Japanese Terminology
The format of this page is to give the Japanese term first, then its phonetic pronunciation and then its meaning in English.
Commands
| Hajime | (ha’jeh-may) | Begin |
| Kamae | (ka-ma-eh) | On guard |
| Mawate | (ma-wa’tay) | Turn around |
| Mokuso | (mohk-soh’) | Quiet meditation |
| Yoi | (yo-ee) | Ready |
| Yame | (ya-meh) | Stop |
| Seiza | (say’za) | Sit back on heels |
| Rei | (ray) | Bow |
| Sensei ni rei | (sen-say nee ray) | Bow to teacher |
| Otagai ni rei | (oh-ta’gay nee ray) | Bow to each other |
| Kiritsu | (kee-reet-soo) | Stand |
| Kokyu | (koh’kyoo) | Breathing |
| Matte | (mah’t-teh) | Break |
Stances – Dachi-waza
| Musubi-dachi | (mu-soo’bee da’chee) | Stance with heels together toes apart |
| Heiko-dachi | (hay’koh da’chee) | Parallel stance feet shoulder width apart |
| Zenkutsu-dachi | (zehn-kut’soo da’chee) | Forward or Standard stance |
| Shiko-dachi | (shee’koh da’chee) | Straddle stance with toes out |
| Neko-ashi-dachi | (nay-koh a-shee da’chee) | Cat stance |
| Sanchin-dachi | (san’cheen da’chee) | Hour glass stance |
| Kosa-dachi | (koh’sa da’chee) | Crossed leg stance |
| Sage-dachi | (sa-gee da’chee) | Single leg stance (supported) |
| Tsuru-ashi-dachi | (tsoo-roo-a’shee da’chee) | Crane stance |
| Kakato-dachi | (ka-ka’toh da’chee) | Heel stance |
| Teiji-dachi | (teh-gee da’chee) | T stance |
| Reinoji-dachi | (ray-no-gee da’chee) | L stance |
Punching Techniques – Tsuki-waza
| Choku-zuki | (choh-koo zoo’kee) | Straight punch |
| Gyaku-zuki | (yah’koo zoo’kee) | Reverse punch |
| Mae-ken | (ma-eh kehn) | Front hand punch |
| Oi-zuki | (oyh-ee zoo’kee) | Lunge punch |
| Tsuki-age | (tskee a-gay) | Rising punch or Uppercut |
| Ura-zuki | (oo’ra zoo’kee) | Close punch |
| Kage-zuki | (ka’gee zoo’kee) | Hook punch |
| Mawashi-zuki | (ma-wash’ee zoo’kee) | Roundhouse punch |
| Yama-zuki | (ya’ma zoo’kee) | Two handed U-punch (wide) |
| Awase-zuki | (aw-wa-seh zoo’kee) | Two handed U-punch |
| Hiraken-zuki | (hee-ra-kehn’ zoo’kee) | Four-knuckle punch (second joint) |
| Ippon-ken-zuki | (ee’pawn-ken zoo’kee) | One-knuckle punch (index finger) |
| Nakadaka-ippon-ken | (na-ka-da-ka ee’pawn ken) | One-knuckle punch with middle finger |
| Teisho-zuki | (tay’shoh zoo’kee) | Palm heel straight punch |
| Tateken-zuki | (ta’tay-ken zoo’kee) | Vertical fist punch , Mae-ken or Oi-zuki |
| Morote-zuki | (moh-roh-teh zoo’kee) | Double fist punch |
| Heiko-zuki | (hay’koh zoo’kee) | Parallel punch (as above, Morote-zuki) |
| Hasami-zuki | (ha-sa-mee zoo’kee) | Scissors punch (semicircle: hips-target) |
| Morote-ura-zuki | (moh-roh-teh oo’ra zoo’kee) | Double close punch |
| Nagashi-zuki | (na-gaa’shee zoo’kee) | Floating punch | Sekkyaku-zuki | (sek-ee oo’kay zoo’kee) | Flying Gyaku-zuki (punch on one leg) |
Striking Techniques – Uchi-waza
| Haishu-uchi | (heye’shoo oo’chee) | Back hand strike |
| Haito-uchi | (heye’toh oo’chee) | Ridge hand strike |
| Shuto-uchi | (shoo-toh oo’chee) | Knife hand strike |
| Teisho-uchi | (tay’shoh oo’chee) | Palm heel strike |
| Tettsui-uchi | (teht-soo-ee oo’chee) | Hammer fist strike |
| Mae-hijiate | (ma’eh-hee’gee-ateh) | Basic front elbow strike |
