TERMINOLOGY

Terminology of Japanese martial art:

Here are name of some of the techniques and terms normally used in
Karate listed in Japanese language and explained in English.
Japanese English
AGE UKE Upward Block
ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA Thank you. At the end of each class
ASHI BARAI Foot Sweep.
ASHI WAZA All leg and foot techniques.
BUNKAI Application of KATA movements.
CHUDAN Mid-section
DAN Degree. Black Belt rank
DOJO The place where we practice Karate.
EMPI One of the Black Belt level KATA \ Elbow.
GEDAN Lower section.
GEDAN BARAI Downward Block
KARATE GI Karate Uniform
GOHON KUMITE Five step basic sparring.
GYAKU ZUKI Reverse Punch
HAI Yes
HAITO UCHI Ridge-hand Strike
HAJME Begin. A command given to start a given drill, Kata, or Kumite.
HASAMI ZUKI Scissor Punch
HARAI TE Sweeping technique with the arm
HEIKO DACHI A natural stance. Feet positioned about one shoulder width apart, with feet
pointed straight forward. Some Kata begin from this position.
HEIKO ZUKI Parallel Punch (A double, simultaneous punch).
HEISOKU DACHI Attention stance. Feet are together and pointed straight forward.
HIDARI Left
HIJI Elbow / EMPI.
HIJI UKE A blocking action using the elbow.
HIZA GERI Knee Kick
HIZA UKE A block using knee.
HONBU DOJO Central dojo of an organization (Practice area).
IPPON KEN One Knuckle Fist
IPPON KUMITE One step sparring
IPPON NUKITE A stabbing strike using the index finger.
JIYU KUMITE Free Style Sparring
JODAN Upper
JUJI UKE X Block
KAGI ZUKI Hook Punch
TAISHO Open hand blow
KAMAE-TE A command given by the instructor for students to get into position.
KARATEKA Practitioner of Karate.
KATA A "form" or prescribed pattern of movement.
KEAGE Snap Kick.
KEKOMI Thrust Kick.
KEMPO "Fist Law." A generic term to describe fighting systems that uses the fist. In this
regard, KARATE is also KEMPO. In Chinese, it is pronounced "Chuan Fa".
KENTSUI Hammer Fist
GERI Kick
KIAI A shout delivered for the purpose of focusing all of one's energy into a single
movement.
KIHON Basic techniques.
KIME Focus of Power.
KIZAMI ZUKI Jab Punch
KOHAI A student junior to oneself.
KOKEN Wrist Joint
KOSA DACHI Crossed-Leg Stance
KUMITE Sparring
KYOSHI Master Instructor
KYU Any rank below Shodan.
KYUSHO WAZA Pressure Point techniques.
MAE Front
MAE GERI KEKOMI Front Thrust Kick
MAE UKEMI Forward fall/Roll
MAWASHI GERI Roundhouse Kick
MAWASHI ZUKI Roundhouse Punch
MAWA-TE Turn around.
MIGI Right
MIKAZUKI Crescent Kick
MOKUSO Meditation Practice.
MOROTE ZUKI U-Punch
MOROTE UKE One arm and fist support the other arm in a block.
MOTO DACHI A short forward stance
MOSUBI DACHI An attention stance with feet pointed slightly outward.
NAGE WAZA Throwing/take-down techniques.
NAKADAKA IPPON KEN Middle Finger Knuckle
NEKO ASHI DACHI Cat Stance
NIHON NUKITE Two finger attack.
NIDAN GERI Double Kick
NUKITE Spear Hand
OI-ZUKI Lunge Punch
OTOSHI EMPI UCHI An elbow strike by dropping the elbow.
REI Respect / Bow.
REINOJI DACHI Stance with feet on one line making a L-shape.
RENSHI A person who has mastered oneself." This person is considered an expert
instructor.
SANBON KUMITE Three Step Sparring
SANBON SHOBU Three Point match.
SANCHIN DACHI Stances normally used in Kata Sanchin. Uchi-Hachiji-Dachi step forward.
SEIKEN Forefist
SEIZA Sitting position. Sitting on one's knees.
SEMPAI A senior student.
SENSEI Teacher
SHIAI A match or a contest.
SHIHAN Teacher of teachers
SHIKO DACHI Square Stance. / Horse stance
SHOMEN Front / front of a Dojo.
SHUTO UKE Knife-hand Block
SOTO (UDE) UKE Outside (Forearm) Block.
TARTE KEN ZUKI Vertical Punch
TEISHO UCHI Palm Heel Strike
TEISHO UKE Palm Heel Block
TETTSUI UCHI Hammer Strike / KENTSUI.
TOBI GERI Jump Kick
TSUKI A punch
TUITE Grappling skills.
MAWASHI GERI Roundhouse Kick.
UCHI UKE Inside (Forearm) Block
UKE Block
URA ZUKI An upper cut punch used at close range.
URAKEN Back Knuckle
USHIRO GERI Back Kick.
WAZA Technique
YAME Stop
YOI Ready