Japanese Karate Terminology
Japanese English Bugei Martial Arts
Age te Hands up Bunkai Application (of
Age uke Rising block techniques)
Age zuki Rising punch Bushi Warrior class
Aka Red Bushido Way of the warrior
Ao Blue
Ai uch Clash
Ai Ki Harmonious spirit Japanese English
Ashi Foot Cha-iroi Brown
Ashi barai Foot sweep Chinte Chinese hands
Ashi ura Sole of foot (Kata)
Ashikubi Ankle Choku zuki Straight punch
Atama Head Chudan Middle level
Ate Strike
Chui Foul or warning (as in
Atemi Striking
Awase Combined competition)
Azato Master Yasutsune
Azato. One of the two Japanese English
senseis of G. Dachi Stance
Funakoshi. (Shares his Dai Major or greater
forename with Dan Level
Master Itosu)
Do Way
Doji Simultaneous
Japanese English Dojo Place of the way
Bassai-dai To storm a fortress
Bitei Coccyx Japanese English
Bo Long staff Embusen Line of movement
Bojutsu Long staff techniques
Empi Elbow
Bokken Wooden sword
Budo Martial Way Engetsu uke Circle foot block
Enoy Spirit of getting ready Haisoku Instep of foot
Eri Collar Haito Ridge hand
Haiwan Back of arm
Japanese English Hajime Begin
Fudo dachi Rooted or fighting Hangetsu Half moon
stance Hangetsu Half moon stance
Fumikomi Stomping kick dachi
geri Hanmi Half front (45° to
opponent
Japanese English Hanshi Master – honorary
Gamae Withdrawing term for highest
Gankaku Crane on a rock black belt
Gankaku One-leg stance Hansoku- Lose – by breaking
dachi make rules in competition
Gedan Lower level Hante Judge’s decision
Gedan barai Lower sweeping Hara Belly
block Harai te Sweeping arm
Geri Kick technique
Gi Training uniform Hasami zuki Scissor punch
Gojushijo Fifty-four steps (Chinte)
Gohon Five attack sparring Hayai Fast
kumite Heian Peaceful mind
Go no sen Technique that tricks Heisoku Informal attention
opponent into dachi stance (feet
attacking first together)
Gyaku Reverse Hichu Adam’s apple
Hidari Left side
Japanese English Hikite Both hands
Hachiji dachi Natural stance (feet retracting
apart) Hikiwake Draw
Hai Yes Hiku Pull
Haishu Backhand Hiraken uchi Four knuckle strike
Hitsui or Hiza Knee Jiyu kumite Freestyle sparring
Hizagashira Kneecap Jo Short staff
Hombu Main dojo Jodan Upper level
Hon Basic, fundamental Jogai Out of bounds
Horan no Egg in a nest (as in Joko Slow
kamae Basai dai) Juji uke X block
Hyosh Timing
Japanese English
Japanese English Ka Student
Iee Iie No Kachikake Point of the jaw
Ikken To kill with one blow Kaeshi Counter attack
hissatsu Kage uke Hook block
Ippon One Kage zuki Hook punch
Ippon ken One-knuckle Kai Style
Ippon nukite One finger spear Kaisho Palm (open hand)
hand Kaiten Rotating
Itosu Master Yasutsune Kake te Trapping block
Itosu. One of the two Kakato Heel
senseis of G. Kakiwake Wedge or spreading
Funakoshi. (Shares uke block
his forename with Kakushi waza Hidden techniques
Master Azato) Kakuto Wrist
Kamaete Get ready
Japanese English Kami Hair
Ji’in Temple grounds or Kan Hall or home
garden Kanazawa Hirokazu Kanazawa
Jikan Time (as in was successor to
competition) Funakoshi
Jion Chinese Buddhist Kanku (dai or Look to the sky
temple sho)
Jitte Ten hands Kansetsu Joint lock technique
Jiyu dachi Free stance waza
Kappo Techniques to Kizami zuki Jabbing punch
resuscitate someone Ko Small or lesser
from nervous system K obo ittchi Attack and defense
shock as a unified event
Kara Empty Kobore Tibia
Karate Empty hand Kohai Junior (to oneself)
Kasumi Temple Koken Wrist joint
Kata Form Kokoro Spirit in the heart
Katana Long curved sword Kokusu dachi Back stance
Kawashi Evasion Kosa Crossing
Keagi Snap Kosa uke Crossing block
Keichu Back of neck Koshi Ball of the foot
Keiko Joined fingertips Koshin Rearward
Keito uke Chicken head wrist Kuatsu Resuscitation
block technique from
Kekomi Thrust strangulation or
Kempo Fist law shock
Ken Fist Kubi Neck
Kensei Technique done with Kumade Bear claw hand
silent kiai Kumite Sparring
Kesa geri Diagonal kick Kun Oath
Ki Inner strength Kuroi Black
Kiai Shout Kyoku Breathing
Kiba dachi Horse riding or Kyosen Solar plexus
straddle stance Kyoshi Master instructor
Kihon Basic techniques Kyototsu Sternum
Kihon ippon Basic one attack Kyu Grade (or boy)
kumite sparring Kyusho waza Pressure point
Kime Focus technique
Kin geri Groin kick
Kinteki Testicles Japanese English
Kiroi Yellow Ma-ai Distance or timing
(relative to partner) before rei, feet in V
Mae Front position)
Mae geri Front kick
Mae ukemi Forward roll Japanese English
Makiwara Striking post Nagashi uke Sweeping Block
