| Term |
Definition |
| AGE |
Rising. |
| AGE TSUKI |
rising punch |
| AGE UCHI |
Upward strike. |
| AKA |
Red. |
| AKA (SHIRO) IPPON |
Tournament: Red (or white) scores a full point. The referee raises his arm on the side of the point scorer. |
AKA (SHIRO) NO KACHI
(NO KACHI pronounced 'no kutch') |
Tournament: red (or white) wins! The referee raises his arm on the side of the winner. |
| ANTEI |
balance |
ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA
(pronouced 'arligato goz-a-mush-ta') |
Thank you for what you have done. |
ARIGATO GOZAIMASU
(pronouced 'arligato goz-a-mus-ooo') |
Thank you for what you are doing. |
| ASHI BARAI |
Foot sweep. |
| BUDO |
The martial way. The japanese character for BU (martial) is derived from characters meaning, stop and a weapon. In martial arts, there is an assumption that the best way to prevent violent conflict is to emphasize the cultivation of individual character. the way (DO) of karate is thus equivalent to the way of BU, taken in this sense of preventing or avoiding violence so far as possible. |
| BUKI |
weapons |
| BUNKAI |
A study of the techniques and applications in KATA. |
| BUSHIDO |
The way of the warrior. |
| CHUDAN (middle) |
Mid-section of the body. The other two areas are jodan (upper) and gedan (lower). |
| CHUDAN TSUKI (middle + punch) |
Punch to the mid-section of the opponent\'s body |
| CHUDAN UKE(middle + block) |
Mid-section block. |
CHUI
(warning, pronounced 'chewy') |
Tournament: a warning. The referee points to the side who is receiving the warning. |
DACHI
(stance, pronounced 'dutchy') |
A stance. eg. Normal stance is 'fudo dachi'. Horse riding stance is 'kiba dachi'. |
| DAN (level) |
Level. Used when referring to a rank of black belt (first dan) or above. |
| DESHI (student) |
Student. eg. Ushi Deshi, a student who lives and trains at the dojo. |
| DO (way) |
The way or the path. The Japanese character for DO is the same as the Chinese character for Tao (as in Taoism). In Karate, the connotation is that of a way of attaining enlightenment or a way of improving one\'s character through traditional training. |
DOGI (uniform)
(pronounced 'dough-gee') |
The karate uniform. |
| DOJO (training place) |
Literally, Place of the Way. Also, Place of Enlightenment. The place where we practice Karate. Traditional etiquette prescribes bowing in the direction of the designated front of the dojo (the SHOMEN) when both entering or leaving the dojo. |
DOJO KUN
(dojo + oath, pronounced 'dojo koon'') |
The maxims of a school. They vary from style to style and art to art. In Kyokushin our dojo kun starts off with 'We will train our hearts and bodies for a firm unshaking spirit'. |
| DOMO (thanks) |
Saying thanks. (a very casual way of saying thank you that should never be used to a senior or superior) |
DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA
(pronouced 'domo arligato, goz-a-mush-ta') |
Japanese for thank you very much. At the end of each class, it is proper to bow and thank the instructor and those with whom you\'ve trained. |
| DOSA |
Drill, exercise. |
| ENSHU |
A drill or exercise. |
| FUDO DACHI (ready + stance) |
Ready stance. Feet a little less than shoulder width apart, slightly facing out. A very natural, comfortable standing position. |
| GAMMEN |
The back of the fist or the knuckles. |
| GAMMEN UCHI (face + strike) |
back fist snap strike |
| GANMEN (face) |
The face or the front of head. eg. Uraken Ganmen Uchi - backfist face strike |
| GEDAN (lower) |
The lower section of the body. The other two areas are jodan (upper) and chudan (middle). |
| GEDAN BARAI (lower + block) |
The lower block. Starts up at your ear and ends (while rotating) down just above your knee. |
| GEDAN JUJI UKE (lower + two hands crossed + block) |
The lower cross block. Starts at your chest and ends (while rotating) just below your groin. |
