These are the Shotokan karate terms that we use most often in our lessons.
General Terminology
| Jodan |
Upper-level (head) |
| Chudan |
Mid-level (chest) |
| Gedan |
Lower-level (groin) |
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| Zuki |
Punch |
| Uke |
Block |
| Geri |
Kick |
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| Mawatte |
Turn around |
| Hajime |
Begin |
| Yame |
Stop |
| Yoi |
Ready |
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| Dojo |
Classroom |
| Gi |
Uniform |
| Sensei |
Teacher |
| Kihon |
Basics |
| Kumite |
Sparring |
Japanese Numbers
| Ichi |
One |
| Ni |
Two |
| San |
Three |
| Shi (or Yon) |
Four |
| Go |
Five |
| Roku |
Six |
| Shichi |
Seven |
| Hachi |
Eight |
| Ku |
Nine |
| Ju |
Ten |
Stances
| Hachiji-dachi |
Ready stance (feet turned slightly inward) |
| Zenkutsu-dachi |
Front stance |
| Kokutsu-dachi |
Back stance |
| Kiba-dachi |
Horse-riding stance |
Punches or strikes
| Oi-zuki |
Lunging punch |
| Choku-zuki |
Straight punch |
| Gyaku-zuki |
Reverse punch |
| Kizami-zuki |
Jab punch |
| Nukite |
Knife-hand strike |
| Empi |
Elbow strike |
| Uraken |
Back-fist strike |
| Tetsui |
Hammer-fist strike |
| Teisho |
Side palm heel strike |
Blocks
| Gedan-barai |
Downward block |
| Age-uke |
Upper rising block |
| Soto-uke |
Inward mid-level block |
| Uchi-uke |
Outward mid-level block |
| Shuto-uke |
Knife-hand block |
| Morote-uke |
Augmented outward block |
| Juji-uke |
X block |
| Uchi-ude-uke |
Inside forearm block |
Kicks
| Mae-geri |
Forward snap or thrust kick |
| Mawashi-geri |
Roundhouse kick |
| Keage |
Snap kick |
| Kekomi |
Thrust kick |
| Ushiro-geri |
Rear thrust kick |
| Ushiro-mawashi-geri |
Reverse roundhouse kick |
| Tobi-geri |
Jumping kick |
| Ashi-barai |
Foot sweep |
