Bushido Karate Dojo

Karate Terminology


Commands/Requests

Hajime

Begin

Kamaite

Ready hands!

Yoi

Ready, shizentai, Hachiji-dachi with hands in loose fists slightly in front, relaxed and ready to move quickly in any direction

Yame

Stop

Rei

Bow

Names/Phrases

Kiai

Spirit yell - strong exhalation of breath at a descisive technique, shows focus (kime) and proper breathing at that point

Sensei

Instructor, usually comes after the instructors name, eg. Saeki Sensei

Osu

Greeting, commonly used to indicate "yes, I understand" (do not use this term outside the dojo), this is pronounced like the "O" in "boat" with a silent "U"

Dojo

Place for studying the "way"

Hai

Yes ("Iai" is no, but it is impolite to use this in most circumstances)

Training Components

Kihon

Basic techniques (see the kihon section of the members area)

Kata

Forms practice (see the kata section of the members area)

Kumite

Sparring (see the kumite section of the members area); also see:
Gohon Kumite (Jodan)
Gohon Kumite (Chudan)
Kihon Ippon Kumite
Jyu Ippon Kumite

General Body Locations

Jodan

Upper level (face level - typical target is chin to nose)

Chudan

Middle level (stomach level - typical target is solar plexus)

Gedan

Lower level (groin level - typical target is groin)

Counting

Ichi

One

Ni

Two

San

Three

Shi

Four

Go

Five

Rokyu

Six

Shichi

Seven

Hachi

Eight

Ku

Nine

Ju

Ten

Counting above 10 example:

NiJuSan

(2x10+3) Twenty Three, Gojushiho: Fifty Four steps (Gojushi = 54, Ho = steps)

Hyaku

One Hundred

Grouping

Ippon

Single as in ippon kumite - one step sparring

Sambon

triple (group of 3) as is sambon tsuki (triple punch)

Gohon

group of 5 as in gohon kumite - 5 step sparring

Directional Movement

Mae

Forward

Yoko

Side

Ushiro

Back

Tate

Upward

Age

Rising (age uke - rising block)

Otoshi

Downward

Soto

Outward or outside (outside to inside)

Uchi

Inward or inside (inside to outside); dual meaning: used in the context of a block - Uchi Uke, used in the context of a strike -empi uchi (elbox strike)

Migi

Right

Hidari

Left

Mawate

Turn, usually 180 deg. but can be in any direction the instructor designates


Blocking Techniques


Name

Desciption

Uke

Block (literally means to receive) - uke usually meets the attacking limb at right angles

Age-uke

Rising block

Shuto-uke

Sword hand block

Soto-uke

Outside to inside block

Uchi-uke

Inside to outside block

Gedan-barai

Downward sweeping block (to deflect as opposed to receive) barai usually meets to attacking limb at other than 90 deg. (eg. 45 or 30)

Juji-uke

"X" block

Teisho-uke

Palm heel block

Morote-uke

Augmented forearm block

Haishu-uke

Back of the hand block


Punching Techniques


Name

Desciption

Tsuki (also zuki)

Punch

Oi tsuki

Lunge punch

Gyaku-tsuki

Reverse punch

Choku-tsuki

Straight punch (in place)

Age-tsuki

Rising punch

Mawashi-tsuki

Roundhouse punch

Sambon-tsuki

triple punch

Jun-Tsuki

Straight punch

Tate-tsuki

Vertical fist punch

Ura-tsuki

Short punch

Kizami-tsuki

Jab with leading hand

Kagi-tsuki

hook punch

Yama-tsuki

Wide "U" punch

Awase-tsuki

"U" punch

Heiko-tsuki

Parallel punch

Hasami-tsuki

Scissors punch


Striking Techniques


Name

Desciption

Uchi

Strike

Empi-uchi

Elbow strike

Haito-uchi

Ridge hand strike ("thumb" side)

Shuto-uchi

Sword hand strike ("little finger" side)

Uraken-uchi

Backfist strike (or hammer fist)

Kentsui-uchi

Hammerfist strike

Nukite

Spear hand strike (with tips of fingers - vertical or palm up)


Kicking Techniques


Name

Desciption

Geri

Kick

Mae-geri

Front kick

Yoko-geri keage

Side snap kick

Yoko-geri kekomi

Side thrust kick

Ushiro-geri

Back kick

Mawashi-geri

Roundhouse kick

Mikazuki-geri

Crescent kick

Shittsui-geri

Knee kick

Fumikiri-geri

Cutting kick

Fumikomi-geri

Stomping kick


Stances


Name

Desciption

Dachi

Stance

Zenkutsu-dachi

Front stance

Kokutsu-dachi

Back stance

Kiba-dachi

Side stance

Heisoku-dachi

Feet together stance (feet parallel)

Musubi-dachi

Informal attention stance (heels together, toes point out 45°)

Heiko-dachi

Parallel leg stance (feet apart and parallel)

Hachiji-dachi

Yoi (ready position), also as shizentai -
Open leg stance (feet apart and toes point out 45°)

Uchi hachiji-dachi

Inverted open leg stance (feet apart and toes point in 45°)

Fudo-dachi

Diagonal leg stance (like side stance, but facing 45°)

Sochin-dachi

Another name for fudo-dachi

Shiko-dachi

Square stance (like side stance, but feet turned out more than 45°)

Renoji-dachi

"L" stance

Teiji-dachi

"T" stance

Hangetsu-dachi

Half moon stance

Sanchin-dachi

Hour glass stance (similar to hangetsu-dachi, but feet closer)

Neko ashi-dachi

Cat stance

Sagi ashi-dachi

Standing on one leg stance

Kosa-dachi

Cross-leg stance