Numbers
Romaji |
Japanese |
Meaning |
| Ichi | 一 | One |
| Ni | 二 | Two |
| San | 三 | Three |
| Shi / Yon | 四 | Four |
| Go | 五 | Five |
| Roku | 六 | Six |
| Shichi / Nana | 七 | Seven |
| Hachi | 八 | Eight |
| Kyū | 九 | Nine |
| Jū | 十 | Ten |
Terminology
Source Shorin-Ryu, Okinawan Karate Question and Answer Book by William Cummins & Robert Scaglione 3rd 2002
Romaji |
Japanese |
Meaning |
-A- |
||
| Achi | あち | Arch of foot |
| Age | 上げ | Rising |
| Anza | 安座 | Cross-leg sitting |
| Ashi | 足 | Foot |
| Atama | 頭 | Head |
| Ate-waza | 当て技 | Smashing technique |
| Atemi-waza | 当身技 | Breaking technique |
-B- |
||
| Barai | 払い | Sweep |
| Bo | 棒 | Staff, roughly 6ft long |
| Bubishi | 武備志 | Martial art manual, the “bible” of Karate |
| Bunkai | 分解 | Application of kata. Bun-kai literally means “analysis” or “disassembly”. Bunkai is usually performed with a partner or a group of partners which execute predefined attacks. It may also illustrate how to improve technique by adjusting distances, time moves properly, and adapt a technique depending on the size of an opponent. There are usually many stages of depth of comprehension of bunkai only reached through the passage of time. |
| Bushido | 武士道 | “The way of the warrior” |
-C- |
||
| Chudan shoutei-uke | 中段掌底受け | Middle palm heel block |
| Chudan soto-mawashi-uke | 中段外回し受け | Middle sideward round block |
| Chudan soto-shuto-uke | 中段外手刀受け | Middle outward knife-hand block |
| Chudan soto-uke | 中段外受け | Middle outward block |
| Chudan uchi-uke | 中段内受け | Middle inner block |
| Chudan | 中段 | Middle |
| Chudan-uke | 中段受け | Middle block |
| Chudan-zuki | 中段突き | Middle punch |
| Chusoku | Ball of foot | |
-D- |
||
| Dachi | 立ち | Stance |
| Dan | 段 | Grade (Black Belt) |
| Do | 道 | Way-Spiritual path. |
| Dōgi | 道着 | Karate uniform (sometimes referred to simply as “gi”) |
| Dojo | 道場 | Sacred hall of learning |
| Dozo | どうぞ | Please, go ahead |
-E- |
||
| Empi | Elbow strike | |
-F- |
||
| Fudo | ふどう | Posture and attitude (one of the six virtures of the warrior) |
| Fukubu-geri | 腹部蹴り | Abdomen kick |
| Fukyugata | 普及型 | Basic/Foundational kata |
| Fukyugata ichi | The first kata in Shorin-ryu karate | |
| Furitsuki | 振り突き | Roundhouse punch |
-G- |
||
| Gedan | 下段 | Lower |
| Gedan kosa-uke | 下段交差受け | Lower crossing block |
| Gedan shotei-uke | 下段掌底受け | Lower palm heel block |
| Gedan shuto-uke | 下段手刀受け | Lower knife hand block |
| Gedan-uke | 下段受け | Lower block |
| Gedan-zuki | 下段突き | Lower punch |
| Genshin | Intuitive ability to anticipate an attack | |
| Geri | 蹴り | Kick |
| Geri-dachi | 蹴り立ち | Horse Stance Squat position |
| Giri | 義理 | The duty (one of the six virtues of the warrior) |
| Goju-ryu | 剛柔流 | “Hard-Soft’ style, one of the major karate styles from Naha, Okinawa |
| Gyaku | 逆 | Reverse |
-H- |
||
| Hachiji-dachi | 八字立ち | Open leg stance |
| Hai | はい | Yes |
| Haisoku | 背足 | Instep |
| Haito-uchi | Reverse knife-hand strike | |
| Haito-uke | 受け | Reverse knife-hand block |
| Hajime | 始め | Begin |
| Hara | 腹 | In Japanese culture, the center of a person’s being or consciousness. Located approx two inches below the navel |
| Heisoku-dachi | 平足立ち | Closed-foot stance |
| Hidari | 左 | Left |
| Hiji-ate | 肘当て | Elbow smash |
| Hiji-uke | 肘受け | Elbow block |
| Hiza-ate | 膝当て | Knee smash |
-I- |
||
| Ippon | 一本 | One point |
-J- |
||
| Jigotai-dachi | Wide-open leg stance | |
| Jodan 上段 | Upper | |
| Jodan-kosa-uke | 上段受け | Upper cross block |
