Japanese Karate Terminology

Knowing Japanese Karate Terminology is very important when learning this art. A quick fact about Karate is that it is often associated with Japanese martial arts, however its true origin dwells in Okinawan combat techniques and Southern Chinese martial arts. It is basically a fusion of both arts and was introduced to Japan only in 1921. During this period, Karate was simply known as “Te”, or hand, as called by the Okinawans. Chinese influence is evident in the original symbol for Karate – the “Tang Hand” or “Chinese Hand”, If interested you can read about the history of Karate here. Learning the terminology will help speed your progress and advancement up the belt ranks.

 

BASIC TERMS:

Soto——–>Out
Uchi——–>In
Juji——–>X
Tsuki——->Punching
Teisho——>Palm Heel
Nami Ashi—>Inside Foot
Uriken——>Back Fist
Tettsui—–>Bottom Fist
Dachi——->Stance
Kiba——–>Straddle
Zen Kutsu—>Forward
Kokutsu—–>Back
Kagi——–>Hooked
Sanchin—–>Hour Glass
Hachiji—–>Open Leg
Hangetsu—->Wide Hour Glass
Neko Ashi—>Cat
Ippon——->One Knuckle
Ken———>Fist
Kentsui—–>Hammer Fist
Kaisho——>Open Hand
Empi——–>Elbow
Jodan——->Rising
Mae———>Front
Geri——–>Kick
Keage——->Snap
Ke-Komi—–>Thrust
Yoko——–>Side
Ushiro——>Back
Mawashi—–>Round House
Mikazuki—->Cresent
Tobi——–>Flying
Hittsui—–>Knee
Zuki——–>Punch
Uke———>Block
Chudan——>Forearm
Ude(oo-deh)->Forearm
Uchi——–>Strike
Shuto——->Knife Hand
Seiken——>Basic
Gyaku——->Reverse
Oi———->Lunge
Maroto——>Double Fist
Nukite——>Spear Hand

COUNTING:

1—> Ichi—(itch) 6—> Roju—–(rook)
2—> Ni—–(knee) 7—> Shichi—(sitch)
3—> San—-(sun) 8—> Hachi—-(hatch)
4—> Shi—-(she) 9—> Ku——-(coo)
5—> Go—–(go) 10—> Ju——-(jew)

STANCES:

Kiyotsuke———————> Attention
Shizentai———————> Natural Stance
Kiba Dachi——————–> Straddle Stance
Zenkutsu Dachi—————-> Forward Stance
Kokutsu Dachi—————–> Back Stance
Neko Ashi Dachi—————> Cat Stance
Kagi Dachi——————–> Hooked Stance
Sanchin Dachi—————–> Hour Glass Stance
Hangetsu Dachi—————-> Wide Hour Glass Stance
Hachiji Dachi—————–> Open Leg Stance

PUNCHES:

Seiken Zuki——————-> Basic Punch
Gyaku Zuki——————–> Reverse Punch
Oi Zuki———————–> Lunge Punch
Mawashi Zuki——————> Round House Punch
Maroto Zuki——————-> Double Fist Punch
Nukite————————> Spear Hand Thrust
Ura-Zuki———————-> Close Punch
Kagi-Zuki———————> Hook Punch
Kizami-Zuki——————-> Jab
Teisho-Zuki——————-> Palm Punch
Tate-Zuki———————> Vertical Punch

BLOCKING TECHNIQUES:

Jodan-Uke———————> Rising Block
Chudan Soto Uke—————> Forearm Block Out
Chudan Uchi Uke—————> Forearm Block In
Gedan Barai——————-> Downward Block
Shuto Uke———————> Knife Hand Block
Juji Uke———————-> X Block
Tsuki Uke———————> Punching Block
Teisho Uke——————–> Palm Heel Block

FOOT TECHNIQUES:

