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Ok. So I think this covers mostly everything, but it still needs a lot of work.

This document comprises what were previously separate glossaries for Taido-specific conceptual vocabulary, general martial art conceptual vocabulary, technique names, basic dojo Japanese terminology, and tournament Japanese terminology. While having discrete subject-matter glossaries has its advantages, I am currently working under the premise that students needing to consult a quick reference may not know the venue in which a particular word or phrase is likely to appear. For this reason (and to lessen the inevitable redundancy of having multiple glossaries), I have combined these previous documents into one mega-glossary.

These definitions aren’t meant for absolute accuracy. They are intended to be as useful and economical as possible toward the goal of most Taido students being able to attain a basic understanding of the vocabulary they may encounter while practicing Taido. As such, some definitions may be unsatisfying to more-experienced practitioners. These definitions are purposefully vague and incomplete because they are meant for use by beginners.

Also, I have neglected to include any kind of pronunciation guide, though my romanization from the Japanese terms is self-consistent enough that I could easily do so. The reason for this is that I don’t believe one can learn how to pronounce another language properly without actually learning the basic grammar and usage of that language. For our uses as Taido students, these terms are simply jargon, and mispronunciation is forgivable. However, don’t go trying to sound smart by using Japanese words improperly when you don’t understand them.

I will address the efficacy of using Japanese terminology in an English-speaking practice environment elsewhere. For the time being, it is enough to note that Taido remains a “Japanese martial art,” and as such requires the adoption of certain terminology.

At any rate, if you notice any glaring inaccuracies or omissions, I would really appreciate it if you could drop me a line. Thanks.

Anyway, I hope this helps:

a

age

rising, upward

age uke

rising block

aikido

japanese martial art of harmony. in aikido, there are no attacks and very few strikes. attacks are simply deflected by directing the attacker’s own force against him.

aisatsu

greeting

aka

red

arigato gozaimasu

thank you very much

ashi

leg or foot

ashi harai

leg sweep

ashibarai

ashi harai

ashigarami

leg-entanglement technique, usually performed as by scissoring at the knee.

ashikubi

ankle

atama

head

ate

strike or hit

atemi

strike

atemi waza

striking technique

b

bakuchu

back flip

bakuchu keri

back-flip kick

bakuchugeri

bakuchu keri

bakuten

back handspring

barai

harai

bucho

division head

budo

martial way

bujutsu

martial science

bunkai

practice by breaking into parts. bunkai practice is the method by which detailed and often hidden techiques are brought out of forms.

bushido

way of the warrior

c

chakugan

eye contact

chokujo

straight

chokushin

straight line

chu

flip

chudan

middle level

chudan kamae

middle-level stance

chudangamae

chudan kamae

chui

warning

chuo

return to the center

d

dachi

tachi

dai sempai

the most senior student

dan

the 10 ranks of black belt level

do

way or art

dogarami

entanglement technique at the waist. similar to ashi garami.

dogi

uniform for martial arts practice

dohai

a student at your same level

dojo

training hall

doko

condition of movement

doko go kai

five rules which determine the motion for each of the five sotai

dori

tori

e

ebigeri

shrimp kick

eji

kneeling position, stance in the shape of the japanese letter “e”

eji 5dan uke

blocking routine in kneeling position

ejizuki

kneeling punch

empi

enpi

enpi

elbow strike

enpi 4ho kuzushi

routine of four types of enpi

enpi 5dan uchi

routine of five enpi strikes

enshogeri

upright spinning heel kick

f

fudo

unmoving

fudodachi

side stance

fudozuki

punch from fudo dachi

fujo

downward-facing position

fujogeri

flying, downward-facing kick

fukuteki

dodging technique

fukuteki 6rendo

routine of six continuous fukuteki

fukuteki ejizuki

dodge and counter punch

g

gaiko

outer condition

gamae

kamae

garami

karami

gedan

lower level

gedan kamae

lower-level stance

gedanbarai

low parry

gedangamae

gedan kamae

gen

gen-soku

gen-soku

unsoku for retreating from an attack

gensei ryu

saiko shihan’s school of karate which pre-dates taido

gentai

returning to genten, or “original position” after striking

genten

original point

geri

keri

gi

dogi

go

5

go dan uke

five blocks

go joukun

taido’s five principles

godan

fifth degree black belt

gomen nasai

i’m sorry

gyaku

reverse

gyaku ashidori

grabbing the kicking leg

gyaku fukuteki

retreating or reverse dodge

gyaku tedori

block and pull defense for punches

gyakuzuki

reverse punch

h

hachi

8

hachidan

eighth degree black belt

haimendori

grabbing the body at the waist

hajime

begin

hajimeyo

let’s begin

hakama

traditional wide black pants

hangetsu

half moon

hangetsu ate

half-moon kick

hanshi

a title for master instructors at or above 8dan

hantai

opposite

hantei o torimasu

display the results

happo

eight steps

harai

sweep or brush

harai kuzushi

sweeping takedown

hayaku

hurry up

hengi

changing, transforming technique. involves changing the body’s axis in order to evade an oncoming attack and counter simultaneously.

