Japanese martial arts terminology

thumb|A samurai in Japanese armour|his armor in the 1860s. Hand-colored photograph by [[Felice Beato]]

thumb|A 10th century Chola dynasty bronze sculpture of the Hindu god [[Nataraja (Shiva) posing various mudras]] thumb|Indian Buddha Shakyamuni statue making the bhūmisparśa or "earth witness" mudra, thumb|12th-century Japanese scroll showing different mudra gestures

is a traditional East-Asian martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks (traditionally made of wood), connected to each other at their ends by a short metal chain or a rope. It is approximately (sticks) and (rope). A person who has practiced using this weapon is referred to in Japanese as . alt=Nunchaku|thumb|Bruce Lee performs nunchaku The nunchaku is most widely used in Southern Chinese Kung fu, Okinawan Kobudo and karate. It is intended to be used as a training weapon, since practicing with it enables the development of quick hand movements and improves posture. Modern nunchaku may be made

thumb|upright|Five types of shuriken thumb|upright|Edo period shuriken in [[Odawara Castle Museum, Japan. Note the senbon darts.]]

A is a hall or place for immersive learning, experiential learning, or meditation. This is traditionally in the field of martial arts. The term literally means "place of the Way" in Japanese.

Kata is a Japanese word (型 or 形) meaning 'form'. It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practiced in Japanese martial arts as a way to memorize and perfect the movements being executed. Korean martial arts with Japanese influence (hapkido, Tang Soo Do) use the derived term hyeong (hanja: 形) and also the term pumsae (hanja: 品勢 hangeul: 품새).

is a Japanese term describing modern Japanese martial arts. It is commonly translated as "Martial Way", or the "Way of Martial Arts".

thumb|right|A historical kunai thumb|A highly stylized plastic kunai, as often portrayed in popular culture A is a Japanese multipurpose tool and weapon thought to be originally derived from the masonry trowel.

thumb|250px|A traditional rokushakubō is 1.82m (6 shaku) and wielded with both hands, due to its weight and size. A (pong (Korean); pang (Cantonese); bang (Mandarin); kun (Okinawan)) is a staff weapon used in Okinawa. Rokushakubō are typically around long and used in Okinawan martial arts and Japanese arts such as bōjutsu. Other staff-related weapons are the jō, which does not have a standard length, and the hanbō (half bō), which is long.

thumb|Yabusame archer on [[horseback, an ancient combat form]] thumb|Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, one of the oldest schools of swordsmanship ([[kenjutsu)]] is a collective term for Japanese traditional techniques for the use of armour, blades, firearms, and techniques related to combat and horse riding. The kanji and are other ways of writing it. The general umbrella term is also used to describe these ancient arts.

(, 'practice', , 'dress' or 'clothes'), also known as or , is a traditional uniform worn for training in Japanese martial arts and their derivatives. Emerging in the late 19th century, the was developed by judo founder Kanō Jigorō.

is a Japanese term for . In popular culture, it is often used for female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu (ninpo). The term was largely popularized by novelist Futaro Yamada in his novel in 1964.

is the highest score a fighter can achieve in a Japanese martial arts ippon-wazari contest, usually kendo, judo, karate or jujitsu.

is a Japanese term meaning "basics" or "fundamentals." The term is used to refer to the basic techniques that are taught and practiced as the foundation of most Japanese martial arts.

Tsujigiri ( or , literally "crossroads killing") is a Japanese term for a practice when a samurai, after receiving a new katana or developing a new fighting style or weapon, tests its effectiveness by attacking a human opponent, usually a random defenseless passer-by, in many cases during night time. The practitioners themselves are also referred to as tsujigiri.

is a Japanese martial art blanket term for any combat skill, technique, or system of martial art using body movements that are described as an empty-hand combat skill or system. Taijutsu is a synonym for jujutsu (method of close combat either unarmed or with minor weapons), and the words jujutsu, taijutsu, and yawara can be used interchangeably. The term is commonly used when referring to traditional Japanese martial arts but has also been used in the naming of modern martial arts such as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. Taijutsu is similar to karate but is more focused on the body techniques. More spe

Dantian (丹田; Pinyin: dāntián, Romaji: tanden) in traditional Chinese medicine is a center of qi, the vital life force.

umbrella term for modern Japanese martial arts

is a term used in Japanese martial arts to describe free-style practice (sparring). The term denotes an exercise in 取り tori, applying technique to a random ( 乱 ran) succession of uke attacks.

thumb|A set of for kendo thumb|Kendo practitioners wearing in training , properly called , is training armour used primarily in the Japanese martial art of kendo, with variants used for jūkendō, tankendo, and naginata.

is a Japanese term for a live-in student/apprentice who trains under and assists a sensei on a full-time basis. The system exists in kabuki, rakugo, shogi, igo, aikido, sumo, karate and other modern Japanese martial arts.

In Japanese martial arts a is a short shout uttered when performing an assault.

thumb|Chinese calligraphy|Calligraphy of 無心

in Japanese martial arts the person who "receives" a technique

Zanshin () is a state of awareness; of relaxed alertness, in Japanese martial arts. A literal translation of zanshin is "remaining mind".

, literally meaning "analysis" or "disassembly", "is a term used in Japanese martial arts referring to process of analysing kata and extracting fighting techniques from the movements of a 'form' (kata). The extracted fighting techniques are called Oyo."

