Japanese study guide for Zanshin

This study guide is intended for students at Zanshin to learn the Japanese terminology used there. I enjoy learning language, but for me, it is vastly easier if I can see how things are written, even briefly; furthermore, it sticks more easily when I can study in my own time. Thus, I have found written notes essential. As my handwritten notes grew to be unwieldy, I organized them and recorded them here more permanently, and perhaps in this form my notes may also be useful to others.

First, I have made a list of all the Japanese terminology I am aware of being expected to know, broken down by level. I have only included terms I have encountered in-person at Zanshin; this is a work in progress. I have done research to confirm the meanings below, but different styles and teachers differ greatly in terminology, so when other materials differ from usage at Zanshin I have favored the direct transmission as I understood it. I take responsibility for any errors and would appreciate corrections and improvements.

After the expectations by level, I have isolated repeating elements for cross-referencing. Rather than memorizing each entire term, such as ‘uchi gama’, I find it much easier to remember what each part means separately—some, such as ‘uchi’, appear in so many terms that this strategy covers ground in very large pieces. It also makes it more likely I will recognize at least parts of terminology I don't yet know. There are some terms I have encountered in use but I am not aware of being specifically required at any level, so I have included them in this section even if there is nothing above to cross reference.

To the best of my ability, I have included kanji. This is not because I intend to memorize those as well, but as a study aid. For example, in ‘uchi gama’ and ‘uchi age’, ‘uchi’ is a reading of the kanji 内 meaning ‘inside’, but in ‘empi uchi’, ‘uchi’ is a reading of the kanji 打 meaning ‘strike’. Conversely, in ‘deashi barai’ and ‘harai goshi’, ‘barai’ and ‘harai’ are both 掃, being pronounced differently because of context. The terms ‘yonkyō’ and ‘shihō’ may seem to have nothing in common, but there is an obvious connection when you see them written as 四教 and 四方. So, I try to include the kanji in my notes to more easily separate homophones and unite different readings of the same word.

Of course, kanji also represent a living language, and there are variations in shape that are considered to be the same character, while some words can be written in more than one way that represent synonyms with shades of distinction, and some schools or practitioners prefer different spellings. I have allowed myself to choose one particular character to use consistently for each concept provided it is correct according to one of my sources, and where possible I have favored the spellings used in danzan-ryū jūjutsu.

This document is not about how to physically perform the various arts denoted by terminology here. The focus here is entirely on remembering which Japanese phrases connect to what meanings.

Expectations by level

White belt

There is no white-belt test, but everyone must be able to follow along with the basic instructions involved in starting and ending class, warming up, and participating safely in activities.

Beginning and ending class

kiotsuke気をつけstand at attention
shōmen ni rei正面に礼bow to the shōmen
sensei ni rei先生に礼bow to the sensei

Counting

ichi一one
ni二two
san三three
shi四four
go五five
roku六six
shichi七seven
hachi八eight
kyū九nine
jū十ten
ni jū二十twenty, lit. ‘two tens’
san jū三十thirty, lit. ‘three tens’
yon jū四十forty, lit. ‘four tens’
……etc.

Meditation at end of warmup

seiza正座kneeling posture, lit. ‘correct sitting’
mokusō黙想meditate, lit. ‘silent/still thinking’
mokusō yame黙想止めstop meditating
tate立て(bow and) stand up

Participation in activities

yame止めstop
matte待ってwait
hajime始めbegin
uke受けpartner who has a technique performed on them, receiver
tori捕りpartner who performs a technique, taker
nage投げpartner who performs a throw, thrower

Yellow-stripe belt

ukemi受身rolls and falls, lit. ‘receiving body’; includes sutemi
sutemi捨身falling techniques, lit. ‘sacrificing the body’
shikko膝行knee walking
gedan barai下段掃downward block, lit. ‘low sweep’
age uke上受rising block
uchi uke内受inside block, i.e. block to the inside
soto uke外受outside block, i.e. block to the outside
shutō uke手刀受knife-hand block
te hazushi手外hand escape from a wrist grab
katate hazushi片手外single hand escape
ryōte hazushi両手外both hand escape, i.e. from both wrists being grabbed
morote hazushi諸手外all hand escape, i.e. from attacker using their hands together
kubi hazushi首外neck escape from a choke
yubi tori hazushi指捕外fingerlock escape
daki hazushi抱外hug escape
kesa gatame袈裟固scarf hold
shihō gatame四方固four-direction hold

