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 |
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