Japanese Karate Terms

In all our training, we use a lot of Japanese karate terms together with the English translation. Everyone becomes familiar with the terms very quickly, so there’s a common understanding when training with different instructors.

Here’s an A-Z list of the more commonly used ones:

    • Age zuki: Rising punch to head

    • Age uke: Rising block to head

    • Aka Red

    • Aka no kachi: Victory for Red

    • Ashi: Foot/leg

    • Ashi barai: Foot Sweep

    • Bassai uke: Block (first block in Bassai Dai)

    • Bassai-Dai Kata: means to penetrate a large fortress

    • Bassai-Sho Kata: means to penetrate a (small) fortress

    • Bunkai: Formal application of kata technique

    • Chinte Kata: Meaning rare hand

    • Choku zuki: Punch (straight)

    • Chudan: Middle part of the body (eg stomach)

    • Dachi: Stance

    • Dan: Senior black belt grades starting with Shodan

    • Deshi: Student

    • Do: Way

    • Dojo: School or training hall

    • Empi Kata: Meaning flying swallow

    • Empi: Elbow

    • Empi uchi: Elbow strike

    • Fudo dachi: Stance (diagonally placed feet)

    • Fumidashi: Step forward

    • Fuse haito uchi: Strike with turndown ridge of hand

    • Fuse shuto uchi: Strike with turndown sword/knife hand

    • Gankaku Kata: Meaning crane on a rock

    • Gedan: Lower part of the body (eg groin)

    • Gedan barai: Downward block

    • Gedan kake uke: Downward hooking block

    • Gedan nagashi uke: Downward-sweeping block

    • Gi: Uniform (eg karate suit)

    • Go: Number five

    • Go ju: Number fifty

    • Goju Sho Ho Dai Kata: means fifty-four (big) steps

    • Goju Sho Ho Sho Kata: means fifty-four (small) steps

    • Goshin: Self-defence

    • Gyaku hanmi: Body position with upper body and legs facing opposite ways

    • Gyaku mawashi geri: Reverse roundhouse kick

    • Gyaku zuki: Reverse punch

    • Hachi: Number eight

    • Haishu: Back of hand

    • Haishu haito uchi: Back of hand rising strike

    • Haishu uchi: Back of hand strike

    • Haishu uke: Back of hand block

    • Haisoku ashi barai: Foot sweep with the instep

    • Haito: Ridge of hand

    • Haito uchi: Ridge of hand strike

    • Haito uke: Ridge of hand block

    • Haiwan nagashi uke: Back of forearm sweeping block as used in Tekki Katas

    • Hajime: Begin/start

    • Hana: Nose

    • Hangetsu Kata: meaning half-moon

    • Hanmi: Body position (hips are at 45 degree angle)

    • Hasami uchi: Strike (scissors)

    • Hasami uke: Block (scissors)

    • Hasami zuki: Punch (scissors – fists converging, facing each other)

    • Heian Katas: Series of five (peaceful mind) katas

    • Hidari: Left

    • Hira haito uchi: Strike (flat ridge of hand)

    • Hira shuto uchi: Strike (flat turndown sword/knife)

    • Hirate barai: Block (flat hand) sweep

    • Hirate nagashi uke: Block (flowing flat hand)

    • Hitai: Forehead

    • Hiza: Knee

    • Hyaku: One hundred

  • Ichi: Number one

    Ippon: Score (full point)

    • Jion Kata: Meaning love and goodness

    • Jitte Kata: Meaning ten hands

    • Jiyu gamae: Guard up (freestyle position)

    • Jiyu ippon kumite: One attack sparring

    • Jiyu kumite: Free style sparring

    • Jo zukami: Grasp (eg a cane)

    • Jodan: Face level

    • Jodan shuto juji uchi: Upper level crossed wrist strike

    • Jôgai Warning: out of match area

    • Ju: Number ten

    • Ju ichi: Number eleven

    • Ju ni: Number twelve

    • Juji uke: Crossed arms block

    • Kagi zuki: Hook punch

    • Kakato: Heel

    • Kake uke: Hook block

    • Kanku Dai Kata: Meaning to view the heavens (big)

    • Kanku Sho Kata: Meaning to view the (small)

    • Keage: Snap kick

    • Kekomi: Thrust kick

    • Ken: Fist

    • Kiai: Spirited yell

    • Kiba dachi: Straddle/horse riding stance

    • Kihon gohon kumite: Basic five step sparring

    • Kihon ippon kumite: Basic one step sparring

    • Kihon sanbon kumite: Basic three step sparring

    • Kime: Focus

    • Kizami gyaku zuki: Reverse punch (reverse leading hand)

    • Kizami mae geri: Forward kick (leading-leg)

    • Kizami mawashi geri: Roundhouse kick (leading-leg)

