TERMINOLOGY
Practitioners in ninjutsu who advertise their dojo usually use a lot of the Japanese names to describe their art and what it is about. Raven avoided the use of these terms, as much as she was able to, because they could present barriers of entry for new people who want to train but do not know where to begin.
This section, however, will explain in more detail the terminology used within the training environment.
Terms used to Describe Martial Arts
Bujinkan - Hall of divine warrior training
Dojo - Safe place to practice
Miyabiryu - Gentle dragon; the name of this dojo
Ninjutsu - The art of endurance
Ninpo - Way of the ninja
Shinobi - Another name for ninja
Taijutsu - Body art; body martial art
Clothing
Gi – Training uniform (also known as kimono)
Hakama – Pleated divided skirt
Obi – Belt or sash
Tabi – Traditional footwear of the Japanese (split toe)
The Five Elements (Gogyu)
Chi – Earth
Sui - Water
Ka - Fire
Fu – Wind
Ku - Void
Directions
Chu – Middle
Ge – Low
Hidari – Left
Koho – Rear, back
Mae – Front
Naname – Diagonal
Omote – Outside, front; apparent, concepts easily understood
Shomen – The front
Sokuho - Sideways
Ten – Heaven, sky; top
Ura – Inside, back, hidden; concepts that are not obvious
Ushiro – Rear, back
Yoko – Side; sideways
Zenpo – Forward, front direction
Etiquette
Deshi – Student/disciple
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita – Thank you very much for that which you have done
Gomen Nasai - I’m sorry
Kohai – Junior
Konban Wa - Good evening
Moichido - One more time (please)
Onegaishimasu – Please assist me
Rei – Bow
Sayonara – Goodbye
Seiza – Seated posture, correct sitting
Sempai – Senior
Sensei – Teacher, literally “one who has gone before”
Shidoshi – licensed teacher in the Bujinkan system
Shidoshi-ho – teacher serving under the guidance of a full shidoshi
Shikin haramitsu dai kom yo – “A moment of true interaction between body and mind brings forth enlightenment”.
Soke – “head of family”
Yame – Stop
Numbers
-
ichi
-
ni
-
san
-
shi / yon
-
go
-
roku
-
shichi /nana
-
hachi
-
ku / kyu
-
ju
Parts of the Body
Ago - Jaw
Ashi – Leg
Butsumetsu – Kyusho; side of the torso, floating ribs
Hara – Belly; center of one’s body
Hiji – Elbow
Kata - Shoulder
Ken - Fist
Ki – Internal energy, spirit, mind, heart, soul
Kokoro – Spirit, heart, or mind
Koshi – Hip area; loins
Kote – Wrist
Kyusho – Vital points, pressure points, weak points
Men – Head; all parts of the head, the face
Mune – Chest
Shi - Finger
Shin – Heart, mind, spirit
Shomen – The front
Tai - The body
Te – Hand; arm
To – Head; sword
Ude – Arm
Yokomen – Side of the head
Kamae (body postures)
Agura - Tailor seat
Bobi - Preparing defensive posture
Doko - Angry tiger defence stance
Fudoza – Immovable seat
Gassho - Also Kongo; prayer stance; greeting stance
Hachi(monji) - "Eight" stance
Hanza - Half seat
Hicho – Flying bird
Hira ichimonji - Flat position in a straight line
Hoko – Receiving bear posture
Iai goshi - Convenient stance for drawing sword; half-kneeling
Ichimonji – Straight line; first stance
Ihen - Unusual change
Inori - variation on jumongi
Jumonji – Figure ten posture, crossed arm position
Kosei - Attacking stance
Ryuhyo - Dragon-leopard stance
Ryuhyo fusetsu - Dragon-leopard-wind and snow stance
Seiza – Seated posture, correct sitting
Shizen – Natural
Weapons
Ashiko – Foot Claws
Bokken – Wooden sword used for training
Boshi – The tempered part of the blade above the yokote around the kissaki (tip)
Choku-so – A straight spear blade
Daisho – The set of katana and kodachi
Daito – Longer Japanese sword
Hanbo – 3 foot wooden staff
Ha – The Edge(s) of a blade
Jo – 4 foot wooden staff
Jutte – A metal truncheon
Katana – Sword
Kodachi – Short sword
Kunai – Leaf shaped digging tool
Kusari Fundo – A 100 cm chain with weighted ends
Kusari Gama – Traditional Chain and sickle weapon
Kyoketsu shoge - Hooked blade weapon with weighted cord
Metsubushi – Blinding powder, smoke, pepper, etc.
