Basic Karate Terminology
(Link Submitted by Randy)
Basic Karate Vocabulary
karate (kah-rah-tay):
“empty hands”
dojo (doe-joe):
school or training room
kata (kah-tah):
practive form
kiai (key-eye):
“spirit shout”, focus of energy
kumite (koo-mee-tay):
sparring, fighting
gohon kumite (go-hone koo-mee-tay):
five-step sparring
Shotokan (show-toe-kahn):
“House of Shoto”
karateka (kah-rah-tay-kah):
practitioner of karate
gi (gee)(g is hard as in gun):
uniform, ie. karate-gi “karate uniform”
reigi (ray-gee):
etiquette
kihon (key-hone):
fundamentals
waza (wah-zah):
technique(s)
tsuki(zuki) (zoo-key):
punch
uchi (oo-chee):
strike
uke (oo-kay):
block
dachi (dah-chee):
stance
keri(geri) (gary):
kick
do (doh):
way, ie. karate-do “the way of karate”
budo (boo-doh):
martial way, the way of preventing violence
Intermediate Terms
embusen (em-boo-sen):
floor pattern/ the lines of a kata
bunkai (boon-k’eye):
application of kata techniques
ippon kumite (oo-pohn koo-mee-tay):
one-step sparring
yakusoku kumite (yahk-so-koo koo-mee-tay):
“promise”/premeditated sparring
gohon kumite (goe-hone koo-mee-tay):
five-step sparring
jiyyu kumite (jee-you koo-mee-tay):
free-style sparring
ashi-barai (ah-shee bah-rye):
foot sweep
yori-ashi (yoh-ree ah-shee):
sliding of the feet
jishin (jee-sheen):
self-confidence
hombu dojo (home-boo doh-joe):
central dojo (of an organization)
focus of power
kime (key-may):
maai (mah-eye):
distance
kamae (kah-my):
posture
tai-sabaki (tie sah-bah-kee):
body shifting
shomen (show-men):
“front” of the dojo
kami dana (kah-mee dah-nah):
ceremonial altar at shomen
shinnen (sheen-nen):
ryuha code, dojo creed
gashuku (gah-sh’koo):
gathering of entire dojo for training
Shuri-te (shoo-ree tay):
old name for the Shotokan style
Advanced Terms
shorin (show-reen):
light/fast style karate
shorei (show-ray):
solid/strong style karate
hiki (hee-kee):
“to pull”
hikite (hee-k’tay):
opposing (pulling back) hand
awase (ah-wah-say):
“combined”
“the two” or both
ryo (row) (roll the r):
kensai (ken-say):
feint
nage (naw-gay):
throw
kokyu (koe-k’yoo):
deep breathing
kuzushi (koo-zoo-shee):
loss of balance
Commands
narande (nah-ron-day):
line up
keiretsu (kay-ret-sue):
line up by rank
yoi (yo-ee):
readiness
kio-tsuke (key-oh t’skeh):
attention
seiza (say-zah):
kneeling position
mokuso (mok’soo):
deep breathing meditation
shomen ni (show-men nee):
face front (of the dojo)
sensei ni (sen-say nee):
face the instructor
sempai ni (sem-pie nee):
face the senior student
otaigai ni (oh-tie-guy nee):
face each other
bow, respect
rei (ray):
za rei (zah ray):
traditional kneeling bow
matte (mah-tay):
wait
hajime (hah-jee-may):
begin
yame (yah-may):
stop
yasume (yah-soo-may):
relax or rest
naore (nay-ore-ray):
return to shizen-tai
age-te (ah-gay tay):
raise hands (guard position)
kamae-te (kah-my tay):
“guard up” or fighting posture
mawatte (mah-wah-tay):
turn around
Expressions
onegai shimasu (oh-nay-guy shee-mahss):
“I make a request” or “I welcome you to train with me”
(domo) arigato
thank you
gozaimasu (doh-moe ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah’ee-mahss):
thank you (very much)
hai (h’eye):
yes/affirmation
osu (ouss):
“I understand and will try to do my best.”
Major Concepts
zanshin (zahn-sheen):
Continuing of mind and heart.“following through” a technique while maintaining awareness.
sen (sen):
initiative
sen no sen:
Seizing the initiative earlier. Attacking at the exact moment your opponent attacks.
go no sen:
Seizing the initiative later. Let opponent attack first to open up targets for counter-attack.
sen sen no sen:
Seizing the opponents “sen no sen”. Attacking before your opponent does.
sun-dome (soon-doe-meh):
“Three centimeters”. Stopping a techniques just prior to contact.
ikken hissatsu (ee-ken he-sat-soo):
“To kill with one blow”. Emphasizes a decisive technique.
karate ni sente nashi:
“Karate does not include the first move.”
