Terminology
In your study of the art and science of Karate you will learn to use the Okinawan language to
some degree in your practice. While the performance of the various Karate techniques is the
most important it is also necessary to acquire some degree of proficiency in the use of the
various Okinawan words associated with these techniques. Below are several terms you will come
across in your studies.
Audio Provided By: Yuki Kumashiro
Terms
| Listen | Japanese | English |
|---|
| Age | Rising |
| Ashi o kaete | Change legs (stance) |
| Ashi tanden | Leg conditioning |
| Atemi | Art of striking vital points |
 | Budo | Martial way or Path (Tao in chinese) |
| Bushi | Martial man, warrior |
| Bushido | Way of the warrior (Code of conduct) |
| Bunkai | Applications of kata |
| Chudan | Middle area |
| Dojo | "place of enlightenment" Training place |
| Gasshuku | Training camp |
| Gedan | Lower area |
| Gi | Karate uniform |
| Go | Hard, rigid |
| Goju-ryu | Hard and soft style |
| Gyaku | Reverse |
| Hara | Central point of body |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Hai | Yes |
| Hidari | Left |
| Hojo undo | Supplementary exercises |
| Honbu dojo | Main dojo |
| Ie | No |
| Ju | Soft, flexible |
| Junbi undo | Warm up exercises |
| Junbi owarimasu | End of warm up |
| Kakie | Strength exercise |
| Kamaete | On guard |
| Kame | Fighting stance |
| Karate | Empty hand |
| Karate-do | The way of karate |
| Karateka | One who practises karate |
| Kata | A set of pre-arranged techniques |
| Ki | Spirit,life energy (Chi in Chinese) |
| Kiai | Shout to focus energy |
| Kihon | Basic techniques |
| Kime | Focus |
| Kumite | Sparring |
| Kohai | Junior student |
| Mai-ai | Fighting distance |
| Matsubayashi Ryu | School of Matsubayashi |
| Mawatte | Turn around |
| Migi | Right |
| Mokuso | Meditation |
| Morote | Double or both hands together |
| Muchimi | Heavy sticky feeling |
| Obi | Belt |
| Ritsurei | Standing bow |
| Ryu | School or tradition |
| Samurai | Japanese warrior class of feudal era |
| Seiken | Fist with focus on first two knuckles |
| Seiza | Kneeling position |
| Sempai | Lower dan grade, senior student |
| Sensei | Instructor/Teacher |
| Shihan | Master instructor |
| Shime | Sanchin kata testing |
| Soto | Outside (inside to outside) |
| Tanden | Strength centre of body |
| Te | Hand |
| Te o kaete | Change hands |
| Uchi | Inside (outside to inside) |
| Ude Tanden | Forearm conditioning |
| Yame | Stop or fininsh |
| Yoi | Ready position |
| Zanshin | Awareness in defence or attack |
Stances ( Dachi )
| Listen | Japanese | English |
|---|
| Bensoku dachi | Turning cross leg stance |
| Fudo dachi | Free stance |
| Han zenkutsu dachi | Half front stance (Short Zenkutsu dachi) |
| Hachiji dachi | Natural stance (feet shoulder width apart toes slightly pointed out) |
| Heiko dachi | Parallel stance (feet shoulder width apart) |
| Heisoku dachi | Closed foot stance (feet together) |
| Kiba dachi | Horse riding stance (feet parallel) |
| Kokutsu dachi | Back stance |
| Musubi dachi | Formal attention stance (feet together) |
| Neko ashi dachi | Cat stance |
| Sesan dachi | Side facing straddle stance |
| Shiko dachi | Straddle leg stance (horse stance feet at 45 degrees) |
| Zenkutsu dachi | Front stance |
Direction to Strike
| Listen | Japanese | English |
|---|
| Age | Rising |
| Hidari | Left |
| Mae | To the front |
| Mawashi | Round house (Around) |
| Migi | Right |
| Soto | Outside (inside to outside) |
| Ushiro | To the rear |
| Uchi | Inside (outside to inside) |
| Yoko | To the side |
Areas to Strike
| Listen | Japanese | English |
|---|
| Jodan | Upper level, from neck up, Head |
| Chudan | Middle area, neck to belt, Stomach |
| Gedan | Lower level, belt down, Groin |
Kicking & Foot Techniques (Ashi Waza)
| Listen | Japanese | English |
|---|
