General Terms
| Terms | Meanings |
|---|---|
| Budō | Martial Way / Japanese Martial Arts |
| Osu | Pushing yourself, being patient. When you face difficulties, you need to be patient and push yourself to get through it. This concept is very important in Karate. We also use this word for greeting and response to show our spirit of “OSU”. |
| Dōjō | Training Hall, Martial Art School |
| Sensei | Instructor / Teacher |
| Senpai | Senior Students (Higher Ranks) |
| Kōhai | Junior Students (Lower Ranks) |
| Mokusō | Meditation |
| Dōgi | Uniform for martial arts / Gi |
| Obi | Belt |
| Kuro Obi | Black Belt |
| Hajime | Start / Begin |
| Zokkō | Continue / Keep going |
| Yame | Stop / Finish |
| Kihon | Basics |
| Kiotsuke | Stand up straight and pay attention |
| Seiza | Kneeling / Sitting on your feet |
| Rei | Bow |
| Sensei Ni Rei | Bow to Sensei |
| Otagai Ni Rei | Bow to each other |
| Yōi | Get ready |
| Kumite | Sparring |
| Yakusoku Kumite | Pre-arranged Sparring |
| Kata | Form(s) |
| Naore | Go back to original position |
| Yasume | Take a break |
| Kamaete | Get in position |
| Mawatte | Turn around |
| Ippon | Full Point |
| Wazaari | Half Point |
| Zenshin |
Attitude/Mind Preparation Before executing your moves, always pay attention to your situation, techniques, and your opponent and prepare your mind properly. |
| Tsūshin |
Attitude/Mind During Execution While executing your moves, always pay attention to your techniques, and your opponent and keep your mind properly. |
| Zanshin |
Remaining Mind / Awareness After executing your moves, always keep awareness of the things around you, of your opponent, and your technique. |
| Tameshiwari | Breaking to test abilities |
| Buki | Weapons |
| Jōdan | High |
| Chūdan | Middle Height |
| Gedan | Low |
| Jūshin | Center of Gravity / Center of Balance |
Numbers
| Numbers | Numbers in Japanese |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ichi |
| 2 | Ni |
| 3 | San |
| 4 | Shi (Yon) |
| 5 | Go |
| 6 | Roku |
| 7 | Shichi (Nana) |
| 8 | Hachi |
| 9 | Kyū (Ku) |
| 10 | Jū |
| 11 | Jū Ichi |
| 12 | Jū Ni |
| 20 | Ni Jū |
| 100 | Hyaku |
Shugi (Hand Techniques)
| Terms | Meanings |
|---|---|
| Tsuki (~ Zuki) | Punch (~ Punch) |
| Seiken | Proper Fist / Tight Fist |
| Seiken Zuki |
Regular Straight Punch with Tight Fist (Top 2 Knuckles)
|
| Oi Tsuki / Jun Tsuki |
Same Side Punch (Same Side as Front Foot)
|
| Gyaku Zuki |
Reverse Punch / Opposite Side Punch (Opposite Side from Front Foot)
|
| Seiken Ago Uchi | Punch to Chin |
| Kagi Zuki | Hook Punch |
| Ura Zuki | Upper Punch |
| Shita Zuki | Under Punch |
| Uke |
Block / Deflect / Handling Attacks
|
| Chūdan Uke |
Middle Height Block
|
| Chūdan Soto Uke | Middle Height Outside Block (Depending on Karate style, it goes opposite direction.) |
| Gedan Uke / Gedan Barai | Down Block / Low Block |
| Mawashi Uke | Circular Block |
| Shutō Mawashi Uke | Double Hand Sword Block |
| Uraken | Back Fist |
| Uraken Uchi | Back Fist Strike |
| Uraken Ago Uchi | Back Fist Strike to Chin |
| Uraken Sayū Uchi | Back Fist Strike to Both Sides (Left & Right) |
| Uraken Hizou Uchi | Back Fist Strike to Spleen (Generally Stomach Height) |
| Uraken Mawashi Uchi | Round Back Fist Strike |
| Shutō | Hand Sword |
| Shutō Ganmen Uchi | Hand Sword Strike to the Side of the Head (Temple) |
| Shutō Ganmen Uchi | Hand Sword Strike to the Side of the Head (Temple) |
| Shutō Sakotsu Uchi / Shutō Sakotsu Uchi Oroshi | Hand Sword Strike to Collar Bone (Strike Down) |
| Shutō Sakotsu Uchikomi | Hand Sword Strike to Collar Bone (Straight In) |
| Shutō Sakotsu Uchi Uchi | Hand Sword Strike to Collar Bone (Cross Strike) |
| Shutō Hizou Uchi | Hand Sword Strike to Spleen (Generally Stomach Height or Ribs) |
| Nukite | Spear Hand |
| Koken |
Top Part of Bent Wrist
|
| Tettsui | Hammer Fist |
| Shōtei | Palm Heel |
Sokugi (Kicking Techniques)
| Terms | Meanings |
|---|---|
| Keri (~ Geri) | Kick (~ Kick) |
| Mae Geri |
Front Kick
|
| Mawashi Geri |
Round Kick
|
| Yoko Geri |
Side Kick
|
| Kansetsu Geri | Joint Kick (Low Side Kick to Knee) |
| Keage |
Stretch Kick
|
| Uchi Mawashi Geri / Soto Mawashi Geri |
Inside Crescent Kick / Outside Crescent Kick
(Depending on Karate styles, these are sometimes flipped.) |
| Ushiro Geri | Back Kick |
| Ushiro Mawashi Geri | Back Spin Kick |
Tachi Kata (Stances)
| Terms | Meanings |
|---|---|
| Tachi (~ Dachi) | Stance (~ Stance) |
| Fudō Dachi | Natural Stance |
| Heisoku Daichi | Feet Together (Toes to Heels) |
| Musubi Dachi | Toes pointed 45° outward with heels together |
| Heikō Dachi |
Parallel Stance (Our “Yōi Stance is Parallel Stance with feet shoulder width apart.) |
| Soto Hachiji Dachi | Heels shoulder width apart with toes pointed 45° outward |
| Uchi Hachiji Dachi | From Soto Hachiji Dachi, move heels outward until both feet point 45° inward |
| Sanchin Dachi |
From Uchi Hachiji Dachi, move one foot forward and keep toes pointed 45° inward. Front foot’s heel should line up with back foot’s toes.
|
| Moro Ashi Dachi | One foot in front, with feet parallel. Walking Stance. |
| Kōkutsu Dachi | Back Stance |
| Neko Ashi Dachi | Cat Stance |
| Kake Ashi Dachi | Scissor Stance |
| Zenkutsu Dachi | Front Stance |
| Kiba Dachi | Horse Stance |
| Shiko Dachi | Sumo Stance |
| Tsuru Ashi Dachi | Crane Stance |
| Naihanchi Dachi | |
| Seisan Dachi |
