Karate Terminology

Karate terminology in English and Japanese

Basic

Line Up – Shugo
Attention – Kyotsuke
Ready – Yoi
Sit down – Seiza
Bow – Rei
Please Teach Me – Onegai shimasu
Thank You – Arigoto gozaimasu
Yes – Hai
No – Iie
Empty Hand – Karate
Teacher – Sensei
Student – Deshi
Chief Instructor – O-sensei
Grand Master – Hanshi
Training Hall – Dojo
Form – Kata
Striking Post – Makiwara
Block/To receive – Uke
Punch – Zuki
Kick – Keri
Stance – Dachi

Kamaekata – Ready Stances

Soto-hachiji Shizentai-Dachi – Open leg natural stance
Chokuritsu-fudo-dachi – Formal attention stance
Heisoku-dach – Closed foot stance

Tachikata – Stances

Shizentai-dachi – Natural stance
Jun shizentai-dachi – Quasi natural stance
Nekoashi-dachi – Cat stance
Jigotai-dachi – Wide open leg stance
Naihanchi-dachi/Kiba-dachi – Straddle leg (horse) stance
Zenkutsu-dachi – Front leg bent stance
Naname zenkutsu-dachi – Slanted front leg bent stance
Kokutsu-dachi – Backleg bent stance
Kosa-dachi – Cross leg stance
Ippon-ashi-dachi – One leg stance
Iaigoshi-dachi – Kneeling stance

 

Semekata – Attacking Techniques

Seiken Waza – Fist techniques

Gedan zuki – Low Punch
Chudan zuki – Middle chest punch
Jodan zuki – High punch
Kaku-zuki – Square punch
Tomoe-zuki – Circular block & punch
Sayu-zuki – Double side punch
Kakushi-zuki – Hidden fist punch
Oi-zuki – Chasing punch (side squat punch)
Wari-uke-zuki – Split block punch
Morote-zuki – Augmented side punch

Yubi-waza – Finger Techniques

Nukite-zuki – Spear hand thrust
Morote-nuki-zuki – Double spear hand thrust
Shi-zuki – Beak thrust

Uchi-waza – Striking Techniques

Uraken-uchi – Backfist strike
Kentsui-uchi – Hammer fist strike
Shuto-uchi – Knife hand strike
Kyobu shuto-uchi – Chest knife hand strike
Kyobu morote shuto-uchi – Chest double knife hand strike
Kyobu soete shuto-uchi – Chest augmented knife hand strike
Haito-uchi – Reverse knife hand strike

Ate-waza – Smashing Techniques

Hiji-ate – Elbow smash
Hiji-tate-ate – Upward elbow smash
Hiji-yoko-ate – Forward elbow smash
Hiji-ushiro-ate – Backward elbow smash
Hiji-sasae-ate – Supported elbow smash
Hiza-ate – Knee smash
Shotei-ate – Palm-heel smash
Jodan-shotei-ate – Upward palm-heel smash
Chudan-shotei-ate – Middle palm-heel smash
Gedan-shotei-ate – Lower palm-heel smash
Tomoe-shotei-ate – Circular palm-heel smash

Ukekata – Blocking Techniques

Seiken-ude-uke – Forearm block
Jodan-uke Upper block – Upper block
Chudan-uke – Middle outward block
Chudan-yoko-uke – Middle sideways block
Chudan-uchi-uke – Middle inner block
Gedan-uke – Lower block
Gedan-yoko-uke – Lower sideways block
Sasae-uke – Supported forearm block
Sayu-barai-uke – Double lower side block
Jodan-wari-uke – Upper split block
Chudan-wari-uke – Middle split block
Jodan-kosa-uke – Upper cross block
Gedan-kosa-uke – Lower cross block
Morote-soe-uke – Augmented forearm block
Chudan-soto-mawashi-uke – Middle sideward round block
Morote-barai-uke – Augmented lower block
Hazushi-uke – Removing block
Morote-barai-uke – Augmented lower block
Otoshi-uke – Dropping downward block
Shuto & Haito-uke – Knife hand & reverse knife hand block
Chudan soto-shuto-uke – Middle outward knife hand block
Jodan uchi-shuto-uke – Upper inward knife hand block
Chudan yoko-shuto-uke – Middle sideward knife hand block
Gedan shuto-uke – Lower knife hand block
Gedan shuto-yoko-barai-uke – Lower sideward knife hand slashing block
Chudan-hasami-uke – Middle scissors block
Makite-uke – Winding knife hand block
Magetori-barai-uke – Rising upward both hand knife hand block
Torite-uke – Grasping hand block
Sagurite-uke – Searching hand block
Gedan-haito-yoko-uke – Lower sideward reverse knife hand block
Shotei-uke – Palm heel block
Chudan-shotei-uke – Middle palm heel block
Gedan-shotei-uke – Lower palm heel block
Hiji-uke – Elbow block
Hangetsu-barai-uke – Half moon foot block

Keri Kata – Kicking Techniques

**Note** In Japanese you refer to a kick as keri. You only use the term geri when naming a specific kick.

Mae-geri – Front kick
Kyobu-geri – Chest kick
Fukubu-geri – Abdomen kick
Kinteki-geri – Groin Kick
Sokoto-geri – Foot edge kick
Nidan-geri – Flying front kick
Mawashi-geri – Roundhouse kick<

Intermediate Movements

Suirakan-no-kamee – Drunkard fighting posture
Ryu-no-hiji-no-kamee – Dragon tongue fighting posture
Sagurite-no-kamee – Searching hand fighting posture
Hotoke-kamee – Buddha-hand fighting posture
Tenshin-no-kamee – Body shifting fighting posture
Ura-gamae – Cheating fighting posture