Glossary

This glossary contains 568 entries related to Ninjutsu, martial arts, and Japanese history. All words are Japanese unless otherwise noted.

Ai sha
愛者: Love person; Principle of gojō goyoku based on exploiting compassion.

Aikidō
合気道: The Way of Harmony; A defensive martial art developed by Ueshiba Morihei between 1925 and 1969.

Aikuchi
匕首: Small Japanese dagger.

Ainu
アイヌ: Native people of Japan. A linguistically and racially distinct people from the Japanese who now live in small numbers (15,000 individuals) on the northern island of Hokkaidō. Their build is stocky, with light skin, strong bones, and body hair.

Akechi Mitsuhide
明智光秀: General of Oda Nobunaga, who betrayed him and, in the absence of his bodyguards, attacked and killed Nobunaga. His troops burned Nobunaga’s castle.

Akindo
商人: merchant; Popular Ninja disguise in shichi hō de.

Ashi
足: leg, foot

Ashi fumikae
足踏み替え: Change legs

Ashi kō
足甲: Armored Feet; Ninja climbing foot claws, used to climb walls and walls. The counterpart for the hands is called shukō or tekagi.

Ashigaru
足軽: Flight Footed Soldier; Lower class of the Samurai. In peacetime they were mostly farmers in the fields. Their armament and armor were lighter and cheaper.

Ashikaga
足利: Clan descended from the Minamoto who were the shōgune of Japan in the Ashikaga period (1338-1573).

Atemi
当身: Blow to the body; Punches and kicks against the human’s vital points and nerve centers to stun, paralyze or kill them.

Atemi waza
当身技: Hit the body with the hand; Another term for hitting the vital points and nerve centers.

Atemite
当身手: Hit the body with the hand; Another term for hitting the vital points and nerve centers.

Ayumi ashi
歩み足: Normal walking

Bajutsu
馬術: Horsemanship

Bakufu
幕府: Tent Government; Originally the name for the shōgun encampment. Later for the seat of the shōgun military dictatorship.

Bakuhatsu gama
爆発鎌: Bomb Throwing Crescent; Ninja weapon consisting of a large sickle (kama), a two meter long chain and explosives, poison or blinding powder at the end.

Bansenshūkai
萬川集海: Ten thousand rivers flow into the sea; A ten-part Ninja compendium written in 1676 by Fujibayashi Yasuyoshi.

Banzai
万歳: Ten thousand years; Japanese exclamation of joy or battle.

Bashigo
梯子: Ladder; Also hashigo. Usually made from reeds or bamboo.

Bisentō
眉尖刀: halberd; Japanese broad-bladed halberd.

Biwako
琵琶湖: Lake Biwa; The largest lake in Japan (695 km²), located near the city of Kyōto. The name comes from its lute (biwa)-like shape.

Bō
棒: stick, staff; Term for all Japanese staff weapons. Actually related to the roku shaku bō.

Bō ken
棒剣: Stick Sword; Practicing sword made of heavy wood. Also bokken or bokutō. A quite dangerous weapon.

Bō shuriken
棒手裏剣: Elongated, dagger-like projectiles (shuriken). Hairpins, nails, chopsticks, among others.

Bōenkyō
望遠鏡: telescope

Bokken
木剣: Wooden Sword; Also bō ken or bokutō.

Boku
木: tree, wood; Also moku.

Bokutō
木刀: Wooden Sword; Also bō ken or bokken.

Bōryaku
謀略: Strategy; Part of Japanese warfare (heihō). This included the Japanese battle formations.

Boshi ken
母指拳: thumb fist; The target is hit with the tip of the thumb.

Bu
武: The Art of War, Warriorship, Military; Also mu.

Buddha
बुद्ध: Awakened; Sanskrit. Term for a person who has broken the world cycle of reincarnation. Usually Buddha means the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince from Kapilavatsu, the founder of the world religion Buddhism. Japanese Butsu.

Budō
武道: Martial Arts; Term for all Japanese martial arts.

Budōka
武道家: Martial Artist; Performer of budō.

Bugeisha
武芸者: Martial Arts Master; Term for the warriors (Samurai), practitioners of the martial arts. Also bujin.

Bujin
武人: Military Person; Also bugeisha.

Bujinkan
武神館: The Hall of the Divine Warrior; Organization founded by Hatsumi Masaaki, brings together nine ancient warrior and Ninjutsu ryū.

Bujutsu
武術: The Martial Arts, Wushu; Term for all Samurai martial arts.

Buke
武家: Samurai Warrior Military Family; Term for noble warrior families.

Bukkyō
仏教: Buddhism

Bushi
武士: Warrior, Samurai; Term for the noble warriors of feudal Japan.

Bushidō
武士道: The Way of the Warrior; Samurai code of honor. Demanded self-discipline, self-sacrifice, and self-control.

Butsu
仏: Buddha

Chakuchi
着地: Lunge

Chi
地: earth, ground

Chi giri ki
乳切木: Long staff, with chain and iron weight at the end. Weapon evolved from the flail.

Chi kai ri
地開理: Earth-Opening Strategies; Strategies used by the Ninja during a war to penetrate enemy lines.

Chi no kata
地の型: Earth Form

Chikatabi
地下足袋: Ninja shoes, with a separate big toe. Great for silent running and climbing.

Chikujō jutsu
築城術: The art of building a castle; Field fortification methods.

Chimon
地文: Geography

Chitsu mishi
秩見し: Bapaid eyes; Dwellers of a hostile territory working for a Ninja.

Chōda
長蛇: Long Line; A battle formation from the bōryaku.

Chōhō
諜報: espionage

Chōkyori kyōsō
長距離競争: Long distance run; A Ninja running technique used to deliver messages over long distances.

Chūnin
中人: Middle person; Mid-ranking Ninja. Liaison between a clan leader (jōnin) and executive agents (genin). His strengths lay in the areas of people skills and the dressing up, because he usually established contact with the client.

Dai
大: Big

Daimyō
大名: Big Name; Term for the rising landowners who fought for power in Japan during the sengoku jidai period.

Daisharin
大車輪: Big Balance Wheel; Ninja weapon consisting of an axle and two large wheels. Was rolled into the opponent’s legs.

Daishō
大小: upper-lower; Denotes the sword pair of the Samurai, katana and wakizashi.

Daitō
大刀: Great Sword; Term for oversized Samurai swords.

