Terminology

General Terms

Ashi barai: Foot sweep

Budo : Martial Way; Martial arts

Busaganishi: Martial arts deity

Bunkai: Study of kata applications and techniques

Chiru no chan chan : Fast, springy action

Chudan : Middle level

Dan : Level

Do : Way; Path

Dojo : Training place

Dojo kun : Dojo rules

Gasshuku : Special karate training camp

Gedan : Lower level

Geri : Kick

Gi: Jacket; training costume; tunic

Go : Hard; unyielding

Go kumite : Hard sparring

Goju Ryu Karate Do : Hard / Soft style, empty handed Way

Hai: Yes

Hajime : Begin

Hara : Stomach

Heishugata : "Closed Fist" kata (Sanchin and Tensho)

Hidari : Left

Hiji : Elbow

Hiza : Knee

Hojo undo : Supplementary exercises

Honbu Dojo : Central dojo of an organization

Ippon kumite : One point sparring

Jodan : Upper level

Ju : Soft; flexible

Junbi Undo : Warm up exercises

Kaishugata : "Open fist" kata (Gekisai, Saifa, etc.)

Kakie : Push hands

Kamae : Combative posture

Kamae te : Assume stance

Kanji: Chinese characters

Karate : Empty hand

Karate-Do : The way of Karate

Kata : Forms

Keage : Snap action

Kenkon : The symbol of the I.O.G.K.F. Literally "Heaven and Earth"

Ki o tsuke : Attention (phonetically" kee-ut-ski")

Kiai: Focusing shout

Kihon : Basic techniques

Kokomi: Thrust action

Koshi: Ball of the foot

Kumite : Sparring

Kyu : White to brown belt rank

Mae : Front

Mawatte : Turn around

Migi: Right

Mokuso : Silent contemplation, meditation

Muchimi: Heavy, sticky action

Obi: Training uniform belt

Oyo bunkai: Study of techiques in kata (similar to Bunkai but including follow-ups)

Otagai: Training partner

Randori: Free sparring, relaxed sparring (sometimes called "Jiyu kumite")

Rei: Bow

Sandan gi: Three level sparring

Seiken : Fore fist

Seiza : Formal sitting position (kneeling on your haunches, feet crossed)

Semete : Attacking partner

Shime : Sanchin testing

Shomen : The front

Shugo : Line up

Ski atte : Change hands

Suri ashi : Sliding step

Tai sabaki : Body evasion ability

Tanden : Navel

Te : Hand

Ude : Forearm

Ude tanren : Forearm conditioning

Uke harai: Blocking exercises

Ushiro : Back, rear

Waza : Techniques

Yobi undo : Warm up exercises

Yakusoku kumite : Pre-arranged sparring

Yame : Stop

Yoi: Ready

Yoko : Side

Zanshin : Awareness

Agura : Informal sitting (legs crossed)

Asobidi: Playful martial arts

Ayumi ashi : Natural stepping

Chakuchki : Replacing

Embusen : Pattern of a given kata

Gai-wan : Outer arm

Gohon kumite : Five step basic sparring

Gyakute : Grappling, wrestling, joint locking (Literally "hand reverses")

Haishu : Back-hand; Closed hand

Haisoku : Instep

Happo sabaki: All types of footwork and evasion movements

Hiku no chikara : The power of recoil

Jiyu ippon : One step freestyle sparring

Josokutei: Ball of the feet

Judo : The Gentle Way

Junan taiso : Stretching exercises

Kaette : Return, or Go Back

Kaikoken : Crab Fist

Kaisho : Open hand

Kakato : Heel

Kakuto : Bent-wrist

Keiko : Training (also means 'Joined fingertips')

Keito : Chicken head wrist

Kentsui: Fist hammer

Ki: Mind, Spirit, Energy

Kihon ippon : Basic one point sparring

Kihon kumite : Basic sparring

Kime : Focus of power

Koken : Wrist Joint

Koshin : Rearward

Kyusho jutsu : The art of attacking the vital points of the body

Ma : Distance between opponents

Ma ai: Distancing

Mae ukemi: Front fall / roll

Maete : Jab (Literally "Front Hand")

Matte : Wait

Morote no kamae : Augmented handed combative posture

Nai-wan : Inner arm

Nin : Perseverance; tolerance; endurance; patience.

