MARTIAL ARTS DICTIONARY
FORMAT TRANSLITERATION BIBLIOGRAPHY NIHONGO KANJI GLOSSARY
おび
obi
(B) BUDŌ — GENERAL TERMS
Lit. Sash, belt, obi, zone, region. This term refers to the belts or sashes worn in different Martial Arts. And as part of this tradition, the obi should never be washed. The junior ranks or junior belts are indicated by different colors: yellow, green or brown, which may vary depending on the school or Federation. However, all ranks above Sho Dan wear black belts.
おいつき
oi tsuki
(K) OKINAWA KARATE DŌ — TECHNIQUES
Lit. Long hand strike. The striking arm and the most forward foot are on the same side. For example, left hand strike while standing with the left foot forward.
オキナワ
Okinawa
(U) UCHINĀ — LOCATIONS
Lit. Open sea straw rope or cord. Okinawa Island or Okinawa Shima is the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. In ancient times, these islands were known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. For several centuries, as a tributary State to China, it prospered from trade between Japan, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. In the 17th century, the Japanese Satsuma clan invaded Okinawa and by 1879, it was made a Japanese prefecture. Since then, many efforts were made to assimilate Okinawan population as Japanese.
By the beginning of the 20th century, Okinawans still remained culturally different from the Japanese mainland people. However, as Japanese citizens, they were still drafted into the Imperial Army, during its expansion throughout Asia. Okinawa was the site of the last battle of World War II and it remained under U.S. administration until 1972, when it was returned to Japan. However, the U.S. still maintains military bases and personnel stationed in Okinawa. In spite so many external influences, Okinawa has developed and maintained its own unique culture with distinct traditions, language, cuisine, religion, arts, etc.
See Okinawa Ken , Okinawa Sen , Ryūkyū , Uchinā
おきなわけん
Okinawa Ken
(U) UCHINĀ — LOCATIONS
Lit. Okinawa Prefecture. It is Japan's southernmost possession and its 47th prefecture, also known as the Ryukyu archipelago. Its capital is Naha City. It stretches from mainland Japan to Taiwan over 1,000 km. It consists of 161 islands, 44 inhabited and 117 uninhabited, divided into three major island groups:
Okinawa Honto — Okinawa main island
Okinawa Shoto — The smaller islands around Okinawa Honto
Miyako Retto — All islands around and including Miyako, Yaeyama & Ishigaki
Okinawa’s main industry, tourism, caters towards Japanese from mainland & Taiwanese. It is Japan’s only prefecture with subtropical weather averaging 22.4°C or 72.3°F. Even during winter, it never goes below 10°C or 50°F. Snorkeling and scuba diving are very popular, because Okinawa has one of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs full of marine wildlife.
See Okinawa , Okinawa Sen
おきなわこぶどう
Okinawa Kobudō (alt. Okinawa Kobudou, Okinawa Kobudo)
(K) KOBUDŌ
The Okinawan weapons system founded by Matayoshi Shinkō (1888 — 1947) and continued by his son Matayoshi Shinpo (1921 — 1997).
See Kobudō , Kobujutsu
おきなわせん
Okinawa Sen
(U) UCHINĀ — CULTURE
Lit. The Battle of Okinawa. The site of the last battle of World War II, also considered the bloodiest battle of the Pacific campaign and its largest amphibious operation. It lasted from March 26, 1945, to early September. More people died during the Battle of Okinawa than in the two atomic bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki:
— Over 100,000 Okinawan civilians
— Over 107,000 Japanese & Okinawan conscripts
— Over 14,000 Americans Soldiers, Sailors & Marines
— Over 36,000 wounded
— More than 26,000 non-battle casualties
— Over 500 British and Korean troops
In 1945, the cost of human lives during the battle of Okinawa was used as an argument against invading mainland Japan, and it weighed heavily in the decision to use the two atomic bombs. In 1995, the Okinawa Prefecture inaugurated the Peace Memorial Park where Heiwa no Ishiji or Cornerstone of Peace stands, a large granite stone with the names of all those who perished during the Battle of Okinawa. As of 2005, the total number of names is: 239,801.
See Okinawa , Okinawa Ken
オナガ ヨシミツ
Onaga Yoshimitsu
(K) OKINAWA KARATE DŌ — MASTERS
(S) SHINJINBUKAN — SYLLABUS
The founder of the Shinjinbukan School. Onaga Kaichō carries the oldest lineage of Karate. He was the uchi deshi of Higa Yūchoku Dai Sensei for over thirty years at the Kyūdōkan Dōjō. His teachings are based on Ti, the ancient Okinawan Martial Art, which preceded modern Karate.
See Shinjinbukan
おねがいします
onegai shimasu
(B) BUDŌ — GENERAL TERMS
(S) SHINJINBUKAN — PHILOSOPHY
Lit. If you please. The implied meaning is: "please teach me". This is an expression used by students when first entering a traditional Dōjō or before starting practice. It is also used when making a request to a Sensei or senpai (senior student).
おたがい
otagai
(N) NIHONGO — MISCELLANEOUS
Mutual, reciprocal.
おたがいに、れい
otagai ni, rei
(K) OKINAWA KARATE DŌ — COMMANDS
(S) SHINJINBUKAN — PHILOSOPHY
Lit. Mutual gratutude. In a traditional Dōjō, the feeling of mutual gratitude between students is expressed by bowing towards each other. For example, the teacher calls the command: "otagai ni, rei" at the beginning and end of each class, or before and after sparring or a drill.
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