Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu
Japanese Terminology
Below, and in the following pages, are most of the Japanese terms used by us; and, a great many more.
Stances/Kamae:
Agura wo kaku:
Informal seating position.
Bo dachi:
Feet parallel, toes on center line, 45° forward, 1½ shoulders wide, both
knees slightly bent, 60-40, 50-50%
Gankaku dachi:
One legged (Crane) stance, 0-100%.
Han kyo dachi:
Neutral bow stance, back leg bent, knee pointing down, half the distance
of Kyo dachi, back foot heel in the air, ball on the ground,
80-20%.
Heiko dachi:
Parallel stance, feet shoulder width, 50-50%.
Heisoku dachi:
Attention stance, heels and toes together, 50-50%.
Horan no kamae:
“Egg in the Nest Ready Position." The fist is covered by the other hand.
Kokutsu dachi: (n/a)
Back stance, 30-70%.
Kosa dachi:
Crossed legged stance, 90-10, 10-90%.
Kusanku dachi:
Low reverse Kyo dachi, 20-80%.
Kyo dachi:
Bow and Arrow stance, front foot minimum 45° forward, back foot straight
pointing forward, back leg straight, front knee bent over the instep, both feet
centered on center line, 70-30%.
Musubi dachi:
Attention stance, feet 45° out, heels together, 50-50%.
Naihanchi dachi:
Horse riding stance, feet parallel (on the outside)1½ to 2 shoulders
wide, toes gripping the ground, both knees bent out over the insteps, 50-50%.
Neko dachi:
Cat stance, feet flat on the ground one foot apart, back foot 45°
forward, front foot straight, both feet centered on center line, both knees bent
and pointing forward, 10-90, 20-80%.
Reinoji dachi:
L stance, 10-90, 50-50%.
Seisan dachi:
Forward stance, feet shoulder wide, 1 to 1½ - 2 shoulders long, front
knee bent over instep, back leg straight, hips and shoulders twisted 90° to the
front, 60-40%.
Seiza:
“A proper sitting position.” Kneeling sitting on both calves.
Shizen dachi no kamae:
“Natural combative posture.” Feet in Heiko dachi hands
at sides.
Tate hiza:
Kneeling on one calf, 20-80, 60-40%.
Teiji dachi:
T stance, 10-90, 50-50%.
Uchi hachiji dachi:
Inverted open leg stance, 50-50%.
Zenkutsu dachi:
Low forward stance, feet shoulder wide 2 to 2½ shoulders long, 60-40%.
Age uke:
“Upper block.” against head attack.
Chudan soto uke:
“Inward forearm block.”
Chudan tettsui uke:
“Hammer block.” (Outward twisting block).
Chudan uchi uke:
“Outward forearm block.”
Chudan ude uke:
“Inward block with twist.”
Chudan uke:
“Middle block.” (in general).
Gedan uke:
“Low level block.” (in general).
Gedan kake uke:
“Low level hooking block.” Against kicks.
Gedan ude uke:
“Low forearm block.” (kata).
Haiwan nagashi uke:
“Back arm sweeping parry.”
Haiwan uke:
“Back of forearm (kata) block.”
Hiji uke:
“Elbow block.” Used to protect lower rib area from strikes.
Hiza uke:
“Knee block.”
Jodan uke:
“Upper block.” (in general).
Juji uke:
“X block.”
Kakiwake uke:
“Wedge block.” A two handed block using the outer surface of the wrist to
neutralize a two-handed attack, such as a grab.
Maeude hineri uke:
“Forearm twist block.” (kata) After strike (as arm retracts) arm rotates
into position.
Manji uke:
A double block where one arm executes Gedan uke to one side, while the
other arm executes Chudan uchi uki (or Jodan soto yoko te).
Morote sukui uke:
“Two handed scooping parry.”
Morote tsukami uke:
“Two handed grabbing parry.”
Nagashi uke:
“Sweeping block.”
Osae uke:
“Pressing block.”
Otoshi uke:
“Dropping block.” Arm horizontal.
Shuto uke:
Knife hand block (kata).
Sokutei osae uke:
Pressing jam with sole of foot.
Sokuto osae uke:
Pressing jam with foot edge.
Sukui uke:
“Scooping block.” Hand/wrist pronate.