Counting
ichi (eech-ee):
one
ni (nee):
two
san (sawn):
three
chi (shee):
four
go (goe):
five
roku (row-koo):
six
shichi (see-chee):
seven
hachi (hah-chee):
eight
ku (koo):
nine
ju (joo):
ten
ju-ichi (joo eech-ee):
eleven
ni-ju (nee joo):
twenty
ni-ju-ichi (nee joo eech-ee):
twenty one
hyaku (h'yah-koo):
one hundred
Directions and Facings
mae (my):
front
yoko (also sokumen) (yoh-koh) (soh-koo-men):
side
ushiro (oo-she-row):
back
hidari (hee-dar-ree):
left
migi (mee-gee) (hard g as in gun):
right
gyaku (g’yah-koo):
reverse form
naname (nah-nah-may):
45 degree angle
jodan (joe-don):
head level
chudan (chew-don):
mid-level
gedan (gay-don):
low level
tate (tah-tay):
verticle
otoshi (oh-toe-shee):
dropping
tobi (toe-bee):
jumping or flying
zenshin (zen-sheen):
forward
koshin (koe-sheen):
rearward
ue (oo-eh):
above
shita (shee-tah):
below
soto (soh-toe):
outside
uchi (oo-chee):
inside
Ranking
go-souke (goe-sew-kay):
master, reserved for the head of a style
renshi (wren-shee):
one who has mastered oneself an expert instructor
hanshi (hawn-shee):
master, honorary term for the highest black belt in an organization
shihan (she-hawn):
master intructor (of an organization) or "teacher of teachers"
sensei (sen-say):
intructor/teacher
shidoin (shee-doh-een):
assistant instructor
sempai (sem-pie):
senior student
kohai (koh-high):
junior student (to oneself)/comrade
kyu (k’yoo):
grade or class, used for ranks before black belt ranks, which are referred to as dan.
mudansha (moo-don-shaw):
students without black-belt ranking
obi (oh-bee):
belt, sash
dan (don):
degree, level, or rank, used for black belt ranking.
yudansha (you-don-shaw):
black belt holder (any rank)
shiro-obi (shee-row oh-bee):
white belt
ki-obi (key oh-bee):
yellow belt, 10th kyu
ao-obi (ah’oh oh-bee):
blue belt, 9th and 8th kyu
midori-obi (mee-doe-ree oh-bee):
green belt, 7th and 6th kyu
murasaki-obi (moo-rah-saw-kee oh-bee):
purple belt, 5th and 4th kyu
cha-obi (chah oh-bee):
brown belt; 3rd, 2nd, and 1st kyu
kuro-obi (koo-row oh-bee):
black belt, all dan lavels
shodan (show-don):
first black, student (sen)
nidan (nee-don):
second black, disciple (go no sen)
sandan (sawn-don):
third black, confirmed disciple
yondan (yone-don):
fourth black, expert (sen no sen)
godan (goe-don):
fifth black, spiritual expert
rokudan (row-koo-don):
sixth black, spiritual expert
shichidan (shee-chee-don):
seventh black, specialized expert
hachidan (hah-chee-don):
eighth black
kudan (koo-don):
ninth black
judan (joo-don):
tenth black
Kata
shodan (show-don):
first, eg. first level of
nidan (nee-don):
second
sandan (sawn-don):
third
yondan (yone-don):
fourth
godan (goe-don):
fifth
dai (die):
greater, major
sho (show):
lesser, minor
hasen kata (haw-sen):
a series of kata, performed “in waves”
Taikyoku (tie-key’oh-koo):
First Cause
Heian (hay-on):
Peaceful Mind
Tekki (tek-key):
Iron Knight or "Iron Horse"
Bassai (bah-s’eye):
“To Penetrate a Fortress”
Kanku (kan-koo):
“To View the Heavens”
Jion (jee-ohn):
Buddhist temple name, translates to “Loving Grace” or “Gentle kindness”
Hangetsu (hawn-geh-t’soo):
“Half Moon”
Empi (em-pee):
“Flying Swallow”
Chinte (cheen-tay):
“Unusual Hands” or “Extraordianry Hands”
Jitte (jee-tay):
“Ten Hands” or “Technique Hands”
Jiin (jee-een):
“Place of Mercy” or “In the Shadow of Kindness”
Nijushiho (nee-joo-shee-hoe):
“Twenty-four Steps (or Directions)”
Gankaku (gahn-kah-koo):
“Crane on a Rock”
Sochin (soe-cheen):
“To Keep the Peace” or “Grand Suppression”
Gojushiho (goe-joo-shee-hoe):
“Fifty-four Step (or Directions)”
Unsu (oon-soo):
“Cloud Hands”
Meikyo (may-ee-k’yoe):
