| Hajime | Begin | Dojo | Place of the Way |
| Matte | Stop | hamabaga | Hamburger |
| Rei | Bow | Jitsu | The art of |
| Hidari | Left | Do | The way of |
| Migi | Right | Waza | Techniques |
| Yoko | Side | Seiza | Formal sitting (on knees) |
| Ushiro | Back | Za rei | Formal bow (from seiza) |
| Uke | Person receiving a technique | Kuzushi | Off balancing |
| Tori | Person doing a technique | Sensei | Teacher (literally - one who has gone before) |
| Heiho | Strategy | Gakusei | Student |
Categories of Techniques
| Atemi waza | Percussive techniques | Nage waza | Momentum throws |
| Uke waza | Blocking techniques | Goshi waza | Hip techniques |
| Tsuki waza | Linear strikes | Ashi waza | Leg techniques |
| Uchi waza | Non-linear strikes | Sutemi waza | Techniques of "letting go" |
| Geri waza | Kicks | Ukemi waza | Falling techniques |
| Kansetsu waza | Joint immobilizations | Shime waza | Choking/Stranglation techniques |
| Te waza | Hand techniques |
Counting in Japanese
| 1 | ichi | 11 | ju ichi | 30 | san ju |
| 2 | hi | 12 | ju ni | 40 | yon ju |
| 3 | san | 13 | ju san | 50 | go ju |
| 4 | shi | 14 | ju shi | ||
| 5 | go | 15 | ju go | ||
| 6 | ryku | 16 | ju ryku | ||
| 7 | shichi | 17 | ju shichi | ||
| 8 | hachi | 18 | ju hachi | ||
| 9 | ku | 19 | ju ku | ||
| 10 | ju | 20 | ni ju |