Japanese Terms for Martial Artists (Beginning Introduction)

Not everyone speaks Japanese, yet Japanese words are woven into martial arts practice all over the world. This course is designed to give you a simple, enjoyable head start in learning the most useful terms—those you’ll hear in dojos, during training, and at tournaments. Rather than reinventing the wheel, we’ve gathered valuable resources already available—from YouTube, Wikipedia, and ChatGPT—to ensure the information here is accurate, clear, and engaging. Along the way, you’ll also discover some fantastic YouTube creators whose passion for martial arts and language makes learning exciting. These influencers dedicate their energy to building educational content, and we’re proud to feature and promote their work. If you enjoy the clips included, we encourage you to subscribe and follow their channels—because their content is their livelihood. To make your experience easier, we’ve condensed everything into a structured but flexible program. The words are divided into a daily learning schedule that you can follow at your own pace, allowing you to steadily build confidence and recognition without feeling overwhelmed. Each lesson introduces a small set of practical terms, ensuring that by the end of the course you’ll have a solid foundation of 42 key Japanese words commonly used in martial arts. Think of this course as a curated guide: pulling together trusted voices, tools, and perspectives from across the community, then organizing them into one convenient path of study. It’s a way to save time, stay motivated, and enjoy the richness of martial arts culture while supporting the people who help share it with the world.