Washington Karate Association - Terminology

General Terms:

• Karate – Empty Hands
• Dojo – Training place
• Soke – Founder/Grand Master
• Hanshi – Grand Master
• Sensei – Instructor
• Sempai – Senior (higher belt)
• Kohai – Junior (lower belt)
• Dohai – Equal (same belt)
• Ossu – A word showing respect
  (literally “push patience”)
• Hajime – Begin
• Yame – Stop
• Karate-Ka – Karate student
• Karate-gi – Karate uniform
• Mawatte – Turn around
• Kihon – basics
• Kata – Form (pre-arranged pattern of defensive and offensive techniques against multiple imaginary opponents)
• Kumite – Sparring

Gishiki- Ceremony:

• Keiotsuke – Attention
• Rei – bow
• Seiza – Kneeling position
• Mokuso – Meditation
• Shomen ni – To “the front”
• Soke ni taeshite – Toward Soke
• Naotte – Return to original position
• Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu – Please train us
• Domo Arigato Gozaimashita – Thank you very much
• Otagai Ni – to each other

Kazu – counting:

Tachi Kata – Stances:

• Musubi Dachi – Closed Stance
• Heiko Dachi – Shoulder/Ready Stance
• Zenkutsu Dachi – Front Stance
• Nekoashi Dachi – Cat Stance
• Shiko Dachi – Sitting Stance
• Kokutsu Dachi – Back Stance
• Kamae Dachi – Fighting Stance

Tsuki – Punches:

• Chudan Zuki – Mid-section Punch
• Jodan Zuki – Upper Level Punch
• Niren Zuki – Double Punch
• Gyaku Zuki – Reverse Punch
• Oi Zuki – Moving Straight Punch
• Morote Zuki – U Punch

Uke – Blocks:

• Gedan Barai – Down Block
• Age Uke – Rising/Upper Block
• Soto Uke – Outside Block
• Uchi Uke – Inside Block
• Shuto Uke – Knife hand Block

Keri – Kicks:

• Mae Geri- Front Kick
• Mawashi Geri – Roundhouse Kick
• Yoko Geri – Side Kick
• Ura Geri – Back Kick
• Uramawashi Geri – Hook Kick

Uchi – Strikes:

• Tettsui Uchi – Hammerfist Strike
• Shuto Uchi – knife hand Strike
• Haito Uchi – Ridgehand Strike
• Shotei Uchi – Palm Heel Strike
• Empi (hiji Ate) – Elbow Strike
• Uraken – Backfist Strike
• Hiza Geri – Knee Strike/Kick

Download the Printer friendly version (PDF)!