備考 Bikō (N.B.)
The following is a categorized list of Japanese terminology used, but is by no means a complete list, nor definitive in translation. Japanese-English translations are complex; precise, literal translations may not be available, and/or several interpretations for a single phrase may exist. Pronunciation, too, is subtle in nuances, and perfect pronunciation is neither expected nor required for practice. Over time, with continued practice, the karateka will become familiar with the usage and meaning of the terms.
You may use the links below to jump to a particular section:
- Sūji (Numbers)
- Tachikata (Stances)
- Uke Waza (Receiving/Blocking Techniques)
- Tsuki Waza (Punching Techniques)
- Uchi Waza (Striking Techniques)
- Keri Waza (Kicking Techniques)
- Ashi Sabaki (Foot Work)
数字 Sūji (Numbers)
Japanese Term
English
- ichi
- one
- ni
- two
- san
- three
- shi (yon)
- four
- go
- five
- roku
- six
- shichi (nana)
- seven
- hachi
- eight
- ku (kyū)
- nine
- ju (jū)
- ten
立ち方 Tachikata (Stances)
Japanese Term
English
- heisoku dachi
- closed feet stance; heels and toes together
- musubi dachi
- heels together, feet out 45°; formal bow stance
- heikō dachi
- parallel stance; shoulder width
- hachiji dachi
- feet shoulder width, feet out 45°
- kiba dachi
- horse/straddle stance
- shiko dachi
- square stance, feet out 45°
- nanamae shiko dachi
- diagonal square stance
- zenkutsu dachi
- front/forward stance
- nanamae zenkutsu dachi
- diagonal/oblique front stance; feet 45° and in-line
- hanzenkutsu dachi
- half/short front stance
- renoji dachi
- "l" stance
受け技 Uke Waza (Receiving/Blocking Techniques)
Japanese Term
English
- gedan barai
- lower sweeping block
- jōdan uke
- upper level block
- soto uke
- inside to outside block
- uchi uke
- outside to inside block
- sukui uke
- scooping block
- morote uke
- augmented block, double block
- shūto uke
- knife hand block
- nagashi uke
- cross-body, palm flowing/sweeping deflection
- haishu uke
- open hand, backhand deflection
- jūji uke
- x-block
突き技 Tsuki Waza (Punching Techniques)
Japanese Term
English
- chōku tsuki
- straight punch
- gedan tsuki
- lower level punch
- chūdan tsuki
- middle level punch
- jōdan tsuki
- upper level punch
- oi tsuki
- lunge/step punch
- oi tsuki tobikomi
- forward jumping lunge punch
- gyaku tsuki
- reverse punch
- kizami tsuki
- lead/jab punch
- kizami tsuki tobikomi
- forward jumping lead/jab punch
- furi tsuki
- flare punch
打ち技 Uchi Waza (Striking Techniques)
Japanese Term
English
- shutō uchi
- knife hand strike
- haito uchi
- ridge hand strike
- nukite uchi
- spear hand strike
- tettsui uchi
- hammer-fist strike
- yoko tettsui uchi
- side hammer fist strike
- mae yoko tettsui uchi
- forward side hammer fist strike
- otoshi tettsui uchi
- dropping hammer fist strike
蹴り技 Keri Waza (Kicking Techniques)
Japanese Term
English
- mae geri
- front thrust kick
- mae ashi mae geri
- front leg front kick
- mae geri tobikomi
- jumping front kick
- sokuto geri
- side kick
- mae ashi sokuto geri
- front leg side kick
- mawashi geri
- roundhouse kick
- mae ashi mawashi geri
- front leg roundhouse kick
- ushiro geri
- back kick
- mae ashi ushiro geri
- front leg back kick
- kin geri
- groin kick
- mae ashi kin geri
- front leg groin kick
- hangetsu geri
- half moon kick
脚捌き Ashi Sabaki (Foot Work)
Japanese Term
English
- suri ashi
- sliding footwork
- ashi fumikae
- leg swapping; switches kamae
- ashi fumikae mae
- step front leg to back leg, step back leg forward
- ashi fumikae ushiro
- step back leg to front leg, step front leg back
- kōsa ashi
