Sports Glossaries
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aikido

A martial art, based on older styles of ju-jitsu, created by Ueshiba Morihei in the 20th century. Japanese for "the way of harmony."

ashi waza

Leg techniques, including kicks and throws in which the pivot point is the leg or foot.

atemi waza

Striking techniques, including kicks, punches, and blocks.

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bo

A fighting staff, about 6 feet long and 1 inch in diameter, made of polished wood and used in several martial arts.

bokken

A wooden sword, originally used by samurai in place of a real sword during practice, now a weapon in its own right.

break-fall

A technique that lessens the impact of a fall.

bujutsu

Fighting arts of Japan's ancient warrior class.

bushido

The code of ethics practiced by the bushi and samurai class in ancient Japan; the Japanese for "way of the warrior."

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chui

A violation that gives the opponent a yuko. If given to a combatant who already has a chui, the chui is increased to keikoku. (Judo)

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dan

The Korean word for degree, usually used as a suffix with a number prefix to indicate a practitioner's rank, as in shodan. First dan is the lowest degree and 10th dan is the highest.

dihue

An assistant instructor.

do

The path to self enlightenment. Literally, the way.

dojang

The Korean word for a training hall, a cognate of the Japanese dojo.

dojo

A hall in which martial arts are taught and practiced. Literally "place of the way" in Japanese.

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encho-sen

An extension of play to determine the winner of a tied match. (Karate)

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fandori

Free sparring using throws and takedowns.

fusen gachi

A win by default. (Judo)

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gi

The uniform worn while practicing martial arts.

goshi waza

Throws in which the hip is used as the pivot point.

goshin jitsu

Techniques of self defense.

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hadaka jime

A choke hold with the naked arm.

hajimae

Begin; a command.

hane goshi

A springing hip throw. (Mainly judo)

hansoku mate

A very serious violation that gives the opponent an ippon, thereby ending the match. (Judo)

hantei

The judge's determination of the winner when a match is tied in points.

hara

A person's center of mass, believed to be the origin of the ki. Literally, Japanese for abdomen.

hiki wake

A draw. (Judo and karate)

hira basami

A strike in which the first knuckle of the first finger, or the area between the thumb and the first finger, is the striking surface. Literally "tiger's mouth."

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ippon

A full win. (Judo and karate)

irimi nage

An entering throw, in which the attacker's arm lifts the opponent's chin. Also known as the twenty-year throw.

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jitsu

Japanese word for techniques.

jo

A fighting staff, 3 to 4 feet in length, used in several martial arts.

ju

The idea of giving way and using the opponent's momentum against him, rather than opposing force to force. Literally "gentle" in Japanese and the basis of both judo and ju-jitsu.

judo

A Japanese martial art invented early in the 20th century by Kano Jigoro, based on older styles of ju-jitsu. It has been an Olympic sport since 1964. Japanese for "gentle way."

judoka

A practitioner of judo.

judogi

The judo uniform, a baggy jacket off white or off-white material and loose trousers.

ju-jitsu

An old Japanese martial art, based primarily on the principle of ju. Literally, the "gentle art" in Japanese. Often spelled as one word.

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kake

Application of a technique.

kamae

Posture.

kansetsu waza

Techniques of controlling the opponent's joints to throw, control, or immobilize him.

kapo

Arts of healing.

karate

A modern Japanese martial art that developed from old Okinawan striking arts. Japanese for "empty hand."

kata

Formal exercises comprising a series of grappling or striking movements that imitate fighting situations.

katsu

Methods of revival and resuscitation.

keosuke

Attention; a command.

keikoku

A serious violation that gives the opponent a waza-ari. (Judo)

kempo

The way of the fist.

kendo

The Japanese art of fencing, which uses two types of wooden sword, the bokken and the shinai. The bokken is used primarily for practice, the shinai for full contact sparring.

ki

Life energy in Japanese. (The Chinese word is chi.) Martial arts practitioners are taught to focus their ki into their techniques.

kiken gachi

A win because of the opponent's withdrawal during a match. (Judo)

kiotsuke

Attention; a command.

kiritsu

Stand up; a command.

ko kutsu dachi

A defensive stance in which most of the weight is on the back leg.

