MARTIAL ARTS DICTIONARY
Glossary Dictionary Format Transliteration Bibliography Nihongo (Japanese Language) Kanji (Chinese Characters)
This online dictionary was created as a service for all Shinjinbukan members worldwide.
Unauthorized reproduction or sale of these materials constitutes a copyright violation.
れい
rei
Glossary by Category: Okinawa Karate Dō/Commands
Lit. Expression of gratitude. In Asian culture, bowing is an expression of gratitude or reverence. In martial arts, rei is an important expression of the warrior culture and ettiquette. The command rei is used during drills to cue the bowing among students and seniors.
See reigi, reigi sahō
れいぎ
reigi
Glossary Category: Budō/General Terms
Lit. Manners, courtesy, etiquette. All traditional martial art schools have rules of etiquette. These rules of behavior are observed at all times, but specially during training, social occasions and ceremonies. For example, there are different types of bowing between seniors and juniors; or during seiza (sitting meditation) at the beginning and end of every class.
See rei, reigi sahō
れいぎさほう
reigi sahō (alt. reigi sahou, reigi saho)
Glossary by Category: Shinjinbukan/Philosophy
Lit. A set of etiquette, courtesy, manners & propriety. In addition to the general martial arts etiquette, the Shinjinbukan School carries an ancient tradition of Okinawan martial arts and culture. This set of traditions, manners and ettiquette as a whole is referred to as reigi sahō. Reigi sahō is evident during training and social occasions.
See rei, reigi
れきし
rekishi
Glossary Category: Nihongo/Culture
Lit. History.
れんし
Renshi
Glossary Category: Budō/Ranks & Titles
Lit. A refined, polished samurai expert. Nowadays, Japanese traditional martial arts use the titles Renshi, Kyōshi & Hanshi, which are equivalent to senior instructor ranks. These titles were first used by the Samurai warriors. Renshi is the first of the three instructor ranks. It is usually held by a Roku Dan (6th Dan).
See Roku Dan, Go Dan, Kyōshi, Hanshi
れんしゅう
renshū (alt. renshuu, renshu)
Glossary Category: Nihongo/Culture , Budō/General Terms
Lit. Practice. This word is constantly used by Japanese people to inspire intense practice, training or studying among students of any discipline.
ろくだん
Roku Dan (alt. rokudan, roku-dan)
Glossary Category: Budō/Ranks & Titles
Lit. Sixth level or rank. It refers to the rank of sixth degree black belt.
See Renshi, Go Dan
ろきゅう
Ro Kyū (alt. rokyuu, rokyū, rokyu, ro-kyū)
Glossary Category: Budō/Ranks & Titles
Lit. Sixth level or rank. It refers to the sixth rank level below black belt.
See Mudansha
りゅう
ryū (1) (alt. ryuu, ryu)
Glossary Category: Budō/General Terms
Lit. Dragon.
りゅう
ryū (2) (alt. ryuu, ryu)
Glossary Category: Budō/General Terms , Okinawa Karate Dō/Ryūha
Lit. Style of, method of, manner of, current, a sink, or flow. This Chinese character is part of most of the names in modern Karate styles, regardless of being Okinawan or Japanese. For example: Shōrin Ryū, Gōjū Ryū, Uechi Ryū, Isshin Ryū, Wadō Ryū, Shito Ryū, etc.
Glossary Dictionary Format Transliteration Bibliography Nihongo (Japanese Language) Kanji (Chinese Characters)
りゅうは
ryūha (alt. ryuuha, ryuha)
Glossary Category: Nihongo/Culture , Budō/General Terms , Okinawa Karate Dō/Ryūha
Lit. A school or style. It refers to the name of a style or an original school of thinking and practice. This term is used in all traditional Japanese arts, including Martials arts and Karate styles.
りゅうきゅう
Ryūkyū (alt. Ryuukyuu, Ryukyu)
Glossary Category: Uchinā/Culture
Lit. Lapis lazuli ball or sphere. It refers to the Ryūkyū Islands or the Ryūkyū Kingdom, known in Chinese as the Liuqiu. Its earliest mention in historical records dates back to the Sui Dynasty (580 — 618ad). In 607, Zhu Kuan, a Chinese explorer sent by Emperor Yangdi discovered some islands in the East China Sea. He described them as “floating globes” and called them Liuqiu, but their exact location was unknown.