Daken taijutsu
打拳体術: The art of hitting your body with your fist; Fighting techniques from taijutsu. Kicks, punches and blocking techniques. Distinction between koppō jutsu and koshi jutsu.

Dan
段: Rank, level; Description for the master degrees.

Dengyō Daishi
伝教大師: Founder of Tendai Buddhist sect and Enryakuji Monastery. Other name was Saichō.

Densho
伝書: Traditional Letters; Secret documents of a ryū that recorded the techniques and rules.

Do
土: earth, ground

Dō
道: way, path, principle; Label for the Asian worldview.

Dō no hi
銅の火: Copper Fire; Pocket warmer. A small oven into which the Ninja placed a smoldering coal. Also known as dōka.

Do sha
怒者: Angry Person; Principle of gojō goyoku based on exploiting irritability.

Dōjō
道場: Training Hall

Dōka
銅火: Copper Fire; Bag warmers. Also dō no hi.

Doko no kamae
怒虎の構え: Angry Tiger; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Dōkyō
道教: Daoism; Chinese philosophical doctrine that is often mistakenly confused with the Taoist religion. Taoism teaches an approach to nature and an understanding of the universe.

Doton jutsu
土遁術: The Art of Escape with Earth; Escape technique from goton pō, using the earth as a means of escape.

Ebira
箙: Quiver of Arrows

Edo
江戸: Old term for the Japanese capital, today Tōkyō.

Eki
易: Oracle; Interrogated by coins or yarrow stalks. In Chinese I Ching.

Endoku ken
煙毒剣: Smoke Venom Blade; Throwing star (shuriken) that could be ignited and produced poisonous gases.

Engetsu
偃月: Crescent; A battle formation from the bōryaku.

Enryākuji
延暦寺: Main monastery of the tendai sect on Mount Hiei zan near Kyōto. Founded by Tennō Kammu as the center of Tendai Buddhism. In its heyday the monastery had up to 40,000 monks and sōhei in 3000 temples on the mountain In September 1571 it was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga in the course of his campaign against ikkō ikki, Ninja and sōhei and killed most of the residents.

Fu
風: wind

Fu no kata
風の型: Wind Form

Fudō ken
不動拳: Unmoving fist; A fist stance found in many martial arts that represents a normal fist.

Fudōshin
不動心: Unmoving Heart; A calm, unmoved mind.

Fudōza no kamae
不動座の構え: Static Seat; Seated position in Japan, also stance in Ninjutsu.

Fujibayashi Nagato
藤林長門: Famous jōnin from the Iga region. Actually just a sham identity of Momochi Sandayu.

Fujita Seiko
藤田せいこ: Grandmaster of Ninjutsu. The last chief of the Kōga ryū. Died in a car accident at the age of 65 with his top three students.

Fukibari
吹き針: Blow needles; Ninja fighting technique in which small metal needles (fukumi bari) were blown into the attacker’s face.

Fukiya
吹き矢: Blowgun and Arrow; Most of the bullets were poisoned.

Fukumi bari
含み針: Small arrows

Fuma Kotarō
風魔小太郎: Famous jōnin Ninja with 200 minions. Specialist in guerrilla warfare.

Futokoro teppō
懐鉄砲: Pocket Iron Pistol; Bronze pistol that was easy to conceal. Popular with the Ninja.

Gandō
龕灯: Buddhist Altar Light; Lighting tool whose light source is always held perpendicular to the ground.

Gankō
雁行: Flight of Birds; A battle formation from the bōryaku.

Gasshō no kamae
合掌の構え: Prayer Pose; Ninjutsu stance (kamae). Greeting with palms together.

Genin
下人: Lower person; Lower rank of the Ninja. Executive agent who takes his orders from the chūnin. He mostly doesn’t know the jōnin. His strengths were melee combat, concealment, infiltration and sabotage.

Genji
源氏: Label for the Minamoto.

Geri
蹴り: Kick; Also keri.

Geta
下駄: Wooden sandals with high heels, a cross or toe strap.

Gi
着: Clothes, Outfit, Uniform; Training clothes.

Gikan-ryū
義鑑流: School of Learning Justice; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Gisō jutsu
擬装術: The art of impersonation and disguise; The art of the Ninja to empathize with other people and assume a new identity. Part of onshin jutsu.

Godai
五大: The Big Five; The five elements of the universe from the Mikkyō. Earth (chi), Water (sui), Fire (ka), wind (fu) and emptiness (kū).

Gogyō
五行: Theory of the Five Elements; View of nature adopted from Chinese Daoism. Water (Sui), Wood (moku), Fire (Ka), Earth (Do), and Metal (Kin).

Gogyō no kata
五行の型: Five Motion Shape

Gogyō setsu
五行説: Theory of the Five Elements; Short gogyō.

Gojō goyoku
五条五欲: Ninja strategy of manipulating people through their traits.

Goku no kamae
ごくの構え: Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Gorin no sho
五輪の書: The Book of Five Rings; Sword fighting and strategy work written by Miyamoto Musashi.

Goshin no kata
梧心の型: Phoenix tree heart shape

Goton jutsu
五遁術: Five Escape Art; Other name for goton pō.

Goton pō
五遁包: The Five Methods of Escape; Ninja’s principle of escaping using the five elements of Gogyō.

Gu
具: tool

Gyokko-ryū
玉虎流: School of the Jeweled Tiger; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Gyokushin-ryū
玉心流: The School of the Jeweled Heart; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Gyorin
魚鱗: Fish Scale; A battle formation from the bōryaku.

Ha jutsu
破術: The Art of Shattering; Rescue from grabs.

Hagakure
葉隠: Hidden Leaves; Book by the Samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo. Discusses the philosophical aspects of bushidō.

Hakama
袴: Traditional Culottes.

Han
藩: Feudal Territory, Fiefdom, Province; The fief of a Daimyō.

Hanbō
半棒: Half Stick; The correct name is San shaku bō.

Hankyū
半弓: Half Arc; Ninja short bow. Sometimes collapsible. Easy to carry around.

Hanmi no kamae
半身の構え: Half person; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Happa ken
八葉拳: Eight-Leaf Fist

Hara
腹: stomach; Denotes the entire area between the stomach and abdomen. Considered the center of mental and physical strength.

Hasami bune
波佐見舟: Collapsible Ninja boat that allowed equipment to be transported across the water.

Hashigo
梯子: Ladder; Also bashigo.

