Glossary of Common
Japanese Karate Terms
Stance and posture
| dachi | stance |
| hachiji-dachi | open-leg stance; heels shoulder-width apart, toes pointing outwards, arms relaxed, hands in fists |
| heiko-dachi | parallel-leg stance; feet shoulder-width apart and parallel arms relaxed, hands in fists |
| kiba-dachi | `horse riding' stance: feet two shoulder-widths apart and parallel, knees bent |
| kokutsu-dachi | back stance: legs about shoulder-width apart side-to-side, and two shoulder widths front-to-back. Most weight on back foot, back and front legs slightly bent. Front heel and big toe make a line with the back heel |
| yoko-gamae | side-facing posture (normally used as an alternative to `kokutsu-dachi') |
| zenkutsu-dachi | front stance: legs about shoulder-width apart side-to-side, and two shoulder widths front-to-back. Front leg bent so that knee is aproximately over toes of front foot. |
| yoi | ready stance |
Blocks and defences
| age uke | rising block |
| gedan barai | downward block (more accurately `low-level sweep') |
| juuji uke | `X' block or cross block |
| soto uke | outside forearm block |
| shuto uke | knife-hand block |
| uchi uke | inside forearm block |
| uke | block |
Hand and arm strikes
| choku tsuki | straight punch |
| enpi uchi | elbow strike |
| gyaku tsuki | reverse punch |
| kizami | jab |
| oi tsuki | step or lunge punch |
| tsuki | punch |
| nukite uchi | spear-hand strike |
| tettsui | hammer fist strike |
| uchi | strike |
| uraken uchi | back-fist strike |
| ura tsuki | uppercut |
Foot and leg strikes
| geri | kick |
| ashi barai | foot sweep |
| mae geri | front kick |
| mawashi geri | roundhouse kick |
| mikazuki geri | crescent kick, also called `hook kick' or `drop kick' |
| ushiro geri | back kick |
| yoko (geri) kokomi | side thrust kick |
| yoko (geri) keage | side snap kick |
Anatomical and targeting
| ashi | foot or lower leg |
| chuudan | mid-level (typically aimed at the solar plexus) |
| enpi | elbow |
| gedan | low level (anything below the belt) |
| jodan | upper level (typically aimed at the head) |
| haito | `ridge hand'; the edge of the hand with the thumb |
| hidari | left (as in left-hand). Normally used in descriptions of stances |
| migi | right (as in right-hand). Normally used in descriptions of stances |
| shotei | `palm heel'; the palm of the hand when the fingers are drawn back |
| sokuto | `knife foot'; foot position for side kicks. |
| shuto | `knife hand'; also used as abbreviation for `shuto uke' -- knife hand block |
| uraken | `back fist'. Usually used in `uraken uchi' which is a blow delivered with the back of the fist rather than the knuckles and forefingers. |
Training methods and
practical matters
| dan | graduate. `Dan grades' are black-belt grades |
| dojo | training hall (literally `place of the way') |
| gohon kumite | five-step sparring |
| ippon kumite | one-step sparring |
| jiyuu kumite | free sparring |
| kata | preset sequences of moves |
| kihon | fundamentals (the practice of stances, blows, blocks, etc) |
| gi | uniform |
| kime | focus (literally `decision' or `commitment') |
| kumite | sparring |
| kyu | student. `Kyu grades' are pre-black-belt grades |
| obe | belt |
| sanbon kumite | three-step sparring |
| sempai | mentor, sponsor |
| sensei | teacher |
| shihan | master |
| shodan | first. When used in terms of grading or attainment it means the first black-belt grade. The term is also used generally to mean the first of a series. |
| shomen | founder, or front. Literally `sho-men', `first head'. Now only used in ritualistic formulations like `shomen no rei' -- `we bow to the founder'. |
Commands
| hajime | begin; usually used in the context of sparring |
| kiai | yell |
| kosa | switch feet |
| kougeki-yoi | Come to attention; assume the yoi stance |
| mawatte | turn around. Normally used to mean `face the opposite direction' |
| mokuso | meditate |
| rei | bow |
| seiza | sit down |
| yame | stop (sometimes interpreted as `relax') |
