Terminology
Listed below are a selection of the words and terms that you will hear being used during a karate class. The column on the left lists the japanese terms for some of the basic techniques which we practise, they are grouped into categories where possible so that they are easier to locate. The list on the right contains general terms or phrases which are used in connection with Karate.
STANCES
Zenkutsu Dachi - Front Stance
Kiba Dachi - Horse Riding Stance
Kokutsu Dachi - Back Stance
Neko Ashi Dachi - Cat Stance
Sagi Ashi Dachi - 1 Legged Stance
Sanchin Dachi - (narrow) Hour Glass Stance
Sochin Dachi - Straddle-leg Stance
GENERAL TERMS
Waza - Technique
Kamaette - Get Ready
Zuki or Tsuki- Punch
Uchi - Strike
Uke - Block
Dachi - Stance
Maewat-te - Turn
Kaisho - Open Hand (palm)
Ashi - Foot
Kakato - Heel
Geri - Kick
Nukite - Spear Hand
Shuto - Knife Hand
Empi - Elbow
Haito - Ridge Hand
Hidari - Left
Migi - Right
AREAS
Jodan - Upper Level (face height)
Chudan - Middle Level (Stomach height)
Gedan - Lower Level
BLOCKS
Age Uke - Rising Block
Empi Uke - Elbow block
Engetsu Uke - Circle Foot Block
Jiyu Uke - X-block
Kagi Uke - Hook Block
Manji Uke - Double Arm Block
Nagashi Uke - Sweeping Block
Osae Uke - Pressing Block
Gedan Barai - Downward Block
PUNCHES
Oi Zuki - Stepping Punch
Age Zuki - Rising Punch
Choku Zuki (or Tsuki) - Straight Punch
Gyaku Zuki - Reverse Punch
Kizami Zuki - Jabbing Punch
Ren Zuki - 2 Punches
Kage Zuki - Hook Punch
Ura Zuki - Close Quarter Punch
Yama Zuki - Wide U-Punch
Uraken - Back Fist
STRIKES
Empi Uchi - Elbow Strike
Shuto Uchi - Knife Hand Strike
Hiraken - Back Hand Knuckle strike
Tettsui Uchi - Bottom Fist Strike
KICKS
Mae Geri - Front Kick
Maewashi Geri - Roundhouse kick
Yoko Geri - Side Kick
Ushiro Geri - Back Kick
Mikazuki Geri - Crescent Kick
Kin Geri - Groin Kick
Fumi Komi - Stamping Kick
Kaegi - Snap
Kekomi - Thrust
Ashi Barai - Foot Sweep
Nami Ashi - Inside leg Block
SPARRING
Gohon Kumite - 5 Step Sparring
Sanbon Kumite - 3 Step Sparring
Kihon Ippon Kumite - Basic One Attack Sparring
Jiyu Ippon Kumite - Semi free One Attack Sparring
Jiyu Kumite - Free Sparring
Kaeshi Ippon Kumite - Counter attack, semi free sparring
Terms used in Kumite
Shobu - Official Contest
Hajime - Begin
Hikiwaki - Draw
Ippon - One
Jogai - Out of bounds
Yamai - Stop
PHRASES
Shoto - Pine Waves (Master Funakoshi's pen name).
Shotokan - Hall of Shoto.
kara - Empty
karate - Empty Hand
Used at the start & end of class:
Sae Rei Tu - Line Up
Musubi Dachi - Attention Stance (feet at 45 degree's).
Seiza - Kneeling Position
Mokusu - Meditation
Rei - Bow (give respect).
Yoi - Ready
Yame - Stop
Kiai - Shout
Kime - Focus (tension & relaxation)
Ki- Inner Strength
Zanshin - Awareness
The 3 K's of Karate:
Kata - Formal routine/pattern
kihon - Basics
Kumite - Sparring
(Training will consist of all 3 areas)
Bunkai - Application of moves from kata
Kyu - grade/rank
Yudanshi - Blackbelt
Oss - General Term, usually meaning 'yes' but also used for 'thank -you' and 'hello'.
Hai - Yes
Sempai - Senior Student
Sen no sen - Attack at exactly same time as opponent.
Tai Sabaki - Body Shifting
Hikiti - Hand Retracting
Tate - Vertical
Sen sen no sen - Attack before opponent (pre-emptive)
Tokui - Favourite (ie tokui kata)
Gi - Suit
Honbu - Main Dojo
Ka - Student
Number
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Ichi | Ni | San | Shi | Go | Roku | Sichi | Hachi | Ku | Jyu |
Japenese
| White | Red | Yellow | Orange | Green | Purple | Brown | Black | Blue |
| Shiroi | Aka | Kiroi | Oranji | Midori | Murasaki | Cha-iroi | Kuroi | Aoi |