- cross-step
- ayumi ashi
- step through/lateral step
- mae aymi ashi
- step forward
- mae nanamae ayumi ashi
- diagonal step forward
- ushiro ayumi ashi
- step backward
- ushiro nanamae ayumi ashi
- diagonal step backward
型 Kata (Forms)
- Egata Shodan
- Egata Nidan
- Egata Sandan
- Egata Yondan
- Egata Godan
- Shihō Kibanashi
- Pinan Shodan
- Pinan Nidan
- Pinan Sandan
- Pinan Yondan
- Pinan Godan
- Basai Dai
- Basai Shō
- Nifanchi Shodan
- Nifanchi Nidan
- Nifanchi Sandan
- Seishan
- Matsumura Rōhai
- Chinte
- Jitte
- Jion
- Empi
- Sōchin
- Saifa
- Chibana Kushanku
- Wankan
- Chintō
- Seienchen
- Annan
- Seipai
- Sanchin
階級 Kaikyū (Ranking)
Japanese Term
English
- mudansha
- a person holding rank below black belt
- kyū
- ranks below black belt
- gokyū
- fifth rank level below black belt; white belt
- yonkyū
- fourth rank level below black belt; orange belt
- sankyū
- third rank level below black belt; green belt
- nikyū
- second rank level below black belt; blue belt
- ikkyū
- first rank level below black belt; brown belt
- yūdansha
- person possessing a grade or dan; black belt rank
- dan
- black belt rank
- shodan
- first degree black belt
方向 Hōkō (Directions)
Japanese Term
English
- age
- rising
- chūdan
- middle level
- gedan
- lower level
- gyaku
- reverse, inverted, opposite
- hidari
- left hand side
- jōdan
- upper level
- mae
- front, forward
- mawashi
- round, revolve, go around, circumference
- migi
- right hand side
号令 Gōrei (Commands)
Japanese Term
English
- ashi kōtai
- switch sides; feet alternation
- hajime
- start, begin
- kamaete
- get ready/in position (ready/guarding posture)
- kiai
- shout, yell; fighting spirit
- kime
- focus; to resolve; to set one's heart on
- kiotsuke
- stand to attention
- kōtai
- switch; alternate, change, shift
- mawatte
- turn; turn around 180 degrees
- mokusō
- close eyes (mediation beginning and end of practice)
- naotte
- be at ease; relax, recover
一般 Ippan (General Terms)
Japanese Term
English
- aiuchi
- exchange/clash of blows; mutual striking or simultaneous point
- aka
- red
- ashi sabaki
- foot work or foot movement
- atemi
- blows to the body
- bō
- wooden staff about mid chest in length
- bōgu
- protective armor used in full contact fighting
- bōkken
- wooden sword used primarily for Iaidō training
- budō
- martial way
- bujutsu
- martial art; technique; skill
- bunkai
- analysis; disassembly of martial arts techniques
- bushi
- samurai warrior
- bushido
- samurai code
解剖学 Kaibōgaku (Anatomy)
Japanese Term
English
- ago
- jaw
- ashi (1)
- leg
- ashi (2)
- foot
- atama
- head, top of head
- chūshin
- core center, heart, pivot, balance
- chūsoku
- ball of foot
- enshō
- back of heel
- hiji
- elbow
- hiza
- knee or lap
- kakatō
- heel or arch of foot
- kao
- face or expression
- kata
- shoulder
- ken
- fist
会話 Kaiwa (Conversation)
Japanese Term
English
- arigatō
- "thanks" (informal)
- arigatō gozaimashita
- "thank you very much" (formal)
- banzai
- "congratulations!", hurrah, long life
- chōto matte
- "just one moment"
- dame
- "bad", "no good"; must not
- dō itashimashite
- "you're welcome"
- dōmo
- "thanks" (informal)
- dōzō
- "please"; please take (when offering something)
- eigo ga wakarimasu ka?
- "do you understand English?"
- genki desu ka?
- "how are you?" (informal)
- gomen nasai
- "pardon me", "excuse me", "I am sorry" (informal)
- hai
- "yes"
- iie
- "no"
To conquer oneself is a greater task
than conquering others. – Buddha
Please contact us anytime if you would like to tour our dōjō, meet an instructor, or to schedule your free karate classes to give us a try!
