| General Terms | Major Concepts |
| Budo | Way of combat | Go no sen | Seizing the initiative later; allowing your opponent to attack first so as to open up target for counter-attacks |
| Bunkai | Application of kata techniques | Ikken Hissatsu | "To kill with one blow" |
| Do | Way | Karate ni sente nashi | Karate does not include the first move |
| Embusen | Floor pattern/lines of a kata | Karate wa sente nari | Karate is the first move |
| Gohon kumite | Five-step sparring | Sen no sen | Seizing the initiative earlier;
attacking the moment your opponent does |
| Ippon kumite | One-step sparring | Sen sen no sen | Seizing the opponents sen no sen; Attacking before your opponent attacks-a preemptive attack |
| Jiyyu kumite | Free sparring | Sen | Initiative |
| Kamae | Posture | Shorei (kata) | Slow, strong movement, emphasizing strength |
| Karate | Empty hands | Shorin (kata) | Quick movement, emphasizing speed |
| Karate Do | The way of karate | Sun-dome | Stopping a technique just prior to contact (three centimeters) |
| Karateka | Practitioner of karate | Zanshin | Awareness; continuing mind/heart - connotes "following through" a technique while maintaining awareness |
| Kyu | Rank |
| Maai | Distance | Directions |
| Obi | Belt | Age | Rising |
Sokumen |
Side |
| Shotokan | "House of Shoto"; "pine sea";pen name of Funakoshi | Gyaku | Reverse |
Soto |
Outer |
| Hidari |
Left |
Tate |
Vertical |
| Tai-sabaki | Body shifting | Mae |
Front |
Tobi |
Jump |
| Waza | Technique |
Mawashi |
Round |
Uchi |
Inner |
| Yakusoku kumite | "Promise" premeditated sparring |
Migi |
Right |
Ushiro |
Back |
| Otoshi |
Dropping |
Yoko |
Side |