Aiki Budokai of Boston- Jiten: K-M

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K - M

Note: there is no L sound in the Japanese language

K

Kaeshi-waza Counter techniques
Kaeshi Tsuki Counter thrust, a punch which is timed to destroy the opponent while he/she is convinced that his/her blow is accurate.
Kagami Mirror
Kagami Biraki Mirror cleaning, ritual first workout of the year for dojo, on the 2nd Saturday of January.
Kagami Keiko Mirror Training, any training exercise in which partners mirror each other.
Kage Shadow
Kagi Key, (antique Japanese keys were metal coils)
Kagi Shime Key lock (Nikkyo) so named for its resemblance to a Kagi.
Kai Association, federation, society
Kaicho Head of a group or society (any organization of like-minded individuals working toward similar goals collectively)
Kaishaku Second, in Seppuku (ritual suicide), the person charged with removing the head of the principal.
Kaiten Rotation
Kaiten Nage Rotary throw, a required technique
Kaiten-juki The axis of rotation of a technique
Kakato The heel of the foot
Kake A hook (or rack)
Kaku Obi Hanging belt, a wide belt donned to allow weapons to be worn.
Kakuto Back of the wrist (for a strike).
Kamae Attitude, posture, stance
Kami Spirit, heavenly, high, god (very different from the western concept of a single God. More like ghosts than omnipotent beings, and most often believed to be deceased family members who look after the affairs of the living--when plied correctly.)
Kamidana "Shelf of the Kami", a small house where the kami reside
Kami no Ke High of the Hair (hair on head)
Kamiza "Seat of the Kami"; in Dojo, where respect for previous generations is shown.
Kamiza ni Rei Bow to Kamiza
Kami Zeme Upper attack
Kamoku A special class taught by a guest instructor.
Kampo Chinese (and by implication herbal) medicine.
Kana Generic term for Japanese syllabary (phonetic alphabet).
Kan House or hall
Kan Intuition
Kan(zo) Liver (LV or Liv)
Kangeiko A(n intensive) winter training session.
Kano, Jigoro The founder of the Kodokan and Kodokan Judo.
Kancho Head of school (building, hall)
Kanga Ryu An ancient Australian Jujutsu system, employing powerful tail whips and kicks... :o)~
Kanji Chinese Form, ideograms devised in China. Along with Hiragana and Katakana make up the Japanese written language. Kanji are used to express ideas and unlike kana, do not have any single strict sounds attached, and can have up to 20 pronunciations each.
Kansetsu Joint, joint dislocation
Kansetsu-waza Dislocation techniques
Kao Face
Kao Ate Face Strike
Kappo Resuscitation
Karada Body (also, tai)
Karame To tie up; to arrest
Karami An entanglement
Karate Do Empty hand way (originally, China hand), adapted techniques from Okinawan Kempo systems.
Karui Geiko Light, easy practice
Karuma Wheel
Karuma Like Waki no Kamae, blade horizontal and back
Kashaki Uchi Continuous attack
Kashira Mask, the pommel cap of a bladed weapon.
Kashira Ate Mask Striking, any hit which uses the butt-cap of a sword or knife.
Kasumi Mist
Kasumi Arms crossed over to hide technique; a feint
Kata Single, one
Kata Form, a technique or combination of techniques put together for practice.
Kata Shoulder
Kata Ashi Single leg, especially in Sutemi Waza
Katachi Correct form
Katchu Armor
Kata Dori Shoulder hold
Kata Gassho Single-hand Gassho, a single hand in praying position often used in dojo when walking.
Kata Gatame A variation of Kaiten Nage in which UKE is taken directly to the ground in a shoulder lock (Taki Otosu Odori).
Katakana Japanese phonetic alphabet used to write foreign (non-native) words.
Katame Waza Grappling techniques; consisting of Osae waza, Kansetsu waza, and Shime waza.
KatanaJapanese long sword, ha- 25" & 30", and a tsuka- 11" to 15" worn, blade up, thrust through the obi (as differs from the tachi which was slung, blade down, while in armor)
Kata Otoshi Shoulder Drop (Ikkyo), a required technique
Kata Shime Shoulder Constriction, (similar to Judo's Kata Gatame) a required waza
Katsuninken, Satsujinto The life giving sword, the sword that kills, the concept that one can mete out justice through control of the potential for violence that Bushi represent.
Katate Single-hand
Katate Osae Single-hand press, a Kihon Waza
Katate Tori One hand holding one hand
Katate Uchi One-handed strike
Katei Curriculum
Kaze Wind
Kei Channel or Meridian
Kei Domyaku Carotid Artery
Keibu Seimyaku Jugular vein
Keichu Atemi point on back of neck
Keiko Practice, training
Keiko Gi Practice Kit (uniform)
Keiko Hajime Beginning Practice, a dojo's first official class of a new year.
Keiko Osame Final Practice (of the year), a dojo's last official class before New Year's eve.
Keiraku Channelor meridian pathways
Kempo Fist Law, the generic term for any art with a Chinese root, e.g. Kosho Ryu Kempo, Araki Ryu Kempo (Chinese: Chuan-fa).
Ken> Blade (sword)
