R
| Randori | Dance of Chaos/To take freedoms, free style 'sparring' practice |
| Rei | Respect, shows of of respect (bow) |
| Reigi | Etiquette; also reishiki |
| Reishiki | Forms of respect |
| Rekishi | History |
| Renko-ho | Methods of immobilizing (by blocking and/or locking the arms) |
| Ren Mai | Conception Vessel (CV) |
| Renraku | (To make) combinations |
| Renraku Waza | Combination Techniques |
| Renshi | Teacher, a teaching license |
| Renshu | Hard work (usually on basics) |
| Riai | Truth meeting, the underlying reason or meaning of principle as expressed in kata |
| Ritsurei | A standing bow, also Tachi Rei |
| Ritsuzen | Standing meditation |
| Rofuse | Arm locking methods |
| Roku | Six |
| Rokudan | Sixth Rank, a mid-high (black belt) rank in modern budo |
| Rokkyo | Sixth principle: Hiji Kime Osae, Waki Katame, Ude Hishigi |
| Rokkyu | Sixth level |
| Romaji | (In the) roman form, the method of transliteration of Japanese words into English |
| Ronin | Wave (tossed) man, the name for unemployed bushi |
| Ryokata Dori | Grabbing both shoulders |
| Ryote Dori | Two hands taking (holding) two hands; also, ryotetori |
| Ryu |
Flow, an art, style or
tradition, often used in classical-era systems
|
| Ryugi | Flow , The individual sub-arts of a comprehensive system (Ryu) |
S
| Sabaki | Decisive motions |
| Sageo | Utility cords carried on some swords, used by modern styles as belting cords |
| Saho | The left direction |
| Sakki | Killing ki, intuition/sensitivity to aggresive behavior and/or intent |
| Same | Skin of the Ray, used to wrap tsuka to add strength and stability |
| Samurai | One Who Serves; this was a common form of address for Bushi up to the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States Period) |
| San | Three |
| Sanbon | Three points |
| Sanbon | Three point |
| Sandan | Third Rank, a low training rank in modern budo |
| Sankaku | Three angle, a triangle |
| Sankyo | Third principle: Shibori Kime, Kote Hineri, Kote Jime |
| Sankyu | Third hill, the third level before shodan |
| Sannin | Three people |
| Sannin Waza | Three person techniques (three UKE vs one TORI) |
| San Sho | Triple heater (TH, TB, CS) |
| Satori | Enlightenment |
| Saya | Scabbard |
| Sei | Correct, righteous, true |
| Seigan | Clear eyes, fundamental kenjutsu kamae |
| Seigyo | Control |
| Seika Tanden | Lower Abdomen, believed to be the seat of bodily energy (3" below the navel) |
| Seiken | Front of fist |
| Seiken Tsuki | Closed fist thrust |
| Seikichu | The spine |
| Seionage | To carry on the upper-back |
| Seionage | Upper-back-carry throw |
| Seiza | Correct Sitting, kneeling on both calves with feet flat and buttocks resting on heels |
| Seme Guchi | Attack Mouth, an opening for an attack |
| Seme Te | Attacking hand (an attacker) |
| Sempai | Senior (student), usable as a form of address (unlike kohai) |
| Sen | (The) initiative in a combative encounter |
| Sen | The number 1000 |
| Senaka | The back of the body |
| Senjutsu | Tactics |
| Sen no Sen | Initiative the initiative, moving just as opponent begins an offensive movement, often translated as 'attack the attack' |
| Sensei | One Who Came Before, an instructor |
| Sensei Ni Rei | Bow to sensei |
| Sente | Initiative hand, a person who attacks |
| Seppuku | Ritual suicide; Bushi alone were allowed the 'privilege' of plunging a Tanto into his lower abdomen and (without crying out or falling backwards), turning the blade and pulling up before having his head removed by his Kaishaku (generally his best friend or most competent swordsman available.) Inverse kanji of Harakiri. |
| Shi | Death |
| Shi | Four (because of the above, Yon is the more acceptable pronounciation of four) |
| Shi | An expert |
| Shi | A (samurai) person, an expert |
| Shiatsu | Finger pressure, a generic term for Japanese acupressure massage |
| Shichi | Seven (rude, see above, a more acceptable pronunciation is nana) |
| Shidoin | Way expert person, a certified instructor |
| Shido Geiko | Leading person practice, to learn by teaching |
| Shi Giri | Four/death cutting, a kenjustu suburi that makes the pun deliberately |
| Shihan | Model, a senior teacher, used correctly, a certificate rather than a form of address |
| Shiho | Four directions or corners |
| Shiho Nage | Four Direction Throw |
| Shikaku | Four angle, a square |
| Shiki | Ceremony, style, form |
