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 |