A

Age uke

Rising block

Ago

Jaw

Ago uchi

Strike to the jaw

Ashi

Foot or leg

Ashi barai

Foot sweep

Ashi-no yubi

Toes (see “Tsumasaki”)

Ato ni kai

Two more times

Ato san kai

Three more times

Atama

Head

Azato, Anko

One of Gichin Funakoshi’s senseis (see “Itosu”)

B

Barai

Sweep

Bo

Staff (Okinawan kobudo weapon)

Budo

Martial arts

Budoka

Martial arts practitioner

Bujin

Martial artist

Bunkai

Interpretation/application of movement or technique

C

Choku

Straight

Choku tsuki

Straight punch

Chudan

Middle gate of the body (chest to waist)

D

Dachi

Stance

Dai Sempai

Highest ranking student

Dai Sensei

Highest ranking teacher

Dan

Black belt grade

Do

Way or path; art

Dojo

Martial arts school or training area (literally translated: “The place where one finds one’s way”)

Dozo

Please

E

Embu sen

Path or map of a kata

Empi

Elbow (also “hiji”)

Empi uchi

Elbow strike

Empi uke

Elbow block

F

Fudo dachi

Grounded stance

Fumikomi geri

Stomping kick

Funakoshi, Gichin

The founder of Shotokan karate-do (1868-1957)

G

Gaeshi

Turning or rolling

Gedan

Lower gate to the body (below the waist)

Gedan barai

Downward sweep

Geri

Kick

Gi

Formal martial arts uniform (karategi, judogi, kobudogi, etc.)

Goju ryu

An Okinawan system of karate; literally “Hard soft style”

Gore

By the count

Gore nashi

No count

Gyaku

Reverse

Gyaku tsuki

Reverse punch

H

Hachimaki

Headband, bandana

Hai

Yes

Hai, Sensei

I understand, Teacher

Haisoku

Instep (see “Sokko”)

Haito

Ridge hand

Haito uchi

Ridge hand strike

Hajime

Begin

Hangetsu dachi

Half moon stance (a very deep sanchin dachi)

Hanshi

Samurai title given to those oldest and most senior dans at the ranks of Kudan (9th dan) and Judan (10th dan).  This person is usually the head of an individual karate organization, someone who has studied the art for most of his lifetime.  This grade signifies his true understanding of the art.  Hanshi are commonly at least 65 — 80 years of age.  Literally, “Master”

Happon uke waza

A sequence of 4 basic blocking techniques (age uke, soto uke, uchi uke, gedan barai), performed bilaterally, that is first learned as a beginner.  Literally, “eight blocking techniques”

Hara

The center of one’s being or consciousness

Hasami barai

Scissors sweep

Hasami uke

Scissoring block

Heisoku dachi

Feet together stance

Hidari

Left

Hiraken

Flat fist

Hiki te

Pulling hand

Hiki uke

Pulling block

Hiza

Knee

Hiza geri

Knee kick

I

Ibuki

Dynamic tension breathing

Iie

No

Ippon

First; single; one point

Ippon kumite

Single move sparring drill

Ippon nukite

Single finger spear hand strike

Itosu, Anko

One of Gishin Funakoshi’s other senseis (see “Azato”); creator of the Pinan kata

J

Jime

Choke (plural is “shime,” as in “shime waza” or choking techniques)

J

Jiyu kumite

Free-style sparring

Jodan

Upper gate to the body (head and neck)

Joseki

“High seat” or front of dojo (see “Shomen”)

Josokutei

Ball of the foot

Juji uke

X block (literally, “figure 10” block)

K

Kage geri

Hook kick

Kage tsuki

Hook punch

Kage uke

Hooking block

Kakie

Sticky hands (tuite)

Kaku-waki uke

Wedge block

Kamae

Defensive posture

Kamiza

Shrine or altar

Karate

“Empty hand” changed formally by Master Funakoshi from the traditional kanji meaning “Chinese hand”

Karate-do

The art (way) of the empty hand

Karate-ka

Karate practitioner

Kasushi

Off-balancing motion

Kata

Formal exercises performed in a pre-arranged geometrical pattern against imaginary opponents.  The foundation of all karate training

Kata

Shoulders

Keage

Snapping

Keage geri

Snapping kick

Keiko

Practice

Keito uke

Chicken wrist block

Kekomi

Thrusting

Kekomi geri

Thrusting kick

Kiai

Vocalization of focus or intent; force; spirit

Kiba dachi

Horse stance

Kihon

Basic technique

Kime

Focus of technique; internal energy

Kindama (vulgar)

Groin

Kiotsuke

Attention

Kokuto uke

Bent wrist block

Kokuto uchi

Bent wrist strike

Kokutsu dachi

Back stance

Koshi

Hip

Komi

Heel

Kote

Wrist (also “te kubi”)

Kote uchi

Wrist strike

Kudasai

Please

Kumade

Bear hand

Kumi

Coming together

Kumite

Practice sparring (a controlled sparring match); literally “coming together of hands”

Kyoshi

Samurai title given to those holding the ranks of nadan (7th dan) and Hachidan (8th dan) Literally, “Knowledgeable person”

Kyu

Student rank division denoting colored belts

M

Maae

Proper distancing

Mae

Forward; front

Mae geri

Front kick

Mae-tobi geri

Flying front kick

Makiwara

Contact board

Mata

Groin

Mate

Wait

Mawashi

Roundhouse

Mawashi geri

Roundhouse kick

Mawashi tsuki

Roundhouse punch

Mawate

Turn around

Menjo

Formal ceremony at which rank promotions are given; literally “diploma”

