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All classroom instruction, training and testing is conducted in English. Dojo Titles and Positions
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Dojocho: Headmaster of a dojo. Hanchi: The headmaster of a ryu, a master instructor, or an honorary title given at hachidan and above. Kaicho: The head of an organization. Kancho: The person in charge of the dojo. Kohai: A student junior to yourself. Kyosei: A student teacher equivalent to shodan in some ryu. Kyoshi: A teacher. An honorary title in some ryu awarded at 7th dan. Meijin: Expert in a ryu. Renshi: A trainer. A certificate roughly equal to 4th - 5th dan. Honorary certificate given in addition to a yudansha grade usually at 5th dan level. Sempai: A student senior to yourself. Sensei: Literally one who is born before, teacher. A title of respect for someone who is usually your teacher. It denotes wisdom. One therefore does not usually use this term to refer to themselves. |
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Shibucho: The head of a branch group. Shidosha: A leader; a teacher (also Shidoshi). Shidoin: An instructor, 4th - 5th dan, in a ryu. Shihan: A teacher, 6th dan in most ryu. The title Shihan is conferred upon a martial artist who has been promoted in a particular ryu with a teaching certification and is held in high esteem due to knowledge and support to the ryu. Shodai: A title given to one who founds a ryu in the martial arts. The first generation. Soke: Title given to one who founds or is the headmaster of a ryu. Hereditary headmaster of a ryu. Yudan: Title for someone who has passed one or more dan grade examinations in a ryu (singular). Yudansha: Same as above, but plural. Yudansha-Kai: An organization of Black Belts. |
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Words for Everyday Use in the Dojo
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Ai-hanmi - both partners are in the same stance. Ankoku toshinjutsu - techniques for seeing in the darkness Ashi - leg; foot Ashikubi - ankle Ate - blow, strike Atemi - a strike to setup a technique Barai - from harau, to sweep Battojutsu - sword-drawing techniques; art of drawing the sword Benkai - inside of shinbone Bikenjutsu - art of the sword, swordsmanship Bo - stick; (usually six-foot) staff, also Rokushaku bo Bo jutsu - art of fighting with a staff Bokken - wooden sword Bu - martial Budo - martial ways Budoka - one who studies the martial ways Bugei - martial arts Bugeisha - martial artist Bujin - warrior spirit Bujutsu - martial arts, martial techniques Bushi - Japanese warrior Bushido - way of the bushi Buyu - martial friends Chudan - middle level Dai - large, big, great Daimon - kyusho (big gate), middle of shoulder joint Daisho - pair of swords worn in the belt Daito - large sword, worn blade facing up Dakentaijutsu - striking (punching and kicking) methods of ninjutsu Dan - Literally step; indicates level above black belt Densho - transmission scrolls or manuscripts, see also makimono Dogi - Training Uniform Dojo - Literally way place; a training hall Dojo Cho - leader or head of a dojo Dokkotsu - kyusho (single bone), Adam's apple Domo Arigato Gozaimashita - "Thank you very much." At the end of each class, it is proper to bow and thank the instructor and those with whom you've trained. Dori - from toru, to seize, capture; also tori Empi - elbow Eri - lapel; collar Fu - a) negation; b) wind Fudo - immobility Fudo ken - clenched fist Fudoshin - immovable spirit Gaeshi - from kaesu, to turn over, roll, throw, counter-attack; also kaeshi Gassho no kamae - greeting stance Geri - from keru, to kick; see keri Gomen nasai - excuse me, I'm sorry Go no sen - seizing the initiative at the moment the opponent attacks Gyaku-hanmi - both partners are in opposite stance. Hai - yes Haibu yori - from behind Hajime - begin, start Hajutsu - escaping techniques Hakama - formal divided skirt; wide legged pants Han - half Hanbo - Literally half-staff; stick (usually 3 feet) Hanbo jutsu - stick fighting techniques Hane - a) from haneru, to leap, spring up; b) wing Hane age - jump up, spring up Hane goshi - in judo, spring hip throw Hane maki komi - in judo, winding hip throw Hanmi Handachi - Shite sitting with uke standing Happa ken - open-handed strike Harai - from harau, to sweep; also barai Harai goshi - sweeping hip throw Hasso - to attack Heiho - martial principles, military strategy Henka - variation Hicho no kamae - crane defensive