HARPENDEN KARATE CLUB
Technical karate terms
HARPENDEN JKA
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 that there’s a common understanding when training with different instructors.
Here’s an A-Z list of the more commonly used ones:
A
Age uke Rising block to head
Aka Red
Aka no kachi Victory for Red
Ashi Foot/leg
Ashi barai Foot sweep
B
Bassai-Dai Kata Meaning to penetrate a (large) fortress
Bassai-Sho Kata Meaning to penetrate a (small) fortress
Bunkai Formal application of kata technique
C
Choku zuki Punch (straight)
Chudan Middle part of the body (eg stomach)
D
Dan Senior black belt grades starting with Shodan
Deshi Student
Do Way
Dojo School or training hall
E
Empi Elbow
Empi uchi Elbow strike
F
Fumidashi Step forward
Fuse haito uchi Strike with turndown ridge of hand
Fuse shuto uchi Strike with turndown sword/knife hand
G
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 Meaning fifty-four (big) steps
Goju Sho Ho Sho Kata Meaning 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
H
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
I
Ichi Number one
Ippon Score (full point)
J
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
K
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)
M
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
N
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
O
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
R
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
S
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
T
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
U
Uke Block
Unsu Kata Meaning hands in the clouds
Ura mawashi geri Reverse roundhouse kick
Uraken uchi Back fist strike
Ushiro geri Back kick
W
Waki Side
Wankan Kata Meaning king and crown
Waza ari Score (almost a full point)
Y
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
Z
Zanshin Awareness
Zen Meditation / life philosophy
Zenkutsu dachi Front stance