| Ashi barai | Foot sweep |
| Fumikomi geri | Heel stamping kick |
| Hiza geri | Knee kick |
| Kansetsu geri | Knee joint kick |
| Keri (Geri) | Kick |
| Kakato geri | Heel of foot kick |
| Kinteki geri | Groin kick (Haisoku, instep) |
| Mae geri (Keage) | Front kick (snap) |
| Mae geri (Kekomi) | Front kick (thrust) |
| Mae tobi geri | Jumping front kick |
| Mawashi geri | Round house kick |
| Nidan geri | Double front snap kick (Back leg first) |
| Ren geri | Double front snap kick (Front leg first) |
| Tsumasaki mae geri | Front kick with tips of toes |
| Ura yoko geri | Spinning side kick |
| Ushiro geri | Back thrust kick |
| Yoko geri (Keage) | Side snap kick |
| Yoko geri (Kekomi) | Side thrust kick |
| Yoko tobi geri | Jumping side kick |
Parts of the Foot
| Listen | Japanese | English |
|---|
| Haisoku | Instep |
| Hiza | Knee |
| Josokutei | Ball of the foot |
| Kakato | Heel of the foot |
| Sokuto | Foot edge |
| Tsumasaki | Tip of the toes |
Blocks ( Uke )
| Listen | Japanese | English |
|---|
| Ashi barai | Blocking sweep |
| Age uke (Jodan uke) | Rising block (Upper block) |
| Chudan suki uke | Middle scooping block |
| Chudan shotei yoko uke | Middle level open hand block |
| Chudan uke | Inside circular block |
| Chudan uchi uke | Outside forearm block (Middle Block) |
| Gedan barai | Downward block (Lower block) |
| Gedan uchi barai | Downward block (Fom outside inward) |
| Haisoku barai | Instep block (Inside to outside) |
| Hiji uke | Elbow block |
| Hiki uke | Open hand pulling grasping block |
| Hiza uchi uke | Knee block (Blocking outside to inside) |
| Hiza soto uke | Knee block (Blocking inside to outside) |
| Kake uke | Open hand hooking block |
| Ko uke | Wrist block |
| Kosa uke | Cross block arms crossed at wrist |
| Mawashi uke | Round house block with two hands |
| Morote uke | Reinforced block |
| Otoshi uke | Blocking downward with palm heel |
| Shotei gedan uke | Open hand downward block |
| Shotei otoshi uke | Open hand dropping block |
| Shotei uke | Palm heel block |
| Shuto uke | Knife hand block |
| Sokutei harai uke | Block with sole of the foot (Outside to inside) |
| Tora guchi | Circular double block to gedan and jodan |
| Uchi uke | Inside forearm block |
| Ura uke | Back hand block |
Hand Techniques ( Te Waza )
| Listen | Japanese | English |
|---|
| Age zuki | Rising punch |
| Awase zuki | U punch |
| Boshiken zuki | Thumb fist |
| Choku zuki | Straight punch |
| Chudan zuki | Middle level punch |
| Empi uchi | Elbow strike |
| Gedan zuki | Lower punch |
| Gyaku zuki | Reverse punch |
| Haishu | Back hand |
| Haito uchi | Sword ridge hand |
| Hasami zuki | Scissors punch |
| Heiko zuki | Parallel punch |
| Hiji uchi | Elbow strike |
| Jodan zuki | Upper level punch |
| Kagi zuki | Hook punch |
| Kaku | Square Punch |
| Kizami zuki | Jab or leading punch |
| Kote uchi | Forearm strike |
| Ko uchi | Bent wrist strike |
| Kuma-de | Bear hand |
| Mawashi zuki | Round hook punch |
| Nagashi zuki | Flowing punch |
| Nihon zuki | Double punch |
| Nukite zuki | Finger thrust |
| Oi zuki | Lunge punch |
| Sanbon zuki | Triple punch |
| Seiken Waza | Fist Technique |
| Seiken zuki | Fore fist strike |
| Semekata | Semekata |
| Shotei uchi | Palm heel strike |
| Shotei zuki | Palm heel thrust |
| Shuto uchi | Knife hand strike (Karate Chop) |
| Tateken zuki | Vertical fist punch |
| Tsuki (zuki) | Punch or thrust |
| Tettsui uchi | Hammer fist strike |
| Uchi | Strike |
| Ura ken uchi | Back fist strike |
| Ura zuki | Short punch (palm up) |
Kata (Forms)
| Listen | Japanese |
|---|
| Oyatanda Ichi |
| Oyatanda Ne |
| Pinan Shodan |
| Pinan Nedan |
| Pinan Sandan |
| Pinan Yondon |
| Pinan Godan |
| Naihanchi Shodan |
| Naihanchi Nidan |
| Naihanchi Sandan |
| Ananku |
| Rohai |
| Wankan |
| Wanshu |
| Passai |
| Gojushiho |
| Chinto |
| Kusanku |
