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 |
Obi | Belt |
| Hai | Yes |
Osu | "I understand and will try my best." Also used to show respect. |
| Do | Way |
Budo | Way of combat |
| Zanshin | Poise and control |
Kime | Focus |
| Kihon | Fundamentals |
Kiai | Spirit shout/focus of spiritual energy |
| Kata | Practice form |
Embusen | Floor pattern/lines of a kata |
|
| Maai | Distance |
Bunkai | Application (interpretation) of kata techniques |
| Kumite | Sparring/fighting |
Ippon kumite | One-step sparring |
| Yakusoku kumite | "Promise" premeditated sparring |
Gohon kumite | Five-step sparring |
| Jiyyu kumite | Free sparring |
Waza | Technique |
| Dachi | Stance |
Tsuki (Zuki) | Punch |
| Uchi | Strike |
Uke | Block |
| Geri | Kick |
Ashi-barai | Foot sweep |
| Kamae | Posture |
Yori-ashi | Sliding the feet |
| Tai-sabaki | Body shifting |
Shotokan | "House of Shoto" ; "pine sea"; pen name of Funakoshi. |
| DomoArigato Gozaimashita | "Thank-you very much" |
Onegai Shimasu | "I welcome you to train with me" Literally: " I make a request."
Said to one's partner when initiating practice. |
| Zanshin: | Awareness; Continuing mind/heart - connotes "following through"
a technique while maintaining awareness |
Sen: | Initiative |
| Sen no sen: | Seizing the initiative earlier; Attacking at the same moment
your opponent attacks. |
Go no sen: | Seizing the initiative later; Allowing your opponent to attack
first so as to open up target for counter-attacks. |
| Sen sen no sen: | Seizing the opponents sen no sen; Attacking before your
opponent attacks-a preemptive attack |
Ikken Hissatsu: | "To kill with one blow" |
| Karate ni sente nashi: | Karate does not include the first move. |
Karate wa sente nari: | Karate is the first move. |
| Shorin (kata): | Quick movement, emphasizing speed |
Shorei (kata): | Slow, strong movement, emphasizing strength |
| Sun-dome: | Stopping a technique just prior to contact (three centimeters) |
| |
| Narande: | Line up |
Seiretsu: | Line up by rank |
| Yoi: | Ready |
Yame: | Stop |
| Yasume: | Relax (or ready position) |
Sensei ni: | Face towards the teacher |
| Otaigai ni: | Face towards each other |
Shomen ni: | Face towards the front |
| Rei: | Bow |
Seiza: | Meditation position-kneeling |
| Age-te: | Hands up (cover position) |
Mawatte: | Turn around |
| Hajime: | Begin |
Naore: | Return to Shizen-tai |
| Kamae: | Posture (Yoi) |
Heisoku dachi: | Formal Attention Stance (Yoi) |
| 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") |
Hachiji dachi: | Open-legged Stance (Yoi) |
| Shizen-tai dachi: | Natural Stance |
Neko-ashi dachi: | Cat Stance |
| Renoji dachi: | "L" Stance |
Kosa dachi: | Cross-legged Stance |
| Hangetsu dachi: | Wide Hour-glass Stance |
Migi Ashi Orishiku: | Right Leg Kneeling |
| Hidari Ashi Orishiku: | Left Leg Kneeling |
| |
| 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 |
| Kakiwaki uke: | Reverse wedge block (Heian 4) |
Juji uke: | X block |
| Kosa uke: | Cross block (Uchi/gedan uke-Heian 3) |
Manji uke: | Hi/low block (Heian 5) |
| Tate shuto uke: | Vertical knife-hand block (Heian 3) |
Haishu uke: | Back-hand block (Heian 5) |
| Empi uke (or Hiji uke): | Elbow block (Heian 3) |
Osae uke: | Pressing block (Heian 2, 3) |
| Otoshi uke: | Dropping or falling block (Heian 2, 3) |
Nagashi Uke: | Sweeping block (Tekki, Jion) |
| Haiwan Nagashi Uke: | Sweeping back-arm block |
Te Nagashi Uke: | Sweeping hand block (parry) (Heian 5) |
| Sukui Uke: | Scooping block (Bassai, Chinte) |
Sokumen Awase Uke: | Side combined block (Bassai-Dai) |
| Tsukami Uke: | Grasping block (Bassai-Dai, Jion) |
Awase Shuto Age Uke: | Combined rising knife-hand block (Kanku-Dai) |
| Ryowan Uchi Uke: | Double inside block( Jion, Bassai-Sho) |
Seiryuto Uke: | Ox-Jaw block |
| 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 (Heian 3, 5) |