| Tate-hijiate | (ta-te hee’gee-ateh) | Front uppercut elbow strike |
| Yoko-hijiate | (yoh-koh hee’gee-ateh) | Side elbow strike |
| Ushiro-hijiate | (oo-shee’roh hee’gee-ateh) | Back elbow strike |
| Otoshi-hijiate | (oh-toh-shee hee’gee-ateh) | Downwards elbow strike |
| Kesa-hijiate | (keh’sa hee’gee-ateh) | Diagonal elbow strike |
| Mawari-yoko-hijiate | (ma-wa’ree yoh-koh hee’gee-ateh) | Spinning side elbow |
| Uraken | (oo’rah-ken) | Back fist strike |
| Ago-uchi | (ah’go oo’chee) | Jaw strike (from Jiin, rearhand blocking) |
| Nukite | (noo’kee’tay) | Spear hand strike |
| Nihon nukite | (nee’hohn noo’kee’tay) | Two finger spear hand |
| Yonhon nukite | (yon’hohn noo’kee’tay) | Four straight fingers spear hand |
| Kakuto-uchi | (ka-koo’toh oo’chee) | Bent wrist strike |
| Keito-uchi | (kay’toh oo’chee) | Chicken head wrist strike |
| Sakotsu-uchi-komi | (sa-koh’t-su oo’chee koh’mee) | Straight shuto thrust (as in Hachi-ban) |
| Hiraken-uchi | (hee-ra-kehn’ oo’chee) | Four-knuckle strike |
| Kumade-uchi | (koo-ma’day oo’chee) | Bear hand strike or Rake hand strike |
Kicking Techniques – Keri-waza
| Fumikomi | (foo’mee koh’mee) | Stamping kick |
| Fumikiri | (foo’mee kee’ree) | Cutting kick |
| Hiza-geri | (hee’za gay-ree) | Knee kick |
| Kin-geri | (keen gay-ree) | Groin kick |
| Ushiro-uchi | (oo-shee’roh oo’chee) | Hooking back heel kick |
| Mae-geri | (ma’eh gay-ree) | Front kick |
| Mae-geri-keage | (ma’eh gay-ree kay-a’gay) | Front snap kick |
| Mae-geri-kekomi | (ma’eh gay-ree kay’koh-mee) | Front thrust kick |
| Mae-tobi-geri | (ma’eh toh’bee gay-ree) | Flying front kick |
| Mawashi-geri | (ma-wash’ee gay-ree) | Roundhouse kick |
| Mawashi-tobi-geri | (ma-wash’ee toh’bee gay-ree) | Jumping roundhouse kick |
| Yoko-geri | (yoh-koh gay-ree) | Side kick |
| Yoko-geri-keage | (yoh-koh gay-ree kay-a’gay) | Side snap kick |
| Yoko-geri-kekomi | (yoh-koh gay-ree kay’koh-mee) | Side thrust kick |
| Yoko-tobi-geri | (yoh-koh toh’bee gay-ree) | Flying side kick |
| Ushiro-geri | (oo-shee’roh gay-ree) | Back kick |
| Ushiro-geri-keage | (oo-shee’roh gay-ree kay-a’gay) | Back snap kick |
| Ushiro-geri-kekomi | (oo-shee’roh gay-ree kay’koh-mee) | Back thrust kick |
| Ushiro-tobi-geri | (oo-shee’roh toh’bee gay-ree) | Jumping back kick |
| Ushiro-mawashi-geri | (oo-shee’roh ma-wash’ee gay-ree) | Reverse roundhouse kick |
| Ura-mawashi-geri | (oo’rah ma-wash’ee gay-ree) | Hooking kick |
| Mikazuki-geri | (mee-ka-zoo’kee gay-ree) | Crescent kick |
| Kakato-geri | (ka-ka’toh gay-ree) | Axe kick |
Blocking Techniques – Uke-waza
| Jodan uke | (joh’dan oo’kay) | Rising block with forearm above head |
| Chudan uke | (choo’dan oo’kay) | Middle level inner forearm block |
| Gedan barai | (gay’dan ba-reye) | Downward block |
| Soto-uke | (soh’toh oo’kay) | Outside block |
| Juji-uke | (joo’jee-oo’kay) | X block or cross block |
| Kake-uke | (ka’kay oo’kay) | Hooking block |
| Kake-te | (ka’kay teh) | Hook hand |
| Tekuki-kake-uke | (tehk-oo-kee kah-kee oo’kay) | Wrist hooking block |
| Kakuto-uke | (ka-koo’toh oo’kay) | Bent wrist block |
| Mawashi-uke | (ma-wash’ee oo’kay) | Circular block |
