A reference guide of the Karate Terminology used in the Dojo. Japanese 'sounds' do not always translate directly into English 'sounds' and there are a number of officially recognised systems used for converting from Japanese words to English words. As such there are different ways to spell the Japanese word in English, a prime example is empi–enpi. Also unlike English the sound and letter can change for the same word depending on where the word is used. Common with D and T, K and G, Z and TS where neither is really the exact match and blends with sounds before and after.
Details
| English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| Stances |
Tachikata |
tah-chee-kah-tah |
| Natural Stance |
Shizen-Tai |
she-zen-tie |
| Feet-together, formal attention stance |
Heisoku-dachi |
hi-so-ku da-chee |
| Informal attention Stance |
Musubi-dachi |
mu-su-be da-chee |
| Horse Stance (Straddle leg Stance) |
Kiba-dachi |
key-ba da-chee |
| Front Stance |
Zenkutsu-dachi |
zen-koot-su-da-chee |
| Back Stance |
Kokutsu-dachi |
ko-koot-su-da-chee |
| Rooted Stance |
Fudo-dachi |
Foo-do da-chee |
| Diagonal Horse Stance |
Sochin-dachi |
So-cheen da-chee |
| Square Stance |
Shiko-dachi |
she-ko-da-chee |
| Hook leg stance |
Kage-dachi |
ka-gei-da-chee |
| L stance |
Renoju-dachi |
Reh-no-joo-da-chee |
| Normal foot ready stance (Yoi position) |
Hachi dachi |
ha-chee-da-chee |
| Inverted foot ready stance |
Uichi hachi dachi |
u-wee-chee-ha-chee-da-chee |
| Cross leg Stance |
Kosa-dachi |
ko-sa-da-chee |
| Half moon Stance |
Hangetsu-dachi |
han-get-su-da-chee |
| Hour glass Stance |
Sanchin-dachi |
san-chin-da-chee |
| Cat leg Stance |
Neko ashi dachi |
neh-ko-a-she-da-chee |
| One legged Stance |
Sagi ashi-dachi |
sa-gee-a-she-da-chee |
| Kneel |
Seiza |
say-zah |
| Fighting Position |
Kamae |
kah-my |
| Front leg to back leg transition |
Mai ashi |
My-eh ash-ee |
| Back leg to front leg transition |
Ushiro ashi |
oo-shee-roh ash-ee |
| English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| Punching |
Tsuki-Waza |
zoo-key wa-za |
| (One-handed punches) |
(Tsuki) |
(zoo-key) |
| Straight Punch |
Choku-tsuki |
cho-ka-zoo-key |
| Vertical fist Punch |
Tate-tsuki |
ta-tay-zoo-key |
| Front hand snap Punch |
Kizami-tsuki |
ke-za-me-zoo-key |
| Rising Punch |
Age-tsuki |
a-gay-zoo-key |
| Roundhouse Punch |
Mawashi-tsuki |
muh-wa-she-zoo-key |
| Hook Punch |
Kage-tsuki |
ka-gei-zoo-key |
| Close Punch |
Ura-tsuki |
oo-ra-zoo-key |
| Lunge Punch |
Oie-tsukiOi-tsuki |
oi-a-zoo-key |
| Reverse Punch |
Gyaku-tsuki |
Gee-a-q-zoo-ki |
| (Two-handed punches) |
(Morote-tsuki) |
(mo-ro-tay zoo-key) |
| Wide U Punch |
Yama-tsuki |
yah-ma-zoo-key |
| U Punch |
Awase-suki |
ah-wa-say-zoo-key |
| Parallel Punch |
Heiko-tsuki |
hi-ko-zoo-key |
| Scissors Punch |
Hasami-tsuki |
hah-sa-me-zoo-key |
| Flowing Punch |
Nagashi-tsuki |
Nah-ga-she-zoo-key |
| English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| Striking |
Uchi Waza |
oo-chee-wah-zah |
| Knife hand Strike |
Shuto-uchi |
shoe-toe oo-chee |
| Ridge hand Strike |
Haito-uchi |
hi-toe oo-chee |
| Elbow Strike |
Enpi-uchiEmpi-uchi |
em-pee oo-chee |
| Back-fist Strike |
Uraken-uchi |
oo-ra-ken oo-chee |
| Palm heel Strike |
Taisho-uchi |
tie-sho-oo-chee |
| English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| Kicking |
Keri Waza |
keh-ree wah-zah |
| Front Kick |
Mai-geriMae-geri |
my-eh-geh-ree |
| Front Snap Kick |
Mai-geri-keage |
my-eh-geh-ree-kay-ah-gay |
| Front Thrust Kick |
Mai-ger-kekomi |
my-eh-geh-ree-key-koh-mee |
| Side Kick |
Yoko-geri |
yoh-ko-geh-ree |
| Side Snap Kick |
Yoko-geri-keage |
