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 |
Bow |
|
Names/Phrases |
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Spirit yell - strong exhalation of breath at a descisive technique, shows focus (kime) and proper breathing at that point |
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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 |
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Basic techniques (see the kihon section of the members area) |
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Forms practice (see the kata section of the members area) |
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Sparring (see the kumite section of the members area);
also see: |
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General Body Locations |
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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 |
Rising block |
|
Sword hand block |
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Outside to inside block |
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Inside to outside block |
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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) |
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 |
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 |
Side snap kick |
|
Side thrust kick |
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Back kick |
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Roundhouse kick |
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Mikazuki-geri |
Crescent kick |
Shittsui-geri |
Knee kick |
Fumikiri-geri |
Cutting kick |
Fumikomi-geri |
Stomping kick |
Stances
Name |
Desciption |
Dachi |
Stance |
Front stance |
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Back stance |
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Side stance |
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Feet together stance (feet parallel) |
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Informal attention stance (heels together, toes point out 45°) |
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Parallel leg stance (feet apart and parallel) |
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Hachiji-dachi |
Yoi (ready position), also as shizentai - |
Inverted open leg stance (feet apart and toes point in 45°) |
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Diagonal leg stance (like side stance, but facing 45°) |
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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 |
"T" stance |
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Half moon stance |
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Hour glass stance (similar to hangetsu-dachi, but feet closer) |
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Cat stance |
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Standing on one leg stance |
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Cross-leg stance |