| Basic Karate Student Vocabulary
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| karate (kah-rah-tay): | “empty hands” |
| dojo (doe-joe): | school or training room |
| kata (kah-tah): | practive form |
| kiai (key-eye): | “spirit shout”, focus of energy |
| kumite (koo-mee-tay): | sparring, fighting |
| gohon kumite (go-hone koo-mee-tay): | five-step sparring |
| Shotokan (show-toe-kahn): | “House of Shoto” |
| karateka (kah-rah-tay-kah): | practitioner of karate |
| gi (gee)(g is hard as in gun): | uniform, ie. karate-gi “karate uniform” |
| reigi (ray-gee): | etiquette |
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| kihon (key-hone): | fundamentals |
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| waza (wah-zah): | technique(s) |
| tsuki(zuki) (zoo-key): | punch |
| uchi (oo-chee): | strike |
| uke (oo-kay): | block |
| dachi (dah-chee): | stance |
| keri(geri) (gary): | kick |
| do (doh): | way, ie. karate-do “the way of karate” |
| budo (boo-doh): | martial way, the way of preventing violence |
| Intermediate Terms | embusen (em-boo-sen): |
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| floor pattern/ the lines of a kata |
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| bunkai (boon-k’eye): | application of kata techniques |
| ippon kumite (oo-pohn koo-mee-tay): | one-step sparring |
| yakusoku kumite (yahk-so-koo koo-mee-tay): | “promise”/premeditated sparring |
| gohon kumite (goe-hone koo-mee-tay): | five-step sparring |
| jiyyu kumite (jee-you koo-mee-tay): | free-style sparring |
| ashi-barai (ah-shee bah-rye): | foot sweep |
| yori-ashi (yoh-ree ah-shee): | sliding of the feet |
| jishin (jee-sheen): | self-confidence |
| hombu dojo (home-boo doh-joe): | central dojo (of an organization) |
| focus of power | kime (key-may): |
| maai (mah-eye): | distance |
| kamae (kah-my): | posture |
| tai-sabaki (tie sah-bah-kee): | body shifting |
| shomen (show-men): | “front” of the dojo |
| kami dana (kah-mee dah-nah): | ceremonial altar at shomen |
| shinnen (sheen-nen): | ryuha code, dojo creed |
| gashuku (gah-sh’koo): | gathering of entire dojo for training |
| Shuri-te (shoo-ree tay): | old name for the Shotokan style |
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| Advanced Terms |
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| shorin (show-reen): | light/fast style karate |
| shorei (show-ray): | solid/strong style karate |
| hiki (hee-kee): | “to pull” |
| hikite (hee-k’tay): | opposing (pulling back) hand |
| awase (ah-wah-say): | “combined” |
| “the two” or both | ryo (row) (roll the r): |
| kensai (ken-say): | feint |
| nage (naw-gay): | throw |
| kokyu (koe-k’yoo): | deep breathing |
| kuzushi (koo-zoo-shee): | loss of balance |
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| Commands |
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| narande (nah-ron-day): | line up |
| keiretsu (kay-ret-sue): | line up by rank |
| yoi (yo-ee): | readiness |
| kio-tsuke (key-oh t’skeh): | attention |
| seiza (say-zah): | kneeling position |
| mokuso (mok’soo): | deep breathing meditation |
| shomen ni (show-men nee): | face front (of the dojo) |
| sensei ni (sen-say nee): | face the instructor |
| sempai ni (sem-pie nee): | face the senior student |
| otaigai ni (oh-tie-guy nee): | face each other |
| bow, respect | rei (ray): |
| za rei (zah ray): | traditional kneeling bow |
| matte (mah-tay): | wait |
| hajime (hah-jee-may): | begin |
| yame (yah-may): | stop |
| yasume (yah-soo-may): | relax or rest |
| naore (nay-ore-ray): | return to shizen-tai |
| age-te (ah-gay tay): | raise hands (guard position) |