Yellow belt

mae geri前蹴front kick
mawashi geri回蹴roundhouse kick
kote gaeshi小手返wrist hypersupination, lit. ‘wrist overturning’
ikkyo一教elbow control, lit. ‘first teaching’ of aikidō
ashi garami shime足搦絞leg entanglement constriction
yubi tori指捕finger lock
okuri eri jime送襟絞sending lapel choke
ō goshi大腰great hip (throw)
ō soto gari大外刈great outside reap
tani otoshi谷落valley drop
ko uchi gari小内刈small inside reap
uchi gama内鎌inside sickle
morote gari諸手刈double-leg takedown, lit. ‘all hands reap’

Orange-stripe belt

jūji gatame十字固cross hold, i.e. for armbar
nikyō二教wrist hyperpronation, lit. ‘second teaching’ of aikidō
kote gaeshi maki小手返巻wrist overturning winding
ippon seoi nage一本背負投one-armed shoulder throw
dō jime胴絞thorax constriction
moro yubi tori諸指捕all finger lock
ushiro otoshi後落rear drop
ushiro goshi後腰rear hip (throw)

Orange belt

yoko geri横蹴side kick
sankyō三教wrist hyperrotation, lit. ‘third teaching’ of aikidō
yonkyō四教wrist bone pain technique, lit. ‘fourth teaching’ of aikidō
shihō nage四方投four-direction throw
ō uchi gari大内刈great inside reap
seoi nage背負投shoulder throw; aka moro te seoi nage 諸手背負投 to distinguish from ippon seoi nage
ushiro geri後蹴rear kick
mika geri三日月蹴crescent kick
hadaka jime裸絞naked strangle
sankaku gatame三角固triangle hold
waki gatame脇固underarm hold, aka ‘bursting-through hold’ after the longer name ude hishigi waki gatame
deashi barai出足掃advancing foot sweep
sasae tsurikomi ashi支釣込足propping lifting-pulling foot

Green belt

ude garami腕搦arm entanglement
gyaku ude garami逆腕搦reverse arm entanglement
te kubi shigarami手首手搦wrist entanglement
ashi nada shime足刀絞leg blade constriction
gokyō五教wrist hyperflexion, lit. ‘fifth teaching’ of aikidō
hon gyaku本逆basic reversal
hiji shime肘絞elbow lock
ude gatame腕固arm hold
sukui nage掬投scooping throw
kani sute蟹捨crab sacrifice
ko soto gari小外刈small outside reap
ko soto gake小外掛small outside hook
irimi nage入身投clothesline, lit. ‘entering body throw’
nodo tsuki age喉突上rising throat push
kokyū hō呼吸法reverse clothesline, lit. ‘breath technique’
jō杖staff
kata gatame肩固shoulder hold a.k.a. arm triangle choke
harai goshi掃腰sweeping hip
hane goshi跳腰springing hip
sumi gaeshi隅返corner overturning
norimi乗身riding the body
sode tsurikomi goshi袖釣込腰sleeve tip lifting-pulling hip

Blue belt

uchi mata内股inner thigh (reaping throw)
soto gama外鎌outside sickle
nami jūji jime並十字絞normal cross choke
gyaku jūji jime逆十字絞reverse cross choke
ichimonji jime一文字絞beeline choke
gyaku eri jime逆襟絞reverse lapel choke
hagai jime羽交絞wing pinion
sankaku ude garami三角腕搦triangle arm entanglement
ushiro gyaku後逆rear reverse
ashi shigarami足手搦foot entangling
dakikubi jime抱首絞embraced neck choke
koshi guruma腰車hip wheel
kesa nage袈裟投scarf throw
tomoe nage巴投comma-shaped throw
tai otoshi体落body dropping
makikomi巻込winding tightly
okuri ashi barai送足掃sending foot sweep
kokyū nage呼吸投breath throw
koshi nage腰投hip throw
jūji koshi nage十字腰投cross-shaped hip throw

Purple belt

kata hagai片羽交single wing pinion
ashiyubi jime足指絞toe constriction
ushiro kannuki後閂rear bolt
kaiten nage回転投rotary throw
hon tomoe本巴basic comma
katate tomoe片手巴single hand comma
omote nage表投frontside throw
kuchiki taoshi朽木倒ankle pick, lit. ‘dead tree drop’ (different ‘drop’ from otoshi)

