Dojo Commands & Etiquette
Term |
Definition |
yoi | ready |
kamaette | take stance |
naotte | return to ready stance |
yame | stop, finish |
yasume | relax, rest |
mawatte | turn |
mokuso | meditation |
mokuso yame | end of meditation |
hajime | begin |
kiai irite | to shout |
Counting in Japanese
Term |
Definition |
ichi | one |
ni | two |
san | three |
shi | four |
go | five |
roku | six |
shichi | seven |
hachi | eight |
ku | nine |
ju | ten |
Techniques & Positions
Term |
Definition |
tsuki | punch |
uchi | strike |
oi tsuki | lunge punch |
gyaku tsuki | reverse punch |
uchikomi | driving punch |
uke | block |
barai | parry |
keage | high lift |
keri | kick |
dachi | stance |
oi geri | step and kick |
tobi | jumping or flying |
soto | outside |
uchi | inside |
mawashi | roundhouse |
ushiro | back |
sayu | both sides |
yoko | side |
gyaku | reverse |
migi | right |
hidari | left |
hanmi | half-body |
yonju go do | 45 degree |
Weapons (Body Parts)
Hands & Arms
Term | Definition |
seiken | forefist |
uraken | backhand |
shuto | knife hand |
nukite | spear hand |
koken | wrist |
shotei | palm heel |
tettsui | hammer fist |
kote | forearm |
hiji | elbow |
Feet & Legs
Term | Definition |
chusoku | ball of foot |
haisoku | instep |
sokuto | knife edge |
hiza | knee |
kakato | heel |
teisoku | arch |
sune | shin |
Stances & Kata
Stances (Dachi)
Term | Definition |
keri no kamae | kick stance |
yoi/fudo dachi | ready stance |
sanchin dachi | pigeontoe stance |
zenkutsu dachi | front leaning |
kokutsu dachi | back leaning |
kiba dachi | horse stance |
musubi dachi | heel together |
heisoku dachi | feet together |
shiko dachi | sumo stance |
kumite no kamae | fighting stance |
Kata (Forms)
Term | Definition |
Shoshinsha | beginner’s form |
Kihon | basic form |
Kumite | fighting form |
Nage | throwing form |
Jissen | real fight form |
Punches & Strikes
Term |
Definition |
seiken chudan tsuki | forefist middle punch |
seiken jodan tsuki | forefist upper punch |
seiken ago uchi | forefist chin strike |
seiken shita tsuki | forefist upper punch |
uraken ganmen uchi | backhand face strike |
uraken sayu uchi | backhand side strike |
uraken hizo uchi | backhand liver strike |
uraken mawashi uchi | backhand round strike |
shuto ganmen uchi | knife hand strike to face |
shuto hizo uchi | knife hand strike to liver |
shuto sakotsu uchi | knife hand strike to collarbone |
shuto sakotsu uchikomi | driving knife hand strike to collarbone |
age tsuki | upper punch |
kagi tsuki | hook punch |
hiji uchi | elbow strike |
hiji age uchi | rising elbow strike |
hiji otoshi uchi | descending elbow strike |
jun tsuki | punch to side |
tettsui uchi | hammer fist strike |
Blocks (Uke)
Term |
Definition |
jodan uke | upper block |
chudan soto uke | outside block |
chudan uchi uke | inside block |
gedan barai | lower parry |
mawashi uke | roundhouse block |
kake uke | hook (neck) block |
juji uke | cross block |
shuto uke | knife hand block |
shotei uke | palm-heel block |
enkei | circle block |
hikkake | leg-hook block |
hiji-hiza uke | elbow-knee block |
nagashi-uke | absorbing block |
oshi-age uke | pushing rising block |
Kicks (Keri)
Term |
Definition |
mae keage | straight front high lift |
mae geri | front kick |
mawashi geri | roundhouse kick |
sankaku geri | triangle kick |
hiza geri | knee kick |
kin geri | groin kick |
yoko keage | side high lift |
yoko geri | side kick |
kansetsu geri | joint kick |
ushiro geri | back kick |
kakato geri | heel kick |
kake geri | hook kick |
ushiro mawashi kake geri | spinning back hook kick |
uchimomo geri | inside low kick |
jikuashi geri | sweep kick to supporting leg |
Miscellaneous
Term |
Definition |
mae mawari | turning forwards |
ushiro mawari | turning backwards |
makikomi nage | forward throw |
uranage | backwards throw |
todome | “finishing touch” |
kime | focus, finish off |
kerikomi | step-in & kick |
iremi | body moving in |
kyushu | skip away to absorb impact |
mikiri | judging distance |
nihon tsuki | double punch |
sanbon tsuki | triple punch |
seika tanden | body between groin & navel |
hiki taoshi | pull down |
dojo | dojo |
dogi | training uniform |
obi | belt |
dogi naoshite | tidy your uniform |
misete kudasai | please show me |
Class Procedures
Before Class
Term | Definition |
narande | line up |
otagai ni rei | bow to one another |
seiza | kneel down |
mokuso | meditation |
mokuso yame | end of meditation |
Senpai ni | (from students) to instructor |
Onegai shimasu | please teach me/us |
tadaima yori keiko hajime mas | from now start our training |
tachi mas | jump up |
After Class
Term | Definition |
korede hongitsu no keiko owari mas | now, finish our training |
narande | line up |
seiza | kneel down |
dojo kun | training hall oath |
mokuso | meditation |
mokuso yame | end of meditation |
Senpai ni | (from students) to instructor |
Arigato gozaimasu | thank you |
Karate-ka ni | (from Senpai) to students |
Domo arigato gozaimasu | thank you very much |
tate kudasai | stand up |