stance Hidari Hanmi - left (triangular) stance Hiji - elbow, also empi Hiji ate - elbow strike, also shuki ken Hiji ori - elbow break Iaido - way of sword-drawing Iaijutsu - sword-drawing techniques Inashi gata - form of skillfully avoiding and upsetting opponent's attack Iri - from hairu, to enter Irimi - entering, moving in Itami - pain Itami jime - painful choke Jo - a) medium length stick (usually 4 feet); b) top Jodan - upper level Jowan - upper arm Jutsu - techniques; art Kaeshi - from kaesu, turn over, throw, counter-attack; also gaeshi Kaeshi waza - counter techniques Kaiten - rolling Kamae - stance, posture Kamae Naotte - return to stance (kamae) Kansetsu - joints; used with techniques to describe dislocating Kansetsu geri - in karate, knee-joint kick Katana - sword Katate - one hand Keiko Shu Ryo - Class is over Ken - fist or sword Ken no michi - the way of the sword Kenshi - expert swordsman Keppan - blood oath made when entering a ryu Keri - from keru, to kick; see geri Ki - a) rise; b) spirit, mind, heart, soul Ki ken - spirit fist Kiai - a focused shout to disrupt the opponent Kiaijutsu - techniques of kiai Kihon - basic, fundamental Kime - focus, both physical and mental Kiretsu - stand up Kiten ken - sword hand strike, also shuto ken Kobudo - ancient martial ways Kodachi - short sword Koho - rear, back Koho geri - back kick Kokoro - spirit, heart, mind; also shin Koku - empty space Kokyu - breath, breathing Kongo ken - hammer fist Koshi - hip, loin Koshijutsu - organ and muscle strikes Kote - wrist Kote gaeshi - outside wrist turn, also omote gyaku Kubi - neck Kubi ura jime - rear neck choke Kubisuji - nape of neck Kuden - oral teachings Kumiuchi - grappling, close fighting Kumitachi - sword practice with a partner Kumon - chest Kuzushi - from kuzusu, to break; in Budo, to break the balance of an opponent Kyokotsu - the sternum, breastbone Kyu - student grade below black belt Kyusho - vital or pressure points, weak points Ma ai - combative engagement distance between two opponents Mae - front Mae geri - front kick Mae no sen - taking the initiative, attacking the instant the opponent thinks about it Makimono - scrolls, ancient manuscripts, see also densho Mata - inner part of the thigh Matte - from matsu, wait Maw ashi geri - round kick Me - eye Meijin - master Men - the face Menbu - kyusho, the face or forehead area |
Men uchi - a strike to the head Menkyo - license, teacher's certificate Menkyo kaiden - full proficiency certificate Mi - body, person; also tai Michi - path or way, also do Migi Hanmi - right (triangular) stance Mimi - ear Mizu no kokoro - a mind like water; a perfectly calm mind sensitive to all impressions Moku So - close your eyes and prepare yourself mentally for class Moku So Yame - open your eyes Mukai Atte, Kamae - face each other, basic stance Mune - chest Munen muso - no desires, no thoughts; a state of "no mind" or mushin Murasame - kyusho (village rain), notch between clavicles Musha - warrior Mushin - Literally no mind; original mind, a mind not fixed on anything and open to everything Muto dori - unarmed defense against a sword Nage - from nageru, to throw Nagashi - flow Naginata - halbard, long pole with curved blade on the end No - possessive particle, of O - large, big, great Obi - belt Omote - outside; attacker's front; obvious Omote sokugyaku geri - inside-edge foot kick Onajku - same technique, other side Onegai shimasu - "I welcome you to train with me," or literally, "I make a request." This is said to one's partner when initiating practice. Osae - from osaeru, to press down, immobilize Osae waza - pinning or immobilization techniques O'sensei - great teacher, an honorific; the founder of Aikido Osoto gari - major outer reaping throw Osoto guruma - major outer wheel throw Otagaini Rei - bow to each other. Randori - free response training; sparring Rei - bow, salute Rokushaku bo - six foot staff Ryote - two (both) hands Ryomune dori - two handed chest grab Ryoude jime - two-arm choke or constriction Ryu - a) dragon; b) school, tradition Ryuha - used synonymously with ryu Ryufu - kyusho (willow wind), windpipe Ryuka - kyusho (dragon under), the calves; also yaku Ryumon - kyusho (dragon gate), hollow point in bones of shoulder Sai - kyusho (crush), inner thigh Sakki - intuition of an attack, perception of an aggressive thought or intent Saya - sword scabbard Satori - enlightenment Seiretsu - be seated, or line up Seiza - formal sitting posture Sen - initiative; also 