Karate Terminology
First of all, don’t panic! you don’t need to be fluent in Japanese.
Here you will find the terminology use in our club on your way to becoming a black belt with the KUGB
General Phrases/Words
| Japanese |
English |
| Dojo |
Training Hall |
| Sensei |
Instructor |
| Rei |
Bow |
| Migi |
Right |
| Kamae-te |
Move to ready position |
| Mawatte |
Turn |
| Gi |
Karate suit |
| Kime |
Focus |
| Kihon |
Basic techniques |
| Kumite |
Sparring |
| Jodan |
Head |
| Chudan |
Middle body |
| Gedan |
Lower body |
| Dojo Kun |
Dojo code |
| Seiza |
Kneel |
| Yoi |
Ready |
| Hidari |
Left |
| Hajime |
Start/begin |
| Yame |
Finish/stop |
| Obi |
Belt |
| Kiai |
Martial shout |
| Kata |
Formal exercises |
| Zanshin |
Martial state of mind or awareness |
| Oss |
Respectful greeting or acknowledgment or understanding of a command |
Dachi – Stances
| Japanese |
English |
| Heiko dachi |
Natural stance |
| Musubi dachi |
Informal stance |
| Kiba dachi |
Straddle stance |
| Kokutsu dachi |
Back stance |
| Heisoku dachi |
Feet together stance |
| Zenkutsu dachi |
Front stance |
| Shiko dachi |
Open leg/Sumo stance |
Uke – Blocks
| Japanese |
English |
| Gedan Barai |
Downward block |
| Soto Uke |
Outside block |
| Shuto uke |
Knife hand block |
| Nagashi uke |
Sweeping block |
| Empi uke |
Elbow block |
| Morote uke |
Augmented block |
| Age Uke |
Rising block |
| Uchi Uke |
Inside block |
| Tate Shuto uke |
Vertical knife hand block |
| Haishu uke |
Back hand block |
| Juji uke |
X block |
| Kakewake uke |
Wedge block |
Tsuki – Punches
| Japanese |
English |
| Kara/Choku tsuki |
Straight punch |
| Kizami tsuki |
Front hand punch |
| Kagi tsuki |
Hook punch |
| Sanbon tsuki |
Three punch combination |
| Oi tsuki |
Stepping punch |
| Gyaku tsuki |
Reverse punch |
| Ren tsuki |
Two punch combination |
Uchi – Strikes
| Japanese |
English |
| Age empi uchi |
Rising elbow strike |
| Mawashi empi uchi |
Round elbow strike |
| Tate empi uchi |
Downward elbow strike |
| Uraken uchi |
Back fist strike |
| Nukite |
Spear hand thrust |
| Haito uchi |
Ridge hand strike |
| Yoko empi uchi |
Side elbow strike |
| Ushiro empi uchi |
Reverse elbow strike |
| Shuto uchi |
Knife hand strike |
| Tetsui uchi |
Hammer fist strike |
| Teisho uchi |
Palm heel strike |
Geri – Kicks
| Japanese |
English |
| Mae geri |
Front kick |
| Yoko geri kekomi |
Side thrust kick |
| Ushiro geri |
Back kick |
| Ren geri |
Kicking combinations stepping between kicks |
| Yoko geri keage |
Side snap kick |
| Mawashi geri |
Roundhouse kick |
| Hiza geri |
Knee kick |
| Nidan geri |
Two kicks with same leg without step between |
Kumite – Sparring
| Japanese |
English |
| Sanbon Kumite |
Three step sparring |
| Kihon Ippon Kumite |
Basic one-step sparring |
| Kaishi Ippon Kumite |
Reaction sparring |
| Gohon Kumite |
Five step sparring |
| Jiyu Ippon Kumite |
Semi-free style sparring |
| Jiyu Kumite |
Free style sparring |
Become a Black Belt in Karate
