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See also: Martial Arts Words and Phrases
2. Goshin Jutsu
3. Goshin-Kai
4. Goshin-Do
6. Kodokan
7. Aiki-Jutsu
9. Tai Jutsu
10. Kodokan Judo
11. Spinjitzu
12. Jin Shin Jyutsu
13. Seiryoku Zenyo
護身道 is the title for the school of martial arts known as Goshin-Do.
The literal translation of these three characters is something like “self-protection way” or “protection of the body way.”
To put this in context, the term 護身 is often used for charms or amulets that are meant to protect the wearer from harm.
Note: This phrase is pronounceable in Chinese, but it not commonly known in China.
光道館 is Kodokan.
This is the title of an Aikido dojo, studio, or hall.
Be careful in selecting the correct Kodokan, as there are a few different titles that romanize as Kodokan.
Here's how the characters break down in meaning for this one:
1. Light / Bright
2. Way / Path (the Tao/Dao as in Taoism/Daoism)
3. Schoolroom / Building / Establishment / Mansion / Hall (of learning)
Altogether, you get something like “The Path of Light Establishment.”
講道館 is a title that refers to a certain kind or school of Judo martial arts.
Here's how the characters break down in meaning for this one:
1. Mutual Assistance or Association. Can also refer to a lecture, speech, or explaining something (as in teaching).
2. Way / Path (the Tao/Dao as in Taoism/Daoism)
3. Schoolroom / Building / Establishment / Mansion / Small Castle / Hall (of learning)
Altogether, you get something like, “The Path of Mutual Learning Hall.”
More about Kodokan from the Institute of Kodokan.
弘道館 is a Japanese title that romanizes as Kodokan.
There are a few martial arts titles that are romanized as Kodokan, so be careful to choose the correct one. This one kind of means “Great Way Hall.”
In the old Buddhist context, the 弘 Kanji can mean vast, great, to enlarge, spread abroad, or widely to proclaim.
The 道 part is the “Way,” as seen in many martial arts titles. It is the root character of Taoism/Daoism (romanized as Tao or Dao from Chinese, but Do in Japanese).
The 館 or hall part is implied to be a dojo or place of learning.
体術 is the martial arts term Tai Jutsu in Japanese Kanji.
Taijutsu is a general term referring to virtually all Japanese martial arts styles that involve the use of the body (perhaps not weapons). The literal meaning of 体術 is “body technique” or “body skill.”
I included the Chinese pronunciation, but this is rarely used in Chinese.
仁神術 is Jin Shin Jyutsu or Jin Shin Jutsu.
This is a practice of calming the mind and clearing the flow of Qi energy in the body. Jin Shin Jyutsu has some commonality with the practice of Reiki.
A good translation of 仁神術 would be “Benevolent Spirit Method.”
We can break that down into all of the possible meanings:
仁 = benevolence (esp. as a virtue of Confucianism), consideration, compassion, humanity, charity, kindness, or virtue.
神 = deity, soul, spirit, mysterious, psyche, god, divinity, spiritual powers, deva, divine, spiritual, or supernatural.
術 = way, method, means, art, trick, or plan. The correct romaji for this 術 Kanji should be “jutsu.” However, in martial arts, this is often written “jitsu” but in this case, “jyutsu” became common.
精力善用 means “maximum efficiency” and is often associated with Judo.
It is often matched with “Jita Kyoei” (mutual benefit) to complete the philosophy of Kodokan Judo.
精力 = sei ryoku = energy, vigor, and/or vitality.
善用 = zen yo = to be good at using (something), or to put (something) to good use.
The art of using a stick as a weapon
棒術 is the title Bōjutsu (though some use the romanization Bojitsu).
棒術 is a martial art centered around using a “bō” or staff as a weapon.
This title is a combination of the Japanese word “bō” (which means staff, stick, club, rod, pole, or cudgel) with the Japanese word “jutsu” (which means art or technique).
While this word can be pronounced in Chinese (bang shu), it's not a common term in China. Please consider this title to be “Japanese only.”
柔術 has been somewhat incorrectly spelled and pronounced “Jujitsu” for some time in the English-speaking world. The correct Japanese Romaji is Jujutsu or Juujutsu.
A little background on the word: By combining the Kanji pronounced “Ju” (which means flexible, pliable, gentle, yielding) with the Kanji pronounced “Jutsu” (which means art or technique), we get a meaning that can be translated as “flexible technique,” “gentle art” or “yielding technique.”
柔術 does make sense in Chinese as well, although pronounced “rou shu” in China.
The Jujutsu system has a history in Japan that started well before the 1600s. Some see this style as a variation of the “Empty Hand Method” (Karate-do). Even the samurai of old used some Jujutsu methods in defending themselves with their unarmed hands against weapons that could pierce their heavy armor.
There are convoluted relationships between various schools and systems of martial arts, but it's generally accepted that Jujutsu led to the development of Judo and a few other variations.
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
| Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
| Kodokan Goshin Jutsu | 講道館護身術 | kou dou kan go shin jutsu koudoukangoshinjutsu ko do kan go shin jutsu | ||
| Goshin Jutsu | 護身術 | go shin jutsu goshinjutsu | ||
| Goshin-Kai | 護身会 护身会 | go shin kai goshinkai | ||
| Goshin-Do | 護身道 护身道 | gou shin dou goushindou go shin do | hù shēn dào hu4 shen1 dao4 hu shen dao hushendao | hu shen tao hushentao |
| Kodokan Aikido | 光道館合気道 / 光道館合氣道 光道馆合气道 | kou dou kan ai ki dou koudoukanaikidou ko do kan ai ki do | ||
| Kodokan | 光道館 讲道馆 | kou dou kan koudoukan ko do kan | ||
| Kodokan | 講道館 讲道馆 | kou dou kan koudoukan ko do kan | ||
| Kodokan | 弘道館 | koudoukan / kodokan | ||
| Aiki-Jutsu | 合氣術 合気術 | ai ki jutsu aikijutsu | ||
| Budo Kai Jutsu | 武道会術 | bu dou kai jutsu budoukaijutsu bu do kai jutsu | ||
| Tai Jutsu | 體術 体術 | tai jutsu / taijutsu | tǐ shù / / | |
| Kodokan Judo | 講道館柔道 讲道馆柔道 | kou dou kan juu dou koudoukanjuudou ko do kan ju do | ||
| Spinjitzu | スピン術 | supin jutsu supinjutsu | ||
| Jin Shin Jyutsu | 仁神術 | jin shin jutsu jinshinjutsu | rén shén shù ren2 shen2 shu4 ren shen shu renshenshu | jen shen shu jenshenshu |
| Seiryoku Zenyo | 精力善用 | sei ryoku zen yo seiryokuzenyo | ||
| Bojutsu Bojitsu | 棒術 棒术 | bou jutsu / boujutsu / bo jutsu | bàng shù / bang4 shu4 / bang shu / bangshu | pang shu / pangshu |
| Jujitsu Jujutsu | 柔術 柔术 | juu jutsu / juujutsu / ju jutsu | róu shù / rou2 shu4 / rou shu / roushu | jou shu / joushu |
| In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. | ||||
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