Terminology



General Terms

Japanese Translation   Japanese Translation
Dojo Training Hall   Dojo Kun Dojo code
Sensei Instructor   Seiza Kneel
Rei Bow   Yoi Ready
Migi Right   Hidari Left
Kamae-te Move to ready position   Hajime Start/begin
Mawatte Turn   Yame Finish/stop
Gi Karate suit   Obi Belt
Kime Focus   Kiai Martial shout
Kihon Basic techniques   Kata Formal exercises
Kumite Sparring   Zanshin Martial state of mind or awareness
Jodan Head    
Chudan Middle body   Oss Respectful greeting
Gedan Lower body    

Dachi - Stances

Japanese Translation   Japanese Translation
Heiko dachi Natural stance   Heisoku dachi Feet together stance
Musubi dachi Informal stance   Zenkutsu dachi Front stance
Kiba dachi Straddle stance   Shiko dachi Open leg/Sumo stance
Kokutsu dachi Back stance    

Uke - Blocks

Japanese Translation   Japanese Translation
Gedan Barai Downward block   Age Uke Rising block
Soto Uke Outside block   Uchi Uke Inside block
Shuto uke Knife hand block   Tate Shuto uke Vertical knife hand block
Nagashi uke Sweeping block   Haishu uke Back hand block
Empi uke Elbow block   Juji uke X block
Morote uke Augmented block   Kakewake uke Wedge block

Tsuki - Punches

Japanese Translation   Japanese Translation
Kara/Choku tsuki Straight punch   Oi tsuki Stepping punch
Kizami tsuki Front hand punch   Gyaku tsuki Reverse punch
Kagi tsuki Hook punch   Ren tsuki Two punch combination
Sanbon tsuki Three punch combination    

Uchi - Strikes

Japanese Translation   Japanese Translation
Age empi uchi Rising elbow strike   Yoko empi uchi Side elbow strike
Mawashi empi uchi Round elbow strike   Ushiro empi uchi Reverse elbow strike
Tate empi uchi Downward elbow strike   Shuto uchi Knife hand strike
Uraken uchi Back fist strike   Tetsui uchi Hammer fist strike
Nukite Spear hand thrust   Teisho uchi Palm heel strike
Haito uchi Ridge hand strike    

Geri - Kicks

Japanese Translation   Japanese Translation
Mae geri Front kick   Yoko geri keage Side snap kick
Yoko geri kekomi Side thrust kick   Mawashi geri Roundhouse kick
Ushiro geri Back kick   Hiza geri Knee kick
Ren geri Kicking combinations stepping between kicks   Nidan geri Two kicks with same leg without step between

Kumite - Sparring

Japanese Translation   Japanese Translation
Sanbon Kumite Three step sparring   Gohon Kumite Five step sparring
Kihon Ippon Kumite Basic one-step sparring   Jiyu Ippon Kumite Semi-free style sparring
Kaishi Ippon Kumite Reaction sparring   Jiyu Kumite Free style sparring