henin no hokei

form practice for hentai (female version)

hensoku

irregular footwork

hensoku ka

irregular advancing step

hensoku gen

irregular retreating step

hentai

category containing all hengi

hentai no hokei

form practice for hentai

hidari

left

hien

flying

hienzuki

flying or jumping punch

hiji

elbow

hiza

knee

hokei

form practice. similar to karate’s kata, but usually longer.

honte

leading hand in kamae

i

ichi

1

ido

moving

ido tanren

continuously-moving practice

in

in-soku

in

negative polarity

in-soku

unsoku for adjusting the distance to the target

ippon

full point

irimi

nearing the body. “entering” the opponent’s space.

j

jikan

time

jikan desu

time is up

jissen

free sparring for the purpose trying and perfecting new techniques

jodan

upper level

jodangamae

upper-level kamae

jogai

out of bounds in jissen

ju

10

ju justsu

japanese martial art including striking and grappling techniques

judo

japanese art of grappling, “gentle way.” mostly practiced as a sport.

jun

in sequence. keeping with the flow and direction of the previous technique.

jutsu

art, science

k

ka

ka-soku

ka-soku

unsoku for advancing on the target

kaeshi

returning

kaeshigeri

returning kick

kaicho

head of a society or organization

kaijo

turning

kaijogeri

a turning kick

kaiten

rolling

kakuto

bent wrist striking with the back of the wrist.

kamae

way to stand

kansetsu waza

joint locking techniques

karami

entanglement, scissoring technique

karate do

japanese art of empty-handed fighting

kata

shoulder

keiko

practice or study

keiko o owarimasu

class is over

keikoku

second warning

kendo

japanese art of fencing

keri

kick

kesageri

flying side kick

ki

energy

ki o tsuke

attention

kiai

a shout used to focus the intentions and energy while performing techniques

kidosen

steady line. the line along which techniques are performed

kidoten

steady point. point of origin about which stationary techniques are performed

kihon

basic

kihongi

basic techniques

kime

focus or decision

kimegi

finishing technique

kinteki shiho kuzushi

routine with four groin attacks

kintekigeri

groin kick

ko

ko-soku

ko-soku

unsoku for changing the angle to the target

kobo

prearranged offense/defense practice

kogeki

attacker or attacking technique

kohai

junior student

koka sokuto keri

dropped side kick

kokutsu dachi

backward-leaning stance

kokyu

breath

kokyu ho

breathing methods

koten

back roll

kotengarami

back roll entanglement technique

ku

9

kubi

neck

kubigarami

neck scissoring technique

kuro obi

black belt

kuzushi

pull down, destroy

kyo

chance to attack

kyoshi

title for instructors at or above 6dan

kyu

the levels before black belt level

kyuchu

flying

m

maai

engagement distance

mae

front

maegeri

front kick

makiwara

a wrapped target for toughening the hands and feet

manji

japanese swastika. good luck symbol used to denote temples on japanese maps.

manjigeri

kick in the shape of the japanese letter “man,” which denotes shrines on japanese maps.

matte

wait, stop

mawashi

going around

mawashigeri

turning kick. roundhouse kick.

migi

right

mikazukigeri

crescent kick

minete

ridge hand strike

modote

return

moichido

one more time

mokuso

meditation

morote

both hands

morote gedan

both hands down stance

muko maai

ineffective distance

n

nage

throw

nage kuzushi

throwing takedown

nage waza

throwing techniques

naiko

inner condition

nana

7

nanadan

seventh degree black belt

neko ashi dachi

cat-foot stance

nen

year

nenchu

twisting flip

nengi

inverted, twisting technique

nenin no hokei

form practice for nentai (female version)