| Jodan-uke | 上段受け | Upper block |
| Jodan-zuki | 上段突き | Upper punch |
| Ju | 十 | Ten |
| Ju | 柔 | Softness, Flexibility |
| Jun shizentai-dachi | Quasi-natural stance | |
-K- |
||
| Kaizen | 改善 | Philosophy of continuous improvement of working practices. “Continuous Improvement”– slow, incremental but constant. |
| Kakato | 踵 | Heel |
| Kara | 空 | Empty |
| Karate | 空手 or 唐手 | Empty-handed self-defense art, originally known as “Toudi” which meant “Chinese hand,” was later changed to “Empty hand” in order to distance the art from its Chinese roots to appeal to Japanese nationalism. |
| Karate-do | 空手道 | Way of Karate |
| Karateka | 空手家 | Practitioner of Karate |
| Kasane-uchi | 襲撃ち | Double knife-hand |
| Kata | 型 | Form – an organized series of pre-arranged defensive and offensive movements symbolizing an imaginary fight between several opponents. Handed down by masters of a system of Karate. |
| Keikoken | Forefinger knuckle | |
| Kentsui-uchi | けんついうち | Hammerfist strike |
| Keriwaza | 蹴り技 | Kicking techniques |
| Ki | Vital energy | |
| Kiai | Combining of spirit (and body), a forceful shout or “war cry” that is matched to offensive movement to maximize force and focus | |
| Kiba-dachi | Horse stance | |
| Kime | Focus, decisiveness | |
| Kinteki-geri | Groin kick | |
| Kiotsuke | attention or stand up straight | |
| Koken | Wrist | |
| Kokuto | Heel of Foot | |
| Kosa | Cross | |
| Kosa-uke | Cross block | |
| Ku | Nine | |
| Kumite | Fight | |
| Kyobu | Chest | |
| Kyobu-geri | Chest kick | |
| Kyu | Rank (White to Brown Belt) | |
-M- |
||
| Ma-ai | 間合い | Distancing, the ability to intuitively establish the correct distance between oneself and one’s opponent. |
| Mae | 前 | Front |
| Mae-geri | 前蹴り | Front Kick |
| Makiwara | 巻藁 | Striking board |
| Mate | 待て | Stop |
| Matsubayashi-ryu | 松林流 | “Pine forest” style, Shorin-ryu |
| Mawashi | 回し | Swinging around |
| Mawatte | 回って | Turn (command) |
| Migi | 右 | Right |
| Mushin | 無心 | No mind |
-N- |
||
| Naha-te | 那覇手 | Karate styles such as Goju-ryu and Uechi-ryu |
| Naihanchi-dachi | ないハンチ立ち | Straddle-leg stance |
| Neko-ashi-dachi | 猫足立 | Cat stance |
| Nidan-geri | 二段蹴り | Flying front kick |
| Ninyo – Magnamanity | (Courageously noble in mind and heart) or (Generous in forgiving); on higher level than doryo – ( rank clearly divided into three categories, sempai) seniors), kohai (juniors) and doryo. (one of the six virtues of the warrior). | |
| Nukite | 抜き手 | Spear-hand |
-O- |
||
| Obi | 帯 | Belt or sash |
| Oi-zuki | 追い突き | Chasing, lunge punch |
| Onegaishimasu | お願いします | Please (and thank you in advance). Polite phrase used at the beginning of a teaching |
| Onsha | 恩赦 | Generosity, tolerance (one of the six virtues of the warrior) |
| Otoshi-uke | 落とし受け | Dropping downward block |
| Oyo-tan-ren | 応用鍛錬 | All basic technique |
-P- |
||
| Pinan | 平安 | Literally meaning peace, Pinan (aka Heian) is the name of a basic kata series |
-R- |
||
| Rei | 礼 | Bow |
| Ren-ma | 練磨 | Polishing, continuous improvement of chararacter, patience, and confidence. |
| Rokushakubo | 六尺棒 | Six foot staff |
| Ryu | 流 | Martial tradition, style |
| Ryu-no-shita no kamae | 龍の舌の構え | Dragon-tongue fighting posture |
-S- |
||
| Sagurite no kamae | 探り手の構え | Searching-hand fighting posture |
| Sai | サイ | Ancient weapon used to defend against sword attacks |
| Samurai | 侍 | Japanese warrior |
| Sasae-uke | 支え受け | Supported forearm block |
| Sashi | Iron hand grip | |
