It can be daunting to try to learn a martial art and it is even more frustrating to try to pick up some of the terminology that goes with this, so the terminology has been broken down to help you pronounce it. Good luck!
Note: We have done our best to try to get the contents of this list correct but if you the reader happens to know differently to some of the pronunciations then please let us know. Thanks
Aiki Jutsu Terms
Shiho Nage (she-ho na-gay) - Four Directional Throw
Kote Gaeshi (ko-tey guy-ash-ee) - Small Wrist Turn
Irimi Nage (ee-ree-me na-gay) - Enter Body Throw
Kaiten Nage (kite-en na-gay) - Spiral Throw
Tenchi Nage (ten-chee na-gay) - Heaven and Earth Throw
Ikkyo (ee-key-o) - First Principle.
Nikkyo (knee-key-o) - Second Principle.
Sankyo (san-key-o) - Third Principle.
Yonkyo (yon-key-o) - Fourth Principle
Irimi (ee-ree-me) – Positive (inside or to enter)
Tenkan (ten-can)– Negative (outside or to not enter)
Ju-do Terms
O-Goshi (o go-she) – Major Hip Throw
O-Soto-Gari (o so-toe ga-ree) – Major Outer Reaping Throw
Tai-Otoshi (tie o-toe-she) – Body Drop
Ippon-Sieo-Nage (ip-on sea-o na-gay) – One Armed Shoulder Throw
Tsuri-Komi-ashi (sue-ree ko-mee ash-ee) – Drawing Ankle Throw
Kubi-Nage (ku-bee na-gay) – Neck Throw
Kesa-Gatame (kay-sa ga-ta-may) – Scarf Hold
Kata-Gatame (ka-ta ga-ta-may) – Shoulder Hold
Yoko-Shiho-Gatame (yo-ko she-ho ga-ta-may) – Side Four Quarters Hold
Tate-Shiho-Gatame (tat-ay she-ho ga-ta-may) – Vertical Four Quarters Hold
Kami-Shiho-Gatame (kar-mee she-ho ga-ta-may) – Upper Four Quarters Hold
Juji-Gatame (ju-jee ga-ta-may) – Cross Arm Lock
Okuri-Eri-Jime (o-kew-ree er-ee gee-me) – Sliding Collar Neck Lock
Kata-Ha-Jime (ka-ta ha gee-me) – Single Wing Choke
Hadka-Jime (ha-da-ka gee-me) – Naked Neck Lock
Uke Goshi (oo-key go-she) – Floating Hip Throw
Kime No Kata Terms
Kneeling – Idori (ee-do-ree)
Ryote-Dori (ri-o-toe do-ree) – Hold With Both Hands
Tsukkake (sue-k-ay-key) – Blow With Fist To Stomach
Suri-Age (sue-ree ag-ee) – Glancing Blow To Face
Yoko-Uchi (yo-ko oo-chee) – Blow From Side
Usihro-Dori (you-she-row do-or-ee) – Hold On Shoulders From Behind/Side
Tsukkomi (sue-k-o-mee) – Thrust With Knife To Stomach
Kiri-Komi (key-ri ko-me) – Cleave To Head With Knife (cut to head with blade of knife)
Yoko-Tsuki (yo-ko sue-key) – Axe Pick From Side
Standing – Tachi (ta-chee)
Ryote-Dori (ri-o-toe do-ree) – Hold With Both Hands
Sode-Tori (so-day toe-ree) – Hold On Sleeve
Tsukkake (sue-k-ay-key) – Blow With Fist To Stomach
Tsuki-Age (sue-key ag-ee) – Blow To Face
Suri-Age (sue-ree ag-ee) – Glancing Blow To Face
Yoko-Uchi (yo-ko oo-chi) – Blow From Side
Ke-Age (key ag-ee) – Kick To Lower Abdomen
Usihro-Dori (you-she-row do-or-ee) – Hold On Shoulders From Behind/Side
Tsukkomi (sue-k-o-mee)– Thrust With Knife To Stomach
Kiri-Komi (key-ree ko-mee) – Cleave To Head With Knife (cut to head with blade of knife)
Nuke-Kake (new-key kay-key – Block Sword In Sheath
Kiri-Oroshi (key-ri o-ro-she) – To Cleave With Sword
Karate Terms
JODAN AGE UKE (jo-dan ag-ee oo-key) | RISING BLOCK |
GEDAN BARAI (gay-dan bar-ree) | DOWNWARD BLOCK |
UDE UKE (oo-day oo-key) | INSIDE FOREARM BLOCK |
SOTO UKE (so-toe oo-key) | OUTSIDE FOREARM BLOCK |