Hatsumi Masaaki
初見良昭: Birth name Hatsumi Yoshiaki, founder of the Bujinkan budō dōjō, sōke of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan and student of Takamatsu Toshitsugu. Respected worldwide person of honor.

Hattori Hanzo
服部半蔵: Famous jōnin from the Iga region who is also a Samurai in the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Hayes, Stephen K.: Teacher of Ninjutsu. Disciple of Hatsumi Masaaki. First non-Japanese to become shidoshi. Established Tōshindō as a school in the U.S.A.

Heihō
兵法: Method of the Warrior; Includes both combat methods and combat strategies (bōryaku).

Heike
平家: Another name for the Taira.

Heipo
平歩: Way of the Salamander; Ninja crawling method.

Hensō jutsu
変装術: The Art of Dressing Up; Art of Ninja disguise. Part of onshin jutsu.

Hichō no kamae
飛鳥の構え: Flying Bird Pose; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Hiken
秘剣: Secret Sword Techniques

Hira no kamae
平の構え: Flat position; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Hira no kamae
平の構: Flat position; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Hira shuriken
平手裏剣: Flat throwing stars (shuriken) with different number of points, in different sizes and shapes.

Hiragana
平仮名: Japanese syllabary, used for purely Japanese words. Invented by Kōbō Daishi.

Hiraki ashi
開き足: Sliding sideways with both feet.

Hishi
菱: Trapa japonica, water chestnut, crow’s foot; Dried water chestnuts that served the purpose of a tetsubishi.

Hito washi
人鷲: Person Eagle; Flying machine of the Ninja. Also yami doko.

Hōjō
北条: Clan of risen Samurai. Were one of the families fighting for power in the sengoku jidai.

Hōjō jutsu
縄術: The art of bondage.

Hōken juroppō
宝拳十六法: Method of Sixteen Precious Fists

Hokkaidō
北海道: Northernmost island of Japan with capital Sapporo.

Hōko no kamae
抱圍の構え: Hugging Pose; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Hokō jutsu
歩行術: The art of walking correctly

Honbu
本部: Headquarters

Hoshi
鋒矢: Arrowhead; A battle formation from the bōryaku.

Hyōjō hokō
氷上歩行: Go on ice

Iai jutsu
居合術: Sworddraw; Art of the Samurai to kill an enemy with the first strike if possible.

Iaidō
居合道: Sport developed from Iai jutsu.

Ichi no kamae
一の構え: One position; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Ichimonji no kamae
一文字の構え: Straight bar position; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Iga
伊賀: Japanese province near Kyōto where the Ninja were particularly active.

Iga dama
伊賀玉: Stalkthistle (s. tetsubishi).

Iga Ueno
伊賀上野: City in the Iga region that was once the center of the Ninja. Museums and festivals commemorate the achievements of the Ninja.

Iga-ryū
伊賀流: Ninjutsu style, today’s Kumogakure ryū.

Igasaki Dojun
伊賀崎道順: Famous Ninja from Iga province who got into an enemy castle using incredible tactics.

Ikki
一揆: Uprising

Ikkō-ikki
一向一揆: Uprising of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhists; Revolt by the League of Like-Minders, an esoteric Buddhist sect.

In
陰: Shadow, negative, hidden

In’yō
陰陽: Cosmic dual forces, yin and yang, sun and moon; The Japanese equivalent of yin and yang, the Taoist symbol of duality.

Inpō
隠法: The art of concealment and camouflage.

Inrō
印籠: Travel Pharmacy

Inton jutsu
隠遁術: The Ninja’s Art of Escaping and Hiding

Ippon sugi nobori
一本杉登り: A way of climbing a cedar; Device for climbing up a tree. A piece of iron with a hook, to which two ropes with handles are attached.

Ishikawa Goemon
石川五右衛門: Famous Ninja who used his art to steal. A sort of Japanese Robin Hood.

Ito
意図: Intention

Ja
者: Person

Jari bako
砂利箱: Sand utility box; Vessels filled with rice, sand, or gravel, used to soften hands. Also kanshu.

Ji
侍: Another name for Samurai.

Jin
人: Person

Jirai
地雷: Land mine

Jitte
十手: Ten Hands; Hand weapon with a hook to absorb sword blows. Also jutte.

Jō
杖: Walking stick, walking stick, staff; The full name is yon shaku bō.

Jōnin
上人: Upper Person; Highest rank of the Ninja. Leader of a clan whose true identity was mostly known only to the chūnin. He gave the genin the necessary tasks. His strengths lay in the area of politics, strategy and philosophy.

Jū tai jutsu
柔体術: Soft Body Art; Grab, lock and choke holds from taijutsu of Ninjutsu.

Jūdō
柔道: The gentle way; Japanese martial arts developed from jūjutsu by Professor Kanō Jigorō in 1882.

Jūjutsu
柔術: Art of Indulgence; Ancient Japanese martial arts of the Samurai.

Jūmonji no kamae
十文字の構え: Ten (cross) position; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Jūnantaisō
柔軟体操: Calisthenics; Ninja agility and flexibility exercises.

Jutsu
術: art, means, technique

Jutte
十手: Ten Hands; Hand weapon with a hook to absorb sword blows. Also jitte.

Ka
火: fire

Ka jutsu
火術: Fire Art; Handling fire, guns and explosives.

Ka no kata
火の型: Fire Form

Kagami
鏡: Mirror

Kagi kōhō keri
鈎後方蹴り: Back Hook Kick

Kagi nawa
鈎縄: Hook Straw Rope; Long rope with a hook attached to the end.

Kagi yari
鈎槍: Hookspear; Weapon of the Ninja that could deflect sword blows and climb trees. Also kama yari.

Kaiten
回転: Turn, rotate, roll

Kaku yoku
鶴翼: Cranewing; A battle formation from the bōryaku.

Kama
鎌: Sickle; Tool used throughout Asia to cut corn, rice, or sugar cane.

Kama ikada
蒲筏: Reed Raft; One person raft made out of rushes.

Kama yari
鎌槍: Hookspear; Weapon of the Ninja that could deflect sword blows and climb trees. Also Kagi yari.

Kamae
構え: Battle Stances

Kamikaze
神風: Divine Wind; Name for the two typhoons that the Mongolian forces under Kublai Khan destroyed. During World War II, the pilots who had to crash their planes on Allied ships and bases as a suicide squad were also called kamikaze.

