Martial Arts Terms Beginning With The Letter N
NAGAMAKI 長巻
Japanese
"Long Binding"
The term Nagamaki is used to describe a style
of Polearm that appears to be a cross between a Katana and a Naginata. Essentially it consists of a Large Daito type blade
attached to a fully bound Tsuka of length at least equal to that of the blade. The name Nagamaki (Long Binding) is a reference
to the Tsuka portion of the weapon which is traditionally bound like that of a Katana or Tachi.
NAGARE
流れ
Japanese
"Flow" or "Current"
NAGE
投げ
Japanese
"Throw / Projection / Fall"
NAGEWAZA 投げ技 or 投技 or 投げ業
Japanese
"Throwing Method / Throwing Technique"
Any throw or throwing
method employed by a combatant. The term is common to Judo, Sumo & Jujutsu.
NAGINATA 薙刀
Japanese
"Moving Down Sword" "Reaping Sword"
A large Polearm featuring a
large single edged curved blade. The Naginata was the longstanding favoured weapon of the Sohei and many Samurai. However
due to strategic developments in the field of war it eventually fell out of favour amongst the Samurai and became reduced
in size and adopted as the primary weapon of those women born to Samurai families.
NAGINATA-JUTSU
薙刀術
Japanese
"Art Of The Mowing
Down Sword"
The term Naginata-Jutsu is used to describe the combative application of the Naginata.
NAKAGO 中子 or 中心
Japanese
"Tang" or "Core Of The Blade(Within the Handle)"
The term Nakago
is used to describe that portion of a Nihonto blade to which The tang hilt is attached.
NAWA 縄
Japanese
"Rope / Cord
/ Braid"
NAWAJUTSU 縄術
Japanese
"Art Of The Rope"
The term Nawajutsu is used as an alternative
name for the art known more formally as Hojojutsu. Some systems of Nawajutsu further differentiate themselves from schools
of Hojojutsu by using fixed knots within their ropework, unlike Hojojutsu, which uses slips and loops.
NECK
(English)
(Chinese) Bozi 脖子
(Japanese) Kubi 首
(Korean) Mok
NEIKYA
Korean
The term Neikya is used to describe a style
of martial art Korean Kwonbop.
NG MEI
Chinese
Ng Mei was a noted buddhist nun and martial arts practitioner, most remembered for being the founder
of the Wing Chun style of Kung Fu.
NI 二
Japanese
"2 / Two / Second"
NIDAN 二段
Japanese
"Second Step / Second Grade / Black-Belt Second Grade"
The term Nidan
refers to a Martial Artist who has achieved his second step on his path to mastery of his chosen Martial Art. The first step
being Shodan, more commonly known as a Black-Belt.
NINGU 忍具
Japanese
"Ninja Implement / Ninja Equipment / Ninja Tool"
NINJA 忍者
Japanese
"Stealer
In"
Japanese warriors most associated but sadly rather stereotyped with the roles in spying,
infiltration and assassination. They became legends in their time, supposedly capable of disappearing into thin air and turning
into animals.
NOBORI 幟
Japanese
"Banner
/ Flag"
The term Nobori is used to describe any style of flag or banner used for the purposes of identification
or announcement. During the Sengoku period the use of Nobori became widespread as a means of troop identification, along with
the design of the L-Shaped pole which held the Nobori fully unfurled and easily identifiable.
NOSE
(English)
(Chinese) Bizi 鼻子
(Japanese)
Hana 鼻
(Korean) Ko
NUNCHAKU 双節棍
Japanese / Okinawan
"Pair Of Jointed Canes"
"Flails"
The Nunchaku are perhaps the most famous of all eastern martial arts weapons largely thanks to
the late Bruce Lee. Although found in various forms all accross asia, it is the Okinawan version of this weapon that has has
the widest common use.
