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 (now defunct) 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hikite withdrawn hand (hand in ready position)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 Tots 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.
Feedback please: I am not a Japanese language expert. If you recognize any errors on this page, please send me a note so I can make corrections.