Metsuke

Gaze, focus of the eyes

Migi

Right

Mikazuki geri

Crescent (moon) kick

Miyagi, Chojun

10th dan master and founder of Goju-ryu karate-do (1888 — 1953)

Morote tsuki

Reinforced or double punch

Morote uke

Reinforced forearm block

Mou ichi do

Repeat; or “one more time”

Mudansha

Students of the kyu ranks, collectively

Musubi dachi

Feet at an angle stance

N

Nafudakake

Rank board

Nagashi uke

Pushing block

Naka

Center

Nakadate ippon ken

Single finger one-knuckle punch

Nami gaeshi geri

Rolling wave kick

Nami gaeshi uke

Rolling wave block

Naname

Angled (implies a 45° angle)

Neko ashi dachi

Cat leg stance

Nidan geri

Double kick

Ni mae-tobi geri

Double flying front kick

Nodo

Throat

Nodo tsuki

Throat punch

Nukite

Spear hand strike

Nyujo

Enter

O

Obi

Belt

Oi tsuki

Lunge punch

Okinawa

One of the Ryukyu Islands; the founding country of karate-do

Okinawa-te

The precursor to modern karate; the original Okinawan martial art also known as Te, To-te, Naha-te, Shuri-te, etc.

Onaka

Stomach

Ono geri

Axe kick

Osae

Pressing

Osae uke

Pressing block

Otagai

Partner

Oya-yubi

Thumb

Oya-yubi date tsuki

Thumb knuckle punch

R

Rei

Bow

Reigi

Etiquette / good manners

Renshi

Samurai title meaning “A person who has mastered oneself,” given to those holding the ranks of Yondan (4th dan) through Rokudan (6th dan) Literally, “Polished expert” or “expert instructor”

Renshu

Practice

Ryu

Style or tradition

S

Sagiashi dachi

Crane leg stance

Sanbon kumite

Three-step sparring

Sanbon tsuki

Triple punch

Sanchin dachi

Open hourglass stance

Seiken

Fist; chamber

Seiken choku tsuki

Straight punch from chamber

Sei retsu suru

Take position in line

Seito

Student

Seiza

kneel; sit

Sempai

High ranking student (title given to those at the Shodan & Nidan levels)

Sensei

Teacher; title given only to those holding the rank of Sandan (3rd dan) or higher

Shiai

Competition or tournament

Shiaijo

Sparring match area

Shihan

Director (of a school system; one must hold the grade of Kyoshi to acquire this title)

Shiko dachi

Straddle leg stance (like an open kiba dachi)

Shime waza

Choking techniques

Shimoza

Dojo rear wall

Shinkyo

Mirror placed in front of or inside the kamiza

Shinobi dachi

Hidden stance

Shinpan

High ranking dan official, judge

Shobu-ari

Winner (in a kumite)

Shogo

The three classical Samurai ranks of Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi

Shomen

Dojo front wall (see “Joseki”)

Shorin ryu

One of the two traditional Okinawan martial arts, along with Shorei ryu, from which Master Funakoshi developed his own style, Shotokan.  Literally "Pine Forest Style"

Shotokan

Funakoshi-sensei’s system of karate — a combination of the traditional Shorin ryu and Shorei ryu styles

Shuto

Knife hand

Shuto uke

Knife hand block

Sieryuto uchi

Ox jaw strike

Sochin dachi

Twisted horse stance

Sokko

Instep (see “Haisoku”)

Sokuto

Blade of the foot

Soto

Outward

Soto uke

Outward block

Suigetsu

Solar plexus

Sukui uke

Scooping block

Suri-ashi

Sliding step; shuffle

T

Tai

Body

Tai Sabaki

Body movement

Tate tsuki

Vertical fist punch

Te

Hand

Teisho

Palm heel

Teisho uchi

Palm heel strike

Tetsui

Bottom fist / Hammer fist

Tetsui uchi

Bottom fist strike

Tomoe shotei ate

Thousand-arms block (literally, “overhead palm-heel strike”)

Tori

The person who performs a kata during bunkai application, or who performs the techniques during ippon kumite or when demonstrating any ju jitsu movement; this person is defending himself and is the eventual winner in a confrontation

Tsuba

Fist-guard on a sword

Tsuki

Punch

Tsumasaki

Toes (see “Ashi-no yubi”)

U

Uchi

Strike

Uchi-hachiji dachi

Closed hourglass stance

Uchi uke

Inside block

Ude

Forearm

Ude uke

Forearm block

Uke

Block

Uke

The person who receives techniques during kata bunkai application; this person provides attacks in ippon kumite (or during kata bunkai or when demonstrating any ju jitsu movement), and is the eventual loser in a confrontation

Uraken

Back fist

Ushiro

Back, reverse

Ushiro geri

Back kick

Uwagi

Top half of the standard karate gi

W

Waza

Technique, skill

Waza-ari

Half point (in a kumite)

Y

Yama tsuki

Mountain punch, or “U” punch

Yamaguchi, Gogen

Contemporary 10th dan master of Goju ryu karate-do (1909 — 1989)

Yame

Stop; end

Yoko

Side

Yoko geri

Side kick

Yoko-tobi geri

Flying side kick

Yoi

Ready

Yoi dachi

Ready stance

Yubi

Fingers

Yudansha

Committee of black belts

Z

Zanshin

Awareness, alertness, focus of intent. Literally, “ready mind”

Zenkutsu dachi

Front stance

Zubon

Bottom half of the traditional karate gi