| Mine-uke | (mee’nee oo’kay) | Bent wrist back hand block |
| Morote-uke | (moh-roh-teh oo’kay) | Two handed forearm block |
| Tazuna-uke | (ta-zoo’na oo’kay) | Double block (palms rotated outward) |
| Nagashi-uke | (na-gaa’shee oo’kay) | Sweeping block |
| Shuto-uke | (shoo-toh oo’kay) | Knife hand block |
| Gedan shuto barai | (gay’dan shoo-toh ba-reye) | Downward knife hand block |
| Sukui-uke | (soo-koo’ee oo’kay) | Scooping block |
| Nami-ashi | (na’mee a’shee) | Inside snapping block with foot |
| Teisho-uke | (tay’shoh oo’kay) | Palm heel block |
| Tettsui-uke | (teht-soo-ee oo’kay) | Hammer fist block |
| Uchi-otoshi | (oo’chee oh-toh’shee) | Dropping block |
| Ashi-kake-uke | (a’shee ka’kay oo’kay) | Leg hooking block |
| Sune-uke | (suh-nay oo’kay) | Shin block |
Other Terms
| Ashi-barai | (a’shee ba-reye) | Sweeping ankle throw |
| Sensei | (sen’say) | Teacher (literally ‘born before’.) |
| Osu | (oo’s) | Means ‘request’, ‘affirmation’, or ‘push ahead’ |
| Jodan | (joh’dan) | High level (from the neck upward) |
| Chudan | (choo’dan) | Middle level (from the neck down to the navel) |
| Gedan | (gay’dan) | Low level (from the navel down) |
| Kamae | (ka-ma-eh) | “attitude” or “posture” |
| Hidari | (hee-da’ree) | Left |
| Migi | (mee’gee) | Right |
| Hikite | (hee’kee-teh) | Drawing or pulling hand |
| Dojo | (doh’joh) | Training place (lit. place of the Way) |
| Gi | (gee) | A Karate uniform, dogi or simply called a Gi |
| Ki | (kee) | Spirit |
| Kime | (kee-meh) | Focus (the concentration of Ki) |
| Kata | (ka’ta) | Forms, the traditional prearranged exercises |
| Tori | (tau-reh) | “Taker”, person performing a technique on the other partner |
| Uke (1) | (oo’kay) | “Receiver”, 1.Partner upon whom a technique is performed |
| Uke (2) | (oo’kay) | 2.To block |
| Kiai | (kee’eye) | Spirit shout |
| Kihon | (kee’hohn) | Basics or basic training |
| Kumite | (koo’mee-teh) | Sparring or combat |
| Bunkai | (bun-keye) | Analysis of technique and practical kata applications |
| Zanshin | (zan’sheen) | “perfect posture” |
| Kyu | (kyoo) | “grade”, rank designation below black belt |
| Dan | (dan) | “rank” or “degree”, rank of at least first level black belt |
| Tai Sabaki | (teye sa-ba’kee) | Body movement, one’s position in relation to the opponents |
| Ashi Sabaki | (aw-shee sa-ba’kee) | Foot work or foot movement |
| Tanden | (tan-den) | Abdomen, centre of balance (also known as Hara) |
| Koshi | (koh’shee) | Ball of the foot, or the hip |
| Tsumasaki | (tsoo-ma-sa-kee) | Tips of the toes |
| Haisoku | (heye-sok-koo) | Instep |
| Haishu | (heye’shoo) | Backhand |
| Haito | (heye’toh) | Index finger edge of hand (ridge hand) |
| Hirate | (hee-ra-teh) | Fore knuckle as used in Hiraken and Ippon-ken |
| Hiza | (hee-sa) | Knee |
| Kakato | (ka-ka-toh) | Heel |
| Seiryuto | (seer-yuh-toh) | Ox-jaw part of hand used in shuto |
| Seiken | (see-ken) | Fore-fist, two largest knuckles of hand |
| Shuto | (shoo’toh) | Edge of hand |
| Sokuto | (so-kuh-toh) | Blade of foot |
| Teisho | (tay’shoo) | Palm heel |
| Teisoku | (tay-soh-koh) | Sole of foot |
| Ude | (oo’day) | Forearm |
| Ukemi | (oo’key’mee) | Breakfall |