GYAKU SOTO UKE (guy-a-ku so-toe oo-key) | REVERSE OUTSIDE FOREARM BLOCK |
ZENKUTSU DACHI (zen-koot-sue ta-chi) | FRONT STANCE |
JU DACHI (jew ta-chi) | FREESTYLE FIGHTING STANCE |
KIBA DACHI (key-ba ta-chi) | STRADDLE STANCE |
OIE TSUKI (oi sue-key) | LUNGE PUNCH |
GYAKU TSUKI (guy-a-ku sue-key) | REVERSE PUNCH |
MAE GERI (may ker-rey) | FRONT KICK |
YOKO GERI (yo-ko ker-rey) | SIDE KICK |
MAWASHI GERI (ma-wash-ee ker-rey) | ROUNDHOUSE KICK |
USHIRO GERI (you-she-row ker-rey) | BACK KICK |
YOKO UKEMI (yo-ko you-key-me) | SIDE BREAKFALL |
USHIRO UKEMI (you-shee-row you-key-me) | BACK BREAKFALL |
JODAN JUJI UKE (jo-dan jew-jee oo-key) | RISING CROSS BLOCK |
GEDAN JUJI UKE (gay-den jew-jee oo-key) | DOWNWARD CROSS BLOCK |
SHUTO UKE (shew-toe oo-key) | KNIFE HAND BLOCK |
TEISHO UKE (tay-shoe oo-key) | PALM HEEL |
KO KUTSU DACHI (ko koo-t-sue ta-chi) | BACK STANCE |
NEKO ASHI DACHI (knee-ko ash-ee ta-chi) | CAT STANCE |
SHUTO UCHI (shew-toe oo-chi) | KNIFE HAND ATTACK |
URAKEN UCHI (oo-rake-en oo-chi) | BACK FIST |
TETSUI UCHI (tet-sue oo-chi) | HAMMER FIST |
MAE GERI (may ker-ee) | FRONT LEG FRONT KICK |
YOKO GERI (yo-ko ker-ree) | CLOSE QUARTER SIDE KICK |
MAWASHI GERI (ma-wash-ee ker-ee) | ROUNDHOUSE KICK OFF FRONT LEG |
USHIRO MAWASHI GERI (you-she-row ma-wash-ee ker-ree) | REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK |
JEMPO KAITEN (jen-po kay-ten) | FORWARD ROLL |
USHIRO KAITEN (you-she-row kay-ten) | BACKWARDS ROLL |
MAE UKEMI (may you-key-me) | FRONT BREAKFALL |
KOKEN UKE (ko-can oo-key) | ARC FIST BLOCK |
TEISHO UKE (tey-sho oo-key) | PALM HEEL BLOCK |
EMPI UKE (em-pee oo-key) | ELBOW BLOCK |
JODAN TSUKI (jo-dan sue-key) | UPPER CUT |
MAWASHI TSUKI (ma-wash-ee sue-key) | ROUND HOUSE PUNCH |
HAITO UKE (hate-o oo-key) | RIDGE HAND STRIKE |
MIGI SUKI GERI (me-gi sue-key ker-rey) | JUMPING CRESCENT KICK |
USHIRO MIGI SUKI GERI (you-she-row me-gi sue-key ker-rey | REVERSE JUMPING CRESCENT KICK |
MAE UKEMI (may you-key-me) | FRONT BREAKFALL TO STAGE 3 |
JEMPO KAITEN TO YOKO UKEMI (jen-po k-ai-ton to yo-ko you-key-me) | FORWARD ROLL INTO SIDE BREAKFALL |
SUKI UKE (sue-key oo-key) | SCOOPING BLOCK (OUTSIDE AND INSIDE) |
TEISHO UKE (tay-sho oo-key) | PALM HEAL BLOCK |
NUKITE UCHI (new-kit-ay oo-chi) | STRAIGHT FINGER STRIKE |
TOHO UCHI (toe-ho oo-chi) | SWORD HEEL STRIKE |
IPPON NUKITE (ip-on new-kit-ay) | ONE FINGER STRIKE |
NIHON NUKITE (knee-on new-kit-ay) | TWO FINGER STRIKE |
MOROTE JODAN AGE UKE (mo-rot-hey jo-dan ag-ee oo-key) | REINFORCED RISING BLOCK |
MOROTE SOTE UKE (mo-rot-hey so-toe oo-key) | REINFORCED OUTSIDE FOREARM BLOCK |
MOROTE GYAKU SOTO UKE (mo-rot-hey guy-a-ku so-toe oo-key) | REINFORCED REVERSED OUTSIDE FOREARM BLOCK |
MOROTE UDE UKE (mo-rot-hey oo-dey oo-key) | REINFORCED INSIDE FOREARM BLOCK |
MOROTE OIE TSUKI (mo-rot-hey oy soo-key) | REINFORCED LUNGE PUNCH |
MOROTE GYAKU TSUKI (mo-rot-hey guy-a-ku soo-key) | REINFORCED REVERSE PUNCH |
MOROTE KOKEN UCHI (mo-rot-hey coke-an oo-chi) | REINFORCED ARC FIST STRIKE |
MOROTE SHUTO UCHI (mo-rot-hey shoo-tow oo-chi) | REINFORCED KNIFE HAND STRIKE |
MOROTE NUKITE UCHI (mo-rot-hey new-kit-ay oo-chi) | REINFORCED STRAIGHT FINGER STRIKE |
General terms.