Uchi mikazuki geri: | Inside crescent kick |
| Soto mikazuki geri: | Outside crescent kick |
Tobi geri: | Flying kick |
| Name ashi geri: | Returning wave kick (Tekki 1) |
Hiza geri: | Knee kick/strike |
| Nidan geri: | Double kick (Kanku-Dai) |
| |
| Oi tsuki: | Lunge punch |
Gyaku tsuki: | Reverse punch |
| Kizami tsuki: | Jab |
Choku tsuki: | Straight punch |
| Kagi tsuki: | Hook punch |
Oi-gyaku tsuki: | Lunging reverse punch |
| Ura tsuki: | Close punch |
Morote tsuki: | Parallel punch |
| Ren tsuki: | Double punch |
San tsuki: | Triple punch |
| Age tsuki: | Rising punch |
Gedan tsuki: | Downward punch |
| Yama tsuki: | Wide "U" punch |
Awase tsuki: | "U" punch |
| Otoshi tsuki: | Dropping punch (Empi) |
Ippon Ken tsuki: | One-knuckle fist punch (Hangetsu) |
| Tettsui | Hammer-fist strike |
Kumade Uchi: | Bear Claw Strike |
| Uraken Uchi: | Backfist Strike |
Hiraken Uchi: | Foreknuckle Strike |
| Teisho Uchi: | Palm Heel Strike |
Ippon Nukite Uchi: | Single Finger Strike |
| Nihon Nukite Uchi: | Two Finger Strike (Fork) |
Shuto Uchi: | Knife Hand Strike |
| Soto Shuto Uchi: | Outside Knife Hand Strike |
Uchi Shuto Uchi: | Inside Knife Hand Strike |
| Shihon Nukite Uchi: | Spear Hand Strike |
Gyaku Haito Uchi: | Reverse Backfist Strike |
| Haito Uchi: | Backfist Strike |
Empi Uchi: | Elbow Strike |
| Mawashi Empi Uchi: | Round Elbow Strike |
Mae Empi Uchi: | Front Elbow Strike |
| Otoshi Empi Uchi: | Downward Elbow Strike |
Ushiro Empi Uchi: | Back Elbow Strike |
| Yoko Empi Uchi: | Side Elbow Strike |
Yoko Mawashi Empi Uchi: | Side Roundhouse Elbow Strike |
| Tate Empi Uchi: | Upward Elbow Strike |
Hiza Age Ate: | Rising Knee Strike |
| Washide Uchi: | Eagle Beak Strike |
Koko Uchi: | Tiger Mouth Strike |
| Haishu Uchi: | Back Hand Strike |
| |
| Taikyoku: | First Cause |
Heian: | Peaceful mind |
| Tekki: | Iron Knight |
Bassai: | Storm the Fortress |
| Sho: | Lesser, small |
Dai: | Greater, big |
| Jion: | Bhuddist temple name; Gratitude for the Bhudda (2nd Kyu) |
Kanku: | To look at the sky (2nd Kyu) |
| Hangetsu: | Crescent or Half moon (1st Kyu) |
Empi: | Flying Swallow (1st Kyu) |
| Chinte: | Extraordinary Hands (Nidan) |
Jitte: | Ten Hands (Nidan) |
| Gankaku: | Crane on a rock (Sandan) |
Sochin: | To keep the peace; Grand Suppression (Sandan) |
| Nijushiho: | Twenty-four steps (Sandan) |
Shorei Kata: | Light and quick; emphasizing agility and speed |
| Shorin Kata: | Slow, hard, and strong; emphasizing muscles and strength |
| |
| Ken | Fist |
Ippon Ken | Single-point index-finger Fist |
| Tate Ken | Vertical Fist |
Te | Hand |
| Kaishu | Open hand |
Tekubi | Wrist |
| Teisho | Palm heel |
Ude | Forearm |
| Empi (also Hiji) | Elbow |
Ashi | Leg |
| Ashikubi | Ankle |
Hiza (also Hitsui) | Knee |
| Ensho | Back of the heel |
Heisuko | Top (instep) of the foot |
|
| Teisoku | Bottom of the foot |
Kakato | Heel of the foot |
| Koshi | Ball of the foot |
Sokuto | Outer edge (knife) of the foot |
| Tsumasaki | Toe tips |
Atama | Head |
| Wan | Arm |
Naiwan | Back of Arm |
| Kata | Shoulder |
Jiku Ashi | Pivot leg |
| Jodan | Head - level |
Chudan | Mid - level |
| Gedan | Lower - level |
| |
| Sanbon Shobu: | Three point Match |
Sanbon Shobu Hajime: | Start the Match |
| Shiai-jo: | Ring (size = 8-10 meters square) |
Wazari: | Half point |
| Ippon: | Full point |
Jogai: | Out of Bounds |
| Ai-uch: | Clash |
Uchi-majiri: | Brawl (melee) |
| Jikan: | Time |
(Aka/Shiro) No Kachi: | (R/W) Victorious |
| Fusen-gachi: | Victory by default |
Hantei: | Decision |
| Hansoku: | Disqualify |
Hikiwake: | Draw |
| Chui: | Warning |
Keikoku: | Severe warning |
| Shiro: | White |
Aka: | Red |
| Bo: | Long staff |
Jo: | Short staff |
| Sai: | forked knife (Jitte) |
Nunchaku: | Thrasher (two sticks joined by a chain) |
| Kama: | Sickles |
Tonfa: | Batons |
| Shinai: | Bamboo sword |
Bokken: | Wooden sword |