| Sayu-barai-uke | Double lower side block | |
| Sayu-zuki | 左右突き | Double side punch |
| Seiken | 正拳 | Fist |
| Seiken-ude-uke | 正拳腕受け | Forearm block |
| Seiken-waza | 正拳技 | Fist technique |
| Seiza | 正座 | Sit, kneeling |
| Semekata | 攻め方 | Attacking techniques |
| Sempai | 先輩 | Senior |
| Sensei | 先生 | Master or Teacher |
| Sensei-ni-rei | 先生に礼 | Bow to sensei |
| Shi-zuki | Beak thrust | |
| Shiai | 試合 | Contest, match |
| Shiki | 士気 | Resolution (one of the six virtues of the warrior) |
| Shinden-ni-rei | 神殿に礼 | All bow to those who came before us |
| Shinpan | 審判 | Judge, referee |
| Shinsa | 審査 | Examination |
| Shizentai-dachi | 自然体立ち | Natural stance |
| Shobayashi-ryu | 諸林流 | “Small forest” style, Shorin-ryu |
| Shorei-ryu | 昭霊流 | Naha-te style of Karate |
| Shorin-ryu | 少林龍 | “Shao-lin” style, Shuri-te karate |
| Shotei-ate | Palm-heel smash | |
| Shotei-uke | Palm-heel block | |
| Shuri-te | 首里手 | Karate from Shuri, Okinawa |
| Shuto | 手刀 | Open (knife hand) |
| Shuto-uchi | 手刀撃ち | Knife-hand strike |
| Shuto-uke | 手刀受け | Knife-hand block |
| Sokko | Instep | |
| Sokuto-geri | Foot edge kick | |
| Soto | 外 | Outside, outward |
| Soto-hachiji | Open leg | |
| Sukima | 隙間 | Opening |
-T- |
||
| Tameshiwari | 試し割り | Breaking technique |
| Tanden | 丹田 | Source of vital energy |
| Tanren kumite | 鍛錬組手 | Arm training |
| Tate hiji-ate | 縦肘当て | Upward elbow smash |
| Te | 手 | Hand |
| Tenshin | 転身 | Body shifting |
| Tobi yoko-geri | 飛び横蹴り | Flying side kick |
| Tode | 唐手 | Ancient Okinawan fighting art |
| Tomari-te | 泊手 | Karate from Tomari, Okinawa |
| Tomoe | 巴 | Circular |
| Tomoe shotei-ate | Circular palm-heel smash | |
| Tomoe-zuki | 巴突き | Circular block and punch |
| Torite-uke | 巴受け | Grasping hand block |
| Toshokai | Meeting to encourage discussion | |
| Tsuki | 突き | Punch |
| Tsuki-uke | 突き受け | Punching block |
| Tsuki-waza | 突き技 | Punching technique |
| Tsumasaki | 爪先 | Tips of toes |
-U- |
||
| Uchi-waza | 撃ち技 | Striking technique |
| Ude | 腕 | Forearm |
| Uechi-ryu | 上地流 | One of the major karate styles from Naha, Okinawa |
| Uke | 受け | Block |
| Ukekata | 受け型 | Blocking techniques |
| Uraken | 裏拳 | Backfist |
| Uraken-uchi | 裏拳撃ち | Backfist strike |
| Ushiro | 後ろ | Back |
| Ushiro hiji-ate | 後ろ肘当て | Backward elbow smash |
| Ushiro-geri | 後ろ蹴り | Back kick |
| Ushiro-Kokuto-geri | 後ろコクと蹴り | Back heel kick |
-W- |
||
| Wari-uki-zuki | Split-block punch | |
| Waza | 技 | Technique, skill |
-Y- |
||
| Yama-zuki | 山突き | U-punch |
| Yame | 辞め | Stop (command) |
| Yoko | 横 | Side |
| Yoko hiji-ate | 横肘当て | Side elbow smash |
| Yoko-geri | 横蹴り | Side kick |
| Yubi-waza | 指技 | Finger technique |
-Z- |
||
| Zanshin | 残心 | Ready mind |
| Zazen | 坐禅 | Sitting meditation |
| Zenkutsu-dachi-gedan-barai-uke | 前屈立ち下段払い受け | Front leg bent stance lower block |
| Zenkutsu-dachi | 前屈立ち | Front leg bent stance |
| Zuki | 突き | Punch (suffix) |
Miscellaneous:
Left Horse Stance for practicing Blocks and Strikes (AKA Left Sanchin): find a straight line on a floor. Place left foot in front, heel on the line, with toes pointed slightly inward. Place right foot with toes touching the line, toes pointed straight ahead or slightly inward inward. Feet should be about shoulder’s width apart. Bend knees and press knees outward, engaging the legs and gripping the floor with your feed. Perform your striking and blocking drills from this stance, then switch sides and repeat the drills from right sanchin stance.