Ken Fist
Kenbukai Warrior Arts Study Society, the first name of the dojo.
Kendo Way of the Blade, modern sportive method derived from Japanese swordsmanship
Kenjutsu Blade tactics, a generic name for Japanese sword arts.
Kenkyu Research
Kenkyukai Research organization
Kenkyusha A doer or user of research
Kenkojutsu Health Restoration Tactics
Kenkokotsu Shoulder blades
Kenpo see Kempo
Ken Tori Sword taking, techniques designed to combat a sword-wielding attacker.
Keppan An oath, signed in one's own blood, in which swears loyalty to a Ryu and/or teacher.
Kesa Lapel/part of monk's costume hanging from left shoulder.
Kesa Giri Monk's surplice cut, one which crosses the body diagonally.
Ki Breath, energy, humors. The kanji means 'steam from rice'. It is the thing which (as with steam) is both essential to, and a product of (cooking rice) life.
Kiai Energy Harmonizing, a focus for one's energy (can take the form of a shout).
Kiesareta Uke Disappearing Reception, one in which the receiving tool is not seen/and or perceived to be a threat.
Kihon (Tree roots) fundamental
Kihon Kote Waza Basic Wrist techniques
Kihon Waza Fundamental techniques; shapes which form the basis for most skills of an art
Kikan Trachea
Kiken To submit (tap out)
Kiku Chrysanthemum, one of the imperial mon.
Kiku Lower
Kimono Clothes, specifically, the silk robes worn traditionally in Japan
Kinniku Muscles
Kiri Cut
Kiriage Rising cut, those designed to cut cloth, wrists etc., (never intended to be used against an armored body) also transliterated as Kiri Age
Kiritsu Stand up
Kiritsuke Gomen Killing and Going Away, the right that Bushi had to kill any commoner (with impunity) for acting in an 'unexpected' manner.
Kiyotsukete Focus Your Energy/Attention
Kiza Kneeling, in a live toe position
Ko Small, minor
Ko Old
Kobo Ichi Attack and defense are one (reception and counter-technique happen simultaneously).
Kodachi Small (or companion) Sword, a companion blade to the katana
Kodokan House for the Study of the Way, a Dojo founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano
Kohai Junior student. NEVER used as a form of address.
Koko "Tiger's mouth" LI-4, in the area between thumb and forefinger.
Kokoro Spirit, will, heart, intuition, mood
Kokoro Kamae Mental attitude
Kokutsu Backward leaning
Kokyu Breath, breathing
Kokyu Dosa The name in Aikido for 'Breath-power movement', (from seiza).
Kokyu Nage Breath Throw (in Aikido, almost any unnamed technique).
Komi Coming Close or Drawing Near
Komi Within, against
Komon Kai A Board of (usually prominent people within a community, acting as dojo) advisors
Kongo Blade vertical, in front of one's own face
Koppu Cupping, Kenkojutsu technique used to draw off excessive energy in Tsubo.
Koroshi Death blow
Koryu Old style, referring to classical martial arts
Kosadori Cross-hand grab (Naname Katatetori, Katatedori Ai-hanmi)
Koshi Ball of the foot
Koshi Hip
Koshi Hineri Hip Twist, a power-generation method
Koshi Nage Hip throw, required waza
Koshita Back panel on hakama
Kosho Ryu Kempo Old Pine Tree Style (Chinese derived) Fist Law (Method). The name for the self-defense system which were taught by Masayoshi "James" Mitose. The parent art of all modern commercial Kempo (kenpo) systems, it is claimed to be more than 900 years old (no evidence exists to substantiate this claim).
Kotae Change
Kote Lower forearm, wrist
Kote Gaeshi Wrist Reversal, required waza
Kote Hineri Wrist Twist, required waza
Kote Mawashi Wrist Turn-in
Kote Ori Wrist Break (Kotegaeshi)
Kozo Structure
Ku Nine
Kubi Neck
Kubi Naka Atemi point at base of skull
Kuchi Mouth
Kuchibiru Lip(s)
Kudaki To Smash, to destroy
Kudan Ninth-level, penultimate rank in modern budo
Kujiki Strain, shatter, crush
Kukishin Ryu A Classical Bujutsu Ryu specializing in pole arms, especially rokushakubo and hanbo.
Kukyu Ninth Hill, the ninth level before Shodan
Kukyo Ninth Principle: Inverted nanakyo
Kumijo Meeting of Jo (Stick partner practice)
Kumitachi Meeting of Swords (Sword partner practice)
Kumite Meeting of Hands (Empty handed partner practice/sparring)
Kuro Black
Kuro Obi Black belt, the sign that one has been accepted as a student.
Kushin Springing in to attack
Kusshinuke To dodge an attack
Kuzushi To Break or to Destroy, used to denote an off-balancing in modern budo.
Kyo Excessive, full
Kyoju Dairi Traditional (classical) teaching license
Kyoka Curriculum of a style
Kyosei Student teacher
Kyu Part of the modern rank system designed by Jigoro Kano, these ranks are the training ranks before being accepted as a disciple (as the dan rank imply; decreasing from 5th to 1st, then shodan)
Kyuba no Michi The way of the Bow and the Horse, an old term to describe warrior's skills.
Kyudo The contemplative art of Japanese archery
Kyujutsu The effective, classical Japanese art of archery
Kyusho Vital point on body