Kamiza
神座: Seat of the Gods; The most important place in the dōjō, where pictures of the Grand Master hang and religious objects are displayed.

Kana
仮名: Japanese script. The Japanese script consists of a mixture of Japanese characters (katakana and hiragana) and Chinese characters (kanji ).

Kangeiko
寒稽古: Winter Training

Kanji
漢字: Chinese characters; The characters were adopted by the Japanese and form a majority of their characters today.

Kanshu
慣手: Vessels filled with rice, sand, or gravel, used to soften hands. Also jari bako.

Kantō kusha
巻頭く者: Male Kunoichi Instructor.

Kanzashi
簪: Ornate Hairpin; Hairpin made of wood or metal that has two prongs like a fork.

Karate dō
空手道: Way of the Empty Hand; Martial arts that originated in Okinawa, an archipelago in southern Japan.

Kasha
下車: Rappel pulley.

Kasugai
鎹: Hook; Hook the Ninja used to clip onto doors to prevent opening.

Kataga hasami bune
かたが鋏船: Small boat.

Katakana
片仮名: Japanese syllabary alphabet, mainly used for foreign expressions, telegrams and onomatopoeia.

Katana
刀: Sword, Katana; Long sword of the Samurai with a curved, single-edged blade. Blade length is between 61 and 76 cm. Belongs with the wakizashi to the daishō.

Katana kake
刀懸け: Swordstand; Used to store the katana around the house. The wakizashi was only put down when sleeping or in the bath, but even then it was always within reach.

Kato Danzo
加藤段蔵: Famous Ninja said to have been a master of jumping techniques.

Katon jutsu
火遁術: Fire Escape Technique; Escape technique from goton pō, using fire as a means of escape.

Kaya kujutsu
火薬術: Art of handling fire and explosives

Ken
拳: Fist body weapon

Ken
剣: sword, saber, blade

Ken tai ichi jō
剣体一情: Body and weapon are one

Kendō
剣道: Way of the Sword; Martial arts that evolved from the sword art (kenjutsu) of the Samurai. Today, a shinai is used instead of a sword. Armor is worn for protection.

Kenjutsu
剣術: Sword Art; Swordsmanship of Feudal Japan.

Kensei
剣聖: Sword Saint; A human who saw through the essence of the path and was considered almost invincible. Miyamoto Musashi is the best-known example of a kensei.

Kenshō
顕正: Realizing the Cosmic Truth; Understanding of all things, enlightenment, even satori.

Keri
蹴り: Kick; Also Geri.

Ki
気: Energy, vital force, life activity

Kiai
気合: Scream, Fighting Spirit; Discharge energy in a battle cry. Should be accompanied by a powerful technique. Some masters have been able to kill small animals with the scream and temporarily paralyze humans.

Kiai jutsu
気合術: The Art of the Battlecry; The art of using the kiai.

Kido Yazaemon
城戸弥左衛門: Famous Ninja who attempted an assassination attempt on Oda Nobunaga but failed.

Kihon happō gata
基本八法型: The Eight Basic Shapes

Kikaku ken
鬼角拳: Demon Horn Fist

Kin
金: gold, metal

Kinton jutsu
金遁術: Metal Escape Technique; Escape technique from goton pō, using metal as a means of escape.

Kiri
錐: Point Drill

Kisha
綺者: Beautiful person; Principle of gojō goyoku based on exploiting vanity.

Kiten ken
起転拳: Turning fist

Kito gan: Pill that quenched the Ninja’s thirst.

Kitsune gakure jutsu
狐隠術: Art of hiding like a fox; Technique of hiding under the reeds like a fox.

Kō ken
鈎拳: Hook Fist

Koashi
小足: Small step; Ninja stride.

Kōbō Daishi
弘法大師: Founder of the esoteric Buddhist sect of Shingon. Other name was Kūkai.

Kobudō
古武道: Old Budō; Weapons system developed on Okinawa, mostly using peasant tools as weapons.

Kōga-ryū
甲賀流: Ninjutsu style, most likely extinct today.

Kōgai
笄: Hairpin; Needle attached to side wakizashi. Used as a tool for repairing leather items or for hoof care.

Kogakure
木隠: Hidden behind leaves and trees; I chose this name for my website.

Kōhō kaiten
後方回転: Reverse Roll

Kōhō Keri
後方蹴り: Backkick

Kokizami ashi
小刻み足: Short step; Ninja stride.

Kokū
虚空: Empty Space; Japanese measure of capacity for rice. In feudal Japan, people paid in kokū. One kokū is about 180 liters of rice.

Kokyūhō
呼吸法: Breathing technique, breath control; Methods of Proper Breathing.

Komusō
虚無僧: Monk of the Void; Mendicant monk who belonged to the Fuke order. They traveled through Japan wearing a white kimono, a large hat that covered the whole face here, a sword (katana), a long walking staff, a fan, and a flute (shakuhachi). They were never allowed to remove their hats or speak in the presence of a non-monk. The sect has officially disappeared, but it may still exist in the underground.

Kongō
金剛: Golden Strength; Short metal weapon used by Buddhist priests for self-defense. This scepter symbolizes the diamond, the sign of pure knowledge. Also known as Indra’s weapon.

Koppō jutsu
骨法術: The Art of Bone Methods; Bone-crushing techniques. In these techniques, the hands and feet have been strengthened through intense training to deliver devastating blows to the bones.

Koppō ken
骨法拳: The Fist of the Bone Method

Kōsei no kamae
攻勢の構え: Grabbing Energy; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Koshi jutsu
骨指術: The Art of Bone Fingers; These techniques were performed against the muscles of the human body, causing severe pain.

Kosshi kihon sanpō
骨指基本三法: The three basic striking techniques

Koto-ryū
虎倒流: The School of Slaying the Tiger; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Koyaku
衡やく: Beef yoke; A battle formation from the bōryaku.

Kū
空: emptiness, vacuum; Origin of subatomic energy, the nothingness, the beginning of all things.

Kū no kata
空の型: Emptiness Form

Ku shaku bō
九尺棒: Nine shaku long staff; Extra long (2.73 m) stick weapon.

Kubotan
クボタン: Fist weapon shaped like a small cylinder. It can be used to apply pressure to joints.

Kuda bashigo
管梯子: pipeline

Kūhen no kata
空変の型: Empty Metamorphoses

Kuhi
空飛: Air jump

Kuji in
九字印: Nine Word Seals; The new finger signs (mudra) used by the Ninja.