| kamae-te (kah-my tay): | “guard up” or fighting posture |
| mawatte (mah-wah-tay): | turn around |
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| Expressions |
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| onegai shimasu (oh-nay-guy shee-mahss): | “I make a request” or “I welcome you to train with me” |
| (domo) arigato | thank you |
| gozaimasu (doh-moe ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah’ee-mahss): | thank you (very much) |
| hai (h’eye): | yes/affirmation |
| osu (ouss): | “I understand and will try to do my best.” |
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| Major Concepts |
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| zanshin (zahn-sheen): | Continuing of mind and heart.“following through” a technique while maintaining awareness. |
| sen (sen): | initiative |
| sen no sen: | Seizing the initiative earlier. Attacking at the exact moment your opponent attacks. |
| go no sen: | Seizing the initiative later. Let opponent attack first to open up targets for counter-attack. |
| sen sen no sen: | Seizing the opponents “sen no sen”. Attacking before your opponent does. |
| sun-dome (soon-doe-meh): | “Three centimeters”. Stopping a techniques just prior to contact. |
| ikken hissatsu (ee-ken he-sat-soo): | “To kill with one blow”. Emphasizes a decisive technique. |
| karate ni sente nashi: | “Karate does not include the first move.” |
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| Counting |
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| ichi (eech-ee): | one |
| ni (nee): | two |
| san (sawn): | three |
| chi (shee): | four |
| go (goe): | five |
| roku (row-koo): | six |
| shichi (see-chee): | seven |
| hachi (hah-chee): | eight |
| ku (koo): | nine |
| ju (joo): | ten |
| ju-ichi (joo eech-ee): | eleven |
| ni-ju (nee joo): | twenty |
| ni-ju-ichi (nee joo eech-ee): | twenty one |
| hyaku (h'yah-koo): | one hundred |
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| Directions and Facings |
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| mae (my): | front |
| yoko (also sokumen) (yoh-koh) (soh-koo-men): | side |
| ushiro (oo-she-row): | back |
| hidari (hee-dar-ree): | left |
| migi (mee-gee) (hard g as in gun): | right |
| gyaku (g’yah-koo): | reverse form |
| naname (nah-nah-may): | 45 degree angle |
| jodan (joe-don): | head level |
| chudan (chew-don): | mid-level |
| gedan (gay-don): | low level |
| tate (tah-tay): | verticle |
| otoshi (oh-toe-shee): | dropping |
| tobi (toe-bee): | jumping or flying |
| zenshin (zen-sheen): | forward |
| koshin (koe-sheen): | rearward |
| ue (oo-eh): | above |
| shita (shee-tah): | below |
| soto (soh-toe): | outside |
| uchi (oo-chee): | inside |
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| Ranking |
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| go-souke (goe-sew-kay): | master, reserved for the head of a style |
| renshi (wren-shee): | one who has mastered oneself an expert instructor |
| hanshi (hawn-shee): | master, honorary term for the highest black belt in an organization |
| shihan (she-hawn): | master intructor (of an organization) or "teacher of teachers" |
| sensei (sen-say): | intructor/teacher |
| shidoin (shee-doh-een): | assistant instructor |
| sempai (sem-pie): | senior student |
| kohai (koh-high): | junior student (to oneself)/comrade |
| kyu (k’yoo): | grade or class, used for ranks before black belt ranks, which are referred to as dan. |
| mudansha (moo-don-shaw): | students without black-belt ranking |
| obi (oh-bee): | belt, sash |
| dan (don): | degree, level, or rank, used for black belt ranking. |