Naginata – Halberd
Rokushakabo – Six foot staff
Saya – Japanese sword scabbard
Shinai – bamboo training sword
Shikomi zue – A walking stick with hidden weapon
Shuko - Hand claws
Shuriken – Small throwing weapons, either senban shuriken which are flat with sharp edges or bo shuriken which are spikes
Suburi Bokken – Heavy wooden sword used for solo drills
Tachi – Long sword; a longer version of the katana, worn hanging from the belt edge down
Tanto – Knife
Tessen – Iron fan
Tsuba – Sword guard (hilt)
Shoto – Short sword
Wakazashi - Short sword
Yari – Spear
Yoroi – A suit of armour
Techniques
Ashi Ori – Break the leg
Atemi – Strike; striking the vital points
Atsu – Press
Batto – The flowing motion of sword drawing and cutting. The “art of drawing the long sword”.
Bojutsu – Art of using six foot staff fighting methods
Boshi ken – Thumb drive fist
Budo taijutsu- Unarmed combat methods of the Bujinkan
Dakentaijutsu – Striking, punching, kicking body methods
Dori – To seize, catch
Fudo ken – Clenched fist
Furi – To spin or twirl
Ganseki nage – To drop a big rock
Geri – Kick
Goroshi – To kill
Gyaku – Reverse; joint manipulation
Hodoki – Free, loosen, unbind, get untied
Hojojutsu – Binding techniques using a rope or cord to restrain prisoners
Iai – Motion of drawing a sword and cutting
In – To hide
Jime – To constrict, tighten, choke
Jojutsu – Techniques of using a jo
Jujutsu – Techniques of flexibility; art of flexibility
Junan taiso – Body conditioning and flexibility
Jutaijutsu – Grappling methods, throws, locks, holds, soft body method
Kaeshi – To turn over, throw
Kaiten – Rolling; overturn
Kata – Shoulder; arranged forms; single, one; style, type, pattern
Keri – To kick also geri
Kesa giri - Diagonal cut
Kiai – Spirit shout; a focused, directed yell
Kiri – To cut; also a mist, fog
Kihon happo - The fundamental 9 ways
Kogoroshi – Killing the child (little finger)
Koppojutsu - Bone striking method
Koshijutsu – Organ and muscle strikes
Kudaki – Crush, break, smash; shatter
Kyojitsu - Play of truth and deception; a feint
Kyojutsu tenkan ho - interchange of falsehood and reality
Kyudo – Archery; way of the bow
Mae geri – Front kick
Muto dori – Unarmed against a sword
Nagashi – Receiving flow; parry; deflect
Nage – To throw
Ori – To break
Otoshi – To drop
Oyagoroshi – Killing the parent (the thumb)
Randori – Freestyle rotational practice
Ryote – Two-handed
Sabaki - Evasion, footwork
Sanshin no kata - Three hearts movement methods
Seishin-Tanren – To “polish one’s spirit” through hard training
Shako ken - Claw and palm strike
Shinken gata – Real fighting form or feeling
Shikan ken – Extended knuckle fist
Shime – To choke, constrict, tighten
Shishin ken – Finger needle strike
Shitan ken – Thumb pressure strike
Shomen uchi – Forehead strike
Sokugyaku – Ball of foot kick
Sokuho kaiten – Sideways roll
Sokuho tobi – Sideways leap
Sokuyaku – Foot strike
Sokugyaku – Toe strike
Tai sabaki – Body evasion; natural movements for evading attacks
Taihenjutsu – Body changing arts: rolling, leaping, silent movement, tumbling, breakfalls
Taijutsu – Body techniques, unarmed combat methods
Taiso – Flexibility exercise; stretches
Tobi – Leaping and jumping skills
Tobi keri – Leaping kick
Tori – To seize, catch; the one applying the technique
Tsuki - Thrust, punch
Uchi – Inside; to attack, defeat, destroy, conquer, strike
Uke nagashi – Receiving the attack; receiving flow
Ukemi – The act of taking a controlled fall when thrown; receiving techniques in kata; breakfalls
Ura – Inside, back, hidden; concepts that are not obvious
Yoko aruki – Sideways walking
Zenpo geri – Forward stamp kick
Zenpo kaiten – Forward roll