In Karate-do, as in many another Japan-based martial art, all of the terms used in the Dojo are in the native tongue - Japanese. These pages attempts to provide acceptable interpretations of terms. You will find both individual Japanese words (e.g. Awase), but also common phrases, such as Engetsu Uke. Some of the phrase translations may not be strictly acurate, word for word - but they do reflect the normal usage (Gedan, and Gedan Barai, for example).
A B C D E F G H I J K M N O R S T U W Y Z Numbers
Japanese |
English |
| Bassai-dai (Kata) | To Storm a Fortress |
| Bo | Staff |
| Budo | Martial Way |
| Bunkai | Application |
Japanese |
English |
| Chinte (Kata) | Chinese Hands |
| Choku Zuki | Straight Punch |
| Chudan | Middle Level |
Japanese |
English |
| Dachi | Stance |
| Dai (as in Bassai-dai) | Major |
| Dan | Level (or Man) |
| Do | Way |
| Doji | Simultaneous |
| Dojo | Place of the Way; Training Place |
Japanese |
English |
| Embusen | Line(s) of movement (in Kata) |
| Empi | Elbow |
| Empi Uchi/Uke | Elbow Strike/Block |
| Engetsu Uke | Circle Foot Block |
| Enoy | Spirit of getting ready |
| Enpi (Kata) | Flying Swallow |
Japanese |
English |
| Fudo Dachi | Rooted Stance |
| Fumikomi | Stamping kick |
| Funakoshi ((November?) 1868 - April 26th, 1957) | Gichin Funakoshi - the master, and founder of modern Karate-do |
Japanese |
English |
| Gamae | Withdrawing |
| Gankaku (Kata) | Crane on a Rock |
| Gedan | Lower Level |
| Gedan Barai | Downward Block |
| Gedan Zuki | Lower Level Punch |
| Geri | Kick |
| Gi | Training Clothes |
| Gojushiho (-sho, -dai) (Kata) | Fifty-four Steps |
| Gohon Kumite | Five Attack Sparring |
| Gyaku | Reverse |
| Gyaku Zuki | Reverse Punch |
Japanese |
English |
| Hachiji Dachi | Naural Stance |
| Hai | Yes |
| Haishu | Back-hand |
| Haishu Uke | Back-hand Block |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Haisoku | Instep of foot |
| Haito | Ridge Hand |
| Haito Uchi | Ridge Hand Strike |
| Haiwan | Back-arm |
| Hangetsu (Kata) | Half Moon |
| Hangetsu Dachi | Half Moon (or Wide Hour Glass) Stance |
| Hanmi | Half Front (45 degrees, facing opponent) |
| Hara | Belly |
| Heian | Peaceful |
| Heian Kata's (Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan) | The Five Heian Kata's, derived from Kanku-dai |
| Heisoku Dachi | Informal Attention Stance |
| Hidari | Left |
| Hikite | Both Hands retracting |
| Hiraken | Fore-knuckle fist (striking with second joint of fingers) |
| Hiza | Knee |
| Hiza Geri | Knee Kick |
| Hombu | Main Dojo |
| Hyosh | Timing |
Japanese |
English |
| Ji'in (Kata) | Temple Grounds, or Gardens |
| Jion (Kata) | From the Temple of Jion |
| Jitte (Kata) | Ten Hands |
| Jiyu Dachi | Free Stance |
| Jiyu Ippon Kumite | Semi-free One-attack Sparring |
| Jiyu Kumite | Free Sparring |
| Jodan | Upper Level |
| Juji Uki | X-Block |
Japanese |
English |
| Ka | Student |
| Kage Uki | Hook Block |
| Kage Zuki | Hook Punch |
| Kaisho | Open hand (palm) |
| Kaiten | Rotating |
| Kakato | Heel |
| Kakiwake Uke | Wedge Block |
| Kamaete | Get Ready |
| Kan | Hall |
| Kanazawa (1931 - ) | Hirokazu Kanazawa, successor to Master Funakoshi |
| Kanku (-sho, -dai) (Kata) | Look to the Sky |
| Kara | Empty |
| Karate | Empty Hand |
| Kata | Form, or Formal Exercise |
| Keagi | Snap |
| Keito Uke | Chicken-head Wrist-block |
| Kekomi | Thrust |
| Ken | Fist |
| Kensei | Technique carried out with silent Kiai |
| Kesa Geri | Diagonal kick |
| Ki | Inner Strength |
| Kiai | Shout |
| Kiba Dachi | Horse riding Stance |
| Kihon | Basics |
