COMMON KARATE TERMINOLOGY
(THIS SECTIONS IS FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT FLUENT IN JAPANESE)
THIS SECTION IS NOT ALL TERMS BUT THE ONES YOU WILL MOST LIKELY HEAR
CLASS.
GENERAL TERMS
- Karate: Empty Hands
- Karate Do: The Way of Karate
- Karateka: Practitioner of Karate
- Dojo: School or training room
- Sensei: Teacher
- Sempai: Senior
- Kohai: Junior
- Kyu: Rank
- Gi: Uniform
- Hai: Yes
- Do: Way
- Budo: Way of combat
- Zanshin: Poise and control
- Kime: Focus
- Kihon: Fundamentals/Basics
- Kiai: Spirit shout/focus of spiritual energy
- Kata: Practice form
- Embusen: Floor pattern/lines of a kata
- Bunkai: Application (interpretation) of kata techniques
- Kumite: Sparring/fighting
- Dachi: Stance
- Tsuki (Zuki): Punch
- Uchi: Strike
- Uke: Block
- Rei: Bow
- Geri: Kick
- Ashi-barai: Foot sweep
- Shotokan: "House of Shoto”; “Pine Sea”; pen name of Funakoshi.
- Mokuso: Meditate/Gather Your Thoughts
- Domo Arigato : "Thank-you "
COUNTING:
- Ichi: One
- Ni: Two
- San: Three
- Shi: Four
- Go: Five
- Roku: Six
- Shichi: Seven
- Hachi: Eight
- Ku: Nine
- Ju: Ten
BLOCKS:
- Age uke: Rising block
- Gedan uke: Down block
- Soto ude uke: Outside forearm block
- Uchi ude uke: Inside forearm block
- Shuto uke: Knife block
- Morote uke: Augmented block
DACHI WAZA (STANCES)
- Heisoku dachi (Yoi): Formal Attention Stance
- Zenkutsu dachi: Front Stance
- Kokutsu dachi: Back Stance
- Kiba dachi: Straddle Stance
- Fudo dachi: Fighting Stance
- Musubi dachi: Informal Attention Stance (feet in a 'V")
- Neko-ashi dachi:Cat Stance
- Kosa dachi: Cross-legged Stance
- Hangetsu dachi: Wide Hour-glass Stance
STRIKES:
- Tettsui Hammer-fist strike
- Uraken Uchi: Backfist Strike
- Hiraken Uchi: Foreknuckle Strike
- Teisho Uchi: Palm Heel Strike
- Shuto Uchi: Knife Hand Strike
- Haito Uchi: Backfist Strike
- Empi Uchi: Elbow Strike
- Hiza Age Ate: Rising Knee Strike
TSUKI WAZA (PUNCHES)
- Gyaku tsuki: Reverse punch
- Kizami tsuki: Jab
- Choku tsuki: Straight punch
- Kagi tsuki: Hook punch
- Ura tsuki: Close punch
- Morote tsuki: Parallel punch
- Yama tsuki: Wide "U" punch
- Awase tsuki: "U" punch
KICKS:
· Mae geri keage: Front snap kick
- Mae geri kekomi: Front thrust kick
- Yoko geri keage: Side snap kick
- Yoko geri kekomi: Side thrust kick
- Mawashi geri: Round kick
- Ushiro geri: Back thrust kick
- Fumikomi geri: Stomping kick
- Mikazuki geri: Crescent kick
- Tobi geri: Flying kick
- Hiza geri: Knee kick/strike
- Nidan geri: Double kick (Kanku-Dai)
COMMANDS
- Yoi: Ready
- Yame: Stop
- Rei: Bow
- Seiza: Meditation position-kneeling
- Mawatte: Turn around
- Hajime: Begin