Haishu uke:
“Back hand.” Outward parry.
Tekubi kake uke:
“Hooking block.” Basically the reverse of Te osae uke, outward instead of
inward; palm up, but still downwards.
Te nagashi uke:
“Hand sweeping.” Inward parry.
Te osae uke:
“Hand pressing.” Downward parry.
Teisho uke:
“Palm heel block.”
Tekubi kake uke:
“Wrist hook block.” (kata).
Tsukami uke:
“Grabbing parry.” Hand/wrist pronate.
Uke:
“To Receive.” Parry (to redirect an incoming attack) or block (to attack
& redirect an incoming attack).
Awase tsuki:
“Double fist "U" punch.”
Chudan choku tsuki:
“Straight punch to middle area.” Punch with Tate tsuki.
Furi tsuki:
“Circular punch.”
Gedan tsuki:
“Straight punch to low area.” Punch with Tate tsuki.
Gyaku tsuki:
“Reverse punch.” Back hand circles down & forward to Chudan choku tsuki
then returns by the same route.
Hasami tsuki:
“Scissors punch.” Both hands travel half circle to the target (kata).
Heiko tsuki:
“Parallel punch.” Both hands horizontal and simultaneous (kata).
Jodan choku tsuki:
“Straight punch to upper level.” Punch with Tate tsuki.
Kagi tsuki:
“Hook.” Front hand circles down & inside, continues to circle, then 45 forward &
upward, elbow behind the fist all the way.
Kizami tsuki:
“Jab.” Front hand moves straight forward and straight back with no other
movement before or afterwards.
Mawashi tsuki:
“Cross.” Back hand circles forward & outside continues to circle, then inward to
the front, elbow behind the fist all the way.
Morote yoko tsuki:
“Double punch side.” Horizontal and simultaneous, solar plexus and shoulder
high.
Nagashi tsuki:
“Flowing punch.” Back hand punches straight forward with a slight drop, shoulder
behind fist all the way.
Oi tsuki:
“Lunge punch.” Stepping forward and punching with the front hand (kata).
Oroshi tsuki:
“Descending punch.” Punch straight down with twist to Tate tsuki
(kata).
Seiken choku tsuki:
“Fore fist punch.” Punch straight forward with twist, palm down (kata).
Tate tsuki:
“Vertical fist punch.” Punch straight forward with twist, palm vertical.
Ura tsuki:
“Uppercut punch.” From front hand reverse direction of Kage tsuki;
back hand opposite of front hand.
Yoko tsuki:
“Side punch.” Solar plexus high, elbow on ribs, wrist one hand's distance from
ribs (kata).
Hiraki ashi:
Rear foot crosses back in advance and turns to face opponent, front foot twists
to reestablish stance, but with opposite foot forward.
Okuri ashi:
“Following foot.” Forward shuffle. Step forward with front foot, rear foot moves
same distance forward to retain original distance apart.
Suri ashi:
“Sliding step.” Crescent step. Back foot moves to front foot (feet together)
then continues to become front foot.
Tenkan:
Moving one foot behind the other to turn 180 degrees or more.
Tsugi ashi:
Half step.” Rear foot moves to front foot, front foot moves forward.
Yori ashi:
“Dragging step.” Step forward with front foot, rear foot moves forward
shortening the original distance apart.
Koho kaiten
“Back Roll”
Koho otoshi
“Back Fall”
Yoko otoshi
“Side Fall”
Zenpo kaiten
“Shoulder Roll”
Zenpo otoshi hon waza
“Forward Fall”
Ashi barai:
“Foot sweep.”
Ashikubi kake geri:
“Ankle hooking kick.” (scoop).
Gyaku kin geri:
“Reverse groin kick.”45 with instep (Haisoku).
Gyaku mawashi geri:
“Reverse 45 kick.”
Gyaku mikatsuki geri:
“Reverse Crescent kick.” Knee remains slightly bent, delivered with the
edge of the foot (Sokuto).
Hiza geri:
“Knee kick.”
Keage:
“Snap kick.”
Kekomi:
“Thrust kick.”
Kesa geri:
“Diagonal flying side kick.”
Kin geri:
“Groin kick.” 45 with the instep (Haisoku).
Mae ashi geri:
“Front leg kick.” Kick with the front leg.