| yudansha (you-don-shaw): | black belt holder (any rank) |
| shiro-obi (shee-row oh-bee): | white belt |
| ki-obi (key oh-bee): | yellow belt, 10th kyu |
| ao-obi (ah’oh oh-bee): | blue belt, 9th and 8th kyu |
| midori-obi (mee-doe-ree oh-bee): | green belt, 7th and 6th kyu |
| murasaki-obi (moo-rah-saw-kee oh-bee): | purple belt, 5th and 4th kyu |
| cha-obi (chah oh-bee): | brown belt; 3rd, 2nd, and 1st kyu |
| kuro-obi (koo-row oh-bee): | black belt, all dan lavels |
| shodan (show-don): | first black, student (sen) |
| nidan (nee-don): | second black, disciple (go no sen) |
| sandan (sawn-don): | third black, confirmed disciple |
| yondan (yone-don): | fourth black, expert (sen no sen) |
| godan (goe-don): | fifth black, spiritual expert |
| rokudan (row-koo-don): | sixth black, spiritual expert |
| shichidan (shee-chee-don): | seventh black, specialized expert |
| hachidan (hah-chee-don): | eighth black |
| kudan (koo-don): | ninth black |
| judan (joo-don): | tenth black |
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| Kata |
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| shodan (show-don): | first, eg. first level of |
| nidan (nee-don): | second |
| sandan (sawn-don): | third |
| yondan (yone-don): | fourth |
| godan (goe-don): | fifth |
| dai (die): | greater, major |
| sho (show): | lesser, minor |
| hasen kata (haw-sen): | a series of kata, performed “in waves” |
| Taikyoku (tie-key’oh-koo): | First Cause |
| Heian (hay-on): | Peaceful Mind |
| Tekki (tek-key): | Iron Knight or "Iron Horse" |
| Bassai (bah-s’eye): | “To Penetrate a Fortress” |
| Kanku (kan-koo): | “To View the Heavens” |
| Jion (jee-ohn): | Buddhist temple name, translates to “Loving Grace” or “Gentle kindness” |
| Hangetsu (hawn-geh-t’soo): | “Half Moon” |
| Empi (em-pee): | “Flying Swallow” |
| Chinte (cheen-tay): | “Unusual Hands” or “Extraordianry Hands” |
| Jitte (jee-tay): | “Ten Hands” or “Technique Hands” |
| Jiin (jee-een): | “Place of Mercy” or “In the Shadow of Kindness” |
| Nijushiho (nee-joo-shee-hoe): | “Twenty-four Steps (or Directions)” |
| Gankaku (gahn-kah-koo): | “Crane on a Rock” |
| Sochin (soe-cheen): | “To Keep the Peace” or “Grand Suppression” |
| Gojushiho (goe-joo-shee-hoe): | “Fifty-four Step (or Directions)” |
| Unsu (oon-soo): | “Cloud Hands” |
| Meikyo (may-ee-k’yoe): | “Bright Mirror” or “Clear Mirror” |
| Wankan (wahn-kahn): | “King’s Crown” |
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| Dachi Waza : Stances |
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| shizen-tai (she-zen-tie): | natural stance/posture |
| hachiji dachi (hah-chee-jee dah-ch): | open-legged stance (yoi) |
| heisoku dachi (high-soh-koo dah-ch): | feet together stance |
| seiza (say-zah): | kneeling posture |
| musubi dachi (moo-soo-bee dah-ch): | attention/bowing stance |
| zenkutsu dachi (zen-koot-soo dah-ch): | front stance |
| kokutsu dachi (koe-koot-soo dah-ch): | back stance |
| kiba dachi (key-bah dah-ch): | straddle/horse stance |
| fudo dachi (foo-doe dah-ch): | rooted stance (fighting stance) |
| hanmi dachi (hahn-mee dah-ch): | half facing stance |
| kosa dachi (koh-saw dah-ch): | cross-legged stance |
| neko-ashi dachi (nek-o ah-shee dah-ch): | cat-leg stance |
| renoji dachi (ren-o-jee dah-ch): | L-stance |
| hangetsu dachi (hawn-get-soo dah-ch): | wide hourglass stance |
| sanchin dachi (sawn-cheen dah-ch): | hourglass stance |
| sochin dachi (soh-cheen dah-ch): | diagonal straddle stance |
| tsuru dachi (t’soo-roo dah-ch): | crane stance (Gankaku) |
| sagi ashi dachi (sah-gee ah-shee dah-ch): | crane stance (Jitte) |
| shiko dachi (shee-koe dah-ch): | square stance |
