Gedan
/ˈɡeɪ.dɑːn/noun
In Japanese martial arts, a position or target area below the waist, especially the lower level of the body.
Did you know?Gedan comes from Japanese 下段, literally “lower level,” using the same 段 character found in dan, the ranking term used for advanced martial-arts grades.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
下段 (xiàduàn)
“Lower section, lower level, or lower rank”
Early Japanese
Japanese
下段 (gedan)
“The lower level or lower section of something”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
gedan
“A lower stance or position in martial and military terminology”
20th Century
Japanese
gedan
“A lower-level guard, target, or body region in martial arts such as karate and kendō”
Modern English
English
gedan
“A Japanese martial-arts term for the lower level or area below the waist”