Brown belt

yoko otoshi横落side drop (different from ‘lateral drop’ from Green belt)
sumi otoshi隅落corner drop
komi iri込入crowding and entering
ashi gyaku足逆foot reversal
gyaku hayanada逆早刀reverse quickblade
ura nage裏投backside throw
kata guruma肩車shoulder wheel
utsuri goshi移腰changing hip
yoko wakare横分side separation

Black belt

jūji nage十字投cross throw
osaegami jime押髪絞pinning hair constriction
ashi kannuki足閂foot bolt
kazaguruma風車windmill, lit. ‘wind wheel’
hara gatame腹固center hold
ura gatame裹固backside hold
te guruma手車hand wheel
mizukuguri水潜parting the waters

Dōjō

aikidō合気道lit. ‘harmonizing energy way’
bu武military, martial, as in budō
budō武道martial arts, martial way; as in judō vs jujutsu, choice of dō over jutsu implies more philosophical perspective; as in Budōkai
dan段level, both literally, as in gedan, chūdan, jōdan, and in terms of level of mastery, as in shodan
danzan-ryū檀山流Hawaiian (lit. ‘sandalwood mountain’) style
dōjō道場training hall, lit. ‘way place’
dō道way, path, translating Chinese ‘dao’; as in jūdō, aikidō, dōjō
jūdō柔道lit. ‘yielding way’
jūjutsu柔術lit. ‘yielding art’
jū柔yielding, gentle, soft; as in jūjutsu, jūdō
jutsu術art, technique; as in jūjutsu
kai会society, association, club, as in Budōkai or the fictional Cobra Kai
karate空手lit. ‘empty hand’ i.e. ‘unarmed’, but formerly the homophone 唐手 ‘Chinese-style boxing’
ki気breath, energy, spirit, translating Chinese ‘qi’; as in kiotsuke, aikidō
kyō教teaching, lesson, as in ikkyō, nikyō, sankyō, yonkyō, gokyō
kyū級rank of student, counting down until mastery at which point dan ranks count up, inspired by go ranks
rokkyū六級sixth kyū, at Zanshin indicated by a yellow belt
gokyū五級fifth kyū, at Zanshin indicated by an orange belt
yonkyū四級fourth kyū, at Zanshin indicated by a green belt
sankyū三級third kyū, at Zanshin indicated by a blue belt
nikyū二級second kyū, at Zanshin indicated by a purple belt
ikkyū一級first kyū, at Zanshin indicated by a brown belt
rei礼bow; as in shōmen ni rei, sensei ni rei
ryū流school, style, tradition, as in danzan-ryū
sensei先生teacher, lit. ‘one who comes before’, ‘one who is older’; as in sensei ni rei
shodan初段beginning level of mastery, at nearly every school indicated by a black belt
shōmen正面front, altar at front of dōjō honoring the school's history; as in shōmen ni rei
waza技technique, as in ne waza
yawara柔also spelled やわら to emphasize alternate pronunciation of same character as jū, used in danzan-ryū jūjutsu as a category of technique
zanshin残心focus, awareness, readiness, follow-through; lit. ‘remaining mind’

Numbers

ichi一one, as in ikkyō, ikkyū, ippon, ichimonji
ni二two, as in nikyō, nikyū
san, mi三three, as in sankaku, sankyō, sankyū, mikazuki
shi, yon四four, as in shihō, yonkyō, yonkyū
go五five, as in gokyō, gokyū
roku六six, as in rokkyū
shichi, nana七seven
hachi八eight
kyū, ku九nine
jū十ten, as in jūji
ippon一本one item, such as arms in ippon seoi nage
kata片single, one-sided, one of a pair, as in katate hazushi, kata hagai, katate tomoe
moro諸all, together, as in morote hazushi, moro yubi tori, morote gari, morote seoi nage
ryō両both, double, as in ryōte hazushi
sho初beginning; conventionally used for initial level of mastery as in shodan instead of ichi

