Vocabulary

Japanese terms used in the dojo. Search or jump to a letter to filter.

A

Arigatō gozaimashita

arigatō gozaimashita

Meaning

Thank you (past); said after practice or randori
Ashi-waza

ashi-waza

Meaning

Foot or leg techniques

D

Dan

dan

Meaning

Black-belt rank; degree
De-ashi-harai

de-ashi-harai

Meaning

Advancing foot sweep
Dojo

dōjō

Meaning

Training hall

G

Gi

gi

Meaning

Training uniform; judogi

H

Hajime

hajime

Meaning

Begin
Hansoku-make

hansoku-make

Meaning

Disqualification; serious rule violation
Hantei

hantei

Meaning

Decision (referee's decision)
Harai-goshi

harai-goshi

Meaning

Sweeping hip throw
Hikiwake

hikiwake

Meaning

Draw

I

Ippon

ippon

Meaning

One full point

J

Jigo-tai

jigo-tai

Meaning

Defensive posture
Jikan

jikan

Meaning

Time
Judo

jūdō

Meaning

Gentle way; the martial art
Judogi

jūdōgi

Meaning

Judo uniform
Juji-gatame

jūji-gatame

Meaning

Cross armlock

K

Kake

kake

Meaning

Execution; completion of a technique
Kami-shiho-gatame

kami-shiho-gatame

Meaning

Upper four-corner hold
Kansetsu-waza

kansetsu-waza

Meaning

Joint-lock techniques
Katame-waza

katame-waza

Meaning

Grappling techniques (holds, chokes, locks)
Kesa-gatame

kesa-gatame

Meaning

Scarf hold
Ko-soto-gari

ko-soto-gari

Meaning

Small outer reap
Koshi-waza

koshi-waza

Meaning

Hip techniques
Kuzushi

kuzushi

Meaning

Balance breaking
Kyū

kyū

Meaning

Grade below black belt

M

Maitta

maitta

Meaning

I give up; submission
Matte

matte

Meaning

Wait, stop
Mō ichido

mō ichido

Meaning

Once more; again
Mokuso

mokuso

Meaning

Meditation; silent reflection
Mudansha

mudansha

Meaning

Person without dan; below black belt

N

Nage-waza

nage-waza

Meaning

Throwing techniques
Newaza

newaza

Meaning

Ground techniques

O

O-goshi

o-goshi

Meaning

Major hip throw
O-uchi-gari

ōuchi-gari

Meaning

Large inner reap
Obi

obi

Meaning

Belt
Onegaishimasu

onegaishimasu

Meaning

Please; said at start of practice or randori
Osaekomi

osaekomi

Meaning

Hold down; pin
Osaekomi-waza

osaekomi-waza

Meaning

Holding/pinning techniques
Osoto-gari

ōsoto-gari

Meaning

Large outer reap

R

Randori

randori

Meaning

Free practice
Rei

rei

Meaning

Bow; respect
Ritsurei

ritsurei

Meaning

Standing bow

S

Sensei

sensei

Meaning

Teacher, instructor
Senshu

senshu

Meaning

Player; competitor
Seoi-nage

seoi-nage

Meaning

Shoulder throw
Shiai

shiai

Meaning

Contest, competition
Shiai-jo

shiai-jō

Meaning

Contest area
Shido

shido

Meaning

Minor penalty
Shime-waza

shime-waza

Meaning

Strangulation or choking techniques
Shinpan

shinpan

Meaning

Referee; judging
Shizen-tai

shizen-tai

Meaning

Natural posture
Shomen

shōmen

Meaning

Front of dojo; place of honor
Sonomama

sonomama

Meaning

Freeze; do not move
Soremade

soremade

Meaning

That is all; end of match
Sutemi-waza

sutemi-waza

Meaning

Sacrifice techniques

T

Tachiwaza

tachiwaza

Meaning

Standing techniques
Tai-otoshi

tai-otoshi

Meaning

Body drop
Tatami

tatami

Meaning

Mat; training surface
Tate-shiho-gatame

tate-shiho-gatame

Meaning

Vertical four-corner hold
Te-waza

te-waza

Meaning

Hand techniques
Toketa

toketa

Meaning

Hold broken (in osaekomi)
Tori

tori

Meaning

The one performing the technique
Tsukuri

tsukuri

Meaning

Fitting in; positioning for a throw

U

Uchi-mata

uchi-mata

Meaning

Inner thigh throw
Ude-garami

ude-garami

Meaning

Arm entanglement; bent armlock
Uke

uke

Meaning

The one receiving the technique
Ukemi

ukemi

Meaning

Breakfall; receiving safely

W

Waza-ari

waza-ari

Meaning

Half point
Waza-ari-awasete-ippon

waza-ari-awasete-ippon

Meaning

Two waza-ari equal ippon

Y

Yoko-shiho-gatame

yoko-shiho-gatame

Meaning

Side four-corner hold
Yoshi

yoshi

Meaning

Continue (after Sonomama)
Yūdansha

yūdansha

Meaning

Person with dan; black belt holder
Yuko

yūkō

Meaning

Effective score (lower than waza-ari)

Z

Zarei

zarei

Meaning

Kneeling bow
Zori

zōri

Meaning

Sandals; worn off the mat