Ok. So I think this cov­ers mostly everything.

These def­i­n­i­tions aren’t meant for absolute accu­racy; They are intended to be use­ful and eco­nom­i­cal for stu­dents to under­stand the vocab­u­lary they encounter while prac­tic­ing Taido. As such, some def­i­n­i­tions may be unsat­is­fy­ing to more-experienced prac­ti­tion­ers. These def­i­n­i­tions are pur­pose­fully incom­plete because they are meant for use as a quick reference.

I have neglected to include any kind of pro­nun­ci­a­tion guide, though my roman­iza­tion from the Japanese terms is fairly self-consistent. The rea­son for this is that I don’t believe one can learn how to pro­nounce another lan­guage prop­erly with­out actu­ally learn­ing the basic gram­mar and usage of that lan­guage. For our uses as Taido stu­dents, these terms are sim­ply jar­gon, and mis­pro­nun­ci­a­tion is for­giv­able. However, please don’t go try­ing to sound smart by using Japanese words when you don’t under­stand them fully.

Perhaps I will address the effi­cacy of using Japanese ter­mi­nol­ogy in an English-speaking prac­tice envi­ron­ment else­where. For the time being, it is enough to note that Taido remains a “Japanese mar­tial art,” and as such requires the adop­tion of cer­tain terminology.

If you notice any glar­ing inac­cu­ra­cies or omis­sions, I would really appre­ci­ate it if you could drop me a line. Thanks.

Anyway, I hope this helps:

A

Age

Rising, Upward

Age Uke

Rising Block

Aisatsu

Greeting

Aka

Red

Arigato Gozaimasu

Thank you (polite)

Ashi

Leg or foot

Ashi Harai

Leg sweep, also “ashibarai”

Ashigarami

Leg-entanglement tech­nique, usu­ally per­formed by scis­sor­ing at the knee.

Ashikubi

Ankle

Atama

Head

Ate

Strike, essen­tially any impact-prooducing blow that is nei­ther a punch or kick.

Atemi

Strikes, includ­ing punches and other blows

Atemi Waza

Class of all strik­ing techniques

B

Bakuchu

Back Flip

Bakuchu Keri

Back flip kick, also “bakuchugeri”

Bakuten

Back Handspring

Budo

Generic term for Japanese mar­tial arts or com­bat sports

Bujutsu

Applied mar­tial sci­ence and technique

Bunkai

Practice by break­ing into Parts. Bunkai prac­tice is the method by which detailed and often hid­den tech­ni­cal appli­ca­tions are brought out of forms.

Bushido

The “way of the war­rior,” a roman­tic ide­al­iza­tion of the ethics the Japanese pre-industrial war­rior class.

C

Chakugan

Eye con­tact, using the eyes to notice the pres­ence and actions of an opponent.

Chokujo

Straight, direct, mov­ing in a straight line

Chudan

Middle level

Chudan Kamae

Middle level stance, also “chu­dan­ga­mae.” The pri­mary stance for mov­ing in unsoku.

Chui

Warning, typ­i­cally the first warn­ing given in jis­sen, but also any gen­eral warning

Chuo

Center, com­mand to return to the start­ing point in jissen

D

Dan

The 10 ranks of black belt level

Do

Way or road, suf­fix used for all japan­ese cul­tural tra­di­tions includ­ing flower arrang­ing, tea cer­e­mony, and mar­tial arts

Dogarami

Entanglement tech­nique at the waist. Similar to ashigarami.

Dogi

Uniform. Taido’s uni­form includes uwagi (jacket), hakama (pleated over-pants), and obi (belt).

Dohai

Another stu­dent at your same level or age

Dojo

Training loca­tion

Doko

Conditions of move­ment. Taido’s doko include the prin­ci­ples of how to per­form tech­niques and move the body.

Doko Go Kai

Five rules which guide the exe­cu­tion of each of Taido’s five techniques.

E

Ebigeri

Shrimp kick

Eji

Kneeling posi­tion, stance in the shape of the Japanese let­ter “E”

Ejizuki

Kneeling Punch

Enpi

Elbow strike, also “empi”

Enshogeri

Technically, any kick that strikes with the back of the heel. In America, this gen­er­ally refers to an upright spin­ning heel kick.

