General Karate Terms

Bow

Zarei

Black Belt Earner

Yuudansha

Pre arranged sparring

Yakusoku Kumit

Techniques

Waza

Rear, back

Ushiro

The person who acquires a technique

Uke

To break bricks, boards, etc.

Tameshiwari

Dodge, protective movement

Sabaki/Tai Sabaki

A sparring match

Shiai

Pose for standing bow

Ritsurei

Bunkai application / extract

Oyo

A karate belt

Obi

A person with black belt

Mudansha

Explosive but soft technique

Muchimi

Strike the board

Makiwara

The distance

Maai

A sparring

Kumite

High level Black Belt

Koudansha

Breath

Kokyu

Methods for breathing

Kokyu Ho

The striking energy

Kime

The basics

Kihon

The spirit yell

Kiai

The life energy

The form

Kata

English

Eigo

A student of Karate

Karateka

Shrine or seat of glory

Kamiza

Height (High level)

Jodan

Height (Middle level)

Chudan

Height (Low level)

Gedan

The freestyle sparring

Jiyu Kumite

Yes

Hai

Lie

Tempo, rhythm

Hyoshi

Techniques for self-defense

Goshin Jutsu

Uniform for Karate

Kata movement line

Embusen

The school code

Dojo Kun

The place to practice/learn

Dojo

Pupil, student

Deshi

Reprisal, counterattack

Deai

Black belt degrees

Dan

Punching strikes

Chinkuchi

Inspection

Bunkai

The martial arts

Budo

Sweeping

Barai

Cooperation, harmony

Karate Phrases & Commands

Thanks

Arigato Gozaimasu

Welcome

Doitashimashite

Attention, ready

Yoi

Stop

Yame

Start

Hajime

Standing up

Tatte Kudasai

Sorry, excuse me

Sumimasen

Exterior, outside

Soto

Gather together, line up

Shugo

Facing the front

Shomen Ni Taishi

Bowing to the front

Shomen Ni Rei

Facing the teacher

Sensei Ni Taishi

Bowing to the teacher

Sensei Ni Rei

Bye

Sayonara

Bow

Rei

Bowing to everyone

Otagai Ni Rei

Kindly teach me

Onegaishimasu

Lining up

Narande

Stop meditation

Mokuso Yame

Start meditation

Mokuso

Again, once more

Moichido

Please, wait

Matte

Notice, attention

Kiotsuke

Take position, on guard

Kamaete

Enter straight

Irimi

Different direction

Hantai

Karate Numbers

Ichi

San

Yon/Shi

Roku

Nana/Shichi

Hachi

Kyu

Ni Ju

San Ju

Yon Ju

Go Ju

Roku Ju

Nana Ju

Hachi Ju

Kyu Ju

100

Hyaku

Karate Stances Terms

The front stance

Zenkutsu Dachi

Heron stance

Sagi Ashi Dachi

Crane leg stance

Tsuru Ashi Dachi

The natural stance

Shizentai Dachi

Open feet stance

Jigotai Dachi

Horse stance

Shiko Dachi

The kneeling stance

Seiza

The three fights stance

Sanchin Dachi

The cat stance

Neko Ashi Dachi

The universal stance

Seisan Dachi

Heels together, standing stance

Musubi Dachi

The cross-leg stance

Kosa Dachi

The back stance

Kokutsu Dachi

The horse ride stance

Naihanchi Dachi / Kiba Dachi

Taking a stance, fighting posture

Kamae

Single leg stance

Ippon Ashi Dachi

Single leg kneel stance

Iaigoshi Dachi

The closed stance for leg

Heisoku Dachi

The parallel stance

Heiko Dachi

The half-front stance

Han Zenkutsu Dachi

The natural open stance

Hachiji Dachi

The unshakable stance

Sochin Dachi / Fudo Dachi

Karate Blocking Techniques Terms

Blocking

Uke

Split blocking

Wari Uke

Grabbing the hand block

Torite Uke

Blocking with tibia

Sune Uke

The knife hand blocking

Shuto Uke

The palm heel blocking

Shotei Uke

Dual sweeping block

Sayu Barai Uke

The supported forearm blocking

Sasae Uke

Finding hand block

Sagurite Uke

Drop the block

Otoshi Uke

Wedge block, forearm blocking

Musubi Dachi

The augmented lower blocking

Morote Barai Uke

Wind knife hand blocking

Makite Uke

Rise dual knife hand blocking

Magetori Barai Uke

The cross blocking

Kosa Uke

Rising block, upper-level blocking

Age Uke/Jodan Uke

The elbow blocking

Hiji Uke

Remove block

Hazushi Uke

The scissor blocking

Hasami Uke

The sweeping block

Hari Uke

The half-moon sweep block

Hangetsu Barai Uke

Back knife hand blocking

Haito Uke

The lower sideward sweep block

Gedan Yoko Barai Uke

The lower level blocking/ lower sweep

Gedan Uke/Gedan Barai

The middle sideward blocking

Chudan Yoko Uke

The middle inward blocking

Chudan Uchi Uke

The middle outward blocking

Chudan Soto Uke