Where and how

age上rising, upward, as in age uke, nodo tsuki age
chūdan中段middle level, i.e. waist to shoulders (cf. gedan, jōdan)
gaeshi返overturning, countering, as in kote gaeshi, kote gaeshi maki, sumi gaeshi
gedan下段lower level, i.e. below waist (cf. chūdan, jōdan), as in gedan barai
gyaku逆reverse, as in gyaku ude garami, hon gyaku, gyaku jūji jime, gyaku eri jime, ushiro gyaku, ashi gyaku, gyaku hayanada
hadaka裸naked, bare, no-gi, as in hadaka jime
hane跳springing, jumping, as in hane goshi
hayanada早刀danzan-ryū jūjutsu term for armbar, lit. ‘quick blade’, as in gyaku hayanada
hishigi挫break, crush, burst, as in ude hishigi
hon本basic, as in hon gyaku, hon tomoe; combined with a number, indicates counting items, as in ippon
hō方direction, as in shihō
hō法technique, method, as in kokyū hō
ichimonji一文字straight-line-shaped, beeline, lit. ‘figure-one’, as in ichimonji jime; the ‘monji’ part is an uncomon pronunciation of the same characters as at the end of ‘emoji’, and more-or-less synonymous with the ‘ji’ alone in jūji
iri入entering, as in irimi nage, komi iri
jōdan上段high level, i.e. shoulders and above (cf. gedan, chūdan)
jūji十字cross-shaped, lit. ‘figure-ten’ (cf. ‘figure-four’ in English), as in jūji gatame, nami jūji jime, gyaku jūji jime, jūji koshi nage, jūji nage
kaiten回転spinning, revolution, as in kaiten nage
kannuki閂bolt, crossbar used as a latch, as in ushiro kannuki, ashi kannuki
kaza風wind, as in kazaguruma; also the second element of ‘kamikaze’
komi込coming second in a verb combination, adds emphasis, often with an implication of violence, entering, or filling, as in tsurikomi, makikomi, osaekomi; by itself means ‘crowding’ as in komi iri; also the word for handicap stones in go
ko小less, small, minor, short (opp. ō), as in kote, ko uchi gari, ko soto gari, ko soto gake
mae前frontward, as in mae geri
maki巻winding, roll (e.g. a sushi roll), as in kote gaeshi maki, makikomi
mawashi回revolving, roundhouse, as in mawashi geri; also the loincloth worn by sumō wrestlers
mikazuki, mika三日月crescent, lit. ‘three-day moon’, as in mika geri
nami並normal, ordinary, as in nami jūji jime
nori乗riding, as in norimi
okuri送sending, as in okuri eri jime, okuri ashi barai
omote表front, surface, public, exterior (opp. ura), as in omote nage
ō大great, big, major (opp. ko), as in ō soto gari, ō uchi gari, ō goshi
otoshi落drop, downward, as in tani otoshi, yoko otoshi, sumi otoshi, ushiro otoshi, tai otoshi
sankaku三角triangle, as in sankaku gatame, sankaku ude garami
sasae支prop, support, hands and feet, as in sasae tsurikomi ashi
shihō四方four direction, as in shihō gatame, shihō nage
soto外outside (opp. uchi), as in soto uke, ō soto gari, ko soto gari, ko soto gake, soto gama
sumi隅corner, as in sumi otoshi, sumi gaeshi
tomoe巴a traditional design element similar in shape to a comma, often depicted in sets swirling around each other, as in tomoe nage, hon tomoe, katate tomoe
tsurikomi釣込lifting-pulling, drawing, reeling, hoisting, as in sasae tsurikomi ashi, sode tsurikomi goshi
uchi内inside (opp. soto), as in uchi uke, uchi gama, ō uchi gari, ko uchi gari, uchi mata
ude hishigi腕挫jūdō term for armbar, lit. ‘arm break’
ura裏back, inner, private, interior (opp. omote), as in ura nage, ura gatame
ushiro後backward, behind, as in ushiro goshi, ushiro otoshi, ushiro geri, ushiro gyaku, ushiro kannuki
yoko横sideward, lateral, as in yoko geri, yoko otoshi, yoko wakare