Mae geri (Keage):
“Front snap kick.” Delivered with the toes (Tsumasaki).
Mae geri kekomi:
“Front thrust kick.” Delivered with the heel. (Kakato).
Mae tobi geri:
“Jumping front kick.” The leg that leaves the ground last delivers the kick.
Mawashi geri:
“Roundhouse kick.” Delivered with the toes (Tsumasaki).
Mawashi hiza geri:
“Roundhouse knee kick.”
Mawashi tobi geri:
“Jumping roundhouse kick.” The leg that leaves the ground last delivers the
kick.
Mikatsuki geri:
“Crescent kick.” Knee remains slightly bent, delivered with the sole of
the foot (Sokutei).
Naihanchi geri:
Kick to just above opponent's knee. Delivered with the sole of the foot (Sokutei).
From Naihanchi Shodan.
Nami gaeshi geri:
“Returning wave kick.” Kick from Naihanchi Shodan.
Nidan geri:
“Double jump kick.” Both legs kick, first kick is Mae geri,
second kick is optional.
Renzoku geri:
“Combination kick.” One leg delivers the different kicks.
Ushiro ashi geri:
“Rear leg kick.” Kick from the rear leg.
Ushiro geri:
“Rear kick.” Rising from the floor 45 to the target, delivered with the heel (Kakato).
Ushiro geri kekomi:
“Back kick thrust.” Delivered horizontal to the ground, enters at 45 angle from
the center line, with the heel (Kakato).
Yoko geri (Keage):
“Side snap kick.” Similar to front snap kick; but support foot twists heel
towards target as hips rotate, delivered with the heel (Kakato).
Yoko geri kekomi:
“Side thrust kick.” Delivered horizontal to the ground, along the center line,
with the heel (Kakato).
Yoko tobi geri:
Jumping side kick. The leg that leaves the ground last delivers the kick.
Open/Kaisho
Haito:
“Ridge hand.” the thumb side.
Ippon nukite:
“One finger Spear hand.”
Hiraken:
“Fore knuckle fist.” Half fist.
Kaisho:
“Open hand.” the open palm.
Kakuto:
“Bent wrist.”
Keito:
“Chicken head wrist.”
Keiko:
“Chicken Beak.”
Haishu:
“Back hand.” the back of the open hand.
Nihon nukite:
“Two finger Spear hand.”
Nukite:
“Spear hand.” the tips of all four fingers.
Seiryuto:
“Ox jaw.” the radial carpal ball of the palm heel.
Shuto:
“Knife hand.” the little finger edge of the open hand.
Teisho:
“Palm heel.”
Teisho awase uchi:
“Double palm heel strike.”
Washide:
“Eagle claw.” the spread bent tips of all four fingers.
Yonhon nukite:
“Four finger Spear hand.” the spread tips of all four fingers.
Closed/Ken
Ippon ken:
“One knuckle fist.” Thumb on top for support.
Nakadaka ken:
“Middle finger knuckle fist.” Used in a hooking or uppercut motion only.
Oyayubi ippon ken:
“Thumb knuckle fist.” Most versatile form, but thumb vulnerable to
counterattack.
Seiken:
“Fore fist.” Strike with the front two knuckles only.
Tettsui:
“Hammer fist.” Little finger side.
Uraken:
“Back fist.” Generally the front two knuckles, but all four with a twist.
Mae hiji ate:
“Forward elbow strike.”
Mae otoshi hiji ate:
“Forward descending elbow strike.” (Naihanchi Nidan).
Mawashi hiji ate:
“Circular elbow strike.” (Naihanchi Shodan).
Otoshi hiji ate:
“Downward elbow strike.” (dropping).
Tate hiji ate:
“Upward elbow strike.” (rising).
Ushiro hiji ate:
“Back elbow strike.” (rear).
Yoko hiji ate:
“Side elbow strike.”
Yoko mawashi hiji ate:
“Side round elbow strike.”
Forearm/Wan
Gai wan:
Forearm, outside.
Hai wan:
Back of arm.
Nai wan:
Inner forearm.
Shu wan:
Palm arm.
Strikes/Uchi:
Ato uchi:
“Delayed strike.” Feint.
Atama uchi:
“Strike with head.”