yoh-koh-geh-ree-kay-ah-gay |
| Side Thrust Kick |
Yoko-geri-kekomi |
yoh-koh-geh-ree-key-koh-mee |
| Back Kick |
Ushiro-geri |
oo-shee-roh-geh-ree |
| Back Thrust Kick |
Ushiro-geri-kekomi |
oo-shee-roh-geh-ree-kay-koh-mee |
| Roundhouse Kick |
Mawashi-geri |
mah-wah-she-geh-ree |
| Reverse roundhouse Kick |
Ura-Mawashi-geri |
oo-ra mah-wah-she-geh-ree |
| Spinning reverseroundhouse kick |
Ushiro-Mawashi-geri |
oo-shee-roh mah-wah-she-geh-ree |
| Crescent Kick |
Migatsuki-geri |
me-ka-zoo-kee-geh-ree |
| Stamping Kick |
Fumikomi |
foo-me-koh-me |
| Side Stamping Kick |
Yoko-FumiKomi |
yoh-koh-foo-me-koh-me |
| Cutting Kick |
Kiri-geri |
Ki-ree geh-ree |
| Returning wave kick |
Namigaeshi |
nah-me-ah-eh-she |
| Knee Kick |
Hiza-geri |
he-zah-geh-ree |
| Flying Side Kick |
Yoko-tobi-geri |
yoh-koh-toe-be-geh-ree |
| Front Instep Kick(groin kick) |
Kin-geri |
kin-geh-ree |
| English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| Blocking |
Uke Waza |
oo-kay-wah-zah |
| Downward Block |
Gedan-barai |
geh-dahn-bah-rye |
| Forearm Block(Outside to inside) |
Soto-(Ude)-uke |
Soh-toe (oo-day)-oo-kay |
| Rising Block |
Age-uke |
ah-gay-oo-kay |
| Dropping Block |
Otoshi-uke |
oh-toh-she-oo-kay |
| Snapping Forearm Block(Inside to outside) |
Uchi-uke |
oo-chee-oo-kay |
| Knife hand Block |
Shuto-uke |
shoe-toh-oo-kay |
| X-Block |
Juji-uke |
joo-jee-oo-kay |
| Scooping Block |
Tsukui-uke |
sue-koo-ii-oo-kay |
| English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| Left |
Hidari |
hih-dah-ree |
| Right |
Migi |
mee-gee |
| Forms |
Kata |
kah-tah |
| Sparring |
Kumite |
koo-mih-tay |
| Fundamentals(basics) |
Kihon |
key-hohn |
| Lower Level |
Gedan |
gay-dan |
| Middle Level |
Chudan |
chew-dan |
| Upper Level |
Jodan |
joe-dan |
| Reverse |
Gyaku |
gee-yah-koo |
| Lunge |
OiOie |
OiOi eh (eh is almost silent) |
| Focusing |
Kime |
kee-may |
| Begin |
Hajime |
hah-jih-may |
| Backward |
Ushiro |
oo-sheer-roh |
Assume natural stance
(Shizen-tai) |
Yoi (or yame) |
yoi (yah-may) |
| Relax or ready position |
Yasume |
Yah-tsum-ay |
| Return to natural stance |
Naore |
Eh-nor-ay |
| Do you understand? |
Wakarimasu? |
Wah-kah-ree-ma-suh |
| Quite sitting (meditation) |
Mokuso |
moh-k-so |
| Quite sitting end(meditation) |
Mokoso-yame |
moh-k-so-yah-may |
| Bow |
Rei |
ray |
| Excuse Me |
Shitsu rei shimasu |
shit-soo-ray-she-ma-suh |
| Teacher |
Sensei |
sen-say |
| Thank You (Formal) |
Arigato Gozaimasuta |
ah-ree-gah-toe-go-zai-ma-shuh-tah |
| Yes-Get up |
Hai-tate |
hi-tah-tay |
| Uniform |
Do-Gi |
doh-gee |
| Place where karate is practiced |
Dojo |
doh-joe |
| Belt |
Obi |
oh-be |
| Yell! Harmonise energy |
Kiai |
kee-ai |
| Remaining Spirit |
Zanshin |
zahn-shin |
| Deep Breathing |
Shin Ko Kyu |
shin-koh-kii-you |
| Front two knuckles |
Seikan |
sai-kan |
| Ball of the foot |
Koshi |
koh-she |
| Edge of foot |
Sokuto |
soh-koo-toe |
| Heel of foot |
Kakuto |
kah-koo-toe |
| Yes! |
Ous (Osu) |
oh-ss (ooh-ss) |
| Turn (180 degrees) |
Mawate |
mah-wah-tay |
| Turn (90 degrees) |
Hontai |
hohn-tai |
| Empty |
Kara |
kah-rah |
| Free |
Jiyu |
gee-oo |
| Hips Back |
Hanme |
hahn-may |
| Hips ForwardHips forward |
ZemiShomen |
zeh-meeShow-men |
| Front (of room) |
Shomen |
Show-men |
| Centre(movement) |
Hara Tanden |
hah-rah tahn-den |
| English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| One |
Ichi |
ee-chee(Itch) |
| Two |
Ni |
Nee(Nee) |
| Three |
San |
Sahn(sahn) |
| Four |
Shi |
Shee(chee) |
| Five |
Go |
Goh(goh) |
| Six |
Roku |
roh-koo(Rok) |
| Seven |
Shichi |
shee-chee(sitch) |
| Eight |
Hachi |
hah-chee(Hah-tch) |
| Nine |
Ku |
Koo(koo) |
| Ten |
Ju |
Joo(joo) |
