The onslaught of new terms to the beginning karateka can sometimes seem overwhelming. This translation of terms will hopefully help beginner and advanced students alike in their search for understanding.
| General Dojo Terms | |
| Japanese | English |
| Sensei | Teacher |
| Sempai | Senior Belt |
| Karate-ka | Person practising Karate |
| Dojo | Training Hall |
| Rei | Bow |
| Mokuso | Meditate |
| Kamaete | Assume Stance |
| Shihai | Tournament |
| Makiwara | Punching Board |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Yame | Finish |
| Enorae | Relax |
| Mokso | Breathing Exercise |
| Seiza | Formal Kneeling Position |
| Osu | I understand |
| Gi | Uniform |
| Obi | Belt |
| Kyu | Junior Rank |
| Dan | Senior Rank |
| Shihan | Master |
| Mawatte | Turn |
| Shugo | Assemble (line up) |
| Yoi | Ready |
| Kiai | Vocal show of Spirit |
| Kihon | Training in the Basics |
| Kata | Training of Forms |
| Kumite | Training in Sparring |
| Back to Top | |
| Targets | |
| Jodan | Face Level |
| Chudan | Stomach Level |
| Gedan | Lower Level |
| Back to Top | |
| Striking surfaces | |
| Ken | Fist |
| Seiken | Fore Fist |
| Ippon-ken | One Knuckle Fist |
| Nakadaka-ken | Middle Knuckle Fist |
| Nukite | Spear Hand |
| Ippon-nukite | One Finger Spear Hand |
| Back to Top | |
| Sparring | |
| Sanbon Kumite | Three Step Basic Sparring |
| Gohon Kumite | Five Step Basic Sparring |
| Kihon Ippon Kumite | One Step Basic Sparring |
| Jiyu Ippon Kumite | One Step Semi Free Sparring |
| Jiyu Kumite | Sparring Free Sparring |
| Back to Top | |
| Striking Techniques | |
| Uraken | Back Fist |
| Shuto-uchi | Knife Hand Strike |
| Teisho-uchi | Palm Heel Strike |
| Kentsui-uchi | Hammer Fist Strike |
| Empi-uchi | Elbow Strike |
| Haito-uchi | Ridge Hand Strike |
| Nukite | Spear Hand |
| Back to Top | |
| Punching Techniques | |
| Single Hand Punches | |
| Choku-zuki | Straight Punch |
| Oi-zuki | Lunge Punch |
| Gyaku-zuki | Reverse Punch |
| Kizami-zuki | Short Punch |
| Ura-zuki | Close Punch |
| Kagi-zuki | Hook Punch |
| Mawashi-zuki | Round House Punch |
| Age-zuki | Rising Punch |
| Tate-zuki | Verticle-fist punch |
| Back to Top | |
| Two Handed Punches | |
| Yama-zuki | Wide U Punch |
| Awase-zuki | U punch |
| Heiko-zuki | Parallel Punch |
| Hasami-zuki | Scissors Punch |
| Back to Top | |
| Counting | |
| Ichi | One |
| Ni | Two |
| San | Three |
| Shi | Four |
| Go | Five |
| Roku | Six |
| Shichi | Seven |
| Hachi | Eight |
| Ku | Nine |
| Ju | Ten |
| Back to Top | |
| Stances | |
| Fundamental Stances (10) - Kihon Dachi | |
| Zenkutsu-dachi | Front Stance |
| Kiba-dachi | Side Stance |
| Kokutsu-dachi | Back Stance |
| Fudo-dachi | Diagonal straddle leg stance |
| Hangetsu-dachi | Half-Moon Stance |
| Sanchin-dachi | Hour-Glass Stance |
| Shiko-dachi | Square Stance |
| Sagi ash-dachi | One Leg Stance |
| Kosa-dachi | Cross Leg Stance |
| Neiko ashi-dachi | Cat Stance |
| Back to Top | |
| Natural Stances (7) - Shizen Tai | |
| Heisoku-dachi | Feet and toes together |
| Musubi-dachi | Heels together, toes at 45 degrees |
| Hachiji-dachi | Feet shoulder Width and toes at approx. 45 degrees |
| Heiko-dachi | Feet shoulder width and straight |
| Uchi Hachiji-dachi | Feet shoulder width and pointed in |
| Teiji-dachi | T-Angled Stance |
| Renoji-dachi | L-Angled stance |
| Back to Top | |
| Blocks | |
| Age-uke | Rising Block |
| Soto Ude-uke | Outside Forearm Block |
| Uchi Ude-uke | Inside Forearm Block |
| Shoto-uke | Knife Hand Block |
| Gedan-barei | Downward Block |
| Juji-uke | X-Block |
| Haishu-uke | Backhand Block |
| Kakiwaki-uke | Inside Wedge Hand Block |
| Moroto-uke | Reinforced Block |
| Nagashi-uke | Sweeping Block |
| Tate Shuto-uke | KnifeHand Block (arm straight) |
| Back to Top | |
| Kicking | |
| Front Kicks | |
| Mae-geri | Front Kick |
| Mikasuki-geri | Crescent Kick |
| Mawashi-geri | Roundhouse Kick |
| Gyaku Mawashi-geri | Reverse Round House Kick |
| Mae shittsui geri | Front knee kick |
| Mawashi shittsui geri | Roundhouse knee kick |
| Gyaku Mawashishittsui geri | Reverse roundhouse knee kick |
| Kakato-geri | Axe Kick |
| Ashi Barai | Leg sweep |
| Back to Top | |
| Side Kicks | |
| Yoko-geri Keage | Side Snap Kick |
| Yoko-geri Kekomi | Side Thrust Kick |
| Fumikiri geri | Cutting Kick |
| Fumikomi geri | Stamping Kick |
| Yoko mawashi geri | Side roundhouse kick |
| Ashi-barei | Foot or Leg Sweep |
| Kakato-geri | Axe Kick |
| Back to Top | |
| Back Kicks | |
| Ushiro geri kekomi | Back thrust kick |
| Ushiro geri keage | Back snap kick |
| Ushiro mawashi geri | Back roundhouse kick |
Class Schedule & Location
Beginner Class Starts
September 12, 2023Tuesday & Thursday
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Intermediate/Advanced Class Starts
September 12, 2023Tuesday & Thursday: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Homburg Centre for Health & Wellness
Saint Marys University
