| Japanese |
English (order by translation) |
| KATA |
A form or prescribed pattern of movement fighting imaginary opponents. |
| KARATE NI SENTENASHI |
A term which sums up the essence of the art, it means ‘In Karate There Is No First Strike’. This saying can be found engraved on Master Funakoshi’s memorial stone. |
| HARA |
Abdomen. |
| BUNKAI |
Analysis, A study of the techniques and applications in KATA. |
| ZANSHIN |
Awareness. Even after a Karate technique has been completed, one should remain in a balanced and aware state. |
| USHIRO |
Back or Rear. |
| KOSHIN |
Backward movement. To move backwards. |
| KIHON |
Basic, (Something which is) fundamental. Basic techniques. |
| OBI |
Belt |
| SHODAN |
Black belt ranking, first level. |
| TAI SABAKI |
Body shifting/ movement/ evasion. |
| REI |
Bow, Respect. A method of showing respect in Japanese culture is the Bow. |
| NEKO-ASHI DACHI |
Cat Stance. A stance for leaving a cat’s paw mark in the sand, as well as being light and mobile. Allows you to kick easily off of the front leg. |
| MUSUBI DACHI |
Cross Stance. Heels together but with each foot turned out at 45 degrees. |
| GEDAN BARAI UKE |
Down Block. Lower level sweeping block. |
| EMPI |
Elbow. Sometimes referred to as HIJI or spelt Enpi. |
| KARA |
Empty, when said by itself this would be ‘Kara no’. |
| KUMITE |
Fighting / Sparring |
| KEN |
Fist. |
| KIME |
Focus of Power and concentration |
| ZENSHIN |
Forward movement. To move forward. |
| ZENKUTSU DACHI |
Front Stance. |
| MAE GERI |
Front Kick |
| MAE |
Front or Forward. |
| KYU |
Grade. Any rank below Shodan. |
| OSS |
Greeting. A word particular to Karate, used as a form of greeting, or Yes etc. |
| TE |
Hand. |
| UCHI-UKE |
Inside Block generally used as a short version of Uchi Ude Uke. |
| KIZAMI TSUKI |
Jabbing Punch. |
| KOHAI |
Junior student, a student junior to oneself. |
| KERI |
Kick. |
| GERI |
Kick, when used with another word, it is spelled as Geri. i.e. Mae Geri. |
| SEIZA |
Kneeling position. A proper sitting position. Sitting on one’s knees. Sitting this way requires acclimatization, but provides both a stable base and greater ease of movement than sitting cross-legged. It is used for the formal opening and closing of the class. |
| SHUTO UCHI |
Knife hand strike. |
| SHUTO |
Knife Hand. |
| SHUTO UKE |
Knife-hand Block. |
| HIDARI |
Left or Left Side. |
| ASHI |
Leg or Foot. |
| GEDAN |
Lower Level or Lower Section |
| OI-TSUKI |
Lunge punch. |
| MOKUSO |
Meditation. Practice often begins or ends with a brief period of meditation. The purpose of meditation is to clear one’s mind and to develop cognitive equanimity. Perhaps more importantly, meditation is an opportunity to become aware of conditioned patterns of thought and behavior so that such patterns can be modified, eliminated or more efficiently put to use. |
| CHUDAN |
Mid-Level or Mid-Section |
| KI |
Mind, Spirit, Energy, Vital-force, Intention. (Chinese ‘chi’) The definitions presented here are very general. KI is one word that cannot be translated directly into any language. |
| SOTO UKE |
Outside Block. |
| SOTO |
Outside, Outer or Exterior. |
| EMBUSEN |
Performance Line, the floor pattern of a given kata. |
| KA |
Person or Practitioner. |
| TSUKI |
Punch. |
| MAKIWARA |
Punching Board or post |
| YOI |
Ready, in a state of alertness. |
| GYAKU |
Reverse or Opposite. |
| GYAKU TSUKI |
Reverse Punch. |
| MIGI |
Right (Right Side). |
| MAWASHI GERI |
Roundhouse Kick |
| SEMPAI |
Senior student, a student senior to oneself. |
| HEIKO DACHI |
Shoulder stance. A natural stance. Feet positioned about one shoulder width apart, with feet pointed straightforward. |
| KIAI |
Shout delivered for the purpose of focusing all of one’s energy into a single movement. The best translation of kiai that I have found is “the expression of vital spirit”. |
| YOKO GERI |
Side Kick. |
| NUKITE |
Spear Hand |
| DACHI |
Stance or Position. |
| YAME |
Stop, but remain alert. |
| UCHI |
Strike or Striking. |
| KARATE-KA |
Student of Karate. |
| SHIKO DACHI |
Sumo Stance |
| SENSEI |
Teacher. It is usually considered proper to address the instructor during practice as ‘Sensei’ rather than by his/her name. If the instructor is a permanent instructor for one’s DOJO or for an organization, it is proper to address him/her as ‘Sensei’ off the mat as well. |
| WAZA |
Technique(s). |
| KARATE-DO |
The Way of the Empty Hand. This implies not only the physical aspect of Karate, but also the mental and social aspects of Karate. The true translation is ‘Empty Hand Way’. |
| KARATE |
The word karate is formed by the joining of two Japanese kanji or written characters. The first means ’empty’ whilst the second means ‘hand’. Karate is therefore simply translated as ’empty-hand’. When Funakoshi came to Tokyo karate translated as ‘Chinese-hands’. Karate was sometimes referred to as ‘Okinawan-te’. Funakoshi changed the kanji to read empty hand and is credited with doing so in 1935 with the publication of ‘karate-do kyohan’. |
| DOJO |
Training building. Literally ‘place of the Way’ The place where we practice Karate. Traditional etiquette prescribes bowing in the direction of the designated front of the dojo (SHOMEN) whenever entering or leaving the dojo. |
| GI (ghee) |
Training costume. |
| SAN REN TSUKI |
Triple Punch. The first is Jodan followed by two Chudan punches. |
| MAWATE |
Turn around, a command given by the instructor for students to turn around. |
| TATE |
Up. Get up. |
| JODAN AGE UKE |
Upper Block. Upper level rising block. |
| JODAN |
Upper level. |
| AGE |
Upper or Rising. |
| DO |
Way/path. The Japanese character for ‘DO’ is the same as the Chinese character for Tao (as in Taoism). In Karate, the connotation is that of a way of attaining enlightenment or a way of improving one’s character through traditional training. |