The middle side circular blocking

Chudan Soto Mawashi Uke

Karate Terms For Body Parts

Fingers

Yubi

The sword arm

Wanto

Forearm

Ude

Toes

Tsumasaki

Wrists

Tekubi

Hands

The solar plexus

Suigetsu

Foot edge, foot blade

Sokuto

Sole of the foot

Sokutei

The foot

Soku

Nerves

Shinkei

The throat

Nodo

The chest

Mune

Eyes

The neck

Kubi

Ball of the foot

Zenzoku/Koshi

Hips

Koshi

The heel

Kakato

Knees

Hiza

Elbows

Empi/Hiji

The nose

Hana

The reverse foot

Haisoku

The head

Atama

Ankles

Ashi kubi

Leg, foot

Ashi

Jaw, chin

Ago

Karate Terms For Kicking Techniques

Flying a sidekick

Yoko Tobi Geri

Kick at the side

Yoko Geri

Kick at the back

Ushiro Geri

Hook or roundhouse kick

Ura Mawashi Geri

The toe kick

Tsumasaki Geri

Moon kick

Mikazuki Geri

Roundhouse kick top foot

Mawashi Geri

Flying the front kick

Mae Tobi Geri

Front kicking with heel

Mae Geri Kakato

Front kicking

Mae Geri

Kick at the chest area

Kyobu Geri

The groin kick

Kinteki Geri

The thrust kick

Keri Komi, Kekomi

Rising kick, snap kick

Keage/Keri Age

Reverse moon kick

Gyaku Mikazuki Geri

The abdomen kick

Fukubu Geri

Groin/ lower abdomen stop kick

Ashi Dome

Leg sweeping

Ashi Barai

Karate Terms For Knee Strikes

Flying round knee kicking

Mawashi Tobi Hiza Geri

Round knee kicking

Mawashi Hiza Geri

Front flying knee kicking

Mae Tobi Hiza Geri

Front knee kicking

Mae Hiza Geri

Karate Terms For Footwork

A half step

Yori Ashi

180-degree pivot

Tenkan Ashi

Front crossed step

Okuri Ashi

Switching the side

Kosa Ashi

Dodge, outside step

Hiraki Ashi

Backstep

Hiki Ashi

Normal walking

Ayumi Ashi

Karate Terms For Punching Techniques

Striking back fist

Uraken Uchi

Techniques for striking

Uchi Waza

Punching

Zuki/Tsuki

The iron hammer striking

Tettsui Uchi

Dual side punch

Sayu Zuki

Thumb knuckle, thumb fist

Oyayubi Lppon Ken

Chasing punch, lunge punch

Oi Zuki

Chasing punch, lunge punch

Oi Zuki

Dual horizontal punch

Morote Zuki

Dual spear hand thrusts

Morote Nuki Zuki

The hidden fist punching

Kakushi Zuki

The square punch

Kaku Zuki

The upper-level punching

Jodan Zuki

The reverse punching

Gyaku Zuki

The lower level punching

Gedan Zuki

The middle-level punching

Chudan Zuki

Dua vertical punching

Awase Zuki

The rising punch

Age Zuki

Karate Terms For Hand Techniques

Back knife-hand striking

Haito Uchi

The Eagle beak striking

Washide Uchi

Palm striking

Shotei Uchi/Teisho Uchi

The knife hand striking

Shuto Uchi

Bird hand striking

Toride Zuki

Chicken beak thrusts

Shi Zuki

The fore knuckle fisting

Ryotoken Zuki

The spear hand thrusts

Nukite Zuki

The two-finger striking

Nihon Nukite

Knuckle fist w/middle finger

Nakadaka Lppon Ken

The bear hand

Kumade Uchi

Fist with one finger

Ippon Ken

Karate Terms For Elbow Techniques

The side elbow striking

Yoko Hiji Ate

Back elbow striking

Ushiro Hiji Ate

Up elbow striking

Tate Hiji Ate

The assisted elbow striking

Sasae Hiji Ate

Round elbow striking

Mawashi Hiji Ate

Karate Terms For Evasion Techniques

The side evasion

Yoko Sabaki

Back oblique evasion

Naname Ushiro Sabaki

Oblique evasion at the back

Naname Mae Sabaki

Karate Terms For Titles & Ranks

Black belt ranks

Dan

Has no level

Mukyu

The ranks that are below a black belt

Kyu

5th level

Gokyu

Black belt with first degree

Shodan

Black belt with second degree

Nidan

Black belt with third degree

Sandan

Black belt with fourth degree

Yondan

Black belt with fifth degree

Godan

Black belt with sixth degree

Rokudan

Black belt with seventh degree

Nanadan

Black belt with eighth degree

Hachidan

Black belt with ninth degree

Kudan

Black belt with tenth degree

Judan

Experienced teacher

Kyoshi

The master teacher

Hanshi

Professor

Shihan

The dojo manager

Shidoshi

An assistant trainer

Shidoin

The teacher

Sensei

A senior student

Sempai/Senpai

A senior teacher

Renshi

Karate Terms For Directions

Aside, besides, side

Yoko

Rear, behind, back

Ushiro

Above, over

Below, under

Shita

Oblique

Naname

Within

Naka

Before, front

Mae

Japanese Helpsheet