Places on the body

ashi足foot, foreleg, as in ashi nada shime, ashi garami shime, deashi barai, sasae tsurikomi ashi, ashi shigarami, okuri ashi barai, ashi gyaku, ashi kannuki
ashiyubi足指toe, lit. ‘foot finger’, as in ashiyubi jime
deashi出足advancing foot, i.e. uke's stepping foot before it receives weight, as in deashi barai
dō胴thorax, as in dō jime
empi猿臂elbow, lit. ‘monkey elbow’; second character is an uncommon variation of 肘 (cf. hiji)
eri襟lapel, collar, as in okuri eri jime, gyaku eri jime
gi着clothes
hagai羽交wing pinion, as in hagai jime, kata hagai
hara腹belly, center, as in hara gatame; also appears in ‘harakiri’
hiji肘elbow (cf. empi), as in hiji shime
kami髪hair on the head, as in osaegami jime
kansetsu関節joint
kata肩shoulder, as in kata gatame, kata guruma
kesa袈裟often translated as ‘scarf’ as in kesa gatame, kesa nage; more precisely Japanese Buddhist robes, worn going over one shoulder and under the other
kokyū呼吸breath, as in kokyū hō, kokyū nage
koshi腰hip, as in ō goshi, ushiro goshi, harai goshi, hane goshi, sode tsurikomi goshi, koshi guruma, koshi nage, jūji koshi nage, utsuri goshi
kote小手wrist, forearm (cf. tekubi), lit. ‘small hand’, as in kote gaeshi, kote gaeshi maki
kubi首neck, as in kubi hazushi, tekubi, dakikubi jime
mata股thigh, inner thigh, crotch, as in uchi mata
mi身body, self, as in ukemi, sutemi, irimi nage, norimi
nodo喉throat, as in nodo tsuki agi
obi帯belt or sash used to tie a kimono or gi
seoi背負often translated as ‘shoulder’ in seoi nage, but lit. ‘carried on the back’ like a backpack
sode袖sleeve, as in sode tsurikomi goshi
tai体torso, trunk, abdomen, as in tai otoshi
tekubi手首wrist (cf. kote), lit. ‘hand neck’, as in tekubi shigarami
te手hand, fist, technique, boxing, as in te hazushi, morote gari, kote, tekubi, karate, katate tomoe, te guruma
ude腕arm, as in ude garami, gyaku ude garami, ude gatame, sankaku ude garami
waki脇underarm, armpit, as in waki gatame
yubi指finger, as in yubi tori hazushi, yubi tori, moro yubi tori

Techniques and tools

daki抱hug, as in daki hazushi, dakikubi jime
harai掃sweep, as in gedan barai, deashi barai, harai goshi, okuri ashi barai
hazushi外escape, release, as in te hazushi, daki hazushi, kubi hazushi, yubi tori hazushi
kake掛hook, as in ko soto gake
kama鎌sickle, as in uchi gama, soto gama
karami搦entangle, as in ashi garami shime, ude garami, sankaku ude garami
kari刈reap, as in ō soto gari, ō uchi gari, ko soto gari, ko uchi gari, morote gari
katame固hold, grapple, lit. ‘harden, set’, as in kesa gatame, shihōgatame, jūji gatame, ude gatame, kata gatame, sankaku gatame, waki gatame, hara gatame, ura gatame
keri蹴kick, as in mae geri, mawashi geri, yoko geri, ushiro geri, mika geri
kuguri潜dive, submerge, hide, as in mizukuguri
kuruma車wheel, as in koshi guruma, kata guruma, kazaguruma, te guruma
kuzushi崩off-balancing
mizu水water, as in mizukuguri
nada刀blade, knife, sword, particularly single-edged, as in ashi nada shime, hayanada
nage投throw, as in seoi nage, shihō nage, sukui nage, irimi nage, kaiten nage, kesa nage, tomoe nage, kokyū nage, koshi nage, jūji koshi nage, omote nage, ura nage, jūji nage, nage partner
ne waza寝技ground-fighting (lit. ‘lying down’) techniques
osaekomi押込pin, lit. ‘pressing and crowding’
osae押press, pin, as in osaegami jime, osaekomi
shigarami手搦entangle, lit. ‘fist entangling’ but pronounced as a homophone for ‘fence, stockade, weir’, as in te kubi shigarami, ashi shigarami
shime絞choke, strangle, constriction, pinion, as in ashi garami shime, okuri eri jime, ashi nada shime, hiji shime, dō jime, hadaka jime, nami jūji jime, gyaku jūji jime, ichimonji jime, gyaku eri jime, hagai jime, dakikubi jime, ashiyubi jime, osaegami jime
shutō手刀knife hand, as in shutō uke
sute捨sacrifice, as in sutemi, kani sute
tenkan転換turning step, lit. ‘turn and replace’
tori捕taker, subject who performs a technique, seize/grab/attack, as in tori partner, yubi tori, yubi tori hazushi, moro yubi tori
tsuki突thrust, punch, as in nodo tsuki age
uchi打strike (different from uchi ‘inside’)
uke受receiver, object a technique is performed on, block, as in uke partner, ukemi, age uke, uchi uke, soto uke, shutō uke

Sources