Counting
Ichi | One |
Ni | Two |
San | Three |
Shi | Four |
Go | Five |
Rokku | Six |
Shichi | Seven |
Hachi | Eight |
Ku | Nine |
Ju | Ten |
Body Parts
Te | Hand |
Hiki Te | Withdrawing Hand |
Ken | Closed Fist |
Seiken | Fore Fist |
Uraken | Back Bist |
Kentsui | i. Hammer Fist ii. (aka Shutsui: Hammer Hand) iii.(aka Tettsui: Iron Hammer) |
Shuto | Sword Hand, Knife Hand |
Hara | Mid-Section; Stomach |
Seika | Tanden Physical, Spiritual & Emotional Center |
Ashi | Leg and Foot |
Sokuto | Sword Foot, Outer Edge |
Jodan | Neck and Above |
Chudan | Neck to Navel |
Gedan | Navel to Knees |
Hiza Shita | Knees and Below |
Techniques
Kihon | Basics, Fundamental Practice |
Waza | Techniques (aka Jutsu) |
Oi | Non-Reverse Form |
Gyaku | Reverse Form (aka saka). |
Mawashi | Circling or Roundhouse |
Kizami | Leading Side Technique |
Kime | Decisive, Focus |
Mawate | Turn Around |
Tai Sabaki | Strategic Body Movement |
Soku Waza | Foot Work |
Blocks
Age Uke | Rising Block |
Soto Ude Uke | Outward Forearm Block (aka soto uke = outside block) |
Uchi Ude Uke | Inward forearm block (aka uchi uke = inside block) |
Shuto Uke | Sword Hand Block, Knife Hand Block |
Gedan Barai | Downward Forearm Block |
Arm Attacks
Tsuki Waza | Punching Techniques |
Tsuki | One Handed Punches (aka zuki) |
Choku Zuki | Punch from Shizen Tai (aka jun zuki) |
Oi Zuki | Punch from Kihon Dachi with the same leg forward |
Gyaku Zuki | Punch from Kihon Dachi with the opposite leg forward |
Tate Zuki | Vertical Fist Punch |
Kizami Zuki | Punch with Lead Hand, Jab (aka mae ken zuki) |
Age Zuki | Rising Punch |
Mawashi Zuki | Roundhouse Punch |
Kagi Zuki | Hook Punch |
Ura Zuki | Close Punch (aka shita zuki) |
Otoshi uraken Uchi | Downward Back Fist Strike |
Soto uraken Uchi | Outward Back Fist Strike |
Soto kentsui Uchi | Outward Hammer Fist Strike |
Uchi kentsui Uchi | Inward hammer Fist Strike |
Otoshi kentsui Uchi | Downward hammer Fist Strike |
Kentsui hasami Uchi | Double hammer Fist Strike |
Soto shuto Uchi | Outward Sword Hand Strike |
Hiji Uchi | Elbow Strikes (aka empi uchi) |
Leg Attacks
Keri Waza | Kicking Techniques |
Mae Geri Keage | Front Snap Kick (aka maegeri) |
Mae Geri Kekomi | Front Thrust Kick |
Mae Oroshi Kakato Geri | Axe Kick or Downward Kick |
Fumikomi Geri | Stomping Kick to the Ground |
Kansetsu Geri | Stomping Kick to the Knee |
Uchi Mikazuki Geri | Inward Crescent Kick with the Sole of the Foot |
Soto Mikazuki gGeri | Outside Crescent Kick with the Edge of the Foot |
Kagi Geri | Hook Kick. Hits with Heel or Sole of Foot. |
Mawashi Geri | Roundhouse Kick |
Ura mawashi Geri | Hook Kick |
Yoko Geri Keage | Side Snap Kick |
Yoko Geri Kekomi | Side Thrust Kick |
Ushiro Mawashi Geri | Reverse/Spinning roundhouse Kick |
Ushiro Mikazuki Geri | Reverse/Spinning Crescent Kick |
Ushiro Yoko Geri | Reverse/Spinning Side thrust Kick |
Ushiro Geri Kekomi | Back Thrust Kick |
Hiza Geri | Knee Kick. Many Variations. |