“Bright Mirror” or “Clear Mirror”
Wankan (wahn-kahn):
“King’s Crown”
Dachi Waza : Stances
shizen-tai (she-zen-tie):
natural stance/posture
hachiji dachi (hah-chee-jee dah-ch):
open-legged stance (yoi)
heisoku dachi (high-soh-koo dah-ch):
feet together stance
seiza (say-zah):
kneeling posture
musubi dachi (moo-soo-bee dah-ch):
attention/bowing stance
zenkutsu dachi (zen-koot-soo dah-ch):
front stance
kokutsu dachi (koe-koot-soo dah-ch):
back stance
kiba dachi (key-bah dah-ch):
straddle/horse stance
fudo dachi (foo-doe dah-ch):
rooted stance (fighting stance)
hanmi dachi (hahn-mee dah-ch):
half facing stance
kosa dachi (koh-saw dah-ch):
cross-legged stance
neko-ashi dachi (nek-o ah-shee dah-ch):
cat-leg stance
renoji dachi (ren-o-jee dah-ch):
L-stance
hangetsu dachi (hawn-get-soo dah-ch):
wide hourglass stance
sanchin dachi (sawn-cheen dah-ch):
hourglass stance
sochin dachi (soh-cheen dah-ch):
diagonal straddle stance
tsuru dachi (t’soo-roo dah-ch):
crane stance (Gankaku)
sagi ashi dachi (sah-gee ah-shee dah-ch):
crane stance (Jitte)
shiko dachi (shee-koe dah-ch):
square stance
Uke Waza : Blocking Techniques
age uke (ah-gay oo-kay):
rising block
gedan barai (gay-don bah-rye):
down block
uchi (ude) uke (oo-chee oo-day oo-kay):
inside (forearm) block
soto (ude) uke (soh-toe oo-day oo-kay):
outside (forearm) block
shuto uke (shoo-toe oo-kay):
knife-hand block
gyaku uke (g’yah-koo oo-kay):
reverse-form block
nagashi uke (nah-gah-shee oo-kay):
sweeping block
haiwan nagashi uke (high-wahn nah-gah-shee oo-kay):
sweeping back forearm block
osae uke (oh-sigh oo-kay):
pressing block
morote uke (moh-roh-tay oo-kay):
augmented block
kosa uke (koh-sah oo-kay):
crossing block
empi uke (or hiji uke) (em-pee oo-kay) (hee-jee):
elbow block
tate shuto uke (tah-tay shoo-toe oo-kay):
verticle knife-hand block
juji uke (joo-jee oo-kay):
X-block
te nagashi uke (tay nah-gah-shee oo-kay):
sweeping hand block
kakiwake uke (kah-kee-wah-kay oo-kay):
reverse wedge block
haishu uke (high-shoo oo-kay):
back-hand block
manji uke (man-jee oo-kay):
half-swastica block
sukui uke (soo-koo-ee oo-kay):
scooping block
otoshi uke (oh-toe-shee oo-kay):
dropping block
tsukami uke (soo-kah-mee oo-kay):
grasping block
teisho awase uke (tay-show ah-wah-say oo-kay):
combined palm-heel block
teisho morote uke (tay-show moh-roh-tay oo-kay):
double palm-heel block
haishu awase uke (high-shoo ah-wah-say oo-kay):
combined back-hand block
sokumen awase uke (soh-koo-men ah-wah-say oo-kay):
side combined block
kake uke (kah-kay oo-kay):
hooking block
tekubi kake uke (tay-koo-bee kah-kay oo-kay):
hooking wrist block
mawashi kake uke (mah-wah-shee kah-kay oo-kay):
circular hook block
hineri uke (hee-ney-ree oo-kay):
twisting block
seiryuto uke (say-ree’oo-toe oo-kay):
ox-jaw hand block
kieto uke (kigh-toe oo-kay):
chicken-head wrist block
suri uke (sir-ee oo-kay):
sliding block
hiji suri uke (hee-jee sir-ee oo-kay):
sliding elbow block
shuto kakiwake uke (shoo-toe kah-kee-wah-kay oo-kay):
knife-hand wedge block
haito kakiwake uke (high-toe kah-keh-wah-kay oo-kay):
ridge-hand wedge block
koko uke (koh-koh oo-kay):
tiger-mouth block
yama uke (yah-mah oo-kay):
mountain block
ryowan uchi uke (row-wahn oo-chee oo-kay):
double inside block
hasami uke (hah-sah-mee oo-kay):
scissor block
Tournament Terms
aka (ah-kah):
red
shiro (shee-row):
white
sanbon shobu (sawn-bone show-boo):
three point match
otegai ni rei (oh-tee-guy nee ray):
bow to each other
hajime (hah-jee-may):
begin the match
yame (yah-may):
stop
hantei (hawn-tay):
decision
(aka/shiro) no kachi (no kah-ch):
