Japanese Terminology
Basic Karate Terms
Karate空手 Empty hand
Karate-dō空手道 The way of the empty hand
Dōjō道場 Place of training
Sensei先生 Teacher / instructor
Shihan師範 Master instructor / senior teacher
Senpai先輩 Senior student
Kōhai後輩 Junior student
Karateka空手家 Karate practitioner
Osu / Oss押忍 Common expression of acknowledgement, perseverance and respect in karate
Rei礼 Bow / respectGi /
Karate-gi道着 Karate uniform
Obi帯 Belt
Training & Movement
Hajime 始め Begin / start
Yame 止め Stop
Mawatte 回って Turn
Yoi 用意 Ready / prepare
Kamae 構え Fighting stance / posture
Kiai 気合 Focused martial shout
Maai 間合い Distance / interval between opponents
Tai-sabaki 体捌きBody movement / body evasion
Zanshin 残心 Continued awareness
Mokuso 黙想 Meditation / quiet contemplation
Types of Kumite
Gohon Kumite五本組手Five-step sparring
Sanbon Kumite三本組手Three-step sparring
Kihon Ippon Kumite基本一本組手Basic one-step sparring
Jiyu Ippon Kumite自由一本組手Semi-free one-step sparring
Jiyu Kumite自由組手Free sparring
Stances — Dachi / Tachi
Hachiji-dachi 八字立ちNatural stance with feet approximately shoulder-width apart
Heisoku-dachi 閉足立ちFeet together stance
Zenkutsu-dachi 前屈立ちFront stance
Kokutsu-dachi 後屈立ちBack stance
Kiba-dachi 騎馬立ちHorse stance
Fudō-dachi 不動立ちImmovable stance
Punches — Tsuki / Zuki
Choku-zuki 直突きStraight punchOi-zuki 追い突きLunge / stepping punch
Jun-zuki 順突きSame-side stepping punch
Gyaku-zuki 逆突きReverse punch
Kizami-zuki 刻み突きLead-hand punch
Age-zuki 上げ突きRising punch
Blocks — Uke
Age-uke 上げ受けRising block
Gedan-barai 下段払いDownward sweeping block
Soto-uke 外受けOutside block
Uchi-uke 内受けInside block
Shutō-uke 手刀受けKnife-hand block
Morote-uke 諸手受けAugmented / two-hand block
Kicks — Keri
Mae-geri 前蹴りFront kick
Yoko-geri keage 横蹴り蹴上げSide snap kick
Yoko-geri kekomi 横蹴り蹴込みSide thrust kick
Mawashi-geri 回し蹴りRoundhouse kickUshiro-geri 後ろ蹴りBack kick
Fumikomi 踏み込みStamping / penetrating kick
Heian Kata
Heian Shodan 平安初段
Heian Nidan 平安二段
Heian Sandan 平安三段
Heian Yondan 平安四段
Heian Godan 平安五段
Tekki Kata
Tekki Shodan 鉄騎初段
Tekki Nidan 鉄騎二段
Tekki Sandan 鉄騎三段
Sentei / Standard Kata
Bassai Dai 抜塞大
Kanku Dai 観空大
Enpi 燕飛
Jion 慈恩
Advanced Kata
Jitte 十手
Hangetsu 半月
Gankaku 岩鶴
Bassai Sho 抜塞小
Kanku Sho 観空小
Chinte 珍手
Unsu 雲手
Meikyo 明鏡
Wankan 王冠
Sochin 壯鎭
Nijushiho 二十四歩
Gojushiho Dai 五十四歩大
Gojushiho Sho 五十四歩小