Stances
Dachi | Stances, Position of the Lower Body (aka tachikata) |
Shizen Tai | Natural Position Stances Group, No Knee Tension |
Heisoku Dachi | Semi-Formal Attention Stance, Heels and Toes Together |
Musubi Dachi | Semi-Formal Attention Stance, Heels Together and Toes Apart |
Hachinoji Dachi | Feet Shoulder Width, Toes Out (aka hachiji dachi) |
Kihon Dachi | Basic Stances |
Kiba Burui | Outer Knee Tension Stances Group |
Kiba Dachi | Horse Stance |
Zenkutsu Dachi | Front Stance |
Kokutsu Dachi | Back Stance |
Fudo Dachi | Rooted Stance (aka sochin dachi: sochin stance) |
Shiko Dachi | Square Stance |
Kosa Dachi | Crossed Feet Stance |
Hangetsu Burui | Inner Knee Tension Stances Group |
Hangetsu Dachi | Half moon Stance |
Sanchin Dachi | Hourglass Stance |
Neko Ashi Dachi | Cat Leg Stance |
Sagi Ashi Dachi | Heron Leg Stance (aka ippon ashi dachi: one-legged stance) |
Ashi Orishiku Dachi | Down on one Knee Stance, Rifleman Stance |
Kumite Dachi | Sparring Stances (higher and freer variations of each of the above) (aka ju dachi) |
Kamae | Posture; Position; Refers to Entire Body (aka shisei) |
Shomen | Front Facing (aka mae) (aka zempo) |
Hanmi | Half Sideways Facing |
Mae Hanmi | Front Facing |
Gyaku Hanmi | Reverse Half Sideways Facing |
Ushiro | Rear (aka koho) |
Miscellany
Karate | "Empty Hand," formerly "Chinese hand"; weaponless martial |
Karateka | Art of Okinawan-Japanese Origin. |
Shoshinsha | Practitioner of Karate |
Yudansha | Initiate, the Junior Students |
Kyu | The Senior Students |
Dan | Color Belt, Non-Black Belt |
Kyohai | Black Belt |
Kompai | Those of Lesser Rank (aka kinteki) |
Sempai | Those of Roughly Equivalent Rank |
Sensei | Those of Greater Rank |
Dojo | "Born Before" "One Who Has Gone Before" The Instructor (an honorific) |
Tatami | Place Where an Art is Taught, a School |
Makiwari | Floor Mats |
Rei | Striking Post |
Seiza | Salute |
Dojo Kun | Kneeling-Sitting with Back Straight, Heels to Buttocks. Go Down Left Knee First. Stand up Right Leg First. School Oath, Standards of the School |
Sparring
Kumite | Sparring |
Shiai | Contest |
Shobu | Competition |
Sun dome | Arresting Technique just before Contact |
Tori | Attacker |
Uke | Defender |
Aka | Red (aka haka) |
Shiro | White |
Yoi | Readiness (aka junbi) |
Hajime | Begin |
Kihon Kumite | Basic Sparring (aka yakusoku kumite) |
Ippon Kumite | One-Step Sparring |
Sambon Kumite | Three-Step Sparring |
Gohon Kumite | Five-Step Sparring |
Jiyu ippon Kumite | Semi-free Sparring |
Jiyu Kumite | Free Sparring |
Jissen | Actual Fighting |
Formal Exercises (Kata)
Kata | Formal Exercises |
Kihon Kata | Basic Kata |
Shitei Kata | Standardized Kata |
Tokui Kata | Choice Kata |
Tanren Kata | Advanced Kata (aka kaite kata) |
Shorin | Lighter and Lonqer |
Shorei | Heavier and Shorter |
Yoi | Readiness |
Hajime | Begin |
Bunkai | Application of Kata |
Naore | Return to Yoi |
Yame | Finished |