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| Uke Waza : Blocking Techniques |
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| age uke (ah-gay oo-kay): | rising block |
| gedan barai (gay-don bah-rye): | down block |
| uchi (ude) uke (oo-chee oo-day oo-kay): | inside (forearm) block |
| soto (ude) uke (soh-toe oo-day oo-kay): | outside (forearm) block |
| shuto uke (shoo-toe oo-kay): | knife-hand block |
| gyaku uke (g’yah-koo oo-kay): | reverse-form block |
| nagashi uke (nah-gah-shee oo-kay): | sweeping block |
| haiwan nagashi uke (high-wahn nah-gah-shee oo-kay): | sweeping back forearm block |
| osae uke (oh-sigh oo-kay): | pressing block |
| morote uke (moh-roh-tay oo-kay): | augmented block |
| kosa uke (koh-sah oo-kay): | crossing block |
| empi uke (or hiji uke) (em-pee oo-kay) (hee-jee): | elbow block |
| tate shuto uke (tah-tay shoo-toe oo-kay): | verticle knife-hand block |
| juji uke (joo-jee oo-kay): | X-block |
| te nagashi uke (tay nah-gah-shee oo-kay): | sweeping hand block |
| kakiwake uke (kah-kee-wah-kay oo-kay): | reverse wedge block |
| haishu uke (high-shoo oo-kay): | back-hand block |
| manji uke (man-jee oo-kay): | half-swastica block |
| sukui uke (soo-koo-ee oo-kay): | scooping block |
| otoshi uke (oh-toe-shee oo-kay): | dropping block |
| tsukami uke (soo-kah-mee oo-kay): | grasping block |
| teisho awase uke (tay-show ah-wah-say oo-kay): | combined palm-heel block |
| teisho morote uke (tay-show moh-roh-tay oo-kay): | double palm-heel block |
| haishu awase uke (high-shoo ah-wah-say oo-kay): | combined back-hand block |
| sokumen awase uke (soh-koo-men ah-wah-say oo-kay): | side combined block |
| kake uke (kah-kay oo-kay): | hooking block |
| tekubi kake uke (tay-koo-bee kah-kay oo-kay): | hooking wrist block |
| mawashi kake uke (mah-wah-shee kah-kay oo-kay): | circular hook block |
| hineri uke (hee-ney-ree oo-kay): | twisting block |
| seiryuto uke (say-ree’oo-toe oo-kay): | ox-jaw hand block |
| kieto uke (kigh-toe oo-kay): | chicken-head wrist block |
| suri uke (sir-ee oo-kay): | sliding block |
| hiji suri uke (hee-jee sir-ee oo-kay): | sliding elbow block |
| shuto kakiwake uke (shoo-toe kah-kee-wah-kay oo-kay): | knife-hand wedge block |
| haito kakiwake uke (high-toe kah-keh-wah-kay oo-kay): | ridge-hand wedge block |
| koko uke (koh-koh oo-kay): | tiger-mouth block |
| yama uke (yah-mah oo-kay): | mountain block |
| ryowan uchi uke (row-wahn oo-chee oo-kay): | double inside block |
| hasami uke (hah-sah-mee oo-kay): | scissor block |
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| Tournament Terms |
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| aka (ah-kah): | red |
| shiro (shee-row): | white |
| sanbon shobu (sawn-bone show-boo): | three point match |
| otegai ni rei (oh-tee-guy nee ray): | bow to each other |
| hajime (hah-jee-may): | begin the match |
| yame (yah-may): | stop |
| hantei (hawn-tay): | decision |
| (aka/shiro) no kachi (no kah-ch): | (red/white) winner |
| waza-ari (wah-zah-a-ree): | half point |
| ippon (ee-pon): | full point |
| jogai (joe-guy): | out of bounds |
| ai-uch (eye-ooch): | clash, same time techniques |
| chui (choo-ee): | warning |
| hansoku (hawn-soh-koo): | disqualify |
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| Tsuki Waza : Punching Techniques |
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| oi zuki (oh-ee zoo-key): | lunge punch |
| gyaku zuki (g’yah-koo zoo-key): | reverse punch |
| choku zuki (choe-koo zoo-key): | straight punch |
| morote zuki (moh-roh-tay zoo-key): | parallel punch |
| kizami zuki (key-zah-mee zoo-key): | jab |
| ura zuki (oo-rah zoo-key): | close punch |
