Karate Terminology

Karate Terminology

The Japanese terms are used in all Karate dojos all over the world. Here are the meanings of the common terms:

DAN: Black-belt grades. DOJO: word used for the place of practice of martial arts. GI (gee): The Karate uniform. In Shotokan Karate a white, cotton gi is worn.

HIKI-TE (hee-kee-tay): The retracting arm of a punching, blocking, or striking technique. Helps rotate the hips and maintain the stable and precise delivery of the technique. KARATE: “Empty Hand". KARATEKA: The practitioner of Karate. KATA: Prescribed sequences of techniques performed with specific rhythm and timing KI (kee): Mind. Spirit. Energy. KIAI (kee-ai): A short, loud shout accompanying a sharp, strong technique. Helps release air from the lungs and relax the upper body so that the technique is more effective. Also helps focus mental energy and display spirit. KIHON (kee-hon): Basic techniques. KIME (kee-may): Focus of power. KOHAI (ko-hai): A student junior to oneself. KYU (kee-u): Grades 8 to 1 - all color belts. Any grade below a black belt. OBI (o-bee): The Karate belt.

OSU (Oss): Indicates respect, acknowledgement, willingness and readiness to follow. SEIZA: A proper sitting position used for the formal opening and closing of the class, and whenever the instructor asks students to sit on the side to watch a demonstration of techniques or kata. SENSEI (sen-say): A teacher. A term reserved for the chief instructor of the dojo, and other high-ranking members. SEMPAI (sem-pai): A senior student SHIHAN (shee-han): A formal title meaning master instructor or teacher of teachers. Very few people in the world have achieved this ranking. SHOMEN (show-men): The designated front wall of a Dojo. Often the place where the picture of our founder, Gichin Funakoshi and flags are displayed. REI (ray): Bow. A sign of respect, trust, and appreciation. May be done while standing, or while kneeling such as at the beginning and end of each class. Shomen-ni-Rei: bow to the front of the dojo Sensei-ni-Rei: bow to the teacher Otagai-ni-Rei: bow to each other VARIOUS COMMANDS: YAME (ya-may): Return to starting position (typically hachiji-dachi) HAJIME (hajee-may): Begin KAMAE: Get into position, prepare. MOKUSO: Close the eyes and meditate. MATTE (ma-tay): Wait. MAWATE (mawa-tay): Turn into position YOI (yoh-ee): Ready (both mentally and physically) YAME (ya-may): Stop COUNTING in Japanese: One: ichi (i-chi) Two: ni (ni) Three: san (sa-n) Four: shi (shi) / yon (yon) Five: go (go) Six: roku (ro-ku) Seven: shichi (shi-chi) Eight: hachi (ha-chi) Nine: ku (ku) Ten: ju (ju-u) WAZA (Techniques): Tsuki (tsu-kee) or zuki (zoo-kee): punching Uke (ou-kay): blocking Uchi (oo-chee): strike Keri (ke-ree) or geri (ge-ree): kicking TARGET AREAS on opponent's body: Jodan (joh-dan): upper level, includes face, neck, and head area Chudan (choo-dan): middle level, includes the chest, side chest and back area Gedan (gay-dan): lower level, the lower trunk area HIDARI: left MIGI: right GYAKU: reverse AKA: red SHIRO: white YOKO: Side. MAE: front