Japanese martial art

Japanese martial arts term literally meaning (training hall) rules

In Japanese martial arts, the term designates blows or strikes to the body, as opposed to twisting of joints, strangleholds, holding techniques and throws. Atemi can be delivered by any part of the body to any part of the opponent's body. They can be percussive or use "soft" power. Karate is a typical martial art focusing on percussive atemi. The location of nerve and pressure points, such as might be used for certain acupressure methods, also often informs the choice of targets for atemi (see kyusho).

thumb|240px| written in kanji is a Japanese concept that describes the stages of learning to mastery. Shuhari is usually translated as "follow the rules, break the rules, transcend the rules". This specific phrasing is usually attributed to Sen no Rikyū, a 16th century tea master and poet. It has been applied to other disciplines, such as Go, Japanese martial arts, Noh theatre, and more.

Shoshin () is a concept from Zen Buddhism meaning '''beginner's mind'''. It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying, even at an advanced level, just as a beginner would. The term is especially used in the study of Zen Buddhism and Japanese martial arts, and was popularized outside of Japan by Shunryū Suzuki's 1970 book ''Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind''.

a school or a school of thought

is a Japanese term used in martial arts and traditional theater. It translates approximately to "posture". The Kanji of this word means "base". The implied meaning is 'readiness' or 'be ready'.

thumb|Referee signaling waza-ari is the second highest score a fighter can achieve in a Japanese martial arts ippon or waza-ari contest, usually judo, karate, or jujutsu.

karate technique

thumb|Japanese "makibishi" iron spikes, a type of caltrop A makibishi ( or ) is the Japanese version of the caltrop. The tool (igadama) is a sharp spiked object that was used in feudal Japan to slow down pursuers and also was used in the defense of samurai fortifications.

samurai warrior pilgrimage

training stables in professional sumo

The , also known as hachiwari, was a type of knife-shaped weapon, resembling a jitte in many respects. This weapon was carried as a side-arm by the samurai class of feudal Japan. thumb|350px|Antique Japanese hachiwari with a nihonto style of handle

Japanese concept

, translating simply to "interval", is a Japanese martial arts term referring to the space between two opponents in combat; formally, the "engagement distance".

thumb|Statue of Fudō Myōō (Acala), guardian deity Fudōshin () is a state of equanimity or imperturbability (literally and metaphorically, "immovable mind", "immovable heart" or "unmoving heart"). It is a philosophical or mental dimension to Japanese martial arts which contributes to the effectiveness of the advanced practitioner.

also known as the karate chop, a fast and focused strike with the side of the hand

Suijutsu (水術) or suieijutsu (水泳術) is the Japanese martial art of combative swimming.The Literal translation of the term from Japanese is "water skills". It is sometimes called Nihon eiho.

executor of a technique in partnered practice

Judo technique

term from Japanese martial arts

are healing techniques that often involve stimulation of specific acupuncture points. Kappo is commonly used in martial arts such as Danzan Ryu and Judo. Kappo contains two kanji: katsu (活 “resuscitation, life”) and ho (法 “method”).

thumb|right|300px|A traditional Washitsu|Japanese room with a [[tokonoma]] The kamiza () is the "top seat" within a room, meaning the seat of honor; the term also applies to the best seats in airplanes, trains, and cars. The antonym, meaning "bottom seat," is shimoza (下座). In a room, the kamiza is the seat or position that is most comfortable, usually furthest from the door. This is because it is the warmest, and was the safest from attack back in the feudal era. In a traditional washitsu room, it would often be a zabuton placed so the person sitting there has his back to the tokonoma; the kam

thumb|right|254px|The bokken|wooden sword is no longer an effective weapon since the attacker's balance has been compromised is a Japanese term for unbalancing an opponent in the Japanese martial arts.

title given to great warriors in Japan

is a Japanese word for practice swings used in sports such as baseball, tennis, golf, and in martial arts. Outside Japan, the word is used exclusively for repetitive individual cutting exercises used in Japanese martial arts such as kendo, aikido, iaidō, and kenjutsu. Often a shinai (for kendo), bokken, suburitō, or even tanren bō are used. An iaitō or shinken can also be used, albeit rarely.

derives from the verb , meaning "to thrust". The second syllable is accented, with Japanese's unvoiced vowels making it pronounced almost like "ski" (but preceded by a "t" sound). In Japanese martial arts and Okinawan martial arts, tsuki is used to refer to various thrusting techniques.

Martial Art

thumb|Tantōjutsu Tantōjutsu (短刀術) is a Japanese term for a variety of traditional Japanese knife fighting systems that used the tantō (短刀), as a knife or dagger. Historically, many women used a version of the tantō, called the kaiken, for self-defense, but warrior women in pre-modern Japan learned one of the tantōjutsu arts to fight in battle.

is a concept of modulation and movement applied in a wide variety of traditional Japanese arts. Roughly translated to "beginning, break, rapid", it essentially means that all actions or efforts should begin slowly, speed up, and then end swiftly. This concept is applied to elements of the Japanese tea ceremony, martial arts (kenjutsu, iaido, kendō, karate), dramatic structure in the traditional theatre, and to the traditional collaborative linked verse forms renga and renku (haikai no renga).

thumb|250px|Line drawing of a metsubushi or gantsubushi are a variety of implements and techniques that were used in feudal Japan by samurai police and other individuals to temporarily or permanently blind or disorient an opponent.

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