Japanese Terminology

Japanese Terminology - parts of the body

AGO	Jaw or Chin.
AKIRESU-KEN	Achilles Tendon.
ASHI	Foot or Leg.
ASHIKUBI	Ankle.
ASHI URA	Sole of foot.
ASHI YUBI	Toes.
ASHIZOKO	Bottom Foot. You use this to sweep your opponents foot during Ashi Barai.
DO	Torso or Trunk of Body.
DOKKO	The Mastoids.
EMPI	Elbow (also called HIJI).
FUKUTO	The outside of the lower part of the thigh.
FUSHI	Joint, Knuckle
GAI WAN	Outer Arm.
GAN	Eye. You may also see this as Gansei.
GANMEN	Head and face area.
HA	Tooth.
HADA	Skin.
HAGUKI	Gums.
HAI	Lung.
HAIBU	The back area used as the target area in Karate.
HAIMEN	Back or Rear Side.
HAISOKU	Instep of the foot. The area at the base of the shin bone and the top of the foot.
HAI-WAN	Back Arm.
HANA	Nose.
HARA	Abdomen, means the same as Tandan.
HIDARI	Left (left side).
HIFU	Skin.
HIJI	Elbow, also known as Empi. HIJI is the older version. EMPI is now the most commonly used. You may also see it spelt as Enpi.
HIJIKANSETSU	Elbow Joint.
HIRA-KOTE	Level Forearm. Centre of the outer and inner forearms.
HITAI	Brow/Forehead.
HITOSASHI	Forefinger Knuckle.
HIZA	Knee or Lap.
HIZAGASHIRA	Knee Cap.
HIZAKANSETSU	Knee Joint.
JINZO	Kidney.
KAFUKUBU	Abdomen.
KAHANSHIN	Lower half of the body.
KAKATO	Heel (of the foot)
KAMI	Hair. Kami Dori/Tsukami is Hair grab,
KANSETSU	Joint.
KANZO	Liver. (may also sometimes see it as Kimo).
KARADA	Body, Physique.
KASUMI	Temple on the side of the head. Also see Komikami
KATA	Shoulder.
KE	Hair.
KEIBU	Neck Area. Used as a target in sports karate.
KEICHU	Nape of the neck.
KETTO	Blood.
KINNIKU	Muscles.
KINTEKI	Testicles.
KOKEN	Wrist Joint, or bent wrist. It translates as 'Arc Fist'.
KOMEKAMI	The temple area of the head. Also see Kasumi.
KOSHI	The Ball of the Foot, or the Hip/Waist.
KOTE (1)	Wrist, another translation for Wrist. TE is on the end to signify that it is of the hand. Ko means Arc.
KOTE (2)	Back Hand.
KOTE (3)	Forearm. In some cases you will see KOTE as forearm as in 'Omote-Kote' or 'Outer Forearm'
KUBI	Neck.
KUCHI	Mouth.
KUSAGAKURE	The outside edge of the top of the foot.
KYOBU	Chest Area.
MATA	Top of the thigh.
MATSUKAZE	The side of the neck.
ME	Eye.
MIGI	Right (right side).
MIKAZUKI	The lower ridge of the lower jaw, the mandible base.
MIMI	Ear or Ears.
MOMO	Thigh.
MUNE	Chest.
MYAKU	Pulse.
MYOJO	Area about one inch below the navel.
NAI WAN	Inner Arm.
NODO	Throat.
OMOTE-KOTE	Front Forearm or Inner Forearm. The thumb edge side that when standing naturally faces to the front.
OYAYUBI	Thumb or Big Toe.
ROKKOTSU	Rib.
SAKOTSU	Collar Bone.
SEBONE	Backbone, Spine.
SENAKA	The Back.
SEOI	Shoulder. In Karate we use 'Kata' to say Shoulder but you may see Seoi Nage for Shoulder Throw.
SHIN	Heart.
SHINTAI	Body, another expression for body.
SHINZO	Heart.
SHIRI	Buttocks.
SHITA	Tongue.
SHO	Palm, as in hand.
SHOFU	Side of neck.
SHUWAN	Palm Side of Forearm. This is also seen as SHOWAN.
SODA	The area between the shoulder blades.
SOKKO	Top Of The Foot.
SOKUTEI	Sole of Foot.
SOKUTO	Edge of foot. The striking area in a Side Thrust Kick.
SUIGETSU	Solar-plexus.
SUNE	Shin.
TAI	Body, as in Tai-Sabaki tai = body, sabaki = shifting or movement.
TAIKAKU	Build or Physique.
TANDEN	Basically your centre of gravity, naval area. Also see Hara.
TE	Hand.
TENDO	The crown of your head.
TENTO	The fontanelle or the space between the crown of the head and the forehead.
TOMOE	Stomach.
TSUMASAKI	Tips of the Toes.
TSUME	Nail, of the fingers or toes. Used to effect in the kata Bassai Sho, to cut across the opponents eyeballs.
UDE	Forearm.
UDEKANSETSU	Arm Joint.
URA-KOTE	Reverse or Rear Forearm. The little finger side.
USHIRO	Back or Rear.
UTO	The point at the base of the nose between the eyes.
WAKIBARA	Side Of The Chest.
WAN	Arm.
WANSHUN	Top of outside edge of upper arm.
YAKO	The inside of the upper thigh.
YOBO	Face.
YOKO	Side or Lateral.
YUBI	Finger.
YUBI NO KANSETSU	Knuckle.
YUBISAKI	Fingertip.
ZENSHIN	Whole (entire) Body.
ZENWAN	Forearm.
ZUNO	Head or Brains.