F

Fudo

Unmoving

Fudodachi

Side stance with feet pointed slightly out and even weight distribution

Fudozuki

Punch from Fudodachi

Fujo

Downward-facing posi­tion

Fujogeri

Flying, downward-facing kick

Fukuteki

Dodging tech­nique, eva­sion by chang­ing the body’s axis

G

Gaiko

Outer con­di­tion, the vis­i­ble body and it’s effects (power, speed, movement)

Gedan

Lower level

Gedan Kamae

Lower-level stance, also “gedangamae”

Gedanbarai

Low parry

Gen-Soku

Unsoku for retreat­ing from an attack, also “gen”

Gensei Ryu

Shukumine Saiko Shihan’s school of Karate which pre­dates Taido by about ten years

Gentai

Returning to gen­ten, or some other safe posi­tion after striking

Genten

Original point

Go

5

Go Dan Uke

Five blocks

Go Joukun

Taido’s five principles

Godan

Fifth degree black belt

Gyaku

Reverse

Gyaku Ashidori

Technique for grab­bing an opponent’s kick

Gyaku Tedori

Technique for grab­bing an opponent’s punch

Gyakuzuki

Reverse punch

H

Hachi

8

Hachidan

Eighth degree black belt

Haimendori

Grabbing the opponent’s body at the waist or back

Hajime

Begin

Hakama

Traditional wide black pants. Taido’s hakama are much nar­rower than tra­di­tional hakama (to facil­i­tate active unsoku) and are used to hold the uwagi (jacket) in place dur­ing unshin and tengi.

Hangetsu Ate

Half-Moon Kick

Hanshi

A title for mas­ter instruc­tors at or above 8Dan

Hantai

Opposite

Hantei O Torimasu

Call by tour­na­ment judges to dis­play the score

Harai

Sweep or parry, also “barai”

Harai Kuzushi

Sweep take­down

Hayaku

Hurry up

Hengi

Changing, trans­form­ing tech­nique. Involves chang­ing the body’s axis in order to evade an oncom­ing attack and counter simultaneously.

Henin No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Hengi (female version)

Hensoku

Irregular foot­work

Hensoku Ka

Irregular advanc­ing step

Hensoku Gen

Irregular retreat­ing step

Hentai

Category con­tain­ing all hengi

Hentai No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Hengi

Hidari

Left

Hien

Flying

Hienzuki

Flying or jump­ing punch

Hiji

Elbow

Hiza

Knee

Hokei

Form prac­tice. Similar to Karate’s kata, but usu­ally longer. Taido has sev­eral cat­e­gories of hokei for prac­tic­ing var­i­ous types of move­ment, breath­ing, and strategy.

Honte

Leading hand in kamae

I

Ichi

1

Ido

Moving

Ido Tanren

mov­ing prac­tice. In America, a prac­tice rou­tine for com­bin­ing unsoku and technique.

In

Negative polar­ity, sim­i­lar to Chinese “yin,” of yin & yang. Refers to pas­siv­ity or defense.

In-Soku

Unsoku for pulling away from the oppo­nent, also “in”

Ippon

Full point

Irimi

Entering the opponent’s space.

J

Jikan

Time

Jikan Desu

Announcement in tour­na­ments that the allot­ted time has expired

Jissen

Free spar­ring, Taido’s game of impro­vised attack and defense

Jodan

Upper Level

Jodan Kamae

Upper-level kamae, also “jodangamae”

Jogai

Out of bounds

Ju

10

Jun

In sequence, keep­ing with the flow

K

Ka-Soku

Unsoku for advanc­ing toward the oppo­nent at an angle, also “ka”

Kaeshigeri

Returning kick, ssu­ally as a reverse shajogeri

Kaicho

President

Kaijo

Turning

Kaijogeri

A turn­ing kick, Taido’s ver­sion of mawashigeri or roundhouse

Kaiten

Rolling or tumbling

Kamae

Way to stand, also “gamae”

Kansetsu Waza

Joint tech­niques

Karami

Entanglement, scis­sor­ing technique

Kata

Shoulder

Keiko

Period of prac­tice or study

Keiko O Owarimasu

Class is over

Keikoku

Second warn­ing in jissen

Keri

Kick, also “geri”

Kesageri

Flying side kick

Ki

Energy, atten­tion, or feeling

Ki O Tsuke

Pay atten­tion, stand straight

Kiai

A shout used to focus the breath and inten­tion along with a deci­sive technique

Kidosen

Steady line. The line along which tech­niques are performed

Kidoten

Steady point. Point of ori­gin about which sta­tion­ary tech­niques are performed

