Aka

Red See also: Shiro

Ate

Strike or smash. See also: Kite, Tsuki, Uchi

Hiji Ate

Elbow Strike

Body Parts

Ashi

Leg. Leg movement.

Oi Ashi

Rear foot moving past the front foot. Full step.

Okuri Ashi

Rear foot moving forward.

Sugi Ashi

Rear foot moving to the front foot. Half step.

Yori Ashi

Front foot moving forward.

Empe

Elbow See also: Hiji

Haisho

Back of the open hand.

Haito

Inside edge (thumb side) of hand.

Hara

Belly. Lower part of the abdomen, below the navel.

Hiji

Elbow. See also: Empe

Keiko

Joined fingertip

Ken

Fist

Hira Ken

"Knuckle Strike" - striking with the middle knuckles of the fingers (as opposed to the base knuckles in a normal punch).

Ura Ken

Back fist

Koken

Wrist Joint

Koshi

Ball of foot

Seiryu To

Palm, palm edge

Shuto

Outside edge (pinky side) of hand.

Sokuto

Outer edge of the foot.

Teisho

Palm heel.

Tetsui

Hammer fist. The pinky side of the closed fist.

Ude

Forearm

Bun Kai

Application of kata techniques. See also: Ura Kai

Dachi

Stance

Fudo Dachi

A wide stance, similar to Shiga Dachi, but where the upper body is at an angle to the legs.

Hachiji Dachi

Natural position, with the feet shoulder width apart and pointed outward. The hands are in fists and in front of the body. See also: Heiko Dachi

Heiko Dachi

Natural stance, with the feet shoulder-width apart and the hands in fists slightly in front of the body. See also: Hachiji Dachi

Heisoku Dachi

A ready position in which the feet are together and arms are along the sides. Also used in preparation to bow.

Kiba Dachi

Horse stance. The feet are wide apart and pointed forward. See also: Ni Fan Chin Dachi, Shiga Dachi

Kokutsu Dachi

Back stance. A wide stance in which the weight is shifted backward. The back leg is bent more than the front leg.

Kosa Dachi

Cross-legged stance. Legs are crossed an knees pressed together.

Masube Dachi

A ready position in which the heels are together and the feet pointed outward at an angle. Hands are usually together in front of the body.

Morohai Dachi

One-legged stance in which one foot rests alongside the other leg's knee. See also: Sagiashi Dachi

Neko Ashi Dachi

Cat stance - most of the weight is on the back leg, and the front leg rests on the ball of the foot.

Ni Fan Chin Dachi

Straddle stance. The feet are wide apart and pointed forward. Slightly higher than Kiba Dachi. See also: Kiba Dachi, Shiga Dachi

Okutsu Dachi

Back stance - the back leg is bent with the foot pointing away from the body, the front leg is extended with the heel pointed forward.

Sagiashi Dachi

One-legged stance where one foot is wrapped around the back of the other leg's knee. See also: Morohai Dachi

Sanchin Dachi

Hourglass stance - one foot slightly in front of the other, toes pointed inwards, and the knees pulled in toward each other.

Shiga Dachi

Straddle stance - the feet are wide apart and pointed outward. See also: Kiba Dachi, Ni Fan Chin Dachi

Zenkutsu Dachi

Forward stance. The lead leg is bent and the back leg extended.

Han Zenkutsu Dachi

A shortened Zenkutsu Dachi, with the feet closer together. Similar to a natural forward stance.

Dan

Black belt rank. The term is preceded by the number or degree of rank, so Shodan is First-degree black belt and Yondan is Fourth-degree. See also: Kyu, Numbers and Counting

Directions and Movement

Age

Rising

Barai

Sweeping

Chudan

Middle or chest level See also: Gedan, Jodan

Gedan

Lower or belly/groin level See also: Chudan, Jodan

Gyaku

Reverse - using the side of the body furthest from the opponent. See also: Ori

Hidari

Left See also: Migi

Jodan

Upper or head level See also: Chudan, Gedan

Keagi

Snap See also: Kokomi

Kokomi

Thrust See also: Keagi

Mae

Front See also: Ushiro, Yoko

Mawashi

Round, Circular

Migi

Right See also: Hidari

Ori

Forward. Using the side of the body closest to the opponent. See also: Gyaku

Soto

Outer See also: Uchi

Tate

Vertical

Tobi

Jump

Uchi

Inner See also: Soto

Ushiro

Back See also: Mae, Yoko

Yoko

Side See also: Mae, Ushiro

Dojo

Training hall See also: Hombu

Domo Arigato Gozaimashita

"Thank you very much". A formal thank-you said to one's instructor or partner at the end of a training session, practice or demonstration. A slightly less formal version is "Arigato Gozaimasu". See also: Onegai Shimasu

Geri

Kick

Fumikomi Geri

Stamping Kick

Gyaku Mawashi Geri

Reverse roundhouse kick. A roundhouse kick that travels in the opposite direction, and strikes with the heel.

Mae Ashi Geri

"Front leg kick" - A kick with the leading leg.

Mae Geri Keage

Front Snap Kick

Mawashi Geri

Roundhouse Kick

Mikazuki Geri

Crescent kick - an arching kick that strikes with the side of the foot.

Nidan Geri

Double kick.

Tobi Geri

Jumping or flying kick.

Ushiro Geri

Back kick.

Yoko Geri Kokomi

Side Thrust Kick

Gi

Karate uniform See also: Obi

Hai

Yes See also: Iye

Hajime

Begin. Start.

Hangeki

To counter an opponent with a decisive blow. Seen as the last resort on the continuum of use of force to defend one's self.

