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Japanese Terminology and Definitions used in Karate |
GENERAL TERMS |
| Karate |
Empty Hands |
Karate Do |
The Way of Karate |
| Karateka |
Practitioner of Karate |
Dojo |
School or training room |
| Sensei |
Teacher |
Sempai |
Senior |
| Kohai |
Junior |
Kyu |
Rank |
| Gi |
Uniform |
Obi |
Belt |
| Hai |
Yes |
Osu |
"I understand and will try my best." Also used to show respect. |
| Do |
Way |
Budo |
Way of combat |
| Zanshin |
Poise and control |
Kime |
Focus |
| Kihon |
Fundamentals |
Kiai |
Spirit shout/focus of spiritual energy |
| Kata |
Practice form |
Embusen |
Floor pattern/lines of a kata |
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| Maai |
Distance |
Bunkai |
Application (interpretation) of kata techniques |
| Kumite |
Sparring/fighting |
Ippon kumite |
One-step sparring |
| Yakusoku kumite |
"Promise" premeditated sparring |
Gohon kumite |
Five-step sparring |
| Jiyyu kumite |
Free sparring |
Waza |
Technique |
| Dachi |
Stance |
Tsuki (Zuki) |
Punch |
| Uchi |
Strike |
Uke |
Block |
| Geri |
Kick |
Ashi-barai |
Foot sweep |
| Kamae |
Posture |
Yori-ashi |
Sliding the feet |
| Tai-sabaki |
Body shifting |
Shotokan |
"House of Shoto" ; "pine sea"; pen name of Funakoshi. |
| DomoArigato Gozaimashita |
"Thank-you very much" |
Onegai Shimasu |
"I welcome you to train with me" Literally: " I make a request." Said to one's partner when initiating practice. |
MAJOR CONCEPTS
| Zanshin: |
Awareness; Continuing mind/heart - connotes "following through" a technique while maintaining awareness |
Sen: |
Initiative |
| Sen no sen: |
Seizing the initiative earlier; Attacking at the same moment your opponent attacks. |
Go no sen: |
Seizing the initiative later; Allowing your opponent to attack first so as to open up target for counter-attacks. |
| Sen sen no sen: |
Seizing the opponents sen no sen; Attacking before your opponent attacks-a preemptive attack |
Ikken Hissatsu: |
"To kill with one blow" |
| Karate ni sente nashi: |
Karate does not include the first move. |
Karate wa sente nari: |
Karate is the first move. |
| Shorin (kata): |
Quick movement, emphasizing speed |
Shorei (kata): |
Slow, strong movement, emphasizing strength |
| Sun-dome: |
Stopping a technique just prior to contact (three centimeters) |
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COMMANDS
| Narande: |
Line up |
Seiretsu: |
Line up by rank |
| Yoi: |
Ready |
Yame: |
Stop |
| Yasume: |
Relax (or ready position) |
Sensei ni: |
Face towards the teacher |
| Otaigai ni: |
Face towards each other |
Shomen ni: |
Face towards the front |
| Rei: |
Bow |
Seiza: |
Meditation position-kneeling |
| Age-te: |
Hands up (cover position) |
Mawatte: |
Turn around |
| Hajime: |
Begin |
Naore: |
Return to Shizen-tai |
DIRECTIONS
| Mae: |
Front |
Yoko: |
Side |
| Ushiro: |
Back |
Tate: |
Vertical |
| Mawashi: |
Round |
Jodan: |
Head high level |
| Chudan: |
Mid-high level |
Gedan: |
Low level; Down |
| Migi: |
Right |
Hidari: |
Left |
| Tobi: |
Jump |
Gyaku: |
Reverse |
| Age: |
Rising |
Uchi: |
Inner |
| Soto: |
Outer |
Otoshi: |
Dropping |
| Sokumen: |
Side |
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DACHI WAZA (STANCES)
| Kamae: |
Posture (Yoi) |
Heisoku dachi: |
Formal Attention Stance (Yoi) |
| Zenkutsu dachi: |
