List of Japanese terms commonly used in Karate

Datchi – Stance

Fudo Datchi – Rooted Stance
Hachiji Datchi – Open Leg Stance  
Hanme gamae – Basic fighting stance
Hangetsu Datchi – Wide Hour Glass Stance
Heisoku Datchi – Informal Attention Stance
Jiyu Datch – Free Fighting Stance
Kokutso Datchi – Back Stance
Musube Datchi – Informal Attention Stance, Feet turned Out
Neko Ashi Datchi – Cat Stance
Renoji Datchi – L Stance
Sanchin Datchi – Hour Glass Stance
Shiko Datchi – Square Stance
Shizen Datchi – Natural Stance
Sochin Datchi – Diagonal Straddle Stance
Teiji Datchi – T Stance

Zuki Waza – Punching Techniques

Age Zuki – Rising Punch
Awase Zuki – U Punch
Choku Zuki – Straight Punch
Gyaku Zuki – Reverse Punch
Hasami Zuki – Scissor Punch
Heiko Zuki – Parallel Punch
Hiraken Zuki – Fore Knuckle Fist Straight Punch
Ippon Ken Zuki – One Knuckle Fist Straight Punch
Kagi Zuki – Hook Punch
Kizami Zuki – Jab Punch
Mawashi Zuki – Roundhouse Punch
Morote Zuki – Double Fist Punch
Nagashi Zuki – Flowing punch
Nakadate ippon ken Zuki – Middle Finger One Knuckle Fist Straight Punch
Oi Zuki – Lunge Punch
Shta Zuki – Downward Punch
Sono bade ippon torro – Change to reverse punch
Tate Zuki – Vertical Fist Punch
Teicho Zuki – Palm Heel Punch
Ura Zuki – Close Punch
Yama Zuki – Wide U Punch

Keri Waza – Kicking Techniques

FumiKiri – Cutting Kick
Fumikomi – Stamping Kick
Gyaku Mawashi Geri – Reverse Roundhouse Kick
Hitsui Geri – Knee Kick
Hizagashira Geri – Knee Kick
Kesa Geri – Diagonal Kick
Mae Geri Keage – Front Snap Kick
Mae Geri Kukomi – Front Thrust Kick
Mawashi Geri – Roundhouse Kick
Mikazuki Geri – Crescent Kick
Nidan Geri – Double Jump Kick
Shta Geri – Downward Kick
Ushiro Geri Keage – Back Snap Kick
Ushiro Geri Kekomi – Back Thrust Kick
Ushiro Geri Mawash – Back Roundhouse Kick
Yoko Geri Kekomi – Side Thrust Kick
Yoko Geri Keage – Side Snap Kick
Yoko Tobi Geri – Jumping Side Kick

Uchi Waza – Striking Techniques

Empi Uchi – Elbow Strike
Mae Empi Uchi – Forward Elbow Strike
Mawashi Empi Uchi – Roundhouse Elbow Strike
Otoshi Empi Uchi – Downward Elbow Strike
Tate Empi Uchi – Upward Elbow Strike
Ushuro Empi Uchi – Rear Elbow Strike
Yoko Empi Uchi – Side Elbow Strike
Haishu Uchi – Back Hand Strike
Haito Uchi – Ridge Hand Strike
Hiraken Uchi – Fore Knuckle Fist Strike
Ippon Ken Uchi – One Knuckle Fist Strike
Kentsui Uchi – Fist Hammer Strike
Kumade Uchi – Dear Hand Strike
Nakadate Ippon Ken Uchi – Middle Finger One Knuckle Strike
Seiryuto uchi – Ox Jaw Hand Strike
Shuto Uchi – Knife hand Strike
Teisho Uchi – Palm Heel Strike
Tetsui Uchi – Iron Hammer Strike
Uraken Uchi – Back fist Strike

Uke Waza – Blocking Techniques

Age Uke – Rising Block
Ashibo Kake Uke – Leg Hooking Block
Ashikubi Kake Uke – Ankle Hooking Block
Deai Osae Uke – Pressing Block Stepping in
Gedan Barai – Downward Block
Gedan Kake Uke – Downward Hooking Block
Haishu Uke – Back Hand Block
Haiwan Nagashi Uke – Back Arm Sweeping Block
Hiji Suri Uke – Elbow Sliding Block
Juji Uke – Cross (X) Block
Kake Shuto Uke – Hooking Knife Hand Block
Kakiwake Uke – Reverse Wedge Block
Kakuto Uke – Bent Wrist Block
Keito Uke – Chicken Head Wrist Block
Kentsui Uke – Fist hammer Block
Maeude Deai Osae Uke – Forearm Pressing Block
Maeude Hineri Uke – Forearm Twist Block
Morote Sukui Uke – Two Handed Scooping Block
Morote Tsukamai Uke – Two Handed Grasping Block
Morote Uke – Augmented Forearm Block
Nami Ashi – Inside Snapping Block
Seiryuto Uke – Ox Jaw Hand Block
Shuto Uke – Knife Hand Block
Sokumen Awase Uke – Side Two Handed Block
Sokutei Mawashi Uke – Circular Sole Block
Sokutei Osae Uke – Pressing Block With Sole
Sokuto Osae Uke – Pressing Block with Foot Edge
Soto Ude Uke – Outer Forearm Block
Sukui Uke – Scooping Block
Tate Shuto Uke – Vertical Knife Hand Block
Teisho Awase Uke – Combined Palm Heel Block
Teisho Uke – Palm Heel Block
Tekubi Kake Uke – Wrist hook Block
Te Nagashi Uke –Hand Sweeping Block
Te Osae Uke – Hand Pressing Block
Tetsui Uke – Iron Hammer Block
Tsukamai Uke – Grasping Block
Uchi Ude Uke – Inner Forearm Block
Ude Barai – Forearm Sweeping Block
Ura mikazuki geri – Crescent kick block