| Kihon Ippon Kumite | Basic One Attack Sparring |
| Kime | Focus (Tension and Relaxation) |
| Kin Geri | Groin Kick |
| Kizami Zuki | Jabbing Punch |
| Kohai | Junior (to oneself) |
| Kokutsu Dachi | Back Stance |
| Kosa | Crossing |
| Kosa Uke | Crossing Block |
| Koshi | Ball of the Foot |
| Kumade | Bear Hand |
| Kumite | Sparring |
| Kun | Oath |
| Kyu | Grade (or Boy) |
Japanese |
English |
| Ma-ai | Distance |
| Mae | Front |
| Mae Geri | Front Kick |
| Makiwara | Striking Post |
| Mawashi Geri | Roundhouse Kick |
| Mawate | Turn |
| Meikyo (Kata) | Bright Mirror |
| Migi | Right (opposite to Left) |
| Mika Zuki Geri | Crescent Kick |
| Mokuso | Meditation |
| Morote | Augmented |
| Morote Uke | Augmented Block |
| Morote Zuki | Augmented Punch |
| Moto Dachi | Original Stance |
Japanese |
English |
| Nagashi Uke | Sweeping Block |
| Nakadaka Ippon Ken | Middle Finger One Knuckle Fist |
| Nami Ashi | Inside Leg Block |
| Neko Ashi Dachi | Cat Stance |
| Nidan Geri | Double Kick |
| Nihon Nukite | Two-finger Spear Hand |
| Nijushiho (Kata) | Twenty-four Steps |
| Nukite | Spear hand |
Japanese |
English |
| Rei | Bow |
| Ren Zuki | Combination Punching |
| Ryo | Both |
| Ryoken | Both Fists |
| Ryowan | Both Arms |
| Ryu | School |
Japanese |
English |
| Sanbon Kumite | Three Attack Sparring |
| Sanchin Datchi | (Narrow) Hour Glass Stance |
| Sashi Ashi | Stepping Over |
| Seiken | Fore Fist |
| Seiryuto Uke | Ox-jaw Block |
| Seiza | Kneeling Position |
| Sempai | Senior |
| Sensei | Teacher (One who has gone before) |
| Shihan | Master |
| Shiro | White |
| Sho (as in Bassai-sho) | Minor |
| Shoto | Pine Waves (Master Funakoshi's pen-name) |
| Shotokan | Hall of Shoto |
| Shushin | Referee |
| Shizentai | Natural, relaxed Stance |
| Shobu | Competition |
| Shuto | Knife Hand |
| Shuto Uchi | Knife Hand Strike |
| Sochin (kata) | Immovable Stance |
| Sochin Dachi | Immovable, Straddle-leg Stance (from Sochin Kata) |
| Soete | Open Hand |
| Sokumen | Side |
| Sokuto | Side of Foot |
| Soto Ude Uke | Outside Forearm Block |
| Sukui | Scooping |
Japanese |
English |
| Taikyoku Shodan (Kata) | First Cause |
| Tai Sabiki | Body Shifting |
| Tameshiwara | Test by Breaking |
| Tate Shuto | Vertical Knife Hand |
| Te | Hand |
| Teiji Dachi | T-Stance |
| Teisho | Palm Heel |
| Tekki | Iron Horse, or Iron Knight |
| Tekki Shodan, Nidan, Sandan (Katas) | Tekki Katas of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd levels |
| Tekubi | Wrist |
| Tettsui | Bottom Fist |
| Tettsui Uchi | Bottom Fist Strike |
| Te Wazza | Hand Techniques |
| Tobi | Jumping |
| Tokui | Favourite |
| Tora | Tiger |
| Tsukami | Grasping |
| Tsumasaki | Tips (of Fingers or Toes) |
| Tsuru Ashi Dachi | Crane Leg Stance |
Japanese |
English |
| Uchi | Strike |
| Uchi Ude Uke | Inside Forearm Block |
| Ude | Forearm |
| Uke | Block |
| Unsu (Kata) | Hands Like a Cloud |
| Ura Zuki | Close-quarter Punch |
| Uraken | Back Fist |
| Ushiro Geri | Back kick |
Japanese |
English |
| Wa | Harmony |
| Wan | Arm |
| Wankan (Kata) | Kings Crown |
| Waza | Technique |
Japanese |
English |
| Yama Zuki | Wide U-Punch |
| Yame | Stop |
| Yoi | Ready |
| Yoko | Side |
| Yoko Empi | Side Elbow (Strike) |
| Yoko Geri | Side Kick |
| Numeral | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Japanese | Ichi | Ni | San | Shi | Go | Roku | Sichi | Hachi | Ku | Jyu | Jyu Ichi | Jyu Ni | Jyu San | Jyu Shi | Jyu Go | Jyu Roku | Jyu Shichi | Jyu Hachi | Jyu Ku | NiJyu |
This list of terms is under constant review.
Please let us know of any errors or ommissions by 
.