nentai

one of the five types of technique containing all nengi

nentai no hokei

form practice for nentai

nentaigeri

horizontal spinning kick

ni

2

ni no ashi

leading step

nidan

second degree black belt

nidangeri

jumping two-level front kick

nidanzuki

two-level punch

nukite

spear hand

o

otagai ni rei

bow to each other

obi

belt

oizuki

stepping punch

onegai shimasu

please teach me

oshi

push

oshi kuzushi

pushing takedown

osotogari

outside sweep, takedown

ossu

affirmative reply

oten

side roll

oten gyakuzuki

shoulder roll with reverse punch

r

rakuni shinasai

relaxed sitting posture

rei

bow

rendo

moving continuously

renshi

a title for instructors at 4dan or 5dan

renshu

practice

roku

6

rokudan

sixth degree black belt

ryu

school or style, often hereditary

s

saiko shihan

supreme instructor

san

3

sandan

third degree black belt

sandanzuki

three-level punch

seigyo

control over the situation/opponent

seiho

method of applying control

seimei no hokei

hokei for breathing control

seiretsu

make a straight line

seiza

formal sitting posture

sempai

senpai

sengi

whirling, spinning technique

senin no hokei

form practice for sentai (female version)

senjo

spinning

senjogeri

spinning kick

senpai

senior student

sensei

teacher

sensei gata

group of instructors

sensei gata ni rei

bow to the group of instructors

sensei ni rei

bow to the instructor

sentai

category containing all sengi

sentai nirendo

2 continuous sentai punch

sentai gyakujo ate

spinning, double-reverse strike

sentai no hokei

form practice for sentai

sentai no tsuki

spinning punch

sentai nukite

spinning spear-hand strike

shajo

angular body

shajogeri

kick angled up from the ground

shazenten

shoulder roll

shi

4

shi ho

4 steps

shiai

contest

shichi

7

shichi gen san ka

70% back, 30% front in chudan kamae

shihan

high-level instructor

shihandai

school leader in head instructor’s absence

shikoku

third warning, disqualification

shin karatedo kyohan

saiko shihan’s book on karate

shin untai no hokei

american name for the newer version of untai no hokei practiced in most countries

shinpan

judge

shinsa

examination

shiro

white

shitsurei shimasu

excuse me

shobu ippon

one-point match

shodan

beginner, first degree black belt

shomen

front

shomengeri

maegeri

shotei

palm heel

shoteibarai

parry with palm heel

shuto

knife hand

shuto ate

knife hand strike

so

so-soku

so-soku

unsoku for moving closer to the target

soete

covering hand in kamae

soji

cleaning

sokuchu

flipping cartwheel

sokuten

fast cartwheel

sokuten no tsuki

cartwheel punch

sokutengeri

cartwheel kick

sokuto

blade of the heel

sotai

the five types of technique

soto

outside, outward

soto uke

outside middle block

suihei

horizontal

suiheigeri

horizontal kick (taido’s side kick)

suki

an opening to be attacked

suware

sit

t

tachi

standing, a way of standing

tachirei

standing bow

tai

tai-soku

tai

the physical body

taii no hokei

hokei designed for the transition from gensei ryu

tai-soku

unsoku for returning to genten

taido gairon

book in which saiko shihan originally published taido’s philosophy

taidoka

practitioner of taido

taijiku

body axis

taikai

competition

taiki

body energy

taimen sankatsu

three divisions of the body

tatami

straw floor mat

tatte

stand up

te

hand

tekubi

wrist

ten

ten-soku

ten-soku

unsoku for adjusting angle to target

tengi

moving, turning technique

tenin no hokei

form practice for tentai (female version)

tentai

one of five types of technique containing all tengi

tentai no hokei

form practice for tentai

tobi

flying

tobigeri

jumping kick

tobikomi

diving

tomoe nage

circular throw

tooite

relax

tori

pull

torite

block and pull

tsui

tsui-soku

tsui-soku

unsoku for quickly punching

tsuki

punch

u

uchi

inside

uchi

routine

uchi uke

inside middle block

ude

arm

uke

block

ukemi

falling

undo

exercise

ungi

moving, working technique

unshin

movement using whole body

unsoku

footwork

unsoku gorendo

five continuous unsoku routines

unsoku happo

routine of 8 footworks ;unsoku jigata

untai

one of five types of technique containing all ungi

untai hienzuki

jumping or diving punch

untai keri tsuki

untai kick and punch

untai no hokei

form practice for untai

untai no tsuki

basic untai punch

ura

behind

uraken

backfist

ushiro

back, rear

ushirogeri

back kick

w

waza

technique

waza ari

1/2 point

y

yame

stop

yasume

rest

yo

positive polarity

yoi

ready

yoko

side

yokogeri

side kick

yon

4

yondan

4th degree black belt

yuko maai

effective distance

z

zarei

seated bow

zenchu

front flip

zenkutsudachi

forward stance

zenpo

forward

zenpo ushirogeri

back kick towards the front

zenpo yokogeri

side kick towards the front

zenten no tsuki

front roll punch

zokko

continue

zuki

tsuki

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