Heisoku

Top of foot

Hombu

The main, or head dojo for a martial art or style. This is typically where the head or senior practitioner of a style trains and instructs. See also: Dojo

Iye

No See also: Hai

Kakato

Heel of foot

Karateka

Karate student See also: Yodansha

Kata

Forms. Formal sequences of technique meant to simulate a real defense against multiple attackers.

Kiai

Shout. Used to focus energy while performing a technique.

Kihon

Fundamental techniques.

Kite

Finger Strike See also: Ate, Uchi

Nu Kite

Four finger, or "spear hand" strike

Kohai

Junior student. See also: Sempai, Sensei

Kumite

Sparring, either formal or free-form.

Kushin

Control of an attack that utilizes body movement originating in the knees and keeping the back straight so as to maintain balance and strength.

Kyu

Colored-belt ranking. The term is preceded by the number of the rank (for colored belts, the lower the number, the higher the rank). So, Jukyu is white belt, Kukyu is white-stripe, and Yonkyu is blue. The first three numbers (ikkyu to sankyu) are different grades of brown belt. See also: Dan, Numbers and Counting

Mawatte

Turn Around.

Numbers and Counting

See also: Dan, Kyu, Yodansha

Go

Five, Fifth

Hachi

Eight - Eighth

Ichi

One

Ju

Ten, Tenth

Ku

Nine, Ninth

Nana

Seventh

Ni

Two, Second

Roku

Six, Sixth

San

Three, Third

Shi

Four

Shichi

Seven

Sho

First

Yon

Fourth

Obi

Belt See also: Gi

Onegai Shimasu

"Please help me". Said to one's instructor or partner at the beginning of a training session, practice or demonstration. See also: Domo Arigato Gozaimashita

Rakka

To block in such a decisive manner that one's opponent is physically and psychologically defeated with one blow.

Rei

Bow (the act, not the weapon)

Otagai Ni Rei

Bow toward others - to bow as a group, recognizing each other.

Sempai Ni Rai

Bow to the senior students See also: Sempai

Sensei Ni Rei

Bow to the Sensei See also: Sensei

Shomen Ni Rei

"Bow to the Shomen" - bow to the front of the room or dojo shrine. See also: Shomen

Ryusui

The ability to flow with your opponent's movement in a way that is controlling and which permits the defender to gain an advantage.

Seiza

Kneel. To sit with the legs folded under the body.

Sempai

Senior student. See also: Kohai, Sempai Ni Rai, Sensei

Sen

Initiative

Go No Sen

Allowing the attacker to move first and counter-attacking.

Sen No Sen

Attacking at the same moment as your attacker.

Sen Sen No Sen

Pre-emptively attacking by striking your opponent before they can complete their attack.

Sensei

Elder or teacher See also: Kohai, Sempai, Sensei Ni Rei, Shihan

Shihan

Master instructor. See also: Sensei

Shiro

White See also: Aka

Shomen

A small stand or shelf in a dojo that serves as a shrine or place to keep a photograph or reminders of a style's founders. See also: Shomen Ni Rei

Tenshin

Avoiding your opponent's attack through body movement.

Tsuki

Punch See also: Ate, Uchi

Gyaku Tsuki

"Reverse Punch" - punching with the hand on the same side as the leg that is furthest from the opponent.

Ippon Tsuki

"Single point punch" - striking with one knuckle - typically to soft body targets.

Kizame Tsuki

Front lunge punch. Jab.

Nippon Tsuki

"Two point punch" - striking with the two long fingers - typically to the throat or eyes.

Ori Tsuki

Lead hand punch.

Uchi

Strike See also: Ate, Kite, Tsuki

Uke

Block

Age Uke

"Rising Block" - Upper level block.

Awase Uke

Joined hand block - blocking with the two hands, palms open, the back of the hands held against each other.

Gedan Barai Uke

"Low-level sweeping block" - Another name for Hara Uke. See also: Hara Uke

Haishu Uke

Backhand block

Hara Uke

"Belly block" - A low level sweeping forearm block. See also: Gedan Barai Uke

Hiji Uke

Elbow block

Juji Uke

X-Block. Two handed block with the forearms crossed. Hands are usually open.

Gedan Juji Uke

Low-level X block. Hands are usually closed.

Kakete Uke Nagashi

Hook and sweep block - a block where the attack is blocked with the edge of the hand, wherby the hand then hooks the attack against the bent wrist and sweeps it to the side.

Kakiwake Uke

Separating block. A two-handed block in which the arms start together and then separate apart.

Ko Uke

Wrist arch block - blocking with the top of the bent wrist.

Morote Uke

Reinforced block - a two-handed block in which the second arm braces the blocking arm.

Nagashi Uke

Sweeping block - the open hand meets the attach and moves it aside.

Osae Uke

Press block - the attack is pushed down by the open palm.

Seiryu To Uke

Palm block - blocking with the palm of the hand

Shuto Uke

Knife-hand block

Sukui Uki

Scooping block

Tekubi Kake Uke

Wrist hook block.

Uchi Uke

"Inside Block" - A middle level block starting on the inside and sweeping across the body.

Ude Uke

"Forearm Block" A (typically low level) block with the forearm. The arm moves in the opposite direction from Hara Uke.

Yoko Uchi Uke

"Side inside block" - A middle level block starting from the outside and moving across the body to the inside.

Ura Kai

Interpretation of Kata techniques. See also: Bun Kai

Waza

Technique

Yame

Stop.

Yodansha

Person having Black Belt (or Dan) ranking. See also: Karateka, Numbers and Counting

Yoi

"Ready". Command to go to a ready stance.

Zanshin

Awareness, concentration.