O swate : Sit down

O tate : Stand up

Reigi: Etiquette, manners (sometimes called "Reishiki")

Sandan kumite : Three step, three level sparring

Sanbon kumite : Three step sparring

Sanbon zuki: Three step sparring, one hand blocks three punch combination

Seishin tanren : Forging oneself through karate training

Shiho-wari: Breaking boards on four sides to test power, awareness and focus (sometimes

called 'Tameshiwari')

Shinzen : Shrine

Shinzui: Truth

Shizen tai: Natural position

Tachi: Stances

Tachi zen : Standing meditation

Tameshiwari: Test of technique's power via breaking

Tandoku Renshu : Preparatory exercise

Tako ashi: Octopus foot

Tenshin : Moving, shifting

Tome : Return to original position

Torite : Escape methods

Tsugi ashi: Chassis step

Ukete : Defending party

Unsoku ho : Footwork

Wan : Arm

Yasume : At ease

Zenshin : Forward

Zuki or Tsuki: Punch or thrust (sometimes pronounced "ski")

 

Blocks

Age uke : Rising block

Chudan uke : Middle level block

Gedan barai : Lower level sweep

Jodan uke : Upper level block

Hiji uke : Elbow block

Hiki uke : Pulling / grasping block

Hiza uke : Knee block

Jodan uke : Upper level block

Ko uke : Wrist block

Shotei barai : Palm heel sweep

Shotei uke : Palm heel block

Soto uke : Forearm block (from outside moving inward to the centre line of the body)

Sukui uke : Scooping block

Tora guchi uke - Tiger mouth block (sometimes called mawashi uke)•

Age uke, gyaku ashi : Upper block (reverse foot)

Ashibo kake uke : Leg hooking block

Ashikubi kake uke : Ankle hooking block

Awase uke : Joined hand block

Cho cho uke : Butterfly block

Chudan uchi uke : Block from inside outward with forearm

Chudan ude uke : Forearm block against body attack.

Deai osae uke : pressing block stepping in

Fumikomi ude uke : Forearm block stepping in

Gedan kake uke : Low level hooking block

Gedan uke : Low level block

Gedan ude uke : Low forearm block

Haishu uke : Back hand block

Haiwan nagashi uke : Back arm sweeping block

Heiwan uke : Upper forearm block

Hiji suri uke : Elbow sliding block

Juji uke : X block

Kake uke : Hooking block

Kakiwake uke : Reverse wedge block

Kakuto uke : Bent wrist block

Keito uke : Chicken head wrist block

Kuri uke : Elbow block (as used in the kata Seiyunchin)

Mae ude deai osae : Forearm pressing block

Mae ude hineri uke : Forearm twist block

Mawashi uke : Roundhouse block (sometimes called Tora Guchi uke)

Morote sukui uke : Two handed scooping block

Morote tsukami uke : Two handed grasping block

Morote uke : Augmented forearm block

Nagashi uke : Sweeping block

Oroshi uke : Descending block

Osae uke : Pressing block

Otoshi uke: Dropping block

Sashite uke: Rising hand block

Seiryuto uke : Ox-jaw block

Shuto uke: Knife hand block

Sokumen awase uke: Side two hand block

Sokutei mawashi uke: Circular sole block

Sokutei osae uke: Pressing block with sole

Sokuto osae uke: Pressing block with foot edge

Tate shuto uke : Verticle knife hand block

Tate uke : Vertical block

Te nagashi uke : Hand sweeping block

Te osae uke : Hand pressing block

Teisho awase uke : Combined palm heel block (sometimes called Shotei awase uke)

Teisho uke : Palm heel block (sometimes called Shotei uke)

Tekubi kake uke : Wrist hook block

Tetsui uke : Hammer block (sometimes called "outside forearm block")

Tsukami uke : Grasping block

Uchi uke : Block from inside outward

Ude uke : Inside forearm block

Uke : Blocking

 

 

Equipment and Weapons

Bo : Wooden staff, 6 feet long

Chi ishi: Lever weighted stone

Ishi sashi: Stone padlocks

Jo : Wooden staff, approximately 4 feet long

Kendo : Sword fighting

Kongo ken : Iron ring

Makiwara : Striking board

Nigiri game : Training jars (Nih-gee-ree gam-ay)

Sai: Three pronged knife

Tan : Barbells

Tetsu wa : Iron rings (sometimes called "Tekkan")

Tonfa : Farm tool developed into weapon by the Okinawan people