1000 Sen no sen - seizing the initiative as soon as the opponent begins his attack Sensei Ne Rei - Bow to the Teacher Shi - a) finger; b) four; also yon Shikko - a method of walking on the knees Shime - from shimeru, to tighten, constrict; also jime Shin - heart, mind, spirit Shinai - split bamboo practice sword Shinchu - kyusho (center of the heart), middle of the chest Shitei Uke Kotai - Shite & Uke change roles (note: kotai by itself can mean the same thing) Shizen no kamae - natural receiving stance Shomen - the front Shomen Ni Rei - bow to the front Shoto - short sword Shu - hand; arm Shugyo - severe training Shuki ken - elbow strike, also hiji ate Shuto ken - sword hand strike, also kiten ken Shudokan - our dojo name Sode - sleeve Sokkei - groin Sokki ken - knee strike Sokkotsu - instep Sokuho kaiten - sideways roll Sokuho geri - sideways kick Sokuho tobi - sideways leap Sokuyaku geri - Literally dancing foot kick; basic heel kick Sokuyaku suitei geri - horizontal heel kick Sokugyaku geri - toe kick Sokuto geri - sword foot; kick with edge of the foot Soto - outside Suihei - horizontal Suki - opening in your opponent Sutemi - sacrifice, self-abandonment Suwari waza - seated techniques Suwatte - sit down Tabi - traditional split toe footwear Tachi - a) sword; b) standing; also dachi Tachi waza - standing techniques Tai - a) large, big, great; b) the body Taijutsu - the art of moving the body; the basis of all fighting arts Taisabaki - natural body movement techniques; body evasion Take - bambo Tanden - abdomen, two fingers below navel; also hara Tanto - knife Taoshi - from taosu, to throw down Tatami - a straw mat Te - hand Teisoku - sole of the foot Ten - from tenjiro, to revolve, rotate Ten - heaven, sky; top Tessen - iron fan Tomoe nage - throwing in a big circle Tori - a) from toru, to seize, catch; also dori; b) the one who executes techniques in training Tsuba - hand guard on the sword Tsuki - from tsuku, to thrust Uchi - a) inside; b) from utsu, to attack, defeat, destroy, conquer; a strike Uchi gake - take down using the legs Uchi mata - attack the inside of the thigh Ude - arm Uke - a) from ukeru, to receive; b) attacker in training (receiver of the technique); c) block as in jodan uke Uke nagashi - parrying Ukemi - Literally receiving with the body; rolling or falling so as to avoid injury Ura - a) inside; reverse; b) attacker's rear Ura kimon - kyusho (inner demon gate), ribs under pectoral muscle (between 4+5 ribs) Ura uchi - backfist strike Ushiro - rear, back Wakarimasu - I understand Waza - technique Waki - the side or lateral Wakizashi - short sword Waza - techniques Yaku - kyusho (press), the calves; also ryuka Yamabushi - mountain warrior priest Yamae - stop, or finish Yari - spear Yoi - ready Yoko - side, horizontal Yoko geri - side kick Yokomen - the side of the head Yoshin - raising spirit, raising heart Yubi - finger Yugasumi - kyusho (evening mist), hollow point behind ear Zanshin - Literally remaining spirit; relaxed awareness after completing a technique Zarei - traditional seated bow Zenpo - forward direction Zenpo kaiten - forward roll |
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Counting in Japanese
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1 - Ichi 2 - Ni 3 - San 4 - Shi 5 - Go |
6 - Roku 7 - Shichi 8 - Hachi 9 - Ku 10 - Ju |
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Dan Descriptions and Meanings
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1st degree: Shodan, Student (Sen: initiative) Traditonally this rank indicates about two to three years or more of training and is the first time that a student is considered an official member of the ryu. 2nd degree: Nidan, Disciple (Go No Sen: recapturing initiative with counter strike) 3rd degree: Sandan, Accepted Disciple 4th degree: Yondan, Expert (Sen No Sen: seizing the initiative just as the opponent attacks) 5th degree: Godan, Expert (Kokoro: spirit or heart) |
6th degree: Rokudan, Expert (Kokoro: spirit or heart) 7th degree: Shichidan, Expert (Iko-kokoro: spiritual consciousness) 8th degree: Hachidan, Expert (Iko-kokoro: spiritual consciousness) Honorary rank awarded by a ryu. 9th degree: Kudan, Master (Iko-kokoro: spiritual consciousness) Honorary rank awarded by a ryu. 10th degree: Judan, Master (Iko-kokoro: spiritual consciousness) Highest rank awarded by a ryu. |
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Dojo Terminology
Shudokan Ryu
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