| kage zuki (kah-gay zoo-key): | hook punch |
| oi-gyaku zuki (oh-ee g’yah-koo zoo-key): | lunging reverse punch |
| ren zuki (or nidan zuki) (wren zoo-key) (nee-don): | double punch |
| san zuki (sawn zoo-key): | triple punch |
| heiko ura zuki (high-koh oo-rah zoo-kee): | parallel close punch |
| hasami zuki (hah-sah-mee zoo-kee): | scissor punch |
| otoshi zuki (oh-toe-shee zoo-kee): | dropping punch |
| ippon ken zuki (ee-pone ken zoo-kee): | single-point fist punch |
| awase zuki (ah-wah-say zoo-kee): | U-punch |
| yama zuki (yah-mah zoo-kee): | mountain punch |
| tate zuki (tah-tay zoo-kee): | verticle punch |
| mawashi zuki (mah-wah-shee zoo-kee): | circular punch |
| nagashi zuki (nah-gah-shee zoo-kee): | flowing punch |
| teisho zuki (tay-show zoo-kee): | palm heel punch |
| yumi zuki (yoo-mee zoo-kee): | “bow” punch |
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| Keri Waza : Kicking Techniques |
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| mae geri keage (my gary key-ah-gay): | front snap kick |
| yoko geri keage (yoh-koh gary key-ah-gay): | side snap kick |
| ushiro geri (oo-shee-row gary): | back kick |
| mawashi geri (mah-wah-shee gary): | round kick |
| mae geri kekomi (my gary keh-koe-mee): | front thrust kick |
| yoko geri kekomi (yoh-koh gary keh-koe-mee): | side thrust kick |
| uchi mikazuki geri (oo-chee mee-kah-zoo-key gary): | inside crescent kick |
| soto mikazuki geri (soh-toe mee-kah-zoo-key gary): | outside crescent kick |
| kage geri (kah-gay gary): | hook kick |
| gyaku mawashi geri (g’yah-koo mah-wah-shee gary): | reverse round kick |
| fumikomi geri (foo-mee-koh-mee gary): | stomping kick |
| nami-ashi geri (nah-mee-ah-shee gary): | returning wave kick |
| tobi geri (toe-bee gary): | jumping or flying kick |
| nidan geri (nee-don gary): | double kick |
| ono geri (oh-no gary): | axe kick |
| fumikiri geri (foo-mee-kee-ree gary): | cutting kick |
| kansetsu geri (kahn-seh-t’soo gary): | kick to the knee |
| kesa geri (kay-sah gary): | “across” or diagonal kick |
| kesa mawashi geri (kay-sah mah-wah-shee gary): | diagonal round kick |
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| Uchi Waza : Striking Techniques |
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| tettsui uchi (tet-soo-ee oo-chee): | hammer-fist strike |
| uraken uchi (oo-rah-ken oo-chee): | back-fist/knuckle strike |
| hiraken uchi (here-rah-ken oo-chee): | flat fist/fore-knuckle strike |
| uchi shuto uchi (oo-chee shoo-toe oo-chee): | inside knife-hand strike |
| soto shuto uchi (soe-toe shoo-toe oo-chee): | outside knife-hand strike |
| haito uchi (high-toe oo-chee): | ridge-hand strike |
| uchi haito uchi (oo-chee high-toe oo-chee): | inside ridge-hand strike |
| shihon nukite (shee-hone new-kee-tay): | four point spear |
| nippon nukite (nee-hone new-kee-tay): | two point spear/fork |
| ippon nukite (ee-pone new-kee-tay): | single-point spear |
| tiesho uchi (tay-show oo-chee): | palm heel strike |
| kumade (koo-mah-day): | bear claw/hand |
| koko uchi (koe-koe oo-chee): | tiger-mouth strike |
| haishu uchi (high-shoo oo-chee): | back-hand strike |
| sieryuto uchi (say-re’oo-toe oo-chee): | ox-jaw hand strike |
| washide (wah-shee-day): | eagle-beak strike |
| hasami uchi (hah-sah-mee oo-chee): | scissor strike |
| wanto (wahn-toe): | sword arm strike |
| keito uchi (kay-toe oo-chee): | chicken-head strike |
| otoshi uchi (oh-toe-hee oo-chee): | dropping strike |
| furioroshi uchi (foo-ree-oh-row-she oo-chee): | downward swinging strike |
| kansetsu uchi (kahn-seh-t’soo oo-chee): | strike to a joint |
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