(red/white) winner
waza-ari (wah-zah-a-ree):
half point
ippon (ee-pon):
full point
jogai (joe-guy):
out of bounds
ai-uch (eye-ooch):
clash, same time techniques
chui (choo-ee):
warning
hansoku (hawn-soh-koo):
disqualify
Tsuki Waza : Punching Techniques
oi zuki (oh-ee zoo-key):
lunge punch
gyaku zuki (g’yah-koo zoo-key):
reverse punch
choku zuki (choe-koo zoo-key):
straight punch
morote zuki (moh-roh-tay zoo-key):
parallel punch
kizami zuki (key-zah-mee zoo-key):
jab
ura zuki (oo-rah zoo-key):
close punch
kage zuki (kah-gay zoo-key):
hook punch
oi-gyaku zuki (oh-ee g’yah-koo zoo-key):
lunging reverse punch
ren zuki (or nidan zuki) (wren zoo-key) (nee-don):
double punch
san zuki (sawn zoo-key):
triple punch
heiko ura zuki (high-koh oo-rah zoo-kee):
parallel close punch
hasami zuki (hah-sah-mee zoo-kee):
scissor punch
otoshi zuki (oh-toe-shee zoo-kee):
dropping punch
ippon ken zuki (ee-pone ken zoo-kee):
single-point fist punch
awase zuki (ah-wah-say zoo-kee):
U-punch
yama zuki (yah-mah zoo-kee):
mountain punch
tate zuki (tah-tay zoo-kee):
verticle punch
mawashi zuki (mah-wah-shee zoo-kee):
circular punch
nagashi zuki (nah-gah-shee zoo-kee):
flowing punch
teisho zuki (tay-show zoo-kee):
palm heel punch
yumi zuki (yoo-mee zoo-kee):
“bow” punch
Keri Waza : Kicking Techniques
mae geri keage (my gary key-ah-gay):
front snap kick
yoko geri keage (yoh-koh gary key-ah-gay):
side snap kick
ushiro geri (oo-shee-row gary):
back kick
mawashi geri (mah-wah-shee gary):
round kick
mae geri kekomi (my gary keh-koe-mee):
front thrust kick
yoko geri kekomi (yoh-koh gary keh-koe-mee):
side thrust kick
uchi mikazuki geri (oo-chee mee-kah-zoo-key gary):
inside crescent kick
soto mikazuki geri (soh-toe mee-kah-zoo-key gary):
outside crescent kick
kage geri (kah-gay gary):
hook kick
gyaku mawashi geri (g’yah-koo mah-wah-shee gary):
reverse round kick
fumikomi geri (foo-mee-koh-mee gary):
stomping kick
nami-ashi geri (nah-mee-ah-shee gary):
returning wave kick
tobi geri (toe-bee gary):
jumping or flying kick
nidan geri (nee-don gary):
double kick
ono geri (oh-no gary):
axe kick
fumikiri geri (foo-mee-kee-ree gary):
cutting kick
kansetsu geri (kahn-seh-t’soo gary):
kick to the knee
kesa geri (kay-sah gary):
“across” or diagonal kick
kesa mawashi geri (kay-sah mah-wah-shee gary):
diagonal round kick
Uchi Waza : Striking Techniques
tettsui uchi (tet-soo-ee oo-chee):
hammer-fist strike
uraken uchi (oo-rah-ken oo-chee):
back-fist/knuckle strike
hiraken uchi (here-rah-ken oo-chee):
flat fist/fore-knuckle strike
uchi shuto uchi (oo-chee shoo-toe oo-chee):
inside knife-hand strike
soto shuto uchi (soe-toe shoo-toe oo-chee):
outside knife-hand strike
haito uchi (high-toe oo-chee):
ridge-hand strike
uchi haito uchi (oo-chee high-toe oo-chee):
inside ridge-hand strike
shihon nukite (shee-hone new-kee-tay):
four point spear
nippon nukite (nee-hone new-kee-tay):
two point spear/fork
ippon nukite (ee-pone new-kee-tay):
single-point spear
tiesho uchi (tay-show oo-chee):
palm heel strike
kumade (koo-mah-day):
bear claw/hand
koko uchi (koe-koe oo-chee):
tiger-mouth strike
haishu uchi (high-shoo oo-chee):
back-hand strike
sieryuto uchi (say-re’oo-toe oo-chee):
ox-jaw hand strike
washide (wah-shee-day):
eagle-beak strike
hasami uchi (hah-sah-mee oo-chee):
scissor strike
wanto (wahn-toe):
sword arm strike
keito uchi (kay-toe oo-chee):
chicken-head strike
otoshi uchi (oh-toe-hee oo-chee):
dropping strike
furioroshi uchi (foo-ree-oh-row-she oo-chee):
downward swinging strike
kansetsu uchi (kahn-seh-t’soo oo-chee):
strike to a joint
Rank Tests at Austin Shotokan Karate
