Glossary of Japanese terms

Since most of instructions you will be given when learning karate are in Japanese, it is essential that students become familiar with the following words.

Tip for parents: you can help your kids practice these words at home so they are prepared for class!

Basic terminology

dojo

the training room/gym

dojo kun

a mantra of martial arts ethics

gi

the karate jacket and trousers

hajime

"begin"

kata

the practice of karate forms

kihon

basic exercises

kumite

sparring

mokkuso

"close your eyes"

oos

a shout of respect and understanding

otagai-ni

how you greet fellow students

rei

bow

seiza

the kneeling position

sempai

a senior karate student

sensei

your teacher or master

shomen

the front of dojo

yame

"stop what you’re doing"

yoi

the ready position

Counting

ichi

one

ni

two

san

three

shi

four

go

five

rokku

six

sichi

seven

hachi

eight

ku

nine

ju

ten

Technique

age-uke

rising (upwards) block

chudan

chest area

gedan-barai

downward block

gyaku-tsuki

reverse punch

jodan

face area

kamae-te

ready hands

keage

snap kick

kekomi

thrust kick

kiai

a shout to express energy

kiba dachi

straddle (horse-riding) leg stance

kokutsu dachi

back stance

mae-geri

front kick

mawashi-geri

roundhouse kick

mawatte

"turn around"

oi-tsuki

lunge punch

shuto-uke

knife hand block

soto ude-uke

block from outside inwards

uchi ude-uke

block from inside outwards

yoko geri keage

side snap kick

yoko geri kekomi

side thrust kick

zenkutsu dachi

forward stance

Names of kata

Heian

peaceful mind

Tekki

horse riding

Bassai

to penetrate a fortress

Kanku

to look at the sky

Jion

Jion-ji is a famous Buddhist temple

Empi

flying swallow

Hangetsu

half-moon

Gankaku

crane on a rock

Jitte

ten hands

Chinte

chinese hands

Ji’’in

temple grounds

Sochin

immovable in the face of danger

Meikyo

polished mirror

Wankan

king’s crown

Nijushiho

twenty four steps

Gojushiho

fifty four steps

Unsu

hands in the clou