GEDAN TSUKI (lower + punch)
(pronouced 'gedan ski') |
A punch to the lower section of the body |
| GEDAN UKE (lower + block) |
A lower block. |
| GERI (kick) |
A kick. There are various, kin geri(groin), mawashi geri (round house, circular), mae geri (front) etc |
| GODAN |
The fifth level. |
| GYAKU (reverse) |
Reverse, opposite, or mirror image. Used when describing the reverse punch - gyaku tsuki (pronounced 'gya-ski') |
GYAKU TSUKI (reverse + punch)
pronounced 'gya-ski' |
The reverse punch. |
| HACHIJI DACHI (natural + stance) |
A natural stance, feet positioned about one shoulder width apart, with feet pointed slightly outward (soto hachiji dachi) or inward (uchi hachiji dachi). |
| HAISHO (back of the hand) |
The back of the hand or the back of the palm. |
| HAISOKU (foot instep) |
The instep of the foot. The part we would call the arch. |
| HAITO (ridge hand) |
The ridge hand. Hand flat, palm down, thumb hidden under palm. Striking edge is the area of the thumb and hand. |
| HIDARI (left) |
Lfet, as opposed to migi (right). |
| HIJI (elbow) |
Elbow. |
| HIKIWAKE (draw) |
Tournament. A Draw. |
| HIZA GERI (knee + kick) |
Knee kick. |
| HOMBU DOJO |
The main or head dojo of the entire organisation. |
| IBUKI |
A breathing method featuring a long exhalation followed by a short cough to empty the lungs |
| ICHI (one) |
One, the number. In counting to ten - ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shitch hutch, kyu, ju. |
| IPPON KEN (one + knuckle-fist) |
One knuckle fist (first knuckle). |
| IPPON KUMITE (one + sparring) |
One step sparring with an opponent. Here a predetermined number of block, hand techniques, kicks and strikes are continuously performed. |
| IPPON NUKITE (one + finger) |
Finger stabbing action using a single extended index finger. |
| JODAN (upper) |
Upper level. The other two areas are chudan (middle) and gedan (lower) |
| JODAN TSUKI (upper + punch) |
|
| JODAN UKE |
The upper block. A block that starts slightly diagonal at the chest and pushes up above the headline. |
| JU (ten) |
The number ten (10). |
| KAKATO |
The heel. eg. Kakato Geri (stamping heel kick). |
| KAKATO GERI |
Downward stamping kick using heel. |
| KAKE UKE |
Hook block. |
| KAMAE |
posture or stance either with or without a weapon |
| KAMAE-TE |
Command given by the instructor for students to get into position. |
| KANSETSU GERI |
Downward knee-joint kick. |
| KARATE |
Empty hand. |
| KARATE-DO |
The Way of Karate. This implies not only the physical aspect of Karate, but also the mental and social aspects of Karate. |
| KARATEKA |
Student of karate. |
| KATA |
A prescribed pattern of movement. A sequence of movements. |
| KEAGE |
A kick which is really used to stretch the hamstrings. Similar to an axe kick. eg. mae keage |
| KEIKO |
Training (the only secret to success in karate). |
| KEMPO |
Fist law. A generic term to describe fighting systems that uses the fist. In this regard, KARATE is also KEMPO. |
| KENTSUI |
Hammer fist. Also known as TETTSUI. |
| KI |
Mind. Spirit. Energy. Vital-force. Intention. The definition is one that cannot be translated directly into any language. |
| KIAI |
A loud shout delivered for the purpose of focusing all of one's energy into a single movement. A simultaneous union of spirit and expression of physical strength. One should try to express the feeling of KIAI at certain crucial points within Karate techniques. |
| KIBA DACHI |
Horse-riding stance. |
| KIHON |
A fundamental, basic technique. |
| KOHAI |
A student junior to oneself. |
| KOKEN |
The wrist joint. |
| KOKUTSU DACHI |
The stance which has most of the weight on the back foot. The back stance. |
| KUBI |
The neck/shoulder. eg Shuto Kubi Uchi (knife hand neck strike). |
| KYU |
