Bujinkan Ninjutsu Glossary of Dojo Terms A long but by no means exhaustive list, compiled from many sources. Any errors are my own. Please feel free to contact me with comments or corrections. In time I will add or amend definitions as required. Etiquette Deshi - Student; disciple Domo Arigato Gozaimashita Thank you very much for that which you have done Gomen Nasai: Im sorry Kohai Junior Konban Wa: Good evening Onegaishimasu Please assist me Rei Bow, salute Sayonara Goodbye Seiza - Seated posture, correct sitting Sempai Senior Sensei Teacher, literally one who has gone before Shidoshi licensed teacher in the Bujinkan Bu jinkan system Shidoshi-ho teacher serving under the guidance of a full shidoshi Shikin haramitsu dai ko myo In every instance there is the possibility for
enlightenment This is one very short translation of these words there are many others. Soke head of family Yame Stop Numbers ichi one ni two san three shi / yon four go five roku six shichi / nana seven hachi eight ku / kyu nine ju ten Weapons Ashiko Foot Claws Bokken Wooden sword used for training Daisho - The set of katana and kodachi
Daito - Longer Japanese sword Hanbo 3 foot wooden staff 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 Metsubushi - Eye blinding powder, smoke, pepper, etc. Naginata Halberd Rokushakabo Six foot staff Saya - Japanese sword scabbard Shinai bamboo training sword 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 armor A to Z A Ashi - Leg Ashi Ori - Break the leg Atemi - Strike; striking the vital points Atsu - Press B Bajutsu - Horsemanship Batto - The flowing motion of sword drawing and cutting Bojutsu Art of using six foot staff fighting methods
Boshi ken - Thumb drive fist Budo- Martial ways Budo taijutsu- Unarmed combat methods of the Bujinkan Budoka- One who studies the martial way Bugei - Martial skill Bujin - Warrior spirit Bujinden - Hatsumi Senseis hombu dojo Bujinkan - Divine warrior training hall Bujutsu - Martial arts; martial techniques Buki - Weapon Bushi - Japanese warrior Butsumetsu - Kyusho; side of the torso, floating ribs C Chi - Earth Chi no Kata - Earth form Chi Ryaku - Earth principle Chu - Middle Chudan - Middle level
D Dai - Large, big, great Daikomyosai - Three day event celebrating Hatsumi Senseis birthday Daisho - The set of katana and kodachi Daito - Longer Japanese sword Dakentaijutsu - Striking, punching, kicking body methods Dan - Level or degree of black belt Densho - Traditional scrolls Do - Path, road, way; motion; change Dojo - Training hall, place of the way Doko - Angry tiger Dori - To seize, catch F Fu - Wind Fudo - Immobility Fudo ken - Clenched fist Fudoza - Immovable seat Furi - To spin or twirl
G Ganseki - Rock Ganseki nage - To drop a big rock Gata - One; also means style, pattern, form Ge - Low Gedan - Lower level Gedan uke - Downward receiving flow Geri - Kick Geta - Wooden clogs Gi - Training uniform (also dogi or keikogi) Gikan - Regard for justice Gogyo - The five elements: Chi Sui, Ka, fu, Ku. Goroshi - To kill Gyaku - Reverse; joint manipulation H Hajime - Begin Hakama - Pleated divided skirt Han: Half
Happo - Eight ways (all directional) Hara - Belly; center of ones body Heiho - Strategy; martial principles; warfare tactics Henka - Change; variation Hicho - Flying bird Hidari - Left Hiji - Elbow Hira - Flat, even, level Hodoki - Free, loosen, unbind, get untied Hojo - Binding and securing Hojojutsu - Binding techniques using a rope or cord to restrain prisoners Hoko - Encircling tiger Hombu - Main dojo I Iai - Motion of drawing a sword and cutting Ichimonji - Straight line (posture) In - To hide Inyo - Japanese name for Yin-Yang
Itami - Pain J Jime: To constrict, tighten, choke Jin - Human being, person Jodan - Upper level Jodan uke - Upper receiving flow Jojutsu - Techniques of using a jo Jujutsu - Techniques of flexibility; art of flexibility Jumonji - Figure ten posture, Crossed arm position Junan taiso - Body conditioning and flexibility Jutaijutsu - Grappling methods, throws, locks, holds, soft body method Jutsu - Techniques; art or method K Ka -Fire Kaeshi - To turn over, throw Kaiten - Rolling; overturn Kamae - Attitude, posture, stance Kanji - Chinese pictographic characters used in written Japanese
