Japanese Karate Terms

General Terms

Empty Hand Karate ( Kara = Empty, Te = Hand)
The way of Do
The way place (training hall) Dojo
Martial way Budo
Teacher Sensei
Bow Rei
Ready Yoi
Begin / Start Hajime
Stop Yame
Basics Kihon
Sparring Kumite
3-step sparring Sanbon kumite
5-step sparring Gohon kumite
Free sparring Jiyu kumite
Shout of spirit or focus Ki-ai
Focus Kime
Centre Hara
Distancing Ma-ai
Kneeling / Sitting Seiza
Upper level Jodan
Middle level Chudan
Lower level Gedan
Left Hidari
Right Migi
Inside Uchi
Outside Soto
Turn Mawate
Front Mae
Side Yoko
Snap Keage
Thrust Kekomi
Jump Tobi
Rising Age
Close range Ura
Vertical Tate
Arm Wan
Hand Te
Foot or leg Ashi
Forearm Ude
Back of the arm Haiwan
Ball of the foot Koshi
Heel Kakato
Knee Hiza

 

Stances

Dachi Stance
Heisoku Dachi / Musubi Dachi Informal attention stance
Heiko Dachi Parallel Stance
Hachiji Dachi Open Leg Stance
Shizentai Natural Stance
Zenkutsu Dachi Front Stance
Kokutsu Dachi Back Stance
Renoji Dachi L Stance
Teiji Dachi T Stance
Kiba Dachi Horse Riding Stance
Fudo Dachi Rooted Stance
Shiko Dachi Square Stance
Neko-Ashi Dachi Cat Stance
Hengetsu Dachi Half-Moon Stance
Sanchin Dachi Hour-glass Stance
Kosa Dachi Cross-legged Stance
Sochin Dachi Immovable Stance
Gankaku Dachi Crane Stance
Juyi Ippon Kumite Semi-freestyle Stance
Juyi Kumite Gamae Freestyle Stance

 

Blocks

Uke Block
Age Uke Upper Rising Block
Gedan Barai Downward Block
Uchi Ude Uke Inside Forearm Block
Soto Ude Uke Outside Forearm Block
Shuto Uke Knife-hand Block
Tate Uke Vertical Block
Tate Shuto Uke Vertical Knife Hand Block
Haiwan Uke Back Arm Block
Haishu Uke Back of Hand Block
Nagashi Uke Sweeping Block
Osae Uke Pressing Block
Juji Uke X Block
Kakiwake Uke Wedge Block
Morote Uke Augmented Block
Awase Uke Combination Block
Sukuki Uke Scooping Block
Manji Uke Vortex Block
Otoshi Uke Dropping Block
Empi Uke Elbow Block
Teisho Uke Palm Heel Block
Haito Uke Ridge Hand Block
Mawashi Uke Roundhouse Block

Kicks

Keri (changes to Geri when used with another word) Kick
Mae Geri Front Kick
Yoko Geri Side Kick
Yoko Keage Geri Side Snap Kick
Yoko Kekomi Geri Side Thrust Kick
Mawashi Geri Roundhouse Kick
Ushiro Geri Back Kick
Mikazuki Geri Crescent Kick
Ushiro Mawashi Geri Reverse Roundhouse Kick
Gyaku Mawashi Geri Inside Roundhouse Kick
Ashi Barai Sweeping Kick
Fumikomi Geri Stamping Kick
Fumikiri Geri Cutting Kick
Hiza Geri Knee Kick
Nidan Geri Double Kick
Ren Geri Consecutive/Combination Kicking
Tobi Geri Jumping Kick
Kin Geri Groin Kick
Nami Ashi Returning Wave Kick
Kakato Geri Axe Kick
Gedan Kesage Lower Level downward Kick

Punches

Tsuki (changes to Zuki when used with another word) Punch
Oi Zuki Stepping Punch
Gyaku Zuki Reverse Punch
Choku Zuki Straight Punch
Kizami Zuki Jabbing Punch
Tate Zuki Vertical Punch
Age Zuki Rising Punch
Ura Zuki Close Punch
Ippon Ken One Knuckle Fist
Kagi Zuki Hook Punch
Mawashzi Zuki Roundhouse Punch
Morote Zuki Augmented Punch
Sanbon Zsuki Three Punches
Awase Zuki Combined Punch

Strikes

Uchi Strike
Shuto Uchi Knife hand Strike
Haito Uchi Ridge-hand Strike
Haishu Uchi Back-hand Strike
Uraken Uchi Back Fist Strike
Teisho Uchi Palm Heel Strike
Hiraken Uchi Fore Knuckle Strike
Nukite Uchi Spear Hand
Ippon Nukite One Finger Strike
Ippon Ken Uchi One Knuckle Strike
Nakadaka Ken Uchi Middle Finger Strike
Tettsui Uchi Bottom /Hammer Fist Strike
Nihon Nukite Two Finger Strike
Empi Uchi Elbow Strike
Mawashi Empi Uchi Roundhouse Elbow Strike
Ushiro Empi Uchi Reverse Elbow Strike
Keito Uchi Chicken Head Strike