A class or grade . Any rank below Shodan (black belt). eg 10th Kyu is what we call a student with a red belt. |
| MAE |
To the front. eg. Mae Geri (front kick). |
| MAE GERI |
A front kick. |
| MAE KEAGE |
A kick which is really used to stretch the hamstrings. Similar to an axe kick. |
| MAKIWARA |
A punching board. Embedded in the ground extending up just over waist height, used to harden knuckes and improve the snap in punches. |
| MAWASHI |
Roundhouse or circular. |
| MAWASHI GERI |
A roundhouse kick. A circular kick used to attack the side of an opponents body. The body action is similar to swinging a baseball bat. |
| MAWASHI UKE |
Roundhouse or circular block. |
| MAWAT-TE |
A command commonly used during basics training, given by an instructor to students to get them to turn around. |
| MIGI |
The right side. eg. Migi Sanshin dachi (inside hooked stance). |
| MOKUSO |
Meditation. Training begins and ends with a brief period of meditation, the purpose of which is to clear ones mind. Meditation is also an opportunity to become aware of thoughts and behaviors so that such patterns can be modified, eliminated or more efficiently put to use. |
| MOROTE |
Two handed. Using both hand. With two hands. |
| MOROTE TSUKI |
Punch with both hands. |
| MUSUBI DACHI |
The attention stance. Heels together, feet moderately apart. |
| NEKO ASHI DACHI |
Cat stance or hooked stance. Left leg hooks around to the back of the right calf with ball of the foot (chusoku) firmly on the ground. |
| NIDAN |
Second Level. Can be used when referringto a second level black belt. |
| NIHON+NUKITE |
Two finger spear handed strike. |
| NUKITE |
.Spear hand. Fingers together, thumb tucked under the fingers. Commonly used in forward striking to the eyes or throat. |
| OBI |
The karate belt or knot. |
| OHAYO GOZAIMASU |
Good morning. |
| OI |
Lunge eg. Oi Tsuki (pronounced 'oi-tski', front lunge punch). |
| OI TSUKI |
A lunge punch. Same arm and leg forward as opposed to the Gyaki Tsuki (pronounced 'gya-tski', the reverse punch.) |
| ONEGAI SHIMASU |
I welcome you to train with me, or literally, I make a request. This is said to ones partner when initiating practice. |
| OSHIETE KUDASAI |
Please teach me. A polite way to get some time with a more experinced student/instructor. |
| OSU |
Takes many meanings. I understand, yes, thank you, hello. But traditionally means, I will perservere. I will endure. |
| OTAGAI NI |
To each other. eg. otagani rei (bow to each other). |
| REI |
Respect. The method of showing respect in Japanese culture is the bow. It is proper for the junior person to bow lower than the senior person. |
| ROKU |
The number 6. As in ichi, ni, san, shi, go roku... |
| RYU |
Style. Commonly used as a suffix to the name of the martial arts style. |
| SAGARI |
To go backwards. Commonly used when requesting the technique be done while walking backwards. |
| SAIFA |
The final breaking point . eg Saifa Kata. |
| SANCHIN |
The three battles . eg Sanchin Kata. |
| SANCHIN DACHI |
The hour-glass stance or three point stance. |
| SANDAN |
The third level. Commonly used to describe a sensei level, 3rd dan black belt. |
| SAYONARA |
Goodbye. |
| SEIKEN |
The forefist. |
| SEIZA |
The kneeling position. Sitting on your knees. Used for the formal opening and closing of the class |
| SEMPAI |
A senior student. Usually used by a lower rank when addressing a senior rank. |
| SENSEI |
A teacher. It is usually considered proper to address the instructor during practice as Sensei rather than by his/her name. If the instructor is a permanent instructor for ones DOJO, it is proper to address him/her as Sensei off the mat as well. |
| SENSEI NI REI |
Bow to the sensei. Used when opening the class. |
| SHI |
The number four. eg. Ichi, ni, san, shi... |
| SHIHAN |
A formal title meaning, master instructor, teacher of teachers. |