M

Ma Horse
Ma Distance (not a word on its own)
Maai Equal (harmonious) Distancing, combat engagement distance. Unlike many other terms, this one describes not simply the apparent distance, but also the timing needed to effectively deal with one's opponent.
Mae Forward
Mae Uki Otoshi Front floating drop
Mae no Sen Front Attacking, attacking the instant your opponent thinks about it (taking initiative).
Makete Katsu Finding victory in defeat
Maki Wrapped around
Maki Atama Otoshi Enwrapped Head Drop, a required Sutemi waza
Makikomi Enwrapped, folded
Makite Enwrapping hand, a Tanto grip (tsuka protrudes through middle and ring fingers).
Makiwara Wrapped Straw, generic term for striking surfaces and/or pads
Manabu To learn by emulation
Maru Circle
Marui Circular
Masakatsu, Agatsu Correct Victory is Self Victory, a maxim of Aikido
Massugu Straight ahead
Mata The thigh; the groin
Matadachi Split in side of hakama (also, Soba)
Matsu Pine
Matsu Kaze Wind Through the Pines. One of the names given to the carotid artery as a blade target, it describes the sound of arterial bleeding.
Matte Wait
Mawashi A turn; a rotation
Mawashi Geri 'Roundhouse' kick
Mawatte Turn around
Me Eyes
Men Head, Face
Men Uchi Strike to head
Metsubushi To Throw Ash in the Eyes (anything that acts as a distraction).
Metsuke Eye contact
Michibiku Guiding, leading
Midare Keiko Free training
Migi Right
Mikazuki Atemi point at corner of jaw
Mikomi Penetrating Gaze
Mimi Ears
Misogi A (spiritual) purification ceremony
Mitori Geiko Observation Practice, to learn while watching a class or instructor (most often done when one is too injured to participate).
Mizu Water
Mizu no Kokoro Mind like water, an important conceptual connection to states of water. Staying calm (as a still lake) until disturbed; then, responding in exact proportion to the offense and finally returning to the calm state.
Mokuroku A catalog of techniques
Mogukusa Mugwort (artemis vulgaris), an herb burned in Chinese and Japanese treatment methods.
Mokuso Meditate, meditation (lower your eyes and clear your mind of conscious thought).
Momo Thigh
Momo Peach
Mon Japanese heraldry. Used on clothing, armor, weapons and even in architectural details. Most warrior families had a number of 'crests' for use in different circumstances.
Mondo A period for questions and answers
Monouchi(Mono Uchi) The third of the ha closest the kissaki which takes greatest advantage of mechanical advantage, the "sweet spot".
Mon Shin Diagnostic method (asking questions for treatment information).
Montei An accepted disciple
Montsuki Wide sleeved, formal kimono with mon on chest, sleeves and back.
Morote Both hands
Morote Tori Two hands holding one hand
Mu Emptiness, negative, void, lack of matter
Mudansha No Rank Holders, deshi with kyu grades
Muga Mushin No self, no mind, a state in which one reacts without concerns of outcome
Mukozune Atemi point in middle of shin
Mune dori One or two hand lapel hold
Mune Chest
Mune Tsuki Chest Thrust, a punch directed at the upper torso
Munen Mushin Striking without conscience
Murasame Pressure points on each side of neck behind collar bone
Mushin No mind, non-conscious state of awareness
Musubi Knot, union (also ending, conclusion)
Mutekatsu Victory without hands (without fighting)
Muto No sword
Muto Waza No sword techniques, ones in which an unarmed TORI must defend him/herself from a weapon-bearing opponent
Myaku Vessel

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