Karate Terminology
This is a small list of Japanese terms used in karate and martial arts, not specifically Shotokan. These are always useful when attending other schools or competitions. Some schools teach entirely in English, while others use virtually none.
Blocks (Uke)
- Gedan Barai - Downward Block
- Soto Uke - Inward Forearm Block
- Uchi Uke - Outward Forearm Block
- Shuto Uke- Knife Hand Block
- Kakiwake Uke - Wedge Block
- Juji Uke - X Block
- Tate Shuto Uke - Vertical Knife Hand Block
- Morote Uke - Augmented Block
- Sukui Uke - Sweeping Block
- Age Uke - Upper Rising Block
- Ashikubi-Kake Uke - Ankle Hooking Block.
- Haishu Uke - Back Hand Block.
- Haito Uke - Ridge-hand Block.
- Haiwan Uke - Back Arm Block
- Kagi Uke - Hooking Block.
- Kaisho Uke - Open Hand Block
- Kake Uke - Hooking Block
- Nagashi Uke - Sweeping Block
- Nami Ashi - Inside Snapping Block.
Punches (Tsuki or Zuki)
- Gyaku Zuki - Reverse Punch
- Oi Zuki - Lunge Punch
- Age Zuki - Rising Punch
- Kizami Zuki - Jabbing Punch
- Tate Zuki - Vertical Fist Punch
- Ura Zuki - Uppercut Punch
- Dan Zuki - Consecutive punching (same hand)
- Yama Zuki - U Punch
- Choku Zuki - Straight Punch
- Awase Zuki - Wide U Punch
- Heiko Zuki - Parallel Punch
- Ren Zuki - Alternate punching
- Kage Zuki - Hook Punch
- Sanbon Zuki - A series of three punches
- Ippon Ken - One Knuckle Fist
- Hiraken - Flat Fist or Fore knuckle fist
- Seiken - Fore fist, Regular Fist
- Morote Zuki - Augmented Punch
- Mawashi Zuki - Roundhouse Punch
Kicks (Geri)
- Mae Geri - Front Kick
- Yoko Geri Keage - Side Snap Kick
- Yoko Geri Kekomi - Side Thrust Kick
- Mawashi Geri - Roundhouse Kick
- Ushiro Geri - Back Kick
- Mikazuki Geri - Crescent Kick
- Ushiro Mawashi Geri - Reverse Roundhouse Kick
- Mae Tobi Geri - Front Jumping Kick
- Kakato Geri - Heel kick
- Hiza Geri - Knee Kick
- Ashi Gatana - Foot Sword
- Fumikomi Geri - Stamping kick
- Ashi Waza - All leg and foot techniques
- Nidan Geri - Double Kick
- Ren Geri - Consecutive Kicking
- Tsumasaki Geri - Kick using the tips of the toes
- Mae Geri Kekomi - Front Thrust Kick
- Keage - 'Kick Up'
- Mae Geri Keage - Front Snapping Kick
Strikes (Uchi)
- Seiken - Forefist
- Uraken - Backfist
- Tettsui - Hammer Fist
- Nukite - Spear Fist
- Haito - Ridge Hand
- Teisho - Palm Heel
- Haishu - Back Hand
- Shuto - Knife Hand
- Keito - Chicken Head Wrist
- Kakuto - Bent Wrist
Stances (Dachi)
- Heisoku Dachi - Informal Attention Stance
- Zenkutsu Dachi - Front Stance
- Hachiji Dachi - Open Leg Stance
- Heiko Dachi - Parallel Stance
- Shiko Dachi - Square Stance
- Kosa Dachi - Crossed Feet Stance
- Renoji Dachi - L Stance
- Kiba Dachi - Horse Riding Stance
- Neko Ashi Dachi - Cat Stance
- Kokutsu Dachi - Back Stance
Smashes (Ate)
- Empi Ate - Elbow Smash
- Hiza Ate - Knee Smash
Parts of the Body (Karada)
- Ashi - Foot or Leg
- Ashikubi - Ankle
- Ashi Yubi - Toes
- Empi - Elbow (also called HIJI)
- Gan - Eye
- Haiwan - Back Arm
- Hiji - Elbow
- Hira Kote - Level Forearm
- Hiza - Knee or Lap
- Hizagashira - Knee Cap
- Kakato - Heel (of the foot)
- Kami - Hair
- Kansetsu - Joint
- Karada - Body, Physique
- Komekani - The temple area of the head
- Matsukaze - The side of the neck
- Sokko - Top Of The Foot
- Sokutei - Sole of Foot
- Zenshin - Whole (entire) Body
Kata (Forms)
- Taikyoku Shodan (Kihon) - Heavenly
- Heian Shodan - Peaceful Mind No.1
- Heian Nidan - Peaceful Mind No. 2
- Heian Sandan - Peaceful Mind No. 3
- Heian Yondan - Peaceful Mind No. 4
- Heian Godan - Peaceful Mind No. 5
- Tekki Shodan - Iron Horseman No. 1
- Tekki Nidan - Iron Horseman No. 2
- Tekki Sandan - Iron Horseman No. 3
- Bassai Dai - Storm the Fortress (major)
- Bassai Sho - Storm the Fortress (minor)
- Jion - Named after the temple
- Jiin - Named after the saint
- Jitte - Ten Hands
- Enpi - Flying Swallow
- Kanku Sho - View the Sky (major)
- Kanku Dai - View the Sky (minor)
- Gojushiho Sho - 54 Steps (minor)
- Gojushiho Dai - 54 Steps (major)
- Gankaku - Crane on a rock
- Meikyo - Mirror of the soul
- Unsu - Cloud Hands
- Hangetsu - Half Moon
- Wankan - Crown of a king
- Chinte - Incredible Hands
- Sochin - Preserve Peace
- Nijushiho - 24 Steps
Directional
- Age - Upper
- Barai - Sweeping
- Chudan - Middle
- Gedan - Lower
- Gyaku - Reverse
- Hanmi - Side Facing
- Hidari - Left
- Jodan - Upper/High
- Kage - Hook
- Mae - Forward
- Mawashi - Round
- Migi - Right
- Otoshi - Downward
- Tate - Vertical/Upward
- Tobi - Jump
- Ushiro - Backward
- Yoko - Sideways
Other Terms
- Chudan - Middle
- Jodan - Upper
- Dojo - Place of training
- Sempai - Senior
- Sensei - Teacher
- Shihan - Master
- Tai Sabaki - Body Shifting
- Kime - Focus
- Kiai - Shout used to help Ki and Physical Power
- Ki - Spirit, Inner Power
- Obi - Belt
- Mawate - Turn
- Bushido - The way of the warrior
- Budo - Martial way or path
- Gi - Karate Uniform
- Jiyu kumite - Free sparring
- Karateka - practitioner or student
- Kamae - Fighting stance; on guard
- Kata - Fixed sequence of training execises
- Nage-waza - Throwing techniques
- Rei - Command to bow
- Shomen Ni Rei - Bow to the front
- Sanbon Kumite - Three step sparring
- Jiyu Ippon - Semi free one step sparring
- Gohon kumite - Five step sparring
- Yoi - Ready command
- Enoy - Relax
- Yame - relax command
- Kietsuke - Attention