Kihon

Basic

Kihongi

Basic tech­niques

Kime

Focus or deci­sion, often in ref­er­ence to “clean” or “sharp” technique

Kimegi

Finishing tech­nique

Kintama

Groin (male)

Kinteki

Any attack toward the groin

Ko-Soku

Unsoku for chang­ing the angle to the oppo­nent, also “ko”

Kobo

Prearranged offense/defense practice

Kogeki

Attacker or attack­ing technique

Kohai

Junior stu­dent

Koka Sokuto Keri

Dropped side kick

Kokutsu Dachi

Back-weighted stance, Taido’s chu­dan­ga­mae is kokutsudachi

Kokyu

Breath

Kokyu Ho

Breathing meth­ods

Koten

Back roll

Ku

9

Kubi

Neck

Kubigarami

Neck scis­sor­ing technique

Kuro Obi

Black belt

Kuzushi

Pull down, any tech­nique that upsets the opponent’s balance

Kyo

Chance to attack

Kyoshi

Title for instruc­tors at or above 6dan

Kyu

The lev­els before black belt level, also known as the rain­bow belts

Kyuchu

Flying, in-air

M

Maai

Engagement dis­tance, also “mawai”

Mae

Front

Maegeri

Front Kick

Makiwara

A wrapped tar­get for train­ing the mechan­ics of var­i­ous strikes

Manji

Japanese swastika. Good luck sym­bol used to denote tem­ples on Japanese maps.

Manjigeri

Kick in the shape of the Japanese let­ter “Man”

Mawashi

Going around

Mawashigeri

Turning kick, round­house kick

Migi

Right

Mikazukigeri

Crescent kick

Minete

Ridge hand strike, mak­ing con­tact with the ridge of the hand run­ning along the index fin­ger to the thumb

Modote

Return

Moichido

One more time

Mokuso

Meditation

Morote

Both hands

Morote Gedan

Kokutsu stance in which both hands are held low

Muko Maai

Ineffective dis­tance, dis­tance in which nei­ther oppo­nent can exe­cute strikes

N

Nage

Throw

Nage Kuzushi

Throwing take­down

Nage Waza

Throwing tech­niques

Naiko

Inner con­di­tion, the effect of tech­niques on the body’s organs and nerves

Nana

7

Nanadan

Seventh degree black belt

Neko Ashi Dachi

Cat foot stance

Nenchu

Twisting flip

Nengi

Inverted, twist­ing technique

Nenin No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Nengi (female version)

Nentai

One of the five types of tech­nique includ­ing all Nengi

Nentai No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Nengi

Nentaigeri

Horizontal twist­ing kick

Ni

2

Ni No Ashi

Leading step

Nidan

Second degree black belt

Nidangeri

Two-level front kick, dou­ble kick

Nidanzuki

Two-Level punch

Nukite

Spear hand, strik­ing with the tips of the fingers

O

Otagai Ni Rei

Bow to each other

Obi

Belt

Oizuki

Stepping punch

Onegai Shimasu

Request for a favor or assistance

Oshi

Push

Oshi Kuzushi

Pushing take­down

Ossu

Affirmative reply, greet­ing, noto­ri­ous “karate word”

Oten

Side roll, shoul­der roll

R

Rei

Bow

Rendo

Moving con­tin­u­ously

Renshi

A title for instruc­tors at 4dan or 5dan

Renshu

Practice

Roku

6

Rokudan

Sixth begree black belt

S

Saiko Shihan

Supreme instruc­tor

San

3

Sandan

Third degree black belt

Sandanzuki

Three-level punch

Seigyo

Control over the situation/opponent

Seiho

Method of apply­ing control

Seiretsu

Make a straight line

Seiza

Formal sit­ting posture

Sengi

Whirling, spin­ning technique

Senin No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Sengi (female version)

Senjo

Spinning

Senjogeri

Spinning kick

Senpai

Senior stu­dent, also “sempai”

Sensei

Teacher

Sensei Gata

Group of instructors

Sentai

Class of all Sengi, spin­ning techniques

Sentai Nirendo

Two con­tin­u­ous sen­tai punches

Sentai No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Sengi

Sentai No Tsuki

Spinning punch

Sentai Nukite

Spinning spear hand strike

Shajo

Angular body, diag­o­nal posture

Shajogeri

Kick angled up from the ground

Shazenten

Angular roll, shoul­der roll

Shi

4

Shi Ho

Four steps, four directions

Shiai

Contest

Shichi

7

Shichi Gen San Ka

70% back, 30% front weight dis­tri­b­u­tion in chudangamae

Shihan

Title for high-level instruc­tors, typ­i­cally above 6dan

Shihandai

Secondary dojo leader

Shikoku

Third warn­ing in jis­sen, disqualification

Shin Karatedo Kyohan

Shukumine Saiko Shihan’s book Genseiryu karate. Includes descrip­tions of tac­tics, tech­niques, and kata.