Yokeru Koto - evasions

Hidari Nanme Ni Yokeru Koto – Left Diagonal Evasion
Migi Nanme Ni Yokeru Koto – Right Diagonal Evasion
Ushiro Ni Yokeru Koto – Retreating Evasion

Nukite Waza – Spear Hand and Poking Techniques

Ippon Nukite – One Finger Spear Hand
Nihom Nukite – Two Finger Spear Hand
Yonhom Nukite – Spear Hand

Kumite and Common Expressions

Ai Uchi – Simultaneous Scoring with No Points
Aka - Red
Awashite – Combine/Plus
Chudan – Middle Area
Chui – Warning
Dame Desu –  “that’s no good”
Dan – Degree
Dan Zuki – Consecutive Punches With the Same Hand
Deshi – Desciple/trainee
Dojo – Place of Training (“Place of the Way”)
I Desu – “That’s Good”
Gedan – Lower Level
Geta – Iron Training Clogs
Gohon Kumite – Basic Sparring using Five Successive attacks
Gyaku Ashi – rear Leg
Hajime – Start/Begin
Hanmi – Half Front facing Position
Hansoku – Disqualification/foul
Hantei – Decision
Heian – Way of the Peaceful Mind
Hidari – Left
Hikewake – Drawn Result
Ippon – One or One Point
Ippon Jiyu Kumite – One Attack Semi Free Sparring
Ippon Kumite – Basic One Attack Sparring
Jikan – Time up
Jiyu Kumite – Free Fighting
Jodan – Upper Level
Jogai – Outside the contest area
Kach – Win
Kamaite – “Get into”
Kata – Form
Karate Gi – Karate Training suite
Keikoku – Warning half penalty point
Kiaia – Noisy scream
Kihon – Basic Training
Kihon kumite – Basic prearranged sparring
Kime – Focus concentration and Power
Kokyu – Method of breathing
Kumite – Sparring
Kyu – Step in Grading system
Ma ai – Distancing between karatekas
Mae ashi – Front Leg
Mae ni ite – going forward
Mawatte – Turn around
Make – Lose by
Makiwara – Punching board
Manaka ni haite – come to centre of area
Migi – Right
Naore – Change to formal stance
Nansoku – Warning one penalty point
Nihon – Two points
Nihon Geri – Two consecutive kicks
Nihon zuki – Two consecutive punches
No kachi - Winner
Os – ok/yes/
Otagai ni rei – Bow to each other
Renzoku geri – combination kicks
Renzuki – alternative punching
Sanbon – three or three points
Sanbon geri – Three consecutive kicks
Sanbon Kumite – three step sparring
Sanbon zuki – Three consecutive punches
Seito – Pupil/student
Seiza – Sit
Semete - Attacker
Sensei – Teacher
Shiai – Contest
Shiai jo – Contest area
Shiro – White
Shikkaku – Disqualified
Shimpan – Referee/judge
Shobu – Match
Shomen – places for dignitaries
Torimasen – No score
Tsuyoi – Strong/powerful
Tsuzukete – Continue
Ukete - Defender
Ushiro ashi – Rear leg
Ushiro ni ite – move backward
Waza ari – Half point
Yame – Stop, back to ready stance
Yoi – ready stance
Yowai - Weak

One to Ten

Ish – One
Ni – Two
San – Three
Yo – Four
Go – Five
Roku – Six
Shichi – Seven
Hachi – Eight
Ku – Nine
Ju – Ten

Shotokan Kata’s

Kihon Kata – Basic Form
Heian Shodan – Way of the peaceful mind one
Heian nidan – Way of the peaceful mind two
Heian Sandan – Way of the peaceful mind three
Heian Yondan – Way of the peaceful mind Four
Heian Godan –  Way of the peaceful mind Five
Tekki Shodan – Iron horse
Bassai Dai – To storm a fortress
Kankai Dai – To look at the sky
Enpi – Flying Swallow
Jion – Merciful sound
Jitte – Ten hands
Sochin – Preserve Peace
Meikyo – Mirror of the soul
Ji’in – Temple grounds
Gojishiho dai – 54 steps
Hangetsu – Half moon
Gankaku – Crane on rock
Tekki Nidan – Iron horse two
Tekki Sandan – Iron horse three
Chinte – Incredible hands
Bassai Sho – To penetrate a fortress
Kanku Sho – To view the sky
Nijushiho – 24 steps
Unsu – Cloud hands
Wankan – Kings crown
Gojushiho sho – 54 steps

Back to top