Front Stance |
Kokutsu dachi: |
Back Stance |
| Kiba dachi: |
Straddle Stance |
Fudo dachi: |
Fighting Stance |
| Musubi dachi: |
Informal Attention Stance (feet in a 'V") |
Hachiji dachi: |
Open-legged Stance (Yoi) |
| Shizen-tai dachi: |
Natural Stance |
Neko-ashi dachi: |
Cat Stance |
| Renoji dachi: |
"L" Stance |
Kosa dachi: |
Cross-legged Stance |
| Hangetsu dachi: |
Wide Hour-glass Stance |
Migi Ashi Orishiku: |
Right Leg Kneeling |
| Hidari Ashi Orishiku: |
Left Leg Kneeling |
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UKE WAZA (BLOCKS)
| Age uke: |
Rising block |
Gedan uke: |
Down block |
| Soto ude uke: |
Outside forearm block |
Uchi ude uke: |
Inside forearm block |
| Shuto uke: |
Knife block |
Morote uke: |
Augmented block |
| Kakiwaki uke: |
Reverse wedge block (Heian 4) |
Juji uke: |
X block |
| Kosa uke: |
Cross block (Uchi/gedan uke-Heian 3) |
Manji uke: |
Hi/low block (Heian 5) |
| Tate shuto uke: |
Vertical knife-hand block (Heian 3) |
Haishu uke: |
Back-hand block (Heian 5) |
| Empi uke (or Hiji uke): |
Elbow block (Heian 3) |
Osae uke: |
Pressing block (Heian 2, 3) |
| Otoshi uke: |
Dropping or falling block (Heian 2, 3) |
Nagashi Uke: |
Sweeping block (Tekki, Jion) |
| Haiwan Nagashi Uke: |
Sweeping back-arm block |
Te Nagashi Uke: |
Sweeping hand block (parry) (Heian 5) |
| Sukui Uke: |
Scooping block (Bassai, Chinte) |
Sokumen Awase Uke: |
Side combined block (Bassai-Dai) |
| Tsukami Uke: |
Grasping block (Bassai-Dai, Jion) |
Awase Shuto Age Uke: |
Combined rising knife-hand block (Kanku-Dai) |
| Ryowan Uchi Uke: |
Double inside block( Jion, Bassai-Sho) |
Seiryuto Uke: |
Ox-Jaw block |
GERI WAZA (KICKS)
| Mae geri keage: |
Front snap kick |
Mae geri kekomi: |
Front thrust kick |
| Yoko geri keage: |
Side snap kick |
Yoko geri kekomi: |
Side thrust kick |
| Mawashi geri: |
Round kick |
Ushiro geri: |
Back thrust kick |
| Fumikomi geri: |
Stomping kick (Heian 3, 5) |
Uchi mikazuki geri: |
Inside crescent kick |
| Soto mikazuki geri: |
Outside crescent kick |
Tobi geri: |
Flying kick |
| Name ashi geri: |
Returning wave kick (Tekki 1) |
Hiza geri: |
Knee kick/strike |
| Nidan geri: |
Double kick (Kanku-Dai) |
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TSUKI WAZA (PUNCHES)
| Oi tsuki: |
Lunge punch |
Gyaku tsuki: |
Reverse punch |
| Kizami tsuki: |
Jab |
Choku tsuki: |
Straight punch |
| Kagi tsuki: |
Hook punch |
Oi-gyaku tsuki: |
Lunging reverse punch |
| Ura tsuki: |
Close punch |
Morote tsuki: |
Parallel punch |
| Ren tsuki: |
Double punch |
San tsuki: |
Triple punch |
| Age tsuki: |
Rising punch |
Gedan tsuki: |
Downward punch |
| Yama tsuki: |
Wide "U" punch |
Awase tsuki: |
"U" punch |
| Otoshi tsuki: |
Dropping punch (Empi) |
Ippon Ken tsuki: |
One-knuckle fist punch (Hangetsu) |
UCHI WAZA (Strikes)
| Tettsui |
Hammer-fist strike |
Kumade Uchi: |
Bear Claw Strike |
| Uraken Uchi: |
Backfist Strike |
Hiraken Uchi: |
Foreknuckle Strike |
| Teisho Uchi: |
Palm Heel Strike |
Ippon Nukite Uchi: |
Single Finger Strike |
| Nihon Nukite Uchi: |
Two Finger Strike (Fork) |
Shuto Uchi: |
Knife Hand Strike |
| Soto Shuto Uchi: |
Outside Knife Hand Strike |
Uchi Shuto Uchi: |
Inside Knife Hand Strike |
| Shihon Nukite Uchi: |
Spear Hand Strike |
Gyaku Haito Uchi: |
Reverse Backfist Strike |
| Haito Uchi: |