Shin Untai No Hokei

American name for the newer wer­sion of Untai No Hokei prac­ticed in most countries

Shinpan

Judge

Shinsa

Examination, test for belt/rank promotion

Shiro

White

Shitsurei Shimasu

Excuse me

Shobu Ippon

One-point match

Shodan

“Beginner,” first degree black belt

Shomen

Front

Shomengeri

Maegeri

Shotei

Palm heel

Shoteibarai

Parry with palm heel

Shuto

Knife hand, bot­tom edge of the hand

Shuto Ate

Knife hand strike, “karate chop”

So-Soku

Unsoku for push­ing toward the oppo­nent, also “so”

Soete

Covering hand in kamae

Sokuchu

No-hand cart­wheel

Sokuten

Fast cart­wheel

Sokuten No Tsuki

Cartwheel punch

Sokutengeri

Cartwheel kick

Sotai

Tactical move­ment, kobo or jis­sen, the five meth­ods of body movement

Soto

Outside, out­ward

Soto Uke

Outside mid­dle block

Suihei

Horizontal

Suiheigeri

Horizontal kick, Taido’s ver­sion of the side kick

Suki

An open­ing to be attacked, weakness

T

Tachi

Standing, a way of standing

Tachirei

Standing bow

Taii No Hokei

Hokei designed for the tran­si­tion from Gensei Ryu to Taido

Tai-Soku

Unsoku for return­ing to Genten, also “tai”

Taido Gairon

Shukumine Saiko Shihan’s book describ­ing the prin­ci­ples and meth­ods of Taido

Taidoka

Practitioner of Taido

Taijiku

Body axis, centerline

Taikai

Competition

Taiki

Body energy, breathing

Taimen Sankatsu

Three divi­sions of the body

Tatami

Straw floor mat, often cov­ered in vinyl

Tatte

Stand up

Te

Hand

Tekubi

Wrist

Ten-Soku

Unsoku for adjust­ing the angle about a point, also “ten”

Tengi

Tumbling tech­nique

Tenin No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Tengi (female version)

Tentai

Class of gym­nas­tic tech­niques, tengi

Tentai No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Tengi

Tobi

Flying, jump­ing

Tobigeri

Jumping kick

Tobikomi

Diving

Tooite

Relax

Tori

Pull

Torite

Block and pull the opponent’s punch

Tsui-Soku

Unsoku for quickly punch­ing, also “tsui”

Tsuki

Punch, also “zuki”

U

Uchi

Inside

Uchi

Routine

Uchi Uke

Inside mid­dle block

Ude

Arm

Uke

Block

Ukemi

Falling tech­niques, breakfalls

Undo

Exercise

Ungi

Moving, work­ing technique

Unshin

Movement using the whole body, loco­mo­tion other than stepping

Unsoku

Footwork

Unsoku Gorendo

Routine of five con­tin­u­ous Unsoku patterns

Unsoku Happo

Routine of 8 footworks

Untai

Set of all Ungi, tech­niques in char­ac­ter­ized by ver­ti­cal displacement

Untai Hienzuki

Jumping or punch

Untai Keri Tsuki

Untai kick and punch

Untai No Hokei

Form prac­tice for Ungi

Untai No Tsuki

Basic Untai punch

Ura

Behind

Uraken

Backfist

Ushiro

Back, rear

Ushirogeri

Back kick

W

Waza

Technique

Waza Ari

1/2 Point

Y

Yame

Stop

Yo

Positive polar­ity, Chinese “yang,” active, aggres­sive attitude

Yoi

Ready

Yoko

Side

Yokogeri

Side kick

Yon

4

Yondan

4Th degree black belt

Yuko Maai

Effective dis­tance

Z

Zarei

Seated bow

Zenchu

Front flip

Zenkutsudachi

Forward stance in which most of the weight is car­ried by the front leg

Zenpo

Forward

Zenten No Tsuki

Front roll punch

Zokko

Command in jis­sen to con­tinue the match