Terminology

Karate Terminology Guide

Karate Terminology Guide 🥋

Your essential resource for Japanese karate terms.

Dojo Commands & Etiquette

Term Definition
yoiready
kamaettetake stance
naottereturn to ready stance
yamestop, finish
yasumerelax, rest
mawatteturn
mokusomeditation
mokuso yameend of meditation
hajimebegin
kiai iriteto shout

Counting in Japanese

Term Definition
ichione
nitwo
santhree
shifour
gofive
rokusix
shichiseven
hachieight
kunine
juten

Techniques & Positions

Term Definition
tsukipunch
uchistrike
oi tsukilunge punch
gyaku tsukireverse punch
uchikomidriving punch
ukeblock
baraiparry
keagehigh lift
kerikick
dachistance
oi geristep and kick
tobijumping or flying
sotooutside
uchiinside
mawashiroundhouse
ushiroback
sayuboth sides
yokoside
gyakureverse
migiright
hidarileft
hanmihalf-body
yonju go do45 degree

Weapons (Body Parts)

Hands & Arms

TermDefinition
seikenforefist
urakenbackhand
shutoknife hand
nukitespear hand
kokenwrist
shoteipalm heel
tettsuihammer fist
koteforearm
hijielbow

Feet & Legs

TermDefinition
chusokuball of foot
haisokuinstep
sokutoknife edge
hizaknee
kakatoheel
teisokuarch
suneshin

Stances & Kata

Stances (Dachi)

TermDefinition
keri no kamaekick stance
yoi/fudo dachiready stance
sanchin dachipigeontoe stance
zenkutsu dachifront leaning
kokutsu dachiback leaning
kiba dachihorse stance
musubi dachiheel together
heisoku dachifeet together
shiko dachisumo stance
kumite no kamaefighting stance

Kata (Forms)

TermDefinition
Shoshinshabeginner’s form
Kihonbasic form
Kumitefighting form
Nagethrowing form
Jissenreal fight form

Punches & Strikes

Term Definition
seiken chudan tsukiforefist middle punch
seiken jodan tsukiforefist upper punch
seiken ago uchiforefist chin strike
seiken shita tsukiforefist upper punch
uraken ganmen uchibackhand face strike
uraken sayu uchibackhand side strike
uraken hizo uchibackhand liver strike
uraken mawashi uchibackhand round strike
shuto ganmen uchiknife hand strike to face
shuto hizo uchiknife hand strike to liver
shuto sakotsu uchiknife hand strike to collarbone
shuto sakotsu uchikomidriving knife hand strike to collarbone
age tsukiupper punch
kagi tsukihook punch
hiji uchielbow strike
hiji age uchirising elbow strike
hiji otoshi uchidescending elbow strike
jun tsukipunch to side
tettsui uchihammer fist strike

Blocks (Uke)

Term Definition
jodan ukeupper block
chudan soto ukeoutside block
chudan uchi ukeinside block
gedan barailower parry
mawashi ukeroundhouse block
kake ukehook (neck) block
juji ukecross block
shuto ukeknife hand block
shotei ukepalm-heel block
enkeicircle block
hikkakeleg-hook block
hiji-hiza ukeelbow-knee block
nagashi-ukeabsorbing block
oshi-age ukepushing rising block

Kicks (Keri)

Term Definition
mae keagestraight front high lift
mae gerifront kick
mawashi geriroundhouse kick
sankaku geritriangle kick
hiza geriknee kick
kin gerigroin kick
yoko keageside high lift
yoko geriside kick
kansetsu gerijoint kick
ushiro geriback kick
kakato geriheel kick
kake gerihook kick
ushiro mawashi kake gerispinning back hook kick
uchimomo geriinside low kick
jikuashi gerisweep kick to supporting leg

Miscellaneous

Term Definition
mae mawariturning forwards
ushiro mawariturning backwards
makikomi nageforward throw
uranagebackwards throw
todome“finishing touch”
kimefocus, finish off
kerikomistep-in & kick
iremibody moving in
kyushuskip away to absorb impact
mikirijudging distance
nihon tsukidouble punch
sanbon tsukitriple punch
seika tandenbody between groin & navel
hiki taoshipull down
dojodojo
dogitraining uniform
obibelt
dogi naoshitetidy your uniform
misete kudasaiplease show me

Class Procedures

Before Class

TermDefinition
narandeline up
otagai ni reibow to one another
seizakneel down
mokusomeditation
mokuso yameend of meditation
Senpai ni(from students) to instructor
Onegai shimasuplease teach me/us
tadaima yori keiko hajime masfrom now start our training
tachi masjump up

After Class

TermDefinition
korede hongitsu no keiko owari masnow, finish our training
narandeline up
seizakneel down
dojo kuntraining hall oath
mokusomeditation
mokuso yameend of meditation
Senpai ni(from students) to instructor
Arigato gozaimasuthank you
Karate-ka ni(from Senpai) to students
Domo arigato gozaimasuthank you very much
tate kudasaistand up

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