Terminology

Types of Training

Kihon – basic training

Kata – forms

Kumite – engagement match

Ten no Kata – basic (universal) application

Ippon kumite – one step engagement (sparring)

Sanbon kumite – three step engagement (sparring)

Jiyu kumite – free engagement (sparring)

Jiyu ippon kumite – free one step engagement (sparring)

Gobon kumite – five step engagement (sparring)

Stances

Zenkutsu dachi – front stance

Kokutsu dachi – back stance

Kiba dachi – straddle leg (“horse riding”) stance

Fudo dachi – rooted or immovable stance

Nekoashi dachi – cat leg stance

Heisoku dachi – feet together stance


Hachiji dachi – natural stance

Choju dachi – ‘T’ stance

Gankaku dachi – crane stance

Hangetsu dachi – half moon stance

Yamagamae – mountain posture

Tachikata – stance


Seiza – kneeling position

Hand / Arm Techniques (Defences)

Gedan barai – downward sweep block

Age uke – rising block

Ude uke – forearm block

Uchikomi – hammer striking block

Taisho barai – palm heel sweep block

Shuto-barai – sword hand sweep block

Shuto uke – sword hand block

Morote-uke – both hands block (augmented block)

Hiki-te – pulling hand, pulling-in block

Suikui-te – scooping block

Kake-te – hooking block

Harai-te – sweeping block

Kakae-te – trapping block

Kakewake – opening block

Uchi-te – striking block

Uchi uke – forearm block

Kosa-uke – cross block

Mizu-nagare – water flowing

Osai-uke – pressing block

Miscellaneous Terms

Uke – block

Barai – sweep

Te waza – hand techniques

Uke-te – hand blocks (arm blocks)

Shuto – sword hand

Hand / Arm Techniques (Striking)

Oi tsuki – front (forward) punch

Gyaku tsuki – reverse punch

Empi – elbow attack

Uraken – back fist strike

Tettsui – hammer fist strike

Morote-zuki – double fist attack

Seiken – regular fist


Ippon ken – single point fist

Hiraken – flat fist

Renzuki – continuous punching

Ippon zuki – one finger thrust

Nihon zuki – two finger thrust

Shihon zuki – four finger thrust

Nukite – spear hand

Shihon nukite – four finger spear hand

Tsuki-te – hand attacks 


Tsuki – fist thrust attack

Teisho – palm heel

Te waza – hand techniques

Kicking

Mae-geri – front kick

Yoko-geri – side kick

Yoko-geri keage (Keage) – side-up kick

Kekomi – side thrust kick

Fumikomi – stamp-in kick

Mawashi-geri – roundhouse kick

Nami-gaeshi – returning wave

Nidan geri – double jump kick

Hiza-tsuchi – knee strike


Ushiro-geri – back kick

Tobi geri – jump kick

Sokuto – sword foot

Miscellaneous Terms

Ashi waza – foot techniques

Mikazuki-geri (Ori) – crescent moon kick (defensive)

Ashi barai- foot sweep

Movement

Irimi – entrance

Embu sen – line of movement (Kata forms)

Yori-ashi – sliding feet

Sankaku tobi – triangle leap

General

Gedan – low level

Chudan – mid level

Jodan – upper level

Throwing

Nage waza – throwing techniques

•  Byobudaoshi – topple a folding screen

•  Komanage – spinning top

General

Sei – regular

Ki – irregular

Tuski-te – attacker

Uke-te – defender

Hente – changing hands

Morote – both hands

Tori-te – escape techniques

Kime – focus

Kimete – deciding blow

Sente – no first hand

Go no sen o toru – defence equals offence

Tai no shinshuku – expanding and contracting the body

Yoi – ready

Yame – stop

Yasume – rest

Zanshin – remaining mind

Mokusoo – meditation

Dojo – training / practice hall

Karateka – karate student

Gi – karate suit

Dan – black belt

Kyu – coloured belt

Sensei – teacher / master

•  Kubiwa – encircle the neck

•  Kata waguruma – half wheel

•  Tsubamegaeshi – V-turning swallow

•  Yaridama – spear a ball

•  Taniotoshi – push off a cliff

•  Sakatsuchi – hammer upside down