a hold is effective.

OSHI (v. OSU) - To push.

OTOSHI (v. OTOSU) - To drop (e.g. taiotoshi = body drop).

OWARI - The end.

      P-R   

RANDORI - Free practice.

REI - Bow.

RENRAKU - Connection, contact.

RENRAKUWAZA - Combination technique.

RENSHU - To practise.

RENZOKUWAZA - Comprehensive name for throws linked up in anyway.

RITSUREI - Standing bow.

RONIN - An unretained Samurai warrior.

RYOTE - Two hands.

RYU - School. Attached to most of the names of the old jiujitsu systems (e.g. Kito Ryu).

      S         

SAIKATANDEN - The lower abdomen.

SAMURAI - A knight of feudal Japan (a social class). (see Bushi).

SASAI - To support, prop (e.g. sasaitsurikomiashi = propping drawing ankle).

SEI RYOKU SENYO - The principle of maximum efficiency in the use of mind and body.

SENAKA - The back (of a body).

SENSEI - Teacher, senior.

SENSHU - A competitor, champion.

SEOI (v. SEOU) - To carry on the back (e.g. seoinage).

SEPPUKU - The Bushi method of committing suicide. Normally erroneously called 'harakiri'.

SHIAI - Contest.

SHIAIJO - Contest area.

SHIDO - Note (penalty; equivalent to 3 points).

SHIHAN - Master, past-master, founder.

SHIHO - Four quarters, four directions.

SHIKI - Style, ceremony.

SHIME (JIME) (v. SHIMERU)- To tighten, strangle.

SHIMEWAZA - Technique of neck-locking.

SHIMOZA - 'Lower seat'; the ordinary members' side of the DOJO.

SHISEI - Posture.

SHITA - Below, underneath.

SHIZEN - Nature.

SHIZENTAI - Natural (upright) posture.

SODE - Sleeve.

SONOMAMA - Freeze, do not move.

SORE MADE - Referee's command: that is all finish.

SOTO - Outside, outer (e.g. osotogari = major outer reap).

SUKUI (v.SUKUKU) - To scoop up.

SUMI - Corner.

SUTEMI (v.SUTERU) - To throw away.

SUTEMIWAZA - Technique whereby the attacker throws away his own body, sacrifices his own posture.

      T        

TACHI (v. TATSU) - To stand.

TACHIWAZA - Technique done in the standing position.

TAI - Body.

TAI SABAKI - Body movement.

TAISO - Physical exercise.

TANI - Valley (e.g. taniotoshi = valley drop).

TATAMI - Rice straw mats used in dojos and japanese houses.

TATE - Vertical.

TE - Hand (e.g. tewaza = hand techniques).

TEKUBI - Wrist.

TOKETA - Hold broken, A command given by a referee to indicate to the timekeeper, the contestants and the onlookers generally that a contestant has effectively broken the hold by which he was being secured.

TOKUI - Favourite, special (e.g. tokuiwaza = favourite technique).

TOMOE - Turning over, twisting over, whirling over. It is difficult to find the exact translation in English but tomoenage freely translated is commonly known in English as - stomach throw.

TORI (v.TORU) - (a) The name used often in technical explanation for the person who throws.

                        (b) To grasp, to hold in the hands.

TSUGI ASHI - A manner of walking in which one foot leads at each step and the other never passes it.

TSUKURI - The action of breaking the opponent's balance.

TSURI - To 'fish up' (e.g. tsurikomi = to 'fish', lift up and pull forward).

TSUYOI - Strong.

      U-W

UCHIKOMI (v.UTSU) - To beat against. A repetitive exercise where the throwing technique is taken to point of kake.

UDE - Arm..

UE - Above, on top of.

UKE (v. UKERU) - To take. The name used often in technical explanations for the person who is thrown..

UKEMI - The 'breakfall'..

UKI (v. UKU) - To float. Buoyant.

URA - Back, rear, reverse..

USHIRO - Behind, back of (e.g. ushirogoshi = back of hip)..

UTSURI (v. UTSURU) - To change, move (e.g. utsurigoshi = changing . hip).

WAKARE (v. WAKARU) - To divide, separate (e.g. yokowakare = side separation)..

WAZA - Technique..

WAZA-ARI - A score, almost an ippon (score value of 7 points)..

WARA-ARI AWASETE IPPON - Ippon achieved by having scored two WAZA-ARIS.