Ninjutsu Terminology

List of Ninjutsu Terminology

Here are some of the key Japanese words & commands used in Ninjutsu terminology. These words are used in many traditional Ninjutsu (Ninja) schools. For other martial arts words & commands, please visit the main Martial Arts Terminology section.

Ninjutsu Terminology – English to Japanese

  • Back/Rear – Ushiro (sounds like Oo-she-row)
  • Basic – Kihon (sounds like Key-hon)
  • Belt – Obi (sounds like Oh-bee)
  • Block – Uke (sounds like Oo-kay)
  • Body Movement – Tai Sabaki
  • Bow (i.e. to greet instructor) – Rei (sounds like Ray)
  • Disappearing Techniques – Intonjutsu
  • Disguise & Impersonation Techniques – Hensojutsu
  • Elbow – Empi or Enpi (sounds like En-pee or Em-pee)
  • Elbow Strike – Empi-Uchi (sounds like Em-pee Oo-chee)
  • Entangle – Garami
  • Espionage – Choho
  • Falling Techniques – Ukemi Waza
  • Fire – Ka
  • Foot – Ashi (sounds like Ah-she)
  • Form or Pattern – Kata (sounds like Ka-ta)
  • Form (Kata) Technique Application – Bunkai (sounds like Boon-kay)
  • Goodbye – Sayonara (sounds like Sa-yoh-na-rah)
  • Hand – Te (sound like Tay)
  • Head – Atama (sounds like Ah-ta-ma)
  • Heel – Kakato (sounds like Ka-ka-toe)
  • I (Me) – Watashi (sounds like Wa-ta-she)
  • Joint Lock Techniques – Kansetsu Waza
  • Kick – Geri or Keri (sounds like Geh-ree or Keh-ree)
  • Knee – Hiza (sounds like He-zah)
  • Knife Hand – Shuto (sounds like Shoe-toe)
  • Left – Hidari (sounds like Hee-da-ree)
  • Low (Level) – Gedan (sounds like Geh-dan)
  • Mat (Practice/Training Mat) – Tatami (sounds like Ta-ta-me)
  • Middle (Level) – Chudan (sounds like Choo-dan)
  • Ninja – Shinobi
  • Ninja (Female) – Kunoichi
  • No – Iie (sounds like E-ay)
  • Please – Dozo (sounds like Doe-zoh)
  • Pressure Point Techniques – Kyusho Waza
  • Punch – Tsuki or Zuki (sounds like Zoo-key)
  • Right – Migi (sounds like Mee-gee)
  • Sandals (Flat Bottom) – Zori
  • Sandals (Elevated) – Geta
  • School/Training Facility (Martial Arts) – Dojo (sounds like Doe-Joe)
  • Side – Yoko (sounds like Yoh-koh)
  • Socks – Tabi
  • Sparring – Kumite (sounds like Coo-meh-tay)
  • Stance – Dachi (sounds like Dah-chee)
  • Stop – Yame (sounds like Yah-may)
  • Strike – Uchi (sounds like Oo-chee)
  • Sweep – Barai (sounds like Baa-rye)
  • Teacher/Instructor – Sensei (sounds like Sen-say)
  • Technique – Waza (sounds like Waa-Zaa)
  • Thank You (Formal) – Domo Arigato (sounds like Doe-moe Ah-ree-gah-toe)
  • Thank You (Informal) – Domo (sounds like Doe-moe)
  • Throat – Nodo (sounds like No-doe)
  • Throwing Techniques – Nage Waza
  • Turn Around – Mawatte (sounds like Ma-wa-tay)
  • Unarmed Combat – Taijutsu
  • Upper (Level) – Jodan (sounds like Joe-dan)
  • Water Training – Sui-ren
  • Weapon – Buki
  • Yes – Hai (sounds like Hi)
  • You – Anata (sounds like Ah-na-ta)

Ninjutsu Weapons

How To Count In Japanese

  • One – Ichi
  • Two – Ni
  • Three – San
  • Four – Shi
  • Five – Go
  • Six – Roku
  • Seven – Shichi
  • Eight – Hachi
  • Nine – Kyu
  • Ten – Jyu
  • Eleven – Jyu Ichi
  • Twelve – Jyu Ni
  • Thirteen – Jyu San
  • Fourteen – Jyu Shi
  • Fifteen – Jyu Go
  • Sixteen – Jyu Roku
  • Seventeen – Jyu Shichi
  • Eighteen – Jyu Hachi
  • Nineteen – Jyu Kyu
  • Twenty – Ni Jyu

Basic Ninjustu Terminology

References

  1. Kashiwa Bujinkan Ninjustu, Traditional Weapons Used In Ninjutsu, http://www.kbninjutsu.com/weapons.html
  2. Ninjutsu.org.uk, The 18 Skills of the Togakure Ryu Ninja, http://www.ninjutsu.org.uk/the-18-skills-of-the-togakure-ryu-ninja.html