ZENSHIN: Forward. USHIRO: back KEKOMI: thrust KEAGE: snap BODY PARTS: EMPI (em-pee): elbow HIZA (hee-zah): knee KAISHO (kay-sho): open hand, such as in shuto-uke KENTSUI (ken-tschuee): hammer fist (also known as TETTSUI) SOKUTO (sokoo-toh): edge of foot, such as in side thrust kick URAKEN (oo-raken): back of fist SHUTO (shoo-to): outer surface of hand alongside the small finger HAITO (haee-to): inner surface of hand alongside the thumb PUNCHES: JODAN TSUKI: upper level punch CHUDAN TSUKI: middle level punch GEDAN TSUKI: lower level punch CHOKU TSUKI: straight punch GYAKU TSUKI: reverse punch KAGI ZUKI: hook punch HASAMI TSUKI: scissor punch KIZAMI ZUKI: jab MAWASHI ZUKI: roundhouse punch MOROTE ZUKI: U-Punch with both fists simultaneously TATE ZUKI: punch with fist along vertical plane URA ZUKI: upper cut punch at close range YAMA ZUKI: mountain Punch, a U-punch, resembles the character for mountain, thus the name. BLOCKS: AGE UKE (ah-gay oo-kay): rising block UCHI UKE: inside-out block SOTO UKE: outside block GEDAN BARAI: lower level block SHUTO UKE: knife hand block MOROTE UKE: reinforced (augmented) block JUJI UKE (joo-jee): X block KAKIWAKE UKE: X block MANJI UKE: double block with one arm in gedan barai and the other in uchi uke. STRIKES: EMPI UCHI: elbow strike HAITO UCHI: ridge-hand strike KENTSUI UCHI: (Or TETTSUI UCHI) hammer fist strike MAE EMPI: forward elbow strike MAWASHI EMPI UCHI: roundhouse (circular) elbow strike OTOSHI EMPI UCHI: dropping elbow strike TATE EMPI UCHI: rising elbow strike TATE URAKEN UCHI: vertical back-fist strike USHIRO EMPI UCHI: elbow strike aiming behind own body YOKO MAWASHI EMPI UCHI: side elbow strike NUKITE: stabbing using the extended index finger or both the index and the middle fingers KICKS: ASHI BARAI: Foot Sweep GERI (kicks) MAE GERI KEAGE: front snap kick MAE GERI KEKOMI: front thrust kick. MAE ASHI GERI: front kick with the front leg (KIZAMI GERI) MAWASHI GERI: roundhouse kick GYAKU MAWASHI GERI: reverse roundhouse kick USHIRO MAWASHI GERI: inside-out roundhouse kick HIZA GERI (hee-za): knee kick MIKAZUKI GERI (meeka-zooki): crescent kick TOBI GERI (to-bee): jumping kick USHIRO GERI (oo-shee-ro): back kick YOKO GERI KEAGE: side snap kick YOKO GERI KEKOMI: side thrust kick YOKO TOBI GERI: flying side kick FUMIKOMI: stomping kick STANCES: DACHI (da-chee): stances HACHIJI DACHI (ha-chee-jee): natural stance, feet about one shoulder width apart, toes pointing slightly outward HEISOKU DACHI: informal attention stance. Feet together, toes pointing straight forward ZENKUTSU DACHI (zen-koo-tsoo): front stance KIBA DACHI (kee-ba): horse stance KOKUTSU DACHI (ko-koo-tsoo): back stance FUDO DACHI (foo-do): immovable stance, a cross between front and back stance (SOCHIN DACHI) SANCHIN DACHI (san-cheen): hour-glass stance HANGETSU DACHI (han-gay-tsoo): "half-moon" stance GANKAKU DACHI (gan-ka-koo): crane stance KOSA DACHI: crossed-leg stance SHIKO DACHI (shee-ko): square stance KUMITE (koumi-tay) Sparring: GOHON KUMITE: five step basic sparring SANBON KUMITE: three step basic sparring IPPON KUMITE: one step basic sparring JIYU IPPON KUMITE: one step free sparring (semi-free sparring) JUI KUMITE: free sparing STRATEGIES: GO NO SEN: allow the opponent to attack first so as to open up targets for counterattack INASU: avoid an on-coming attack by removing your body from the line of attack SEN NO SEN: attack at the exact moment that the opponent attacks SEN SEN NO SEN: attack before the opponent attacks TAI SABAKI: shift to remove your body from the line of attack

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