Terminology

Atemi – ah-tem-mee Striking to vital points

Tsuki – zooh-kee Punching

Geri – gerh-ee Kicking

Nage – nah-geh Throwing

Barai – bar-iee Sweeping

Uke – ooh-kay Blocking; also the person who initiates the attack and receives the technique

Tori – toe-ree the person who receives the attack and initiates the technique

Jujutsu – jew-jhut-soo a compound word consisting of two elements “Ju” meaning gentle or yielding and “Jutsu” meaning art; an unarmed form of Martial Art utilizing blocking, kicking, punching, striking, throwing, grappling, joint-locking and strangulation/constriction techniques. Literally meaning “Gentle Art” or “Soft Art”; a form of Martial Arts founded in Japan by Samurai Warriors for the purpose of unarmed combat approximately 3000 years ago

Aiki – iee-kee the philosophy, art and application of ones internal energy or life essence; Literally meaning “Harmony of Spirit” also harmony of energy and nature, a blending of energy

Nihon – nee-han Japan/Japanese

Ryu – ree-ooh a method, philosophy or school of thought and/or application

Taigawa-ryu Jujitsu – ty-ga-wa ree-ooh jew-jhutsu Great river school of the gentle art

Nihon-ryu Goshin-jutsu – nee-han ree-ooh goh-shin jhut-soo Japanese methods of Self-Defense

Sentou – sen-toh combat, battle

Sentou-ryu Aikijujutsu – sen-toh ree-ooh iee-kee jew-jhut-soo Combat school/method of blending/harmonizing energy gentle/soft art

Karate – kah-rah-tay a compound word consisting of two elements “Kara” meaning empty or open and “Te” meaning hand; a form of Martial Arts founded in Japan approximately 300 – 400 years ago consisting of kicking, punching, blocking and kata (forms)

Kiai – kee-iee spirit yell, also spirit wind; the shout expelled when delivering a strike or technique

Kata – kah-tah prearranged sequence of movement; a form; a sequence of movements emulating combatant techniques

Dan – dohn a Black Belt grade rank ranging from 1st – 10th degree

Yudansha – yoo-dohn-shah members holding Black Belt ranks (collectively)

Mudansha – moo-dohn-shah members holding Kyu grade/Color Belt ranks (collectively)

Kyu – keew a student grade rank ranging from 10th – 1st level

Menkyo – mhen-kee-oh a certificate of teaching authority ranging from Shoden (basic), Chuden (intermediate), Okuden (advanced) level transmission as well as “Menkyo Kaiden,” which is a teaching certificate of full proficiency in the art

Dojo – doh-joh a hall used for training; Literally, “the place of the way”

Migi – mih-ghee to the right or right side

Hidari – hih-dar-ee to the left or left side

Ushiro – oo-shih-roh back-side or backward

Jodan – joh-dohn high or upper level

Chudan – chew-dohn middle or mid range level

Gedan – ghee-dohn low or low range level

Kai – khiee an association or organization

Goshin – goh-shin self-defense and/or personal protection

Waza – wah-zah technique or application of technique

Kansetsu – khan-set-soo joint locking

Othoshi – oh-toe-she a form of throwing or dropping

Nage – nah-geh a form of throwing; throwing techniques (i.e. Nage Waza)

Gari – ghar-rhee a form of sweeping

Taisabaki – tie sah bah-kee body rotation, pivoting and movement

Shime – shih-meh strangulation and constriction

Gatame – gah-tah-meh grappling

Kyusho – kee-oo-shoh pressure points

Ukemi – ooh-kem-ee safety procedures; the art of falling correctly, so as to not obtain severe injury

Tobi – toh-bee jumping (i.e. Mae Tobi Geri – jumping front kick)

Empi – ehm-pee elbow (i.e. Empi Uchi – elbow strike)

Hiza – hih-zah knee (i.e. Hiza Geri – knee kick)

Te – tay hand

Hazushi – hah-zoo-shih to release (i.e. Hazushi-Te – to release hand)

Niguru – nih-ghu-rooh yielding (i.e. Kakato Niguru – single hand grab yielding method)