Kuji kiri
九字切り: Slicing up the nine words; Ritual of drawing a protective grid in the air with a symbolic sword. Not to be confused with kuji in.

Kūkai
空海: Pseudonym for Kōbō Daishi.

Kukishinden-ryū
九鬼神流: The School of the Nine Demon Gods; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Kuma
熊: bear

Kumade
熊手: Rake, Rake, Bear Claw; Ninja weapon that could inflict terrible injuries. It was also used for climbing.

Kumawaka: Famous genin of the Kōga ryū who led 70 Ninja guerrillas.

Kumo bashigo
雲梯子: Cloud Ladder

Kumo bashigo
蜘蛛梯子: Spider Conductor

Kumogakure-ryū
雲隠流: The Hidden Cloud School; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Kunai
苦無: Pry Tool, Ninja Throwing Knife

Kunashi
くなし: Folding spade

Kunoichi
クノイチ: Female Ninja. Trained in hand-to-hand combat like their male counterparts, their main focus was manipulating the human psyche.

Kuroi Ōkami
黒い狼: Black Wolf; Name of the Wolfsburg Bujinkan dōjō, directed by Shidoshi Mario Plückhahn.

Kusari
鎖: chain

Kusari fundō
鎖分銅: Short chain with two weights on the ends.

Kusarigama
鎖鎌: Sickle and Chain; A Japanese sickle (kama) with a weighted chain (kusari) attached to it.

Kuten
空転: Air Turn

Kyobako fune
きょ箱舟: Boxboat; A wooden box covered with leather on the outside.

Kyoketsu shoge
距跋渉毛: Favourite weapon of the Ninja. A knife with a hook, a four meter long rope attached to the handle and a steel ring at the end.

Kyōsha
恐者: Anxious person; Principle of gojō goyoku based on exploiting cowardice.

Kyōto
京都: Ancient Japanese Imperial City.

Kyū
級: Rank Level, Class, Student Level

Kyū
弓: Bow

Kyūdō
弓道: Path of the Arc; Sport developed from the martial kyūjutsu.

Kyūjutsu
弓術: Bow Art; Samurai method of shooting with bows and arrows.

Ma
間: Space (Between), Gap, Interval, Space

Maai
間合い: interval, space, pause; Harmonic distance in time and space.

Mae
前: Front forward, frontal

Mae gaeshi
前返: Forward Techniques

Mandala
曼荼羅: Schematic representation of the universe in an image in tantra and mikkyō.

Manriki gusari
万力鎖: A chain with the power of 10000; Chain with iron handles at the end.

Mantra
真言: True Words; Tantrism and Mikkyō sounds.

Menkyo kaiden
免許皆伝: Certificate of final mastery of a martial art. Given by the master to one or more students. Designates the owner as the legal heir of the style.

Metsubushi
目潰し: Destroy the Eye; Blend powder made from iron filings, sand, ash, or chemical substances that the Ninja could throw in the pursuer’s eyes during a pursuit.

Mikkyō
密教: Secret Doctrine; General term for various tantric teachings of Buddhism.

Minamoto
源: Name of a famous family (also Genji) that was at war with the Taira.

Miyamoto Musashi
宮本武蔵: Japan’s most famous swordsman. Traveled the country for many years to improve his sword skills. Won more than 60 fights during this time. He founded the Niten-ichi-ryū, a sword fighting school , in which you fought with two swords at the same time. Shortly before his death he wrote his book Gorin no Sho (The Book of the Five Rings).

Mizu
水: water

Mizu taimatsu
水松炬: Torch that burns even in the rain.

Mizu tsutsu
水筒: breathing tube

Mizugumo
水蜘蛛: Water Spider; Tool used by the Ninja to walk across swamplands.

Mizukaki
水掻き: Swimfins

Mochizuki Chiyome
望月千代女: Famous kunoichi who ran a network of kunoichi.

Moku
木: wood

Mokuton jutsu
木遁術: Wood Escape Technique; Escape technique from goton pō, using wood as a means of escape.

Mon
紋: Family Crest

Mono
者: Person

Mori
森: Clan of Samurai. Were one of the families fighting for power in the sengoku jidai.

Mu
武: Warriorship, military; Also Bu.

Mudrā
印相: Hand signal; Hand positions from tantra and mikkyō, from which nine characters were adopted in kuji in.

Muon no hō
無音の法: Methods of Silence

Musha shūgyō
武者修業: Warrior’s Wanderings; A method of teaching in which the warrior embarked on a long journey to improve himself. The adverse circumstances of such a journey formed the character and strengthened the spirit.

Musubi bashigo
結び梯子: Loop Ladder

Musubi nawa
結び縄: Horsehair rope.

Nagare
流れ: Flowing Water; Principle of Softness.

Nage
投げ: Throw, throw

Naginata
薙刀: Sword to mow down enemies; Sword Lance

Nagishi-shuriken: Throwing star (shuriken) with flight stabilization tassel on end.

Neko te
猫手: Cat’s Claw; Pointed thimble. kunoichi weapon.

Nihon
日本: Origin of the Sun; Japan. Also nippon.

Nin
人: human

Nin
忍: Endure, endure, endure, avoid; Also shinobu.

Nin shokudai
忍燭台: L-shaped torch that could be hung.

Ningu
忍具: Ninja Tools

Ninja
忍者: Ninjutsu practitioner. Fighter, scout, spy, guerrilla and special agent of feudal medieval times.

Ninja ken
忍者剣: Ninja Sword; Also Ninja tō.

Ninja tō
忍者刀: Ninja Sword; Also Ninja ken.

Ninjutsu
忍術: Ninja martial arts; Collective term for all ryū practiced by the Ninja. Very often involving unconventional fighting techniques and secret fighting techniques.

Ninjutsu ka
忍術家: Performer of Ninjutsu

Ninpō
忍法: Ninja Arts; Ninjutsu as a way of life. Ninpō goes beyond the purely technical side and also teaches a spiritual path.

Ninpō inu bue
忍法狗笛: The art of Ninja training animals.

Ninpō ikkan
忍法一貫: Ninjutsu is the beginning and has no end

Ninpō mikkyō
忍法密教: The secret teachings of the Ninja based on the mikkyō.

Ninpō taijutsu
忍法体術: Unarmed Ninja combat. Also includes other physical aspects such as fall school.

Nippon
日本: Origin of the Sun; Japan. Also nihon.

