Terminology

(Some of these are not an exact translation, but reflect the meaning that they hold for karate class.  Most individual terms were cross-referenced with the Japanese-English Dictionary Interface – Monash University (a now defunct database) – for clarification.  “*” indicates that the database could not confirm the word use.)

reishiki                        etiquette/manners     

arigatougozaimashita     thank you

kiwotsuke                     attention

kaimoku *                    open eyes

mokuso                        silent contemplation

mokuso-yame               stop contemplating

onegaishimasu               please

otogai-ni                       face each other

rei [ichirei]                    bow

seiza                             sit quietly / kneel

senpai-ni                       face the senior student

sensei-ni                       face the teacher

shoman-ni                     face front

dachi-waza                  stance techniques     

han-zenkutsu-dachi       middle front stance

heikou-dachi                 parallel stance

heisoku-dachi               feet together stance

kosa-dachi                   X-stance

kokutsu-dachi *            back stance

moto-dachi                   high front stance

musubi-dachi                heels together stance

naifanchin-dache           inside tension stance

neko-ashi-dachi            cat stance

renoji-dachi                  T-stance

sanchin-dachi                hourglass stance

shiko-dachi                   sumo stance

sotohachiji-dachi           ready stance

zenkutsu-dachi              low front stance

ashi-waza / ashi-sabaki          footwork        

ashi-barai                     foot sweep / trip

ayumi-ashi                    stepping (crescent)

sugi-ashi *                    push-step

suri-ashi                        sliding

atemi-waza                  striking techniques    

gyaku-tsuki *                reverse punch

hiji-uchi                        elbow strike

oi-tsuki *                      lunge punch

shuto-uchi                     knife strike

tettsui-uchi                    hammer strike

nuki-te                          spear hand

tate-tsuki                       vertical fist punch

uke-waza                     defense techniques   

gedan barae                  low block

age uke                        high block

yoko uke                      side block

yoko uchi                      inside block

shuto* uke                    knife block

kake-te*                       grabbing hand

mawashi-uke                 round block      

yoko barae                   side sweep (looks like a high down block)

kote uke                       wrist block (as seen in Heian 4)        

keri-waza                    kicking techniques    

gyaku-mawashi-keri     hook kick

kakato-keri                  heel kick

mae-keri                       front kick

mae-tobi-keri               jump front kick

mawashi-keri                round kick

oi-keri                          lunging front kick

ushiro-keri                    back kick

yoko-keri                     side kick

kamei                          commands                  

anza                             sit (cross-legged)

hajime                          start

kamae                          posture [guard up]

kiwotsuke                     attention

mawaru                        turn

rei [ichirei]                    bow

yame                            stop

yoi *                             ready

other                                                              

ashi                              leg /foot

ato                               rear

chudan                         middle

dan                               black belt grade

deshi                            students

dojo                             training hall

gedan                           low

gi                                  uniform

hikite                            withdrawn hand (hand in ready position)

ippon kumite                 1-point sparring

jiku-ashi                       pivot leg

jodan                            high

kata                              form / shape

kihon                            fundamentals

kime *                          focus

kouhai                          junior

kumite                          sparring

kyu                               grade or rank

mae                              forward

obi                               belt

senpai                           senior

sensei                           teacher

shihan                           [master] teacher

shoman                         front

ukemi                           fall

zanshin                         follow through

counting

1          ichi                   11        juu-ichi

2          ni                     12        juu-ni

3          san                   13        juu-san

4          shi                    14        juu-shi

5          go                     etc.

6          roku                 20        ni-juu

7          shichi                25        ni-juu-go

8          hachi                 26        ni-juu-roku

9          kyuu / ku           etc.

10        juu                    30        san-juu

iro                                color                           

shiro                             white

kiiro                             yellow

daidaiiro                       orange

midori(iro)                    green

ao(iro)                          blue

murasaki(iro)                purple

chairo                           brown

kuro                             black

aka(iro)                        red

(Colors are listed in the order of the belt progression.)

kata                             form / shape               

Junino                          Beginner kata (1 & 2)

Heian                           Peaceful Way (1-5) 

Naifanchin / Naihanchin    Inside the battlefield 

Bassai-dai                    Breaking through the 

                                    Fortress

Seienchin                      Lull in the Storm

Rohai                           Crane on a Rock

(Kata listed in order according to curriculum from white to black belt.  Numbers following the kata refer to multiple kata that use the same name.  This list does not include Tot’s sequence of Kihon Kata.  Junino Nidan  (2) is not a required kata.)

Pronunciation hints                                       

a                                  ah

i                                   ee

o                                  oh

u                                  oo

r                                   add a slight lilt

double consonants        Allow a break in your

                                    voice before voicing

                                    the consonant sound.

Example:         

Yukkuri (slowly)           yoo/-koo-ree

Silent vowels: If the word ends with “u” it is frequently silent.  I have heard the same thing about “i”, but I have also heard native speakers vocalize the “i”, as in ichi (ee-chee).

Elongated vowels: Presented as double vowels above (2 of the same vowel), the sound is elongated to about twice the length of the single vowel.