Here’s a list of words & phrases you’ll hear in the dojo, in both Japanese & Englis.
Pronunciation: Terms are written here in approximate Roman letter equivalents. Vowels are pronounced much as they are in Spanish. Thus:
- a = ah, as in saw
- e = ay, as in hay
- i = ee, as in knee
- o = oh, as in so
- u = oo, as in tube
Japanese often drops i and u between consonants. Shiko is pronounced “shkow”; mokuso is pronounced “mowk’so.” Consonants are pronounced as in Spanish.
General Terms
| Karate-Do | Way of the Empty Hand |
| Shihan | Master, founder |
| Sensei | Teacher, instructor |
| Dojo | Practice hall |
| Gi | Practice uniform |
| Obi | Belt |
| Sempai | Senior student |
| Kohai | Junior student |
| Kyu | Class, ranking |
| Dan | Degree |
| Seiza | Kneel |
| Rei | Bow |
| Shomen-ni rei | Bow of respect for the activity of Karate and the dojo |
| Sensei-ni rei | Bow of respect for teacher and the instruction |
| Kiai | Yell |
| Ki | Breath, energy, spirit |
| Tachi/Dachi | Stance |
| Uke | Guard |
| Tsuki/Zuki | Punch |
| Keri/Geri | Kick |
| Jiyu-Kumite | Free-fighting |
| Chudan | Middle |
| Jodan | Upper |
| Gedan | Lower |
| Kumite | Fighting |
| Kata | Pre-arranged form |
| Kiotsukei | Attention Stance |
| Yoi | Ready, get ready |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Yame | Stop or finish, return to ready position |
| Naore | Return to attention position |
| Mawate | Turn around |
| Mokuso | Meditate |
| Hai | Yes, agree |
| Osu | Formal affirmation, “Yes sir/ma’am!” |
| Zanshin | Awareness |
| Kime | Definition |
| Hara | Middle/stomach, seat of the soul |
| Gyaku | Reverse |
| Hiku | Pulling (hiki-te = pulling hand) |
| Kamae | General posture of the whole body |
| Mae | Front |
| Mushin | No mind, clearing mind of obstacles |
| Te | Hand |
| Ushiro | Back |
Types of Stances (Tachi)
| Musubidachi | Attention position |
| Heisokudachi | Heels and toes together |
| Sotohachijidachi | Ready stance |
| Zenkutsudachi | Forward stance |
| Kibadachi | Horse riding stance |
| Shikodachi | Square stance |
| Kokutsudachi | Back stance |
| Nekoashidachi | Cat stance |
| Seishandachi | Pigeon-toed with heel and toe on one line |
| Tate seishandachi | Forward seishandachi |
Striking Surfaces
| Seiken | Forefist |
| Uraken | Backfist |
| Ipponken | One-knuckle fist |
| Tetsui | Hammer hand |
| Shotei | Heel of palm |
| Shuto | Knife-hand |
| Nukite | Spear hand |
| Haito | Ridge hand |
| Hiji/Empi | Elbow |
| Sokuto | Sword edge (outside edge of foot) |
| Kakato | Heel |
| Haisoku | Instep |
| Hiza | Knee |
Types of Guards (Uke)
| Gedan barai | Lower block |
| Jodan uke | Upper block |
| Soto uke | Inside to Outside block |
| Uchi uke | Outside to inside block (striking block) |
| Shuto uke | Knife-hand block |
| Hiji uke | Elbow block |
Types of Punches (Tsuki)
| Sonoba-zuki | Punching in place |
| Jun-zuki | Forward punch |
| Gyaku-zuki | Reverse punch |
| Jun-zuki no tsukomi | Deep forward punch |
| Gyaku-zuki no tsukomi | Deep reverse punch |
| Tobikomi-zuki | Sliding forward punch |
| Nagashi-zuki | Sliding sideways punch |
| Kette _______-zuki | Kick and punch |
Types of Kicks (Keri)
| Maegeri | Front snap kick |
| Mawashigeri | Round-house kick |
| Sokuto | Side-thrust kick |
| Ushirogeri | Back kick |
| Hizageri | Knee kick |
Other Techniques
| Uraken uchi | Back fist strike |
| Tettsui uchi | Hammer fist strike |
| Shuto uchi | Sword hand strike |
| Nukite | Spear hand strike |
| Empi uchi | Elbow strike |
Numbers (Cardinal)
| Ichi | One |
| Ni | Two |
| San | Three |
| Shi | Four |
| Go | Five |
| Roku | Six |
| Shichi | Seven |
| Hachi | Eight |
| Ku | Nine |
| Ju | Ten |
Numbers (Ordinal)
| Shodan | First |
| Nidan | Second |
| Sandan | Third |
| Yondan | Fourth |
| Godan | Fifth |
Miscellaneous Terms
| Tameshiwari | Board breaking |
| Makiwara | Punching board |
| Hachimaki | Headband |
| Ashi barai | Foot sweep |
| Nunchaku | Two sticks joined by chain |
| Sai | Short pronged swords |
| Bo | Long staff (6 feet) |
| Jo | Short staff (3 feet) |
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