Terminology

Common terms & commands used in class…

Basic Terminology

Dojo: Training room
Gi (gee): Karate uniform
Karate: Empty hand
Kata: Prescribed sequence of techniques
Kiai (kee-ai): Short loud shout
Kihon (kee-hon): Basic techniques
Obi: Karate belt
Osu (oss): Indicates respect, acknowledgment
Domo: Thank you (Informal)
Domo Arigato: Thank you (Formal)
Sayonara: Goodbye
Sensei: Teacher
Sempai: Senior student
Shomen: Front wall of dojo

Commands

Yame (ya-may): Return to starting position
Hajime (hajee-may): Begin
Mawate (mawa-tay): Turn
Yoi (yoh-ee): Ready
Yame (ya-may): Stop
Sieza: Kneel
Rei: Bow
Shomen-ni-rei: bow to the front
Otagai-ni-rei: bow to each other

Counting

One: ichi (i-chi)
Two: ni (ni)
Three: san (sa-n)
Four: shi (shi) / yon (yon)
Five: go (go)
Six: roku (ro-ku)
Seven: shichi (shi-chi)
Eight: hachi (ha-chi)
Nine: ku (ku)
Ten: ju (ju-u)

Waza (Techniques)

Tsuki (tsu-kee) or zuki (zoo-kee): punching
Uke (ou-kay): blocking
Uchi (oo-chee): strike
Keri (ke-ree) or geri (ge-ree): kicking
Kekomi: thrust
Keage: snap
Zenshin: forward
Barai: Sweep
Harau – Sweeping Techniques
Bunkai – Kata Technique Application

Target & orientation

Jodan (joh-dan): upper level
Chudan (choo-dan): middle level
Gedan (gay-dan): lower level,
Hidari: left
Migi: right
Gyaku: reverse
Mae: front
Yoko: side
Ushiro: back

Body Parts

Ashi: Foot
Ashi-kubi – Ankle
Atama – Head
Hiji: elbow
Hiza (hee-zah): knee
Kaisho (kay-sho): open hand, such as in shuto-uke
Tettsui: hammer fist
Sokuto (sokoo-toh): edge of foot, such as in side thrust kick
Uraken (oo-raken): back of fist
Shuto (shoo-to): outer surface of hand alongside the small finger
Shotei: palm
Haito (haee-to): inner surface of hand alongside the thumb
Kakato – Heel
Nodo: throat
Nukite: fingers
Josoku: ball of foot – toes back
Haisoku: instep of the foot

Tsuki Wasa (Punches)

Jodan Tsuki: upper level punch
Chudan Tsuki: middle level punch
Gedan Tsuki: lower level punch
Choku Tsuki: straight punch
Gyaku Tsuki: reverse punch
Kagi Tsuki: hook punch
Kizami Tsuki: jab
Mawashi Tsuki: roundhouse punch
Morote Tsuki: Punch with both fists simultaneously
Tate Tsuki: punch with fist along vertical plane
Seiken Shita Tsuki: uppercut thrust punch into solar plexus

Uke Wasa (Blocks)

Age Uke (ah-gay oo-kay): rising block
Uchi Uke: inside-out block
Soto Uke: outside block
Gedan Barai: lower level block
Shuto Uke: knife hand block
Morote Uke: reinforced (augmented) block
Juji Uke (joo-jee): X block
Koken: block with back of wrist

Uchi Wasa (Strikes)

Hiji Uchi: elbow strike
Haito Uchi: ridge-hand strike
Tettsui Uchi: hammer fist strike
Mae Hiji: forward elbow strike
Mawashi hiji uchi: roundhouse (circular) elbow strike
Oroshi hiji uchi: dropping elbow strike
Age hiji uchi: rising elbow strike
Uraken uchi: back-fist strike
Ushiro empi uchi: elbow strike aiming behind own body
Yoko mawashi hiji: side elbow strike
Nukite: stabbing using the extended index finger or both the index and the middle fingers

Geri Wasa (Kick techniques)

Ashi Barai: Foot Sweep
Mae geri keage: front snap kick
Mae geri kekomi: front thrust kick.
Mae ashi geri: front kick with the front leg (Kizami geri)
Mawashi geri: roundhouse kick
Gyaku mawashi geri: reverse roundhouse kick
Ushiro mawashi geri: inside-out roundhouse kick
Hiza geri (hee-za): knee kick
Mikasuki geri(meeka-zooki): crescent kick
Tobi geri (to-bee): jumping kick
Ushiro geri (oo-shee-ro): back kick
Yoko geri keage: side snap kick
Yoko geri kekomi: side thrust kick
Yoko tobi geri: flying side kick
Fumikomi: stomping kick
Kin geri: groin kick

Dachi (Stances)

Dachi (da-chee): stances
Hachiji Dachi (ha-chee-jee): natural stance, feet about one shoulder width apart, toes pointing slightly outward
Heisoku Dachi: Feet together, toes pointing straight forward
Musubi Dachi: Standing stance (toes apart)
Zenkutsu dachi (zen-koo-tsoo): front stance
Kiba dachi (kee-ba): horse stance
Kokutsu dachi (ko-koo-tsoo): back stance
Fudo dachi (foo-do): immovable stance, a cross between front and back stance
Sanchin dachi (san-cheen): hour-glass stance
Neko ashi dachi: cat stance
Kake Ashi Dachi: cross stance (transitional)
Kamae Dachi: Fighting Stance