| Shikko | To walk on one's knees |
| Shikko | Square, a low stance, like jigotai |
| Shin | Heart (HT) |
| Shin | Spirit. mind, intention (kanji can also be prononced Kokoro) |
| Shin | An alternate pronunciation of the kanji Kami |
| Shinai | Bamboo sword (used in kendo, usually much too long to represent a real sword) |
| Shinshin | Mind and body (generic term for Japanese 'yoga') |
| Shinshin Shugyo | Mind and body discipline arts, intense or austere training for mind and body |
| Shinshin Toitsu | Mind and body unified. The name of an aikido style founded by Koichi Tohei |
| Shintai | The human body |
| Shintai | Divine Body, A forshortened title for Tenshin Shintai Ryu |
| Shinza | Spirit Seat (see Kamiza) |
| Shinza ni rei | Bow to shrine |
| Shin(zo/ho) | Heart organ, heart constrictor (HC or HG) |
| Shita | Down, under, lower |
| Shita Hara | Lower abdomen |
| Shita (no) | Of the lower part |
| Shi Waza | Death Technique, a counter to a dangerous defense |
| Shizen | Natural |
| Shizen Dachi | Natural stance |
| Shizentai | Natural body |
| Shizoku | Safe spot |
| Sho | Small, minor |
| Sho | New |
| Shodan | New Rank, the first black belt rank in the kyu/dan system |
| Shoden | New Scroll, the first full transmission certification |
| Sho Cho | Small intestine (SI)
|
| Shogatsu Shitaku | New Year's preparations; traditionally the soji, shuzen and uke done by a dojo |
| Shoji | Wood lattice covered with mulberry or rice paper, used for doors and windows in traditional Japanese architecture |
| Shomen | Face; front head |
| Shomen | Straight ahead |
| Shomen Uchi | Overhead strike to the head |
| Shoshin | Beginner's mind (a state of mind which is cultivated in Japanese arts, in which one does not cling to mastery or attainment, but attempts to experience the simple wonder and a joy of exploration) |
| Shoshinsha | Beginner's mind person, a newbie |
| Shucho Enbu | Public Demonstrations |
| Shuchu | Concentration |
| Shugeki | Attack |
| Shugyo | Conducting onself to attain mastery, austere training in the pursuit of knowledge |
| Shuhai | Back of the hand |
| Shuto | Hand blade, edge of hand; see: tegatana |
| Shuto Otoshi | Hand Blade Drop |
| Shuzen | Repairs, restoration work, usually to a dojo |
| So | All |
| So | That's it (also, "So, desu ne" it is so, is it not) |
| Sode | Sleeve |
| Sode Dori | Sleeve grab |
| Sogo | Integrated |
| Sogo | Made-up, fake |
| Soji | The (often ritualized) cleaning of a dojo. Methods can differ greatly from one dojo to another. |
| Sojutsu | Spear Art, use of the Yari (which is pronounced 'so' when combined with jutsu) |
| Sokatsu | A critique of performance (usually done by seniors with an instructor's consent) |
| Soke | Head of family, unifier of tradition, lineage and the current generation of students |
| Sokei | Groin |
| Soko | There, that position |
| Sokumen | Edge of head, flank |
| Sokuso | Tips of toes |
| Sokutei | Bottom of heel |
| Sokuto | Edge of foot |
| Sori | The curvature of a blade, usually found in one of three places, koshizori (lower, closer to tsuba), toriizori (in the middle of the blade), and sakizori (close to the kissaki) |
| Sotai | Correct Body, a form of structural (and morphological) correction, using gentle muscle contractions to affect changes |
| Soto | Outer, outside |
| Soto Ude Garami | Outer arm entangling |
| Suburi | A training exercise designed to be done repetitively, usually to develop strength and endurance |
| Sudori | Momentum |
| Sui | Water |
| Sui Getsu | Moon reflected on the water, an important concept in Japanese martial arts. Practitioner's minds are trained to be like water, reflecting the moon without distortion |
| Suigetsu | Solar plexus |
| Sukashi Waza | Techniques performed without allowing UKE to complete an attack (grab or strike) |
| Sukui | Scooping; to scoop |
| Sukui Nage | Scooping throw |
| Sumi | Corner |
| Sumi Gaeshi | Corner reversal a nage waza |
| Sumi Otoshi | Corner drop |
| Sumimasen | Excuse me (to attract attention) |
| Sutemi Waza | Sacrifice technique, one in which Tori gives-up the standing position
|
| Suwari | Seated |
| Suwari Waza | Seated techniques, in which both Uke and Tori are in kiza or seiza |
| Suwatte | Sit down |
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welcome, by appointment, as are beginners and guests. To
schedule an
interview,
please
E-mail or
call us 617.501.3446.