Kata - Shoulder; arranged forms; single, one; style, type, pattern Keiko - Training; practice Ken - Fist; heavy straight-blade sword; weapon Keri - To kick also geri Kesa giri: Diagonal cut Ki - Internal energy, spirit, mind, heart, soul Kiai - Spirit shout; a focused, directed yell Kihon - Foundation, basic, fundamental Kihon happo - Fundamentals; eight ways Kimono - Traditional dress of the Japanese Kiri - To cut; also a mist, fog Kobudo - Classical martial ways Kogoroshi - Killing the child (little finger) Koho - Rear, back Kokoro - Spirit, heart, or mind Koppojutsu: Bone striking method Koshi - Hip area; loins Koshijutsu - Organ and muscle strikes
Kote - Wrist Ku - Air, sky; emptiness, void; also the number 9 Kudaki - Crush, break, smash; shatter Kuden - Oral teachings Kukan Space Kunoichi female ninja Kusarifundo: Short chain with weighted ends Kusarigama: Sickle and chain Kyojitsu: Play of truth and deception; a feint Kyojutsu tenkan ho: interchange of falsehood and reality Kyoketsu shoge: Hooked blade weapon with weighted cord Kyu Step, grade; rank of green belt Kyudo - Archery; way of the bow Kyusho - Vital points, pressure points, weak points M Ma ai - Distancing; correct distance Mae - Front Mae geri - Front kick
Matte - Stop Men - Head; all parts of the head, the face Migi - Right Mune - Chest Musha - Warrior Muto - No sword Muto dori - Unarmed against a sword N Nagare - Flowing Nagashi - Receiving flow; parry; deflect Nage - To throw Naname - Diagonal
O Obi - Belt or sash Omote - Outside, front; apparent, concepts easily understood Oni - Devil, demon Ori - To break
Otoshi - To drop Oyagoroshi - Killing the parent (the thumb) R Randori - Freestyle rotational practice Ryote - Two-handed Ryu - Dragon; flowing; school, tradition; family; a style Ryuha - Branch of original style or school S Sabaki: Evasion, footwork Sanshin no kata: Three hearts movement methods Seiza - Seated posture, correct sitting Sempai: Any student senior to another Sensei: Teacher or instructor, one who has gone before Shako ken: Claw and palm strike Shi - Four; finger Shichi - Seven Shin - Heart, mind, spirit Shinai - Practice sword made of split bamboo
Shinken gata - Real fighting form or feeling Shidoshi - Teacher of the warrior way, godan or higher Shidoshi-ho - Assistant teacher of the warrior way Shihan - Honorary title of master teacher Shikan ken - Extended knuckle fist Shikomi zue - A walking stick with hidden weapon Shime - To choke, constrict, tighten Shinobi - Another name for the ninja Shinodake - Hollow bamboo cane used to breathe underwater Shishin ken - Finger needle strike Shitan ken - Thumb pressure strike Shizen - Natural Shomen - The front Shomen uchi - Forehead strike Shoten no jutsu - Tree climbing (climbing to the heavens) Shoto - Short sword Shuko: Hand claws Shuriken - Throwing blades, throwing stars
Shuto, Shuto ken - Knife hand or open sword hand Sojutsu - Art of fighting with a spear Soke - Head of family; grandmaster Sokugyaku - Ball of foot kick Sokuho kaiten - Sideways roll Sokuho tobi - Sideways leap Sokuyaku - Foot strike Sokugyaku - Toe strike Sui - Water Suiren - Water training T Tabi - Traditional footwear of the Japanese Tai - Large, big, great; also refers to the body 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 Takagi - Tall tree, large tree
Take - Bamboo Tanto - Knife; dagger; dirk Tatami - Straw mat Te - Hand; arm Ten - Heaven, sky; top Tessen - Iron fan To - And; head; sword Tobi - Leaping and jumping skills Tobi keri - Leaping kick Tori - To seize, catch; the one applying the technique Tsuki: Thrust, punch U Uchi - Inside; to attack, defeat, destroy, conquer, strike Ude - Arm Uke - Receive; one who receives the technique 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
Ushiro - Rear, back W Waza - Technique; ability, skill Y Yamabushi - Mountain warrior priests Yoko - Side; sideways Yoko aruki - Sideways walking Yokomen - Side of the head Yoshin - Raising spirit, raising heart Yumi - Archery bow Z Zenpo - Forward, front direction Zenpo geri - Forward stamp kick Zenpo kaiten - Forward roll