Manabu Learning by copying Nage waza Take-down
what you see techniques
Manji uke Simultaneous down Naginata Pole-arm weapon
block and inside with blade at one
block end
Mata Top of thigh Naiwan uke Inside of arm block
Matte Wait Nakadate Middle finger punch
Mawashi geri Round kick zuki (Chinte)
Mawatte Turn Nami ashi Inside leg block
Meikyo Bright mirror Nami gaeshi Returning wave kick
Midori Green Naore Return to ready
Migi Right side position
Mikazuki geri Crescent kick Narande Line up
Mimi Ears Neko ashi Cat stance
Mokuso Meditation (Pause to dachi
clear the mind) Nidan geri Double kick
Moroashi Semi-forward stance Nihon nukite Two finger spear
dachi hand
Morote Augmented Nijushiho Twenty-four steps
Morote zuki Two hand punch Nukite Spear hand
Moto dachi Short forward stance Nunchaku Okinawan weapon of
(as in Heian Shodan) two sticks connected
Mudansha Non-black belt with chain or rope
students
Mune Chest Japanese English
Murasaki Purple O Big
Musubi dachi Attention stance (as Obi Belt or sash
Oi zuki Lunge punch Japanese English
Onaji The same Sae rei tu Line up
Onegai “I ask of you” Sagi ashi One-legged stance
shimasu dachi
Orenji Orange Sai Okinawan weapon
Ono geri Ax kick Sakotsu Collar bone
Osae Pressing Sanbon Three attack sparring
Osae uke Pressing block kumite
Oss Yes, I understand; Sanbon Three point match
Thank you; hello shobu
Osu Push Sanbon zuki Triple punch
Otegai ni rei Bow to each other Sanchin dachi Hour glass stance
Otoshi Dropping, downward Sashi ashi Stepping over
Oyayubi Thumb knuckle Sashite Raising the hand to
ippon ken strike, block , or grab
Seiken Fore fist
Japanese English Seiryuto Ox-jaw (block or
Rei Respect, strike)
demonstrated with a Seiza Kneeling position
bow Sempai Senior student
Reigi Etiquette Sen no sen Attack at same time
Renoji dachi L stance as the opponent
Rensei Practice tournament Sen sen no Attack before the
Renshi Master of oneself (an sen opponent
expert instructor) Sensei Teacher (one who as
Ren zuki Combination or gone before)
double punch Sensei ni rei Bow to teacher
Ryo Both Seppuku Japanese ritual
Ryoken Both fists suicide
Ryowan Both arms Shiai Contest
Ryu School Shidoin Assistant instructor
Shihan Teacher of teachers
Shihon Spear hand strike Suwari waza Sitting position
nukite techniques
Shiko dachi Square stance
Shime waza Choking or strangling Japanese English
techniques Tachi Long single-edge
Shiroi White curved sword
Shizentai Natural stance Tai Body
Sho Minor Tai sabaki Body shifting
Shobu Official contest Taikyoku First cause
Shomen Front of dojo; or top shodan
of head Tameshi Breaking techniques
Shomen ni Blow to the front wara
rei Tanto Short dagger
Shorei Strong or powerful Tate Vertical
movements in kata Te Hand
Shorin Quick or light Ten no kata Kata of the universe
movements in kata Teiji dachi T stance
Shoto Pine waves Teisho Palm heel
Shotokan Hall of shoto Tekki Iron horse; iron
Shushin Referee warrior
Shuto Knife hand Tekubi Wrist
Shuto uchi Knife hand strike Tento Top of head
Sochin Immovable Tettsui Hammer fist
Sochin dachi Immovable stance Te waza Hand techniques
Sode Sleeve Tobi Jumping
Soete Open hand Tokui Favorite
Sokumen Side Tomoe Stomach
Sokuto Side or edge of foot Tonfa Farm implement
Soto ude uke Outside forearm used as weapon in
block Okinawa
Sukui Scooping Tora Tiger
Sutemi Sacrifice Tsukami Grasping; catching
Tsumasaki Tips of fingers or straight blade
toes Yasume Relax
Tsuru ashi Crane leg stance Yoi Ready
dachi Yoko Side
Tuite Grappling Yoko empi Side elbow strike
uchi
Japanese English Yoko geri Side kick
Uchi Strike Yubi Finger
Ude Forearm Yudanshi Blackbelt
Uke Block Yusei gachi Winner of
Ukemi waza Breaking fall competition
techniques
Unsu Hands like a cloud Japanese English
Ura zuki Close-quarter punch Zanchin Awareness
Uraken Back fist Za rei Bow from kneeling
Ushiro Back position
Ushiro geri Back kick Zenkusu Front stance
dachi
Japanese English Zenshin Forward
Wa Harmony Zori Japanese slippers
Wakizashi Short sword Zuki (or tsuki) Punch
Wan Arm
Wankan Kings crown
Washide Eagles beak hand
Waza Technique
Waza-ari Half point
(competition)
Japanese English
Yama zuki Wide U-punch
Yame Stop
Yari Pole weapon with
Numbers Japanese Colors Japanese
1 Ichi Black Kuro
2 Ni Blue Ao
3 San Brown Chairo
4 Shi Green Midori
5 Go Orange Oranji
6 Roku Purple Murasaki
7 Shichi Red Aka
8 Hachi White Shiro
9 Ku Yellow Kiiro
10 Jyu
11 Jyu ichi
12 Jyu ni
13 Jyu san
14 Jyu shu
15 Jyu go
16 Jyu roku
17 Jyu shichi
18 Jyu hachi
19 Jyu ku
20 Ni jyu