Atemi-Waza (a-t-hey-me-wa-za) – Vulnerable Points Techniques
Atemi (a-t-hey-me) – Vulnerable Points.
Gi or DoGi (gee or dow-gee) – Martial Arts Suit
Hakama (hack-a-ma)– Skirt like Trousers (worn by advanced students and teachers)
Rei (ray) – Bow
Seize Rei (sez-a-ray) – Kneeling Bow.
Ai (eye) – harmony
Ai-Hanami (eye han-am-me) – same stance as opponent
Bokken (bo-can) – wooden replica of katana
Bu Jutsu (boo jew-jut-sue) – Martial arts
Dan (dan) – Black Belt Ranking
Jo (jo) – 4 foot wooden staff
Ki (key) – Energy
Ma-ai (ma eye) – distance
Metsuki (met sue-key) – Focus
Morote-Dori (mo-rot-ay do-ree) – Two Handed Wrist Grab
Omote (o-mo-tey) – Infront
O’sensei (o sen-say) – Great Teacher
Sensei (sen-say) – one who has gone before
Soke (so-key) – Master Teacher and Founder. Also known as Soshu (so-shoe)
Hanshi (han-she) – Past Master
O’Hanshi (o han-she) – great past master
Seiza (say-sa) – sitting posture
Shikko (she-ko) - Knee Walking
Tanto (tan-toe) – Dagger/knife
Tori (toe-ree) – Person defending.
Ura (you-ra) – Rear
Zanshin (za-n-sh-in) – Awareness by spirit.
Tatami (ta-ta-me) – Mats, Matted Area
Bunkai (bun-k-eye) – Application.
Ashi-Sabaki (a-she sa-back-ee) – footwork
Batto (ba-toe) – Drawing a Sword.
Bushido (bush-ee-dow) – Way of the Samurai/ Warrior Code of Honour.
Do (dow) – Way of
Dojo (dow-jo) – Training Hall
Gishiki (gee-she-key) – Ritual
Ichi (itch-ee) – one
Ni (knee) – two
San (s-an) – three
Sei (s-ee) – four
Go (g-o) – five
Rokyu (rock-oo) – six
Shisi (she-she) – seven
Hatchi (ha-chee) – eight
Qu (que) - nine
Du (due) – ten
Hamon (ha-m-on) – cutting edge of the sword
Hara (ha-ra) – Stomach
Henka (hen-car) – Variations
Hidari (he-da-ree) – Left
Iai (eye-ay) – Fast Sword Techniques
Iai Jutsu (eye-ay jew-t-sue) – Fast Sword Fighting
Itto (it-toe) – one sword
Kabuto (car-boo-toe) – Helmet
Kamae (car-may) – Stance/Posture
Kata (ka-tar) – Form
Katana (ka-tan-ner) – Sword originally known as Katakiriba (ka-ta-key-ree-bar).
Ken (ken) – seeing (eyes)
Kendo (ken-dow) – Way of the sword, sport martial art
Kissaki (kis-sar-key) – Tip of the Sword
Kumiuchi (kuw-me-oo-chee) – Formal name of Ju Jutsu.
Kyu Jutsu (que jew-t-sue) – Archery
Men (men) – front of the ehad
Menkyo (men-q-o) – Licence
Migi (me-gee) – Right
Nito (knee-toe) – Two swords
Nito-Ken (knee-toe ken) – two sword techniques
Noto (no-toe) – Sheathing the sword.
Obi (o-be) – belt
Okuden (o-que-den) – Master Level
Ryuha (roo-ha) – School
Ryuso (roo-sho) – Founder of the school
Samurai (sam-you-r-high) – Warrior or he who awaits orders
Seppuku (sep-poo-koo) – Ritualistice taking of ones life
Shihan (she-han) – student of the Soke who has his own students
Shinai (she-n-hai) – Wooden kendo sword
Shomen-Uchi (show-man oo-chi) – Frontal strike
Taito (tay-toe) – Possession of a sword in your belt.
Tenouchi (ten –o-oo-chi) – Grip
Tsuba (sue-bar) – Sword guard
Tsuka (sue-car) – Hilt of sword
Uchidachi (oo-chi-da-ch-ee) – Attacker.
Uke (oo-key) – Attacker
Ukenagashi (oo-ken-a-ga-she) – Deflection/Parry
Yoroi (yo-roy) – Armour