| arigatō gozaimasu |
|
thank you very much |
| bōjutsu |
|
the Art of the Bō (a wooden fighting staff) |
| bokken |
|
wooden sword |
| Boshi-ken |
|
Finger Sword Fist |
| bushido |
|
the Way of the Warrior – the samurai code |
| daimyo |
|
feudal lord |
| daishō |
|
pair of swords, wakizashi and katana, that are the traditional weapons of the samurai |
| dojo |
|
training hall |
| futon |
|
Japanese bed: flat mattress placed directly on tatami flooring, and folded away during the day |
| gaijin |
|
foreigner, outsider (derogatory term) |
| geisha |
|
a Japanese girl trained to entertain men with conversation, dance and song |
| gi |
|
training uniform |
| gotonpo |
|
the Art of Concealment |
| hachimaki |
|
headbands, sometimes reinforced with metal strips |
| haiku |
|
Japanese short poem |
| hakama |
|
traditional Japanese trousers |
| hara |
|
Japanese martial arts term referring to the stomach, ‘the centre of being’ |
| hatsuhinode |
|
the first sunrise of the new year |
| inro |
|
a little case for holding small objects |
| kajutsu |
|
the Art of Fire |
| katana |
|
long sword |
| kenjutsu |
|
the Art of the Sword |
| kesagiri |
|
diagonal cut, or ‘Monk’s Robe’ cut |
| ki |
|
energy flow or life force (Chinese: chi or qi) |
| kiai |
|
a shout; but also used in Go to describe a player’s fighting spirit in the face of adversity |
| kiaijutsu |
|
the Art of the Kiai |
| kimono |
|
traditional Japanese clothing |
| koban |
|
Japanese oval gold coin |
| kuji-in |
|
nine syllable seals – a specialized form of Buddhist and ninja meditation |
| kyujutsu |
|
the Art of the Bow |
| manriki |
|
a short chain weapon with two steel weights on the ends |
| menpō |
|
protective metal mask covering part or all of the face |
| mochi |
|
rice cake |
| mon |
|
family crest |
| musha shugyō |
|
warrior pilgrimage |
| naginata |
|
a long pole weapon with a curved blade on the end |
| ninja |
|
Japanese assassin |
| ninjatō |
|
straight-bladed sword used by ninja |
| ninjutsu |
|
the Art of Stealth |
| Niten Ichi Ryū |
|
the ‘One School of Two Heavens’ |
| nodachi |
|
a very large two-handed sword |
| obi |
|
belt |
| ronin |
|
masterless samurai |
| saké |
|
rice wine |
| samurai |
|
Japanese warrior |
| saya |
|
scabbard |
| sayonara |
|
goodbye |
| sencha |
|
green tea |
| sensei |
|
teacher |
| seoi nage |
|
shoulder throw |
| Sha |
|
ninja hand sign, interpreted as healing for ninjutsu purposes |
| shakujō |
|
Buddhist ringed staff used primarily in prayer, and as a weapon |
| shinobi |
|
shadow warrior, another term for ninja |
| shinobi shozoku |
|
the clothing of a ninja |
| Shogun |
|
the military dictator of Japan |
| shoji |
|
Japanese sliding door |
| shuriken |
|
metal throwing stars |
| sumimasen |
|
excuse me; my apologies |
| taijutsu |
|
the Art of the Body (hand-to-hand combat) |
| tamashiwari |
|
Trial by Wood |
| Taryu-Jiai |
|
interschool martial arts competition |
| tetsu-bishi |
|
small sharp iron spike |
| Tōshiya |
|
literally ‘passing arrow’; archery exhibition contest |
|
|
side-arm short sword |