Martial Arts Glossary
Glossary of commonly used terms in the Japanese martial arts.
Glossaries
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Oyasumi nasai | Oyasumi-nasai (おやすみなさい)Oyasumi-nasai is a polite Japanese phrase translating to "good night" or "rest well." Used when parting ways late in the evening or right before going to bed, it conveys a thoughtful wish for restful sleep and physical recovery. Within a martial arts context, it marks the quiet close of late training sessions and honors the essential role of rest in a practitioner's physical and mental development.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 13 Synonyms -
Good night, rest well, sleep well, sweet dreams, oyasumi. |
| Ōyō | Ōyō (応用)Ōyō is a fundamental Japanese martial arts concept translating to "practical application," "adaptability," or "applied technique." In traditional Budo and Karate study, it refers to taking the fundamental movements, formal stances, and sequenced techniques learned in basic practice (Kihon) and pre-arranged forms (Kata) and adapting them dynamically to real-world combat, self-defense situations, or unpredictable opponents.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 30 Synonyms -
Practical application, applied technique, adaptability, practical interpretation, oyo bunkai, dynamic response. |
| Rei | Rei (礼)Rei is a foundational concept and practice in Japanese martial arts translating to "bow," "respect," "courtesy," or "etiquette." Beyond the physical act of bowing, Rei represents an inner state of humility, gratitude, and mutual respect that governs all interactions within the dojo, forming the moral backbone of traditional Budo practice.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 33 Synonyms -
Bow, respect, courtesy, etiquette, reishiki, reigi, greeting of respect. |
| Renzoku waza | Renzoku Waza (連続技)Renzoku Waza is a fundamental Japanese martial arts concept defined as "continuous techniques," "combination techniques," or "consecutive movements." In traditional Budo and Shotokan Karate, it refers to the fluid execution of multiple offensive or defensive techniques delivered in rapid, unbroken succession without losing momentum, stance integrity, or balance.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 29 Synonyms -
Combination techniques, continuous techniques, consecutive strikes, combination attack, sequential technique. |
| Roku | Roku (六)Roku is the traditional Japanese cardinal number for "six." Within martial arts terminology, Shotokan Karate, and broader Budo traditions, it serves as a vital counting number used to structure counting cadences, group physical training repetitions, order formal rank progressions, and index classical techniques, forms, and principles.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 37 Synonyms -
Six, number six, mutsu, 6, roku-dan, rokkyu. |
| Ryūkyū Kempo | Ryūkyū Kempo (琉球拳法)Ryūkyū Kempo refers to the indigenous empty-hand martial art system developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom (modern-day Okinawa, Japan). Combining indigenous Okinawan fighting techniques (Te or Ti) with Chinese martial arts influences (Quānfǎ / Kempo), it serves as the historical forerunner and foundational bedrock of modern Karate, including Shotokan Karate.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 48 Synonyms -
Okinawan kempo, Ryukyu karate, Okinawan karate, Ryukyu kobujutsu, traditional Okinawan martial arts, te, ti. |
| San | San (三)San is the Japanese cardinal number for "three." In traditional Budo, Shotokan Karate, and Japanese culture, it holds profound structural and philosophical importance, serving as a primary counting cadence, an index for core belt ranks, and a organizing principle for foundational three-part technical combinations, forms, and concepts.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 27 Synonyms -
Three, number three, mitsu, 3, sanbon, sandan. |
| Sanbon kumite | Sanbon Kumite (三本組手)Sanbon Kumite is a traditional form of structured, pre-arranged sparring in Shotokan Karate translated as "three-step sparring." In this foundational training exercise, the attacker steps forward executing three consecutive identical attacks, while the defender steps backward executing three corresponding blocks, concluding with a powerful counter-attack on the third step.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 25 Synonyms -
Three-step sparring, 3-step kumite, pre-arranged three-step sparring, sanbon kumite drill. |
| Sanchin-dachi | Sanchin-dachi (三戦立ち)Sanchin-dachi is a fundamental classical stance in Japanese and Okinawan martial arts translated as the "Three Battles Stance" or "Hourglass Stance." It is an upright, short, inward-tension stance engineered for maximum stability, rooted power, root grounding, and protection of vital organs during close-quarters combat and specialized breathing exercises.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 16 Synonyms -
Hourglass stance, three battles stance, sanchin stance, inward tension stance. |
| Seiza | Seiza (正座)Seiza is the traditional Japanese formal kneeling posture translated literally as "correct sitting" or "proper sitting." In traditional Japanese culture and Budo, including Shotokan Karate, it is the standard formal seated position used during dojo opening and closing ceremonies, meditation (Mokuso), formal bowing (Zarei), and when listening attentively to an instructor's feedback.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 40 Synonyms -
Formal kneeling, correct sitting, kneeling posture, formal sitting, traditional Japanese kneeling, zarei posture. |
| Senpai | Senpai (先輩)Senpai (frequently Romanized as Sempai) is a foundational Japanese honorific title and social concept translating to "senior," "elder student," or "senior mentor." In traditional Budo, Shotokan Karate, and Japanese culture, it refers to an experienced student or practitioner who has trained longer within the dojo hierarchy, serving as a mentor, role model, and assistant instructor to junior students (Kōhai).
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 60 Synonyms -
Senior student, senior mentor, elder student, mentor, senior practitioner, sempai. |
| Sensei | Sensei (先生)Sensei is a foundational Japanese honorific title and term of respect translated as "teacher," "instructor," "master," or literally "one who has gone before." In traditional Budo, Shotokan Karate, and Japanese culture, it refers to an experienced teacher or guide who leads students along the martial path (Do), sharing deep technical mastery, tactical wisdom, and philosophical insight gained through years of dedicated study.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 53 Synonyms -
Teacher, instructor, master, guide, shihan, mentor, coach. |
| Senshin | Senshin (洗心)Senshin is a profound Japanese martial arts concept translating to "purified heart," "cleansed mind," or "washing the spirit." In traditional Budo and Shotokan Karate, it refers to the practice of purging ego, malice, prejudice, and selfish desires from one's mind, cultivating an attitude of absolute purity, benevolence, and spiritual clarity both on and off the mat.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 24 Synonyms -
Purified mind, cleansed heart, spiritual purification, pure spirit, unclouded mind, benevolent heart. |
| Setsudō | Setsudō (節道)Setsudō is a traditional Japanese concept and martial principle translating to "moderation," "self-control," "proper measure," or "the way of restraint." In traditional Budo and Shotokan Karate, it represents the ethical framework that governs a practitioner's power, dictating that technical skill must always be tempered by moral restraint, emotional regulation, and appropriate force.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 55 Synonyms -
Moderation, self-restraint, proper measure, self-control, restraint, path of moderation, balance. |
| Shi | Shi (四 / 師)Shi is a multifaceted Japanese term used in martial arts terminology. Most commonly, it represents the cardinal number "four" (四). Additionally, as a homophone with different kanji, it denotes "teacher," "master," or "expert" (師), as well as "death" (死). Within Shotokan Karate and traditional Budo, Shi serves as a core counting number, a rank indicator, and a root character in titles of martial instruction and philosophy.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 34 Synonyms -
Four, yon, number four, 4, master, teacher, shihan. |