    • Kizami zuki: Leading-hand punch

    • Koko: Tiger mouth block

    • Kokutsu dachi: Back stance

    • Kosa uke: Crossing block (simultaneous uchi uke and gedan barai)

    • Koshi: Hips / waist

    • Koshi kamae: Fists to hips

    • Ku: Number nine

    • Kumite: Sparring

    • Kyu: Rank/grade (student level)

    • Mae geri: Front kick

    • Mae geri keage: Snap kick (from the front)

    • Mae geri kekomi: Thrust kick (from the front)

    • Makiwara: Punching board / post

    • Mawashi empi uchi: Roundhouse elbow strike

    • Mawashi geri: Roundhouse kick

    • Migi: Right

    • Mikazuki geri: Crescent kick

    • Mokuso: Meditation

    • Mokuso yame: End of meditation

    • Morote uke: Augmented forearm block

    • Moto no ichi: Back to the original position

    • Nagashi uke: Sweeping / flowing block

    • Neko ashi dachi: Cat stance

    • Ni: Number two

    • Ni ju: Number twenty

    • Nidan tobi geri: Double (jump) kick

    • Nihon ren zuki Two consecutive punches

    • Niren geri: Double kick

    • Nukite: Spear hand

    • Obi: Belt

    • Oi zuki: Stepping punch

    • Oss: I understand or I follow (also used to show respect as you bow and enter the dojo)

    • Otagai ni rei: Bow to one another (usually in class)

    • Otoshi: Downward

    • Otoshi empi uchi: Downward elbow strike

    • Otoshi uchi: Dropping strike

    • Otoshi uke: Dropping fist block with horizontal elbow

    • Otoshi zuki: Dropping punch

    • Rei: Bow

    • Ren geri: Kick alternate legs

    • Ren zuki: Punch alternate fists

    • Roku: Number six

    • Ryo ken ryo koshi gamae: Both fists at both hips

    • Ryo yoko gedan barai gamae: Double-sided lower level block

    • Ryoken juji uke: Double fisted ‘X’ block

    • San: Number three

    • San ju: Number thirty

    • Sanbon ren zuki: Three consecutive punches

    • Sanbon zuki: Triple punch

    • Sanchin dachi: Hourglass stance

    • Sasae uchi uke: Supported block (first move in Bassai Dai kata

    • Sasae uraken gamae: Elbow supported by back of fist of other hand

    • Seiza: Formal upright kneeling position

    • Sen: Number one thousand

    • Sensei: Instructor / master (someone who shows the way)

    • Sensei ni rei: Bow to the instructor

    • Shi / Yon: Number four

    • Shichi / Nana: Number seven

    • Shihan: Master instructor (6th Dan or higher)

    • Shiro: White

    • Shiro no kachi: Victory for white

    • Shizentai: Natural position

    • Sho: Palm

    • Shomen ni rei: Bow to the front of the dojo

    • Shuto uchi: Sword / knife hand strike

    • Shuto uke: Sword / knife hand block

    • Shutsui: Hammer hand

    • Sochin Kata: Meaning strength and calm

    • Sochin dachi: Straddle leg stance (diagonal feet)

    • Soto ude uke: Outside of forearm block

    • Sukui uke: Scooping block

    • Suri ashi: Gliding step

  • Tameshiwari: Breaking of wood / tiles, etc

    Tate empi uchi: Vertical elbow strike

    Tate zuki: Vertical punch

    Te: Hand

    Te nagashi uke: Flowing hand block

    Teisho age uke: Lower palm heel rising block

    Teisho uke: Lower palm heel block

    Teisho zuki: Palm heel punch

    Tekki Sho-Dan, Ni-Dan & San-Dan Kata Iron Knight series I, II & III

    Tekubi: Wrist

    Tettsui: Hammer fist

    Tsukami uke: Grasping block

    Tsukami Yose: Grasping and pulling (as in Bassai-Dai / Sho Katas)

    Tsuki te: Punching hand

    Tsuru ashi dachi: Crane foot stance

  • Uke: Block

    Unsu Kata: Meaning hands in the clouds

    Ura mawashi: geri Reverse roundhouse kick

    Uraken uchi: Back fist strike

    Ushiro geri: Back kick

  • Waki: Side

    Wankan: Kata Meaning king and crown

    Waza ari: Score (almost a full point)

  • Yame: Finish / stop

    Yasume: Relax and bow

    Yoi: Ready / attention

    Yoko empi uchi: Sideways elbow strike

    Yoko gamae: Sideways guard up

    Yoko geri keage: Side snap kick

    Yoko geri kekomi: Side thrust kick

    Yoko uraken uchi: Side back fist strike

    Yon ju: Number forty

  • Zanshin: Awareness

    Zen: Meditation / life philosophy

    Zenkutsu dachi: Front stance