Mae Geri Keage—————-> Front Snap Kick
Mae Geri Ke Komi————–> Front Thrust Kick
Yoko Geri Keage—————> Side Snap Kick
Yoko Geri Ke Komi————-> Side Thrust Kick
Ushiro Geri——————-> Back Kick
Mawashi Geri——————> Round House Kick
Mikazuki Geri—————–> Crescent Kick
Mae Tobi Geri—————–> Flying Front Kick
Yoko Tobi Geri—————-> Flying Side Kick
Hittsui Geri——————> Knee Kick

FOOT BLOCKING TECHNIQUES:

Nami Ashi———————> Inside Foot Block
Mikazuki-Geri Uke————-> Crescent Kick Block

STRIKES:

Uriken-Uchi——————-> Back Fist Strike
Tettsui-Uchi——————> Bottom Fist Strike
Shuto-Uchi——————–> Knife Hand Strike
Teisho-Uchi——————-> Palm Heel Strike
Empi-Uchi———————> Elbow Strike

MISCELLANEOUS:

Shugo————————-> Assemble
Kiyotsuke———————> Attention
Mokuso————————> Meditation
Shomen————————> Front
Sanpai————————> Senior
Yoi—————————> Ready
—–
Kata————————–> Training Forms
Lei—————————> Bow
Yame————————–> Stop
—–
Jiju Kumite——————-> Free Style
Kihon Ippon kumite————> One Attack (Basic)
Jiju Ippon Kumite————-> One Attack (Semi Free)
Sambon Kumite—————–> Three Attacks
Gohon Kumite——————> Five Attacks

KIHON-SHODAN:

FORWARD #1 -Lunge Punch (H)
-Double Punch (M)

BACKWARD #2 -Upper Rising Block (H)
-Snap Kick Front Leg (M)
-Reverse Punch (M)

FORWARD #3 -Outside inward Block (M)
-Elbow Strike (M) [Kibadachi]
-Backfist (H) [Kibadachi]
-Reverse Punch (M)

FORWARD #4 -Knife Hand Block (M)
-Snap Kick Front Leg (M)
-Spear Hand (M)

FORWARD #5 -Inside outward Block (M)
-Jab (H) and Snap Kick Front Leg (M)
-Reverse Punch (M)

FORWARD #6 -Snap Kick Front Leg (M)
-Snap Kick Back Leg (H)

FORWARD #7 -Roundhouse Kick Front Leg (M)
-Roundhouse Kick Back Leg (H)

FORWARD #8 -Side Snap Kick To The Left (M)
-Side Snap Kick To The Right (H)

FORWARD #9 -Side Thrust Kick To The Left (M)
-Side Thrust Kick To The Right (H)

FORWARD #10 -Side Thrust Kick Front Leg (M)
-Roundhouse Kick Back Leg (M)
-Reverse Punch (M)

FORWARD #11 -Roundhouse Kick Front Leg (M)
-Side Thrust Kick To The Front With The Same Leg (M)
-Lunge Punch (H)

IN PLACE #12 -Front Snap Kick
-Side Snap Kick
-Side Thrust Kick
-Roundhouse Kick All With The Same Leg

OTHER TERMS:

Domo Arigato—————–> Thank You Very Much
Yasume———————–> At Ease
Kihon————————> Basic Training
Dan————————–> Black-Belt Rank
Tameshi Wari—————–> Board Breaking
Torite (Tor-ree-teh)———> Escape Methods
Konnichiwa——————-> Good Afternoon
Sayonare———————> Good-Bye
Shihan———————–> Master
Onegai Shimasu—————> Please Teach Me
Uchi Waza——————–> Striking Techniques
Mo-Ichido——————–> One More Time
Shimpan———————-> Referee
Hajime———————–> Begin
Karate-Gi——————–> Karate Uniform
Sen-Sen———————-> Teacher
Karate———————–> Empty Hand
Dojo————————-> Training Gym
Jixu-Kumate——————> Free Sparring
Hajime———————–> Start
Yasume———————–> Rest
Ka-ette———————-> Turn
Hansei———————–> Review