Counting/Numbers
Dachi - Stances
Hachiji - dachi - Natural stance, feet shoulder-width apart and slightly pointed outwards
Heiko - dachi – Feet shoulder-width apart and parallel
Heisoku - dachi – (informal) attention stance, feet together and pointed straight forward.
Musubi - dachi – Attention stance, both feet pointed slightly outward, heels together (when bowing)
Kiba - dachi - horse riding stance
Zenkutsu - dachi - forward leaning stance
Kokutsu - dachi - backward leaning stance
Neko - ashi - dachi - cat foot stance
Gyaku - neko - dachi - reverse cat stance
Sanchin - dachi - hourglass stance
Naihanchin - dachi - toes in straddle leg stance
Juji - dachi - crossing x stance
Ju - dachi - free fighting stance
Gankaku - dachi – Crane stance
Shiko - dachi – 'Square stance'
Teiji - dachi – 'T' stance
Jiyu - dachi – Fighting stance
Zuki - Punches with Closed Fist
Choku – zuki – straight punch
Oi-zuki – lunge punch
Jun-zuki – front hand punch
Gyaku – zuki – reverse punch
Morote – zuki – double fist punch
Mawashi – zuki – roundhouse punch
Heiko – zuki – Parallel punch
Uke - Blocking Techniques
Jodan / Age-uke – high rising block
Ude-uke – inside forearm block
Soto-ude-uke – outside forearm block
Gedan-berai – downward sweeping block
Shuto-uke – knife hand block
Juji-uke – x block
Morote-uke – braced double arm block
Nagashi-uke – sweeping forearm block
Kakiwaki-uke – inside wedge block
Mami-gaeshi – lower leg block, leg sweep avoidance
Strikes with the Open or Closed Hand – Uchi
Uraken-uchi – back fist strike
Tetsui-uchi – hammer fist strike
Teisho-uchi – palm heel strike
Shuto-uchi – knife hand strike
Haito-uchi – ridge hand strike
Nukite-uchi – 4 finger spear hand thrust
Empi-uchi – elbow strike
Kicks – Geri
Mae-geri – front snap kick
Yoko-geri- side kick
Mawashi-geri – roundhouse kick
Ushiro-geri – back kick
Mikazuki-geri – inside crescent kick
Ura-mikazuki-geri – ouside crescent kick
Gyaku-mawashi-geri – heel hook kick
Heiza-geri – knee kick
Fumi-komi – stomping kick
Ashi-barai – leg sweep
Other terms relating to techniques
Jodan – face level
Chudan – solar plexus level
Gedan – lower abdominal or groin level
Kime – focus
Ma-ai – proper distancing between opponents
Kata – set of sequences of blocks, attacks and stances performed individually against imagined
multiple attackers
Bunkai – the practical application of kata
Kiai – “spirit shout”, loud, explosive shout used to unite physical and spiritual power
Kumite – sparring
Other Terms Relating to Karate Practitioners
Dojo – training hall
Karate-ka – practitioner of karate
Sensei – Teacher
Sempai – senior karate-ka applied to brown belts especially when offering instruction
Dan – preceded by a Japanese number to indicate black belt or kata levels
Kyu- colored belt
Yodansha – black belt karate-ka
Verbal Commands in the Dojo
Shugo – line up
Ski – come to attention
Rei – bow
Mokuso – breathing meditation begins
Mokuso Yame – meditation stops. Open eyes
Shomen ni rei – all bow to front of class (in respect for non-present Masters of the style)
Sensei ni rei – bow to black belts at front of class
Yoi – ready to begin
Hajimae – begin
Yamae – stop
Mawari – turn around (180 degrees)
Miscellaneous Terms
Gi – traditional white training uniform
Obi – tied belt
Ki – Japanese concept of life-energy; spirit or power
Hara – lower abdomen center of balance, the source or foundation of ki
Bushido – moral & ethical code of the warrior
Ryu – traditional system or school
- Ichi
- Ni
- San
- Chi (yon)
- Go
- Roku
- Shichi
- Hachi
- Ku
- Ju
Dachi - Stances
Hachiji - dachi - Natural stance, feet shoulder-width apart and slightly pointed outwards
Heiko - dachi – Feet shoulder-width apart and parallel
Heisoku - dachi – (informal) attention stance, feet together and pointed straight forward.