Nishina Daisuke
仁科大介: Birth name of Togakure Daisuke, the founder of Togakure ryū.

Nodachi
野太刀: Great War Sword; Very long swords (1-1.80 m) of the Samurai, which were usually carried by a servant.

Nuki ashi
貫足: Silent Step

Nunchaku
双節棍: A weapon from the Kobudō, consisting of two pieces of wood attached to each other with a short chain or cord. It is highly questionable whether a Ninja ever used this weapon.

Ō
大: Big

Ō ashi
大足: Big step

Obi
帯: belt

Oda Nobunaga
織田信長: Military dictator. Attempted to seize power in Japan in the sengoku jidai. Nobunaga was a ruthless general who occupied central Japan. He established a castle at Kyotō and used European firearms without hesitation. After his death, his generals succeeded in unifying Japan.

Ōgama
大鎌: Big Sickle; Much larger battlefield version of the kusarigama.

Ōkami
狼: Wolf

Okinawa
沖縄: Group of islands in southern Japan.

Okuri ashi
送り足: Following step

Omyodo
陰陽道: Divination and Astrology

Oni
鬼: demon devil evil spirit

Oni kudaki
鬼砕: Demon Destroyer; Leverage.

Onibi
鬼鼻: Devil Mask; Used by the Ninja to terrify the enemy.

Ono
斧: Battleaxe

Ono gama
斧鎌: Ax and Sickle; Combined weapon, battle ax and sickle.

Onshin jutsu
隠身術: The Art of Hiding; Art of the Ninja to hide, camouflage and render invisible.

Ōten
横転: cartwheel

Ōzutsu
大筒: Wooden Cannon

Rakusha
楽者: Comfortable person; Principle of gojō goyoku based on exploiting laziness.

Rei
礼: Greeting, bow, thanks

Renzoku
連続: continuity, combination, concatenation

Ritsudō
律動: rhythm, feeling

Roku shaku bō
六尺棒: Six shaku long staff; The most common form of bō. Roku means six and shaku is a Japanese measure. The roku shaku bō is about 1.82m.

Rōnin
浪人: Wavemen; When a Samurai lost his master (Daimyō), he was masterless and roamed the country. Some hired themselves out as mercenaries, others became martial arts teachers, some became robbers and plundered farmers.

Ryū
流: Subject, style, tradition

Ryūha
流派: School of a specialty, stiles, tradition; Longer form of ryū.

Ryūsui
流水: Flowing Water

Sabaki
捌き: Body Movement

Sai
釵: Weapon from the kobudō.

Saichō
最澄: Pseudonym for Dengyō Daishi.

Saiga Magoichi
雑賀孫一: Famous Ninja who had special skills with firearms and explosives. His men were good snipers.

Saimin jutsu
催眠術: Art of Hypnosis

Sake
酒: Sake (rice wine), alcohol

Sakki jutsu
察気術: The art of guessing the ghost; Intuitive vision that allows the fighter to dodge a punch before it can be executed.

Saku
方円: Keyhole; A battle formation from the bōryaku.

Samurai
侍: Japanese warrior class.

Sanmyaku
山脈: Mountain Range; Name of the official Bujinkan magazine.

Sansa jutsu
散策術: Ninja running techniques.

San shaku bō
三尺棒: Three shaku long staff; Stick that is three shaku long, about 91 cm. Another name is hanbō.

Sanshin no kata
三心の型: Three Heart Shape

Sashi ashi
差し足: Hidden Steps; Cross step.

Satori
悟り: comprehension, understanding, enlightenment

Saya
鞘: Scabbard

Sayū kaiten
左右廻転: Left-Right Roll

Seii taishōgun
征夷大将軍: Shōgun to Subdue the Babarians; Initially the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Army, later shortened to shōgun.

Seishin teki kyōyō
精神的教養: Development of mind and intuition

Seiza no Kamae
正座の構え: The correct posture; Kneeling. Position (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Sekigahara
関ヶ原: Small village in Mino province where Tokugawa Ieaysu achieved final victory over his enemies.

Senban
銛盤: Four-pointed throwing star (shuriken).

Senban shaken
銛盤捨剣: Throwing star (shuriken) with a hole in the middle.

Sengoku jidai
戦国時代: Warring States Period; 1478-1577. Period of bloody civil wars in Japan.

Senjō jutsu
戦場術: The Art of the War Site; Maneuvering troops.

Senjutsu
戦術: The Art of War; War strategy.

Sennin
仙人: Ascetic in the Wilderness

Sensei
先生: Before Life; Teacher.

Sha
者: Person

Shaken
車剣: Multi-Pronged Throwing Star (shuriken).

Shako ken
蝦蛄拳: Crab Fist

Shaku
尺: Measurement of length. A shaku is 30.3 cm (10/33 meters).

Shakuhachi
尺八: Flute played by the komusō, exactly one shaku long with eight side holes.

Shakujō
錫杖: Copper Rod; Priest’s staff with rings attached to the end, which were supposed to scare critters off the path as they ran. This allowed the Buddhist monks to observe the principle of non-killing.

Shichi hō de
七方出: The Seven Ways of Walking; The seven traditional Ninja disguises.

Shidōshi
指導士: Pointing the Way Gentleman; Teacher of the Art of Enlightenment

Shihō tenchi tobi
四方天地飛: Jump in four directions, towards the sky and towards the earth

Shikan ken
指環拳: Finger-Ring-Faust

Shiken haramitsu daikomyō
四拳波羅蜜大光明: Words spoken at the beginning of a training session. Very simplistic it means We ask for protection and enlightenment.

Shikomizue
仕込み杖: Swordstock; Sword hidden in a staff.

Shikoro
錏: Thin wood saw.

Shimabara no ran
島原の乱: Shimabara Rebellion; Rebellion of the Christians 1637-1638 on the island of Shimabara, actually a peasant uprising, which was used to cause the persecution of Christians.

Shime ashi
締め足: Fixed Step

Shime waza
絞め技: strangleholds

Shinai
竹刀: Bamboo Sword; A sword made from several pieces of bamboo tied together and held together with leather and cords and tightened. Used in kendo.

Shinbō
神棒: God’s Staff; Fist weapon with middle finger ring.

Shinden-fudo-ryū
神伝不動流: School of the Unmoved Heart; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Shingitai
心技体: Heart, Technique, Body; One of the most important principles in martial arts.