Kodokan

The world headquarters of judo, in Japan, a seven-story building that includes a 100 by 100-foot hall with 500 mats.

koka

A near yuko. However, kokas cannot be accumulated to make a higher score. (Judo)

kumite

Free style sparring.

kumite dashi

Fighting stance.

kung fu

Westerners have given this name to a conglomeration of Chinese fighting styles.

kuzushi

The act of throwing the opponent off balance.

kyu

A grade under black belt. First kyu is the highest and 10th is the lowest.

kyusho-jitsu

Techniques for striking pressure points.

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matae

Stop; a command.

morote gari

A throw in which the attacker wraps his arms around the opponent's legs and pushes his shoulder into the opponent's abdomen to take him down backwards.

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nage waza

Defensive throwing techniques that make use of the attacker's momentum. Mainly judo.

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obi

The sash that holds the jacket closed. (Judo)

obi goshi

Throwing the opponent by grasping his belt or sash.

o goshi

A basic hip throw.

o guruma

A wheel throw, on which the opponent is slung vertically around the attacker's waist.

osae komi waza

Techniques of immobilizing and pinning the opponent.

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rei

Bow; a command.

renwaku waza

Various techniques used in combination.

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sensei

A teacher; literally "one who has been born before," therefore an elder.

sensei-ni

Face toward the instructor; a command.

shiai

A contest.

shido

A minor violation that gives the opponent a koka. If a similar violation is committed later in the match, the shido is increased to a chui. (Judo)

shihan

A master instructor.

shime waza

Strangling and choking techniques.

shinai

A bamboo sword used in kendo.

shodan

A first degree black belt.

shuto uke

Blocks in which the edge of the hand is used.

sogo gachi

A compound win that results when the combatant has a waza-ari and the opponent is penalized with a keikoku. (Judo)

sutemi waza

"Sacrifice techniques," in which the defender apparently yields to the attacker's pressure and then uses the attacker's momentum to execute a throw.

sweep

A method of bringing an opponent down by knocking one of his legs out of its stance and then throwing him off balance.

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tae kwon do

A Korean martial art, featuring punches and kicks, which became an Olympic sport in 2000. Often spelled as one word. Literally, "the way of hand and foot."

t'ai chi ch'uan

Usually known simply as "tai chi," this Chinese martial art emphasizes slow, smooth movements and is commonly practiced to improve self-control and teach calmness. However, it does also have martial applications.

tatami

The mat that marks the competition area in judo, usually made of pressed foam and 16 square meters in area.

te waza

Techniques of using the hand to counter or deliver blows.

tekiyo

Methods of self defense, including a variety of grabs, chokes, and throws.

throw

Any method of lifting the opponent from his feet and getting him to the ground.

tonfa

Originally the handle of a grinding wheel that used as a weapon by Okinawan peasants. The tonfa is most often used as a whirling instrument, swung by its handle, but the handle itself can also be used for attack.

tori

Generic term for the person performing a technique.

tsuki waza

Punching techniques.

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uchi waza

Striking techniques.

ude garami

An elbow hold that immobilizes the opponent's arm. Literally, "arm wrap."

uke

The person to whom a technique is applied; often taken to mean the opponent.

uke waza

Techniques of blocking blows.

ukemi waza

Techniques of rolling and falling safely.

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waza-ari

A half win. Two waza-ari are equivalent to an ippon. (Judo and karate)

waza ari awasete ippon

A win in which the combatant has scored two waza-aris. (Judo)

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yame

Stop; a command.

yodan

Fourth-degree black belt.

yoi

Ready.

yudansha

One who holds a first degree black belt or higher.

yuko

A near waza-ari. However, yukos cannot be accumulated to make a higher score. (Judo)

yusei gachi

A win by superiority. (Judo)

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