Terminology Guide
Shotokan karate still uses many Japanese terms. It is important to note however that these phrases, having been taken out of context of their native language, should not be regarded as correct Japanese, nor should any of the pronunciation encountered in karate classes. This guide is provided in order to help understand commands given in training.
Stances
hangetsu dachi
half-moon stance
ju dachi
free-style stance
kiba dachi
horse-straddle stance
kokutsu dachi
back stance
kosa dachi
cross stance
musubi dachi
stance for bowing
neko ashi dachi
cat stance
shiko dachi
sumo stance
shizen tai
ready stance
the yoi position
sochin/fudo dachi
immovable stance
as in the kata Sochin
zenkutsu dachi
front stance
Arm techniques
age tsuki
rising punch
as in the kata Empi
choko tsuki
standing punch
empi
elbow
gyaku tsuki
reverse punch
ippon ken
one knuckle
kage tsuki
hook punch
kizame tsuki
jab punch
kuru tsuki
punch while stepping
nukite
spear hand
oi tsuki
stepping punch
sanbon tsuki
triple punch
shuto
knife-hand
tettsui
hammer-fist
uchi
strike
uraken
back-fist
Leg techniques
ashi barai
sweep
fumikomi geri
stamping kick
hiza geri
knee kick
keage
snap
kekomi
thrust
mae geri
front kick
mawashi geri
roundhouse kick
mika tsuki geri
crescent kick
ren geri
consecutive kicks
tobi geri
jumping kick
ura mawashi geri
reverse roundhouse kick
ushiro geri
back kick
ushiro mawashi geri
spinning roundhouse kick
yoko geri
side kick
yuri ashi
sliding movement
Blocks
age uke
rising block
gedan barai
downward block
juji uke
x block
kake uke
block with the outside of the hand
kake waki uke
two-armed separating block
manje uke
double block
morote uke
augmented forearm block
nagashi uke
sliding block
osae uke
pressing block
sekame uke
[see right]
the block before the first kiai in Bassai Dai
sekuri uke
sweeping block
the sixth move in Bassai Dai, and it also appears twice near the end of the kata
shuto uke
knife-hand block
soto uke
outside forearm block
tate shuto uke
vertical knife-hand block
uchi uke
inside forearm block
Training kumite
gohon kumite
five step sparring
sanbon kumite
three step sparring
ippon kumite
one step sparring
ju-ippon kumite
semi-free one step sparring
kaishi-ippon kumite
semi-free one step sparring with counter attack blocked and countered
okri ju-ippon kumite
double semi-free one step sparring
ju kumite
free sparring
jodan
head area
chudan
torso area
gedan
lower level
Shobu ippon kumite
shobu ippon
traditional one point fighting system
shomen ni rei
bow to the front
shimpan ni rei
bow to the judges
otagai ni rei
bow to each other
aka
red
shiro
white
shobu ippon hajime
start the match
waza ari
half point
ippon
full point
awazette ippon
two waza aris
keikoku
warning
hansoku chui
official warning
hansoku
disqualification
shikkaku
disqualification from the competition
torimasen
no score
aiuchi
simultaneous techniques
jogai
out of the area
tsuzukete hajime
restart the match
atoshibaraku
30 seconds remaining
enchosen
continuation of the bout (usually sudden death)
hantei
decision
hiki wake
draw
no kachi
winner
Kata
heian
peaceful mind
tekki
iron knight
bassai
storming a fortress
kanku
viewing the sky
jion
temple grounds, or temple of love and goodness
empi
flight of the swallow
hangetsu
half-moon
nijushiho
twenty-four steps
jitte
ten hands
unsu
hands in the clouds
sochin
tranquil force
gojushiho
fifty-four steps
gankaku
crane on a rock
chinte
Chinese hand
ji'in
love of truth
meikyo
bright mirror, or mirror of the soul
wankan
king's crown
shodan
first degree
nidan
second degree
sandan
third degree
yondan
fourth degree
godan
fifth degree
dai
big/major
sho
small/minor
Numbers
ichi
1
ni
2
san
3
shi
4
go
5
roku
6
shichi
7
hachi
8
ku
9
ju
10
Miscellaneous
do
way/path
dojo
training hall
dojo kun
training mantra
embusen
line of the kata
gi
karate outfit
hajime
begin
hidari
left
kamae
posture
kamaete
assume stance
karate
empty hand
kata
form
kiai
shout/focus
kihon
basic techniques
kime
focus
kumite
sparring
mawatte
turn
migi
right
mokuso
meditation
mokuso yame
end of meditation
obi
belt
oss
yes, ok, hello, etc.
sportmen's greeting in Japan
rei
bow
seiza
kneeling position
tai sabaki
body movement
yame
stop
yoi
ready
zanshin
awareness