Shingon
真言: True Word School; Buddhist sect founded by Kōbō Daishi.

Shinken gata taihen jutsu
真剣型体変術: Real blade shape

Shinobi
忍び: Sneak in, spy on, enter by stealth, condone; Abbreviation of Ninja.

Shinobi bune
忍び舟: Secret Boat; Light, narrow boat.

Shinobi iri
忍び入り: Secret entry; Ninja techniques to move silently.

Shinobi jutsu
忍び術: Secret Arts; Summary of the various arts of the Ninja under one heading.

Shinobi kai
忍び櫂: Secret Paddle; Paddle hidden in bamboo stick.

Shinobi katana
忍び刀: Secret Sword; Sword of the Ninja.

Shinobi kenpō
忍び剣法: Secret Sword Methods; Swordsmanship of the Ninja.

Shinobi no buki
忍びの武器: Secret War Tools; The Weapons of the Ninja.

Shinobi no jutsu
忍びの術: Secret Art; Summary of the various arts of the Ninja under one heading.

Shinobi zue
忍び杖: Secret Staff; Hollow bamboo staff containing hidden weapons or blinding powder.

Shinobi shobō
忍び小棒: Secret little staff; Handgun.

Shinobi shōzoku
忍び装束: Secret Clothing Bundle; Dark combat suit of the Ninja. Light gray or white in winter.

Shinobi tantō
忍び短刀: Secret Short Sword; Dagger (Tantō) concealed in a staff.

Shinobu
忍: perseverance, forbearance, patience, self-control, endure, conceal, spy, sneak

Shintō
神道: Way of the Gods; Japanese religion that sees higher spirits in all manifestations.

Shishin ken
指針拳: Finger needle fist

Shishi undō
四肢運動: Movement of the four limbs; Motion of arms and legs.

Shitan ken
指端拳: Finger Fist

Shitō ken
指刀拳: Finger Sword Fist

Shizen ken
自然拳: Natural Weapons; Natural weapons of the body like shoulder, bodyweight, nails etc.

Shizen no kamae
自然の構え: Natural position; Posture (kamae) from Ninjutsu.

Shizen gyōunryūsui
自然行雲流水: Go naturally with the tide

Shizentai
自然体: Natural Body; Relaxed, natural position.

Shō
小: Small

Shobō
小棒: Small staff; Handgun.

Shōgun
将軍: General of the Troops; Japanese military commander.

Shoshin go gata
初心五型: Beginner Mind Five Forms

Shōten no jutsu
上天の術: The art of soaring into the sky

Shōten jutsu
昇天術: The art of soaring into the sky

Shōtoku Taishi
聖徳太子: Prince Regent (572-622). Said to have first used agents to learn the truth about disputes.

Shu ken: beak fist

Shugendō
修験道: The way to test yourself well; Esoteric teaching and ascetic form practiced primarily by the yamabushi.

Shuki ken
手起拳: elbow fist

Shukō
手鉤: Hand Claw; Also Tekagi.

Shuriken
手裏剣: Palm Blade; Ninja projectiles. They came in all shapes and sizes.

Sodezutsu
袖筒: Hand cannon.

Sōhei
僧兵: Buddhist Monk Warrior; Warrior monks and mercenaries employed by monasteries.

Sōke
宗家: Head of family, founder; Head of a ryū.

Sokki ken
足起拳: Kneebody Weapon

Soku gyaku ken
足逆拳: Heel Kick

Soku yaku ken
足躍拳: Forward Kick

Sokuhō kaiten
側方回転: Side roll

Sokuhō ukemi
側方受身: Sidefall

Soshin sosoku hō
早心早速法: Methods of moving fast

Sugitani Zenjubo
杉谷善住坊: Famous Ninja who assassinated Oda Nobunaga on May 19, 1570, but the two bullets only hit his shoulder poster.

Sui
水: water

Sui no kata
水の型: Water Form

Suiren
水練: Water Training; Stopping and moving underwater.

Suitonjutsu
水遁術: Water Escape Technique; Escape technique from goton pō, using water as a means of escape.

Tabi
足袋: Footmuff; Japanese toe socks. The big toe is separated from the other toes.

Tachi
太刀: Longsword; Sword similar to katana, usually more curved and carried on the battlefield. Ceremonially decorated and very elaborately crafted.

Tai
体: Body, Health

Tai ken
体拳: Body Fist

Tai sabaki
体捌き: Dissolve Body; Trunk movement.

Taihen jutsu
体変術: The Art of Body Modification; Part of taijutsu, stances, postures, movements and falling techniques.

Taijutsu
体術: Body Art; Term for unarmed combat.

Taikai
大会: Great Encounter; Competition of fighters at events.

Taira
平: Name of a famous family (also Heike) that was at war with the Minamoto.

Taka bashigo
高梯子: High Ladder

Takagi-yōshin-ryū
高木楊心流: The School of the High Tree Willow Spirit; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Takamatsu Toshitsugu
高松寿嗣: Teacher of various Ninjutsu styles, master of Hatsumi Masaaki. One of the last true warriors. The collection of nine ryū is named Bujinkan in his honour.

Takeda Shingen
武田信玄: Famous general (Daimyō) who fought a series of wars in sengoku jidai.

Tanagoko
掌: palm; Palm Torch.

Tanegashima
種子島: matchlock, arquebus, arquebus

Tantō
短刀: Small Sword; Dagger.

Tantra
तन्त्र: Tissue, continuum, context; Sanskrit. Stream within Indian philosophy and religion, originally an esoteric form of Hinduism, later transferred to Tibetan Buddhism.

Tanuki gakure
狸隠: Hide like a raccoon; Ninja climbing technique for scaling trees and poles and hiding in high places.

Taru ikada
樽筏: Barrel Raft; Aquatic tool of the Ninja, consisting of two barrels in which you could put your feet and use a paddle to move across water surfaces. Also uki daru.

Tatami
畳: Rice Straw Mats; In Japan, these are used as floor coverings in houses or in dōjō.

Tebukuro
手袋: Handguard; The Ninja used this garment to cover his arms and hands.

Tekagi
手鉤: Hand Claw; Also shukō.

Tekken
鉄けん: Brass knuckles. Also tekkō.

Tekkō
鉄甲: Brass knuckles. Also Tekken.

Ten
天: sky

Ten ryaku no maki
天略の巻: The Celestial Strategies Scroll.

