KARATE TERMINOLOGY

Basic Japanese Terminology

General Terminology
Chudan	Mid level	Mawate	Turn, about face
Dan	Black belt grade	Makiwara	Punching board
Dojo	Martial arts training hall	Migi	Right (side)
Gedan	Lower level	Sanbon Kumite	Three step sparring
Gohon Kumite	Five step sparring	Shihan	Master
Hajime	Begin	Sensei	Teacher
Hanmi	Half facing	Senpai	Senior
Hidari	Left (side)	Shiai	Contest
Ippon	One (point)	Shinzen	Focal point of dojo
Ippon Kumite	One point sparring	Yame	Stop
Jiyu Kumite	Free sparring	Yoi	Ready position
Jodan	Head level	Ichi	One
Kata	Pre-arranged formal exercise	Ni	Two
Karate-Do	Way of the Empty Hand	San	Three
Karategi	Uniform	Shi	Four
Kiai	Shout, focusing spirit with technique	Go	Five
Kihon	Basic techniques	Roku	Six
Kime	Focus	Shichi	Seven
Kumite	Sparring	Hachi	Eight
Kyu	Belt grade	Ku	Nine
Maai	Distance (between self and opponent)	Ju	Ten
Expressions of Courtesy and Respect		History and Names
Onegaishimasu	Please (teach/help me)	Shito-Ryu	Our style of Karate-Do
Arigato Gozaimushita	Thank you	Itosu-Kai	Our branch of Shito-Ryu
Sumimasen	Excuse me	Master Demura	Our head instructor
Gomen Nasai	I'm sorry	Master Sakagami	Head of Itosu-Kai and Master Demura's instructor
Shinzen Ni Rei	Bow to the dojo	Kenwa Mabuni	Founder of Shito-Ryu and Master Demura's teacher
Sensei Ni Rei	Bow to the teacher
Senpai Ni Rei	Bow to the seniors
Otagai Ni Rei	Bow to each other
Mokuso	Meditate
Seiza	Formal kneeling posture
Stance (Tachi Kata)		Hand Techniques (Te Waza)
Heisoku Dachi	Attention stance (formal)	Seiken Tsuki	Forefist punch
Hachiji Dachi	Open leg stance	Oi Tsuki	Lunge punch
Musubi Dachi	Feet 45° (informal attention)	Gyaku Tsuki	Reverse punch
Zenkutsu Dachi	Forward stance	Choku Tsuki	Straight punch
Kotutsu Dachi	Back stance	Age Tsuki	Rising punch
Naihanchi Dachi	Horse stance (also Kiba Dachi)	Shuto Uchi	Knife hand strike
Shiko Dachi	Square stance	Tettsui	Bottom fist strike
Neko Ashi Dachi	Cat stance	Ura Ken	Backfist strike
Kosa Dachi	Crossed leg stance	Nuki Te	Spear hand strike
Okinawan Kotutsu Dachi	Okinawan back stance	Haito Uchi	Ridge hand strike
Ayumi Dachi	Natural stance	Hiji Ate	Elbow strike
Blocks (Uke Waza)		Kicking Techniques (Geri Waza)
Age Uke	Upper block	Mae Geri	Front snap kick
Harai Uke	Lower block (also Gedan Barai)	Yoko Geri Keage	Side snap kick
Yoko Uke	Middle inside block	Yoko Geri Kekomi	Side thrust kick
Yoko Uchi Uke	Middle outside block	Mawashi Geri	Roundhouse kick
Shuto Uke	Knife hand block	Ushiro Geri	Back kick
Gedan Ude Uke	Lower forearm block	Mikazukigeri	Crescent kick
Juji Uke	X block	Nidan Geri	Two-level kick
Morote Uke	Double forearm block	Tobi Geri	Flying kick