Japanese Karate Terminology
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Here are some very basic terms and Japanese words you will need in karate. Most of these words will be picked up during a regular karate session. This is not an extensive or in-depth list and is created here, more for the lower grades.
Counting
Counting English Counting Japanese
1 ichi
2 ni
3 san
4 shi
5 go
6 rocku
7 sichi
8 hachi
9 ku
10 ju
100 Hyaku
1000 Sen
Punches
English Punch Japanese Punch
Punch Zuki
Punching Tsuki
3 punch technique Sanren zuki
Lunge Punch Oi Zuki
Straight Punch Choku Zuki
Reverse Punch Gyaku Zuki
Front snap or jab Kizami Zuki
Roundhouse Punch Mawashi Zuki
Hook Punch Kake Zuki
Dropping punch Otoshi Zuki
Bow Punch Yumi Zuki
U Punch Awasa Zuki
Wide U Punch Yama Zuki
Close Punch Ura Zuki
Rising Punch Age Zuki
Consecutive punching Dan Zuki
Scissors punch Hasami Zuki
Parallel Punch Heiko Zuki
Augmented punch Morote Zuki
Flowing punch Nagashi Zuki
Alternate punching Ren Zuki
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Kicks
English Kick Japanese Kick
Kick Geri
Kicking Keri
Back leg kick Ushiro ashi geri
Front kick Mae geri
Front leg Kick Mae ashi geri
Side snap kick Yoko geri keage
Side thrust kick Yoko geri kekomi
Roundhouse kick Mawashi geri
Back kick Ushiro geri
Crescent kick Mikazuki geri
Stamping kick Fumikomi geri
Cutting kick Fumikiri geri
Reverse roundhouse kick Gyaku mawashi geri
Back roundhouse kick Ushiro mawashi geri
Jumping kick Tobi geri
Knee Kick Hiza Geri
Groin Kick Kin Geri
Axe / Heel kick Kakato Geri
Combination kick Renzoku Geri
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Spearhands
English Spearhands Japanese Spearhands
Spearhand Nukite
1 finger spearhand Ippon Nukite
2 finger spearhand Nihon Nukite
4 finger spearhand Shihon Nukite
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Grades & Teaching
English terms Japanese term
Grade below black belt Kyu
Level of black belt Dan
Teacher Sensei
Senior grade Sempai
Junior grade Kohai
Same grade Dohai
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Instructions
English Instructions Japanese Instructions
Ready Yoi
Start / Begin Hajime
Stop Yamae
Finish / Relax Enyoi
Bow Rei
Turn Mawate
Take up position Kamaete
Meditation Mokuso
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Sparring
English sparring Japanese Sparring
Sparring Kumite
Basic one step sparring Kihon Ippon Kumite
Freestyle one step sparring Juyu ippon kumite
Freestyle sparring Juyu Kumite
3 step sparring Sanbon kumite
5 Step sparring Gohon Kumite
Return one step sparring Kaeishi ippon kumite
Freestyle return sparring Okuri Juyu ippon kumite
Basic sparring Kihon kumite
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FIST (KEN)
English Japanese
Fore Fist Seiken
Backfist Uraken
Fore knuckle fist / flat fist Hiraken
Bottom Fist / Iron Hammer Tetsui
Hammer Hand Shutsui
Hammer fist Kentsui
Middle finger knuckle fist Naka dakka Ippon Ken
Fist Ken
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ARMS (UDE OR WAN)
English Japanese
Arm Ude / wan
Fore arm Mae ude
Elbow Empi
Shoulders Kata
Palm arm / lower arm Shuwan
Back arm Haiwan
Outer arm Gaiwan
Inner arm Naiwan
Arm stick Shubo
Sword arm Wanto
Elbow Hiji
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FOOT (ASHI) & LEG (ASHIBO)
English Japanese
Foot Ashi
Instep Haisoku
Ankle Ashi Kubi
Toe Ashi Ubi
Tip of toes Tsumasaki
Ball of foot Koshi
Outside foot edge / Sword foot Sokuto
Inside foot edge / Sole Sokutei
Raised sole Jo Sokutei
Sole of foot Ashi no ura
Heel Kakato
Round heel Ensho / Enju
Leg AshiBo
Knee Hiza
Kneecap Hizagashira
Hips Koshi
Thigh Momo
Shin Sune
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Other Parts Of The Body
English Japanese
Face area Jodan
Stomach area Chudan
Lower area Gedan
Groin Kin
Hair Kaminoke
Face Kao
Teeth Ha
Mouth Kuchi
Neck Kubi
Lip Kuchiburu
Head Atama
Nose Hana
Tongue Shi-ta
Chin Ago
Eyes Me
Chest Mune
Stomach Hara
Back Senaka
Ears Mimi
Throat Nodo
Navel Tanden
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Stances (Dachi)
English Japanese
Stance Dachi
Informal attention stance Musubi Dachi
(45 degrees)
Informal attention stance Heisoku Dachi
(toes touching)
T Stance Teiji Dachi
L Stance Renoji Dachi
Cat stance Neko Ashi dachi
Crossed stance Kosa Dachi
Open leg stance Hajiji Dachi
Inverted open leg stance Uchi Hajiji Dachi
Parallel stance Heiko Dachi
Square stance Shiko Dachi
Side stance Kiba Dachi
Back stance Kokutsu dachi
Front stance Zenkutsu Dachi
Hourglass stance Sanchin Dachi
Rooted stance Fudo/Sochin dachi
Half moon stance Hangetsu dachi
One leg stance Ippon ashi Dachi
Heron leg stance Sagi ashi dachi
Crane leg stance Tsuru ashi dachi
One knee stance Kata ashi dachi
Twisted stance Moto dachi
Freestyle stance Ju dachi
Kneeling position Seiza
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HAND (TE)
English Japanese
Hand Te
Knifehand Shuto
Back Hand Haishu
Finger Ubi
Wrist Tekubi
Thumb Oyayubi
Ridge hand Haito
Open hand Kaisho
Bear hand Kumade
Palm heel Teisho
Eagle hand Washide
Chicken head wrist Keito
Tiger mouth / Tiger jaw Koko
Spearhand Nukite
Bent wrist Kakuto
Ox jaw hand Seiryuto
