Japanese Terminology - Body Parts

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

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