Tendai
天台: Sky Base; Esoteric mikkyō Buddhist sect founded by Dengyō Daishi. Its center was on Hiei zan in Enryakuji Monastery.

Tengū
天狗: Heaven Dog; Mythical creatures from Japanese history. There are tengū with wings (ko tengū), with raven’s beaks (karasu tengū) or with long noses (konsha tengū). They were considered philanthropic, but sometimes devious and lived in the mountains. They are said to have been masters of the martial arts and are often regarded as teachers of a style.

Tenmon
天文: Astronomy and Weather Science

Tennō
天皇: Heavenly Emperor; Japanese Emperor.

Tenugui
手拭: Handwraps; Cotton cloth used by the Ninja to make their mask.

Teppō
鉄砲: Pistol

Tessen
鉄扇: Iron Fan

Tetsubishi
鉄菱: Iron Water Chestnut; Safflowers, which the Ninja threw on the ground in large numbers to prevent an opponent from pursuing.

Tetsubō
鉄棒: Iron Staff

Tō
刀: sword, knife

Tōami
投網: Throw Net; The Ninja could use it to trap his opponents.

Tobi ashi
跳び足: Jump Step; Ninja stride.

Tobi bashigo
跳び梯子: Ladder with hooks on the ends that could be thrown.

Tobikunai
飛苦無: Tool for opening locked gates.

Toda Shinryūken Masamitsu
戸田真竜軒正光: Ninja master who was Takamatsu Toshitsugu’s teacher.

Togakure Daisuke
戸隠大助: Founder of the Togakure ryū who fled to the Iga region after losing a battle.

Togakure-ryū
戸隠流: The Hidden Door School; One of the nine ryū of the Bujinkan.

Tōiri
とう入り: Strategy executed by the Ninja during peacetime, pre-emptively and primarily involving espionage.

Toki
登器: Climbing Accessories

Tokugawa Ieyasu
徳川家康: Famous Daimyō who was allied with Oda Nobunaga. After the end of the sengoku jidai, he proclaimed himself shogun. His family ruled until 1868.

Tōkyō
東京: Eastern Capital; Capital of Japan with 12 million inhabitants. Old name of the city was Edo.

Tonki: Throwable missiles.

Tori no ko
鳥の子: Firecrackers.

Torinawa
捕り縄: Capture Stoke; Weapon of the Ninja consisting of a rope with a weight and a spike. It is used for entrapment and restraint.

Torite kihon gata go hō
捕手基本型五法: The Five Hand Lever Techniques

Toyotomi Hideyoshi
豊臣秀吉: Japanese daimyo who was of non-noble descent. He was a general in Oda Nobunaga’s service. After his death, he unified Japan, but was betrayed by Tokugawa Ieyasu and his entire family was wiped out.

Tsuba
鍔: Sword Guard; Attached to the sword, it protected the hand from sword blows.

Tsubo giri
壺錐: Drills for larger holes.

Tsugi bune
次舟: Chasing Boat; Boat made of parts.

Tsuki
突き: Blow, shove, slash, stab

Tsune ashi
常足: Normal Step

Tsuri bashigo
吊梯子: Hanging Ladder

Uchi
打ち: Stroke technique.

Uchi dake
内竹: Inside the bamboo; Bamboo container for embers. With this tool, the Ninja was able to create fire quickly.

Uesugi Kenshin
上杉謙信: Japanese Daimyō who attempted to seize power in Japan during the sengoku jidai. Uesugi is reported to have died when he was in the private room. A Ninja waiting in the privy shaft is said to have killed him.

Uke
受: Repel, defend, catch, receive

Ukemi
受身: Traps, trap school, trap practice

Ukemi gata taihen jutsu
受身体変術: The Art of Rolling and Falling

Uki daru
浮き足る: Floating Legs; Aquatic tool of the Ninja consisting of two barrels into which you could put your feet and use a paddle to move across water surfaces. Also taru ikada.

Uma
馬: horse

Undō
運動: movement

Ushiro gaeshi
後返: Reverse Techniques

Uwagi
上着: Suit jacket

Uzume bi
埋め火: Buried Fire; Landmines.

Wakizashi
脇差: Short Sword; Samurai short sword. Used together with the katana for the daishō.

Wakizashi teppō
脇差鉄砲: Concealed within a traditional short sword was a pistol that could fire one shot.

Wakō
倭寇: Japanese pirates who wreaked havoc in the Pacific. Hardly any shōgun could match their superiority. Many inventive weapons of the Ninja go back to the wakō.

Wari ashi
割り足: Adaptive step; Ninja stride.

Ya
矢: Arrow

Yajiri
鏃: Powerful saw. Tool of the Ninja.

Yamabushi
山伏: Bergasket, wandering priest; Reclusive mountain hermits who followed shugendō philosophy.

Yamidoko: Ninja aircraft. Also hito washi.

Yang
陽: Licht, positiv, offen; Chinese. Das positive Prinzip der Dualität Yin/Yang aus dem Daoismus. Die japanische Bezeichnung ist yō.

Yari
槍: spear

Yawara
柔: Handgun.

Yin
陰: Shadow, negative, hidden; Chinese. The negative principle of yin/yang duality from Daoism. The Japanese term is in.

Yinyang
陰陽: Chinese. The duality of light and shadow, good and evil, small and large. An important principle of Daoism. The Japanese term is in/yō.

Yō
陽: Light, positive, open

Yoga
योग: yoke, tie together, harness, harness; Sanskrit. Indian body and spirit teachings, which includes a large number of subspecies. Each path to enlightenment in India is a yoga path. Through one of them - hatha yoga one achieves that the body in able to bend into incredible positions. Others include diet, meditation, and breathing.

Yoko aruki
横歩き: Sidewalking

Yoko gaeshi
横返: Sideways Techniques

Yon shaku bō
四尺棒: Four shaku long staff; Stick that is four shaku long, about 1.21 m. Another name is jō.

Yuki waraki
雪藁き: Snow Straw; Also Geta.

Yumi
弓: Arc

Zazen
座禅: Seated Meditation; Remaining in a state of thoughtless, wide-awake awareness. Your thoughts are not focused on anything. This type of Buddhism dates back to the meditation of the Buddha before his awakening.

Zen
禅: Sinking

Zenpō geri
前方蹴り: Forward Kick

Zenpō kaiten
前方回転: Vorwärtsrolle

Zenpō ukemi
前方受身: Forward Fall