Later, the Okinawa Island and its surrounding archipelago came to be known as the "Great Liuqiu" and Taiwan as the "Liuqiu Minor". The Great Liuqiu maintained informal trade and cultural relations with China during the Tang Dynasty (618 — 906ad), the Song Dynasty (960 — 1279ad) & the Yuan Dynasty (1279 — 1368ad).
In 1372, during the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644ad) an imperial envoy arrived to the Ryūkyū Islands to request tribute and to insititute the Chinese calendar. At the time, the Ryūkyūs were divided in three kingdoms: Hokuzan, Chuzan, and Nanzan. Lord Satto of Chuzan was the first to accept. In return, he received a seal or cefeng, investing him as king; and was visited by the Tianshi or "celestial envoy" with a delegation several hundred members. By 1383, a Chinese settlement was established at Kume Village, Naha. China recognized each of the Ryūkyū kings with a cefeng. However, by 1416, the Chuzan unified the Ryūkyūs under King Hashi. Every Tianshi missions that visited Okinawa remained in Shuri for weeks or months at a time. Through history, the Ryūkyū Kings received 16 cefeng missions during the Ming Dynasty, and 8 cefeng missions during the Qing Dynasty (1644 — 1911ad).
Okinawa became an important trading point between Japan, China, Korea and Southeast Asia. During the 15th & 16th century over 150 trading expeditions were sent from the Ryūkyū Kingdom to Southeast Asia, to include Siam (Modern day Thailand), Malacca (the 2nd smallest state in Malaysia), Pattani (Modern day Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat); and Java (Indonesia’s largest island). The Chinese tributary system was accepted by many Asian states to ensure regional peace. By offering tribute each nation received the benefit of peace without having to surrender their autonomy. In 1879, as China’s sphere of influence diminished, the Ryūkyū Kingdom became part of Japan's territory under the official name of Okinawa Ken (Okinawa Prefecture).
See Okinawa
りゅうきゅうぶし
Ryūkyū Bushi
Glossary Category: Shinjinbukan/System , Shinjinbukan/Philosophy
Lit. Ryūkyū warrior. A person who has mastered the technical depth and the spirit/heart of Ryūkyū Tii. In other words, a Tichikaya (Ti practitioner) of the highest caliber. In the Shinjinbukan School, one of the most important goals is to aim for the qualities of the Ryūkyū Bushi.
See Ti , Ryūkyū no Ti , Onaga no Ti , Tichikaya
りゅうきゅうこぶどう
Ryūkyū Kobudō (alt. Ryuukyuu Kobudou, Ryukyu Kobudo)
The Okinawan weapons system founded by Taira Shinken (1897 — 1970) and later continued by his disciple Akamine Eisuke (1925 — 1999).
See Ti , Kobujutsu
りゅうきゅうのてぃー
Ryūkyū no Ti
Glossary Category: Shinjinbukan/System , Shinjinbukan/Philosophy
The indigenous martial art developed in the Ryūkyū. The term Ryūkyū no Ti describes the martial arts culture associated with the practice of Ti. The more common term, Okinawa Ti, is used in most Karate books and it is only focused on the geographic location. Indeed, Ti (and by default Karate) originated in Okinawa, but the Ryūkyū culture of Ti (the essence of Karate in Okinawa) has almost disappeared and it has been replaced by sports Karate.
In contrast, the Shinjinbukan School was founded to preserve and continue developing Ryūkyū no Ti. The importance of this term is reflected by the official song of the Shinjinbukan School.
See Ryūkyū , Ti , Onaga no Ti , The Shinjinbukan Song , Tichikaya
りゅうきゅうのてぃーのれいぎさほう
Ryūkyū no Ti no Reigi Sahō (alt. Ryuukyuu no Ti reigi sahou, Ryukyu no Ti no reigi saho)
Glossary Category: Shinjinbukan/Philosophy
The Ettiquete of Ryūkyū Ti. The set of ettiquete, cutoms and traditions practiced by the Tichikaya (Ti practitioner). There are a lot of philosophical concepts, martial arts concepts associated with each specific ritual or custom. The Shinjinbukan curriculum is centered around the pursuit of Ti and all aspects of Ryūkyū no Ti no Reigi Sahō.
See Ryūkyū , Ti , Onaga no Ti , The Shinjinbukan Song , Tichikaya
Glossary Dictionary Format Transliteration Bibliography Nihongo (Japanese Language) Kanji (Chinese Characters)