Backfist Strike |
Empi Uchi: |
Elbow Strike |
| Mawashi Empi Uchi: |
Round Elbow Strike |
Mae Empi Uchi: |
Front Elbow Strike |
| Otoshi Empi Uchi: |
Downward Elbow Strike |
Ushiro Empi Uchi: |
Back Elbow Strike |
| Yoko Empi Uchi: |
Side Elbow Strike |
Yoko Mawashi Empi Uchi: |
Side Roundhouse Elbow Strike |
| Tate Empi Uchi: |
Upward Elbow Strike |
Hiza Age Ate: |
Rising Knee Strike |
| Washide Uchi: |
Eagle Beak Strike |
Koko Uchi: |
Tiger Mouth Strike |
| Haishu Uchi: |
Back Hand Strike |
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KATA
| Taikyoku: |
First Cause |
Heian: |
Peaceful mind |
| Tekki: |
Iron Knight |
Bassai: |
Storm the Fortress |
| Sho: |
Lesser, small |
Dai: |
Greater, big |
| Jion: |
Bhuddist temple name; Gratitude for the Bhudda (2nd Kyu) |
Kanku: |
To look at the sky (2nd Kyu) |
| Hangetsu: |
Crescent or Half moon (1st Kyu) |
Empi: |
Flying Swallow (1st Kyu) |
| Chinte: |
Extraordinary Hands (Nidan) |
Jitte: |
Ten Hands (Nidan) |
| Gankaku: |
Crane on a rock (Sandan) |
Sochin: |
To keep the peace; Grand Suppression (Sandan) |
| Nijushiho: |
Twenty-four steps (Sandan) |
Shorei Kata: |
Light and quick; emphasizing agility and speed |
| Shorin Kata: |
Slow, hard, and strong; emphasizing muscles and strength |
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BODY PARTS
| Ken |
Fist |
Ippon Ken |
Single-point index-finger Fist |
| Tate Ken |
Vertical Fist |
Te |
Hand |
| Kaishu |
Open hand |
Tekubi |
Wrist |
| Teisho |
Palm heel |
Ude |
Forearm |
| Empi (also Hiji) |
Elbow |
Ashi |
Leg |
| Ashikubi |
Ankle |
Hiza (also Hitsui) |
Knee |
| Ensho |
Back of the heel |
Heisuko |
Top (instep) of the foot |
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| Teisoku |
Bottom of the foot |
Kakato |
Heel of the foot |
| Koshi |
Ball of the foot |
Sokuto |
Outer edge (knife) of the foot |
| Tsumasaki |
Toe tips |
Atama |
Head |
| Wan |
Arm |
Naiwan |
Back of Arm |
| Kata |
Shoulder |
Jiku Ashi |
Pivot leg |
| Jodan |
Head - level |
Chudan |
Mid - level |
| Gedan |
Lower - level |
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Colors
| Shiro: |
White |
Ki: |
Yellow |
| Ao: |
Blue |
Midori: |
Green |
| Murasaki: |
Purple |
Cha: |
Brown |
| Kuro: |
Black |
Aka: |
Red |
COUNTING
| Ichi: |
One |
Ni: |
Two |
| San: |
Three |
Shi: |
Four |
| Go: |
Five |
Roku: |
Six |
| Shichi: |
Seven |
Hachi: |
Eight |
| Ku: |
Nine |
Ju: |
Ten |
| NiJu: |
Twenty |
NiJu-Go: |
Twenty-five |
| Hyaku: |
One Hundred |
Ippon: |
First |
| Yon: |
Fourth |
Gohon: |
Fifth |
Tournament Terms
| Sanbon Shobu: |
Three point Match |
Sanbon Shobu Hajime: |
Start the Match |
| Shiai-jo: |
Ring (size = 8-10 meters square) |
Wazari: |
Half point |
| Ippon: |
Full point |
Jogai: |
Out of Bounds |
| Ai-uch: |
Clash |
Uchi-majiri: |
Brawl (melee) |
| Jikan: |
Time |
(Aka/Shiro) No Kachi: |
(R/W) Victorious |
| Fusen-gachi: |
Victory by default |
Hantei: |
Decision |
| Hansoku: |
Disqualify |
Hikiwake: |
Draw |
| Chui: |
Warning |
Keikoku: |
Severe warning |
| Shiro: |
White |
Aka: |
Red |
WEAPONS
| Bo: |
Long staff |
Jo: |
Short staff |
| Sai: |
forked knife (Jitte) |
Nunchaku: |
Thrasher (two sticks joined by a chain) |
| Kama: |
Sickles |
Tonfa: |
Batons |
| Shinai: |
Bamboo sword |
Bokken: |
Wooden sword |
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