Musubi - dachi – Attention stance, both feet pointed slightly outward, heels together (when bowing)
Kiba - dachi - horse riding stance
Zenkutsu - dachi - forward leaning stance
Kokutsu - dachi - backward leaning stance
Neko - ashi - dachi - cat foot stance
Gyaku - neko - dachi - reverse cat stance
Sanchin - dachi - hourglass stance
Naihanchin - dachi - toes in straddle leg stance
Juji - dachi - crossing x stance
Ju - dachi - free fighting stance
Gankaku - dachi – Crane stance
Shiko - dachi – 'Square stance'
Teiji - dachi – 'T' stance
Jiyu - dachi – Fighting stance
Zuki - Punches with Closed Fist
Choku – zuki – straight punch
Oi-zuki – lunge punch
Jun-zuki – front hand punch
Gyaku – zuki – reverse punch
Morote – zuki – double fist punch
Mawashi – zuki – roundhouse punch
Heiko – zuki – Parallel punch
Uke - Blocking Techniques
Jodan / Age-uke – high rising block
Ude-uke – inside forearm block
Soto-ude-uke – outside forearm block
Gedan-berai – downward sweeping block
Shuto-uke – knife hand block
Juji-uke – x block
Morote-uke – braced double arm block
Nagashi-uke – sweeping forearm block
Kakiwaki-uke – inside wedge block
Mami-gaeshi – lower leg block, leg sweep avoidance
Strikes with the Open or Closed Hand – Uchi
Uraken-uchi – back fist strike
Tetsui-uchi – hammer fist strike
Teisho-uchi – palm heel strike
Shuto-uchi – knife hand strike
Haito-uchi – ridge hand strike
Nukite-uchi – 4 finger spear hand thrust
Empi-uchi – elbow strike
Kicks – Geri
Mae-geri – front snap kick
Yoko-geri- side kick
Mawashi-geri – roundhouse kick
Ushiro-geri – back kick
Mikazuki-geri – inside crescent kick
Ura-mikazuki-geri – ouside crescent kick
Gyaku-mawashi-geri – heel hook kick
Heiza-geri – knee kick
Fumi-komi – stomping kick
Ashi-barai – leg sweep
Other terms relating to techniques
Jodan – face level
Chudan – solar plexus level
Gedan – lower abdominal or groin level
Kime – focus
Ma-ai – proper distancing between opponents
Kata – set of sequences of blocks, attacks and stances performed individually against imagined
multiple attackers
Bunkai – the practical application of kata
Kiai – “spirit shout”, loud, explosive shout used to unite physical and spiritual power
Kumite – sparring
Other Terms Relating to Karate Practitioners
Dojo – training hall
Karate-ka – practitioner of karate
Sensei – Teacher
Sempai – senior karate-ka applied to brown belts especially when offering instruction
Dan – preceded by a Japanese number to indicate black belt or kata levels
Kyu- colored belt
Yodansha – black belt karate-ka
Verbal Commands in the Dojo
Shugo – line up
Ski – come to attention
Rei – bow
Mokuso – breathing meditation begins
Mokuso Yame – meditation stops. Open eyes
Shomen ni rei – all bow to front of class (in respect for non-present Masters of the style)
Sensei ni rei – bow to black belts at front of class
Yoi – ready to begin
Hajimae – begin
Yamae – stop
Mawari – turn around (180 degrees)
Miscellaneous Terms
Gi – traditional white training uniform
Obi – tied belt
Ki – Japanese concept of life-energy; spirit or power
Hara – lower abdomen center of balance, the source or foundation of ki
Bushido – moral & ethical code of the warrior
Ryu – traditional system or school
