PORTSMOUTH SHOTOKAN KARATE CLUB
CHARACTER | SINCERITY | EFFORT | ETIQUETTE | SELF-CONTROL
Karate Terminology
The practice of karate is accompanied with a specific nomenclature of Japanese terms. Shotokan karate the world over will use the same terms, and so wherever karateka find themselves, they should be able to take part in a Shotokan karate session.
General Terms
Japanese
Dojo
Sensei
Rei
Migi
Kamae-te
Gi
Kime
Kihon
Kumite
English
Training Hall
Instructor
Bow
Right
Move to ready position
Karate suit
Focus
Basic techniques
Sparring
Japanese
Mawatte
Jodan
Chudan
Gedan
Dojo Kun
Seiza
Yoi
Hidari
Hajime
English
Turn
Head
Middle body
Lower body
Dojo code
Kneel
Ready
Left
Start/begin
Japanese
Yame
Obi
Kiai
Kata
Zanshin
Oss
English
Finish/stop
Belt
Martial shout
Formal exercises
Martial state of mind or awareness
Respectful greeting or acknowledgment or understanding of a command
Dachi - Stances
Japanese
Heiko dachi
Musubi dachi
Kiba dachi
Kokutsu dachi
Heisoku dachi
Zenkutsu dachi
Shiko dachi
English
Natural stance
Informal stance
Straddle stance
Back stance
Feet together stance
Front stance
Open leg/Sumo stance
Tsuki - Punches
Japanese
Kara/Choku tsuki
Kizami tsuki
Kagi tsuki
Sanbon tsuki
Oi tsuki
Gyaku tsuki
Ren tsuki
English
Straight punch
Front hand punch
Hook punch
Three punch combination
Stepping punch
Reverse punch
Two punch combination
Uke - Blocks
Japanese
Gedan Barai
Soto Uke
Shuto uke
Nagashi uke
Empi uke
Morote uke
Age Uke
Uchi Uke
Tate Shuto uke
Haishu uke
Juji uke
Kakewake uke
English
Downward block
Outside block
Knife hand block
Sweeping block
Elbow block
Augmented block
Rising block
Inside block
Vertical knife hand block
Back hand block
X block
Wedge block
Geri - Kicks
Japanese
Mae geri
Yoko geri kekomi
Ushiro geri
Ren geri
Yoko geri keage
Mawashi geri
Hiza geri
Nidan geri
English
Front kick
Side thrust kick
Back kick
Kicking combinations stepping between kicks
Side snap kick
Roundhouse kick
Knee kick
Two kicks with same leg without step between
Uchi - Strikes
Japanese
Age empi uchi
Mawashi empi uchi
Tate empi uchi
Uraken uchi
Nukite
Haito uchi
Yoko empi uchi
Ushiro empi uchi
Shuto uchi
Tetsui uchi
Teisho uchi
English
Rising elbow strike
Round elbow strike
Downward elbow strike
Back fist strike
Spear hand thrust
Ridge hand strike
Side elbow strike
Reverse elbow strike
Knife hand strike
Hammer fist strike
Palm heel strike
Kumite - Sparring
Japanese
Sanbon Kumite
Gohon Kumite
Kihon Ippon Kumite
Jiyu Ippon Kumite
Kaishi Ippon Kumite
Jiyu Kumite
English
Three step sparring
Five step sparring
Basic one-step sparring
Semi-free style sparring
Reaction sparring
Free style sparring