Karate Terminology
Learn the Japanese terms used in karate. If you wanna learn karate techniques, go to Karate Main and select a technique. Follow the animated instructions and watch the videos.
Technical Terminology Karate
Japanese Term English Translation
Karate do Empty hand
Karateka Way of the empty hand
Waza Karate practitioner
Kamae Stance / Stances
Dachi Posture
Heisoku dachi Stance or step
Zenkutsu dachi Attention stance - a formal position
Kokutsu dachi Front stance or bow stance
Kiba dachi Back stance
Neko ashi dachi Straddle stance or horse stance
Kosa dachi Cat stance with most weight on the backleg
Renoji dachi Cross legged stance - rest stance
Fudo dachi L-stance
Musubi dachi Fighting stance
Hachiji dachi Informal attention stance where the feet are in a "v" position
Shizen tai dachi Open legged stance
Hangetsu dachi Natural stance
Migi ashi orishiku Wide hour - class stance
Hidari ashi orishiku Right knee down stance
Uke Left knee down stance
Age uke Block / blocking
Gedan uke Rising block
Soto ude uke Downward block
Uchi ude uke Outside forearm block
Shuto uke Inside forearm block
Morote uke Knife block
Kakiwaki uke Augmented block
Juji uke Reverse wedge block (Heian 4)
Kosa uke X block
Manji uke Cross block
Tate shuto uke Hi/Low block
Haishu uke Vertical knifehand block
Empi uke / Hiji uke Backhand block
Osae uke Elbow block
Otoshi uke Press block
Nagashi uke Dropping block / falling block
Haiwan nagashi uke Sweeping block
Te nagashi uke Sweeping backarm block
Sukui uke Sweeping hand block
Sokumen awase uke Scooping block
Tsukami uke Side combined block
Awase shuto age uke Grasping block
Ryowan uchi uke Combined rising knife-hand block
Seiryuto uke Double inside block
Tsuki Ox-Jaw block
Oi tsuki Lunge punch
Gyaku tsuki Reverse punch
Kizami tsuki Jab
Choku tsuki Straight punch
Kagi tsuki Hook punch
Oi gyaku tsuki Lunging reverse punch
Ura tsuki Close punch
Morote tsuki Parallel punch
Ren tsuki Double punch
San tsuki Triple punch
Age tsuki Rising punch
Gedan tsuki Downward punch
Yama tsuki Wide U-punch
Awase tsuki U-punch
Otoshi tsuki Dropping punch
Ippon ken tsuki 1 knuckle fist punch
Geri Front snap kick
Mae geri keage Front thrust kick
Mae geri kekomi Side snap kick
Yoko geri keage Side thrust kick
Yoko geri kekomi Round kick
Mawashi geri Back thrust kick
Ushiro geri Stomping kick
Fumikomi geri Inside crescent kick
uchi mikazuki geri Outside crescent kick
Soto mikazuki geri Flying kick
Tobi geri Returning wave kick
Name ashi geri Knee kick/strike
Hiza geri Double kick
Nidan geri Strikes / strike
Uchi Hammerfist strike
Tettsui Bearclaw strike
Kumade uchi Backfist strike
Uraken uchi Foreknuckle strike
Hiraken uchi Palm - heel strike
Teisho uchi Single Finger strike
Ippon nukite uchi Two finger strike
Nihon nukite uchi Knife handstrike
Shuto uchi Outside knifehand strike
Soto shuto uchi Inside knifehand strike
uchi shuto uchi Spear hand strike
Shihon nukite uchi Reverse backfist strike
Gyaku haito uchi Backfist strike
Haito uchi Elbowstrike
Empi uchi Round elbowstrike
Mawashi empi uchi Front elbowstrike
Mae empi uchi Downward elbow strike
Otoshi empi uchi Back elbow strike
Ushiro empi uchi Side elbow strike
Yoko empi uchi Side roundhouse elbow strike
Yoko mawashi empi uchi Upward elbow strike
Tate empi uchi Rising Knee strike
Hiza age ate Eaglebeak strike
Washide uchi Tigermouth strike
Koko uchi Backhand strike
Haishu uchi Form
Kata Form
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Competition Terminology
Karate Shiai Competition / contest
Shiaijo Competition area (..jo like in dojo)
Shinpan Referee
Ki o tsuke Attention
Hajime Begin
Maai Space (distance between judoka)
Kogeki seyo Order to attack
Osaekomi toketa Escape - stop timing of hold
Osaekomi Referee calls to begin the timing
Jikan Referee calls to stop the watch
Hantei Referee calls the judges for a decision
Ippon Victory with one single technique. (10 points)
Waza ari Score half an ippon (5 points)
Yuko Score less than waza-ari (3 points)
Koka Score less than a yuko (2 points)
Hiki wake Draw - no decision
Yusei gachi Win by judges decision
Fusen Gachi Win by default
Shido Penalty (equal to koka score)
Keikoku Penalty (ancient term)
Chui Penalty (ancient term)
Matte Stop
Sono mama Stop current action (freeze)
Sore made Time over, time up, finished
Hansoku make Disqualification - most serious penalty in the sport of judo
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Gi / Bodyparts Terminology
Jodan Head level
Chudan Mid level (trunk)
Gedan Low level (waist and legs)
Sode Sleeve
Atama Head
Kubi Neck
Eri Collar
Kata Shoulder
Wan Arm
Naiwan Backside of the arm
Empi or Hiji Elbow
Ude Forearm
Tekubi Wrist
Te Hand
Ken Fist
Ippon ken Finger / single point fist
Kaishu Open hand
Yubi Finger
Mune Chest
Hara Stomach
Seika Tanden The center of gravity (like dan tian in Chinese)
Zubon Pants
Koshi Hip
Hiza / Hitsui Knee
Heisoku Instep
Teisoku Bottom of the foot
Ashikubi Ankle
Ashi Foot, leg
Jiku ashi Pivot leg
Kakato Heels / heel
Sokuto Outer edge of the foot
Tsumasaki Toe (tip of the toes)
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