Terminology

Newport Pagnell

Karate Club

Some useful basic terminology for training in karate.

General Terms:

 

Japanese

English

Dojo

Training Hall

Karate

Empty hand / Chinese hand

Hidari

Left

Gi

Training suit

Kiai

Expression of spirit

Kime

Focus of power

Mawate

Turn

Migi

Right

Moroto

Double

Obi

Belt

Rei

Bow

Shomen

Front

Shomen ni rei

Bow to the front

Shoto

Pine waves

Shotokan

Hall of pinewaves

Stances:

 

Japanese

English

Dachi

Stance

Hangetsu Dachi

Half moon stance

Heiko Dachi

Parallel stance

Heisoku Dachi

Informal attention stance (feet together)

Kiba Dachi

Horse riding stance

Kokusto Dachi

Back stance

Musubi Dachi

Knot stance

Neko Ashi Dachi

Cat stance

Renoji Dachi

L stance

Shiko Dachi

Square stance

Shizentai

Natural stance

Tsuruashi Dachi

Crane stance

Uchi Hachiji Dachi

Inverted open leg stance

Zenkutsu Dachi

Front stance

Blocks:

 

Japanese

English

Age Uke

Upper rising block

Ashibo Kake Uke

Leg hooking block

Gedan Barai

Downward block / sweep

Haishu Uke

Backhand block

Juji Uke

Cross / x block

Kake Uke

Hooking block

Kakiwake Uke

Bent wrist block

Moroto Uke

Double / augmented forearm block

Manji Uke

Swastika block / High low block / Chinese block

Nagashi Uke

Sweeping block

Shuto Uke

Knife hand block

Soto Ude Uke

Outside forearm block

Sukui Uke

Scooping block

Tekubi Kake Uke

Wrist hooking block

Te Osae Uke

Hand pressing block

Tsukami Uke

Grasping block

Uchi Ude Uke

Inside forearm block

Punches:

 

Japanese

English

Age Zuki

Rising punch

Awase Zuki

U punch

Choku Zuki

Straight punch

Gyaku Zuki

Reverse punch

Heiko Zuki

Parallel punch

Kagi Zuki

Hook punch

Kizami Zuki

Jab punch

Oi Zuki

Stepping punch

Sanbon Zuki

Three punches

Tate Zuki

Vertical fist punch

Ura Zuki

Close punch

Yama Zuki

Mountain / Wide U Punch

Strikes:

 

Japanese

English

Empi Uchi

Elbow strike

Hashu Uchi

Backhand strike

Haito Uchi

Ridge hand strike

Hiji Ate

Elbow strike

Nakadaka Ippon Ken

Middle finger one knuckle fist

Nihon Nukite

Two finger spearhand

Nukite

Spearhand

Otoshi Empi Uchi

Downward / dropping elbow strike

Shuto Uchi

Knifehand strike

Uraken Uchi

Backfist strike

Kicks:

 

Japanese

English

Fumikiri

Cutting kick

Fumikomi

Stamping kick

Geri

Kick

Kekomi

Thrust kick

Mae Geri Keage

Front snap kick

Mae Geri Kekomi

Front thrust kick

Mae Tobi Geri

Front jumping kick

Mawashi Geri

Roundhouse kick

Mikazuki Geri

Crescent kick

Ushiro Geri

Back kick

Yoko Geri Keage

Side snap kick

Yoko Geri Kekomi

Side thrust kick

Parts of the body:

 

Japanese

English

Ago

Chin

Ashi

Foot or leg

Ashiko

Instep

Ashikubi

Ankle

Chichi

Nipple

Chudan

Chest / middle level

Chusoku

Ball of foot

Do

Torso / trunk of the body

Empi

Elbow

Ensho

Round heel

Gaiwan

Outer arm

Gedan

Groin / lower level

Gawa

Side

Goshi

Hip

Haibu

Back area

Haishu

Back of hand

Haisoku

Instep

Haito

Ridge hand

Haiwan

Back arm

Hana

Nose

Hiji

Elbow

Hiraken

Flat / fore knuckle fist

Hiza

Knee / lap

Ippon Ken

One knuckle fist

Kaisho

Open hand

Kakato

Heel

Kakuto

Bent wrist

Kanjinoke

Hair

Kau

Face

Keito

Chicken hand wrist

Kentsui

Hammer fist

Koko

Tiger mouth

Koshi

Ball of foot / hips

Kote

Wrist

Kubi

Neck

Kuchi

Mouth

Kumade

Bear hand

Me

Eyes (pronounced may)

Mune

Chest / abdomen

Naiwan

Inner arm

Seika Tanden

Lower abdobmen

Seiken

Forefist

Seiryuto

Ox jaw hand

Shita

Tongue

Shuwan

Palm arm

Sokuto

Edge of foot

Tanden

Lower abdomen

Te

Hand

Teisho

Palm heel

Tobu

Head area except face

Tsumasaki

Tip of toes

Ubi

Fingers

Wan

Arm

Washide

Eagle hand

Oss

 

This is a curious term which is heard often throughout all Karate Lessons. It can mean a multitude of different things. It can be used as a greeting when bowing to other karateka, it can be used to indicate to other karateka that you are ready, it can be used to the instructor to indicate that you have understood an instruction. It can be used as a mark of respect when bowing to higher grades and it can also be used as a respectful way of saying to the Instructor I understand but please be patient whilst I try to put what you have taught me into practice.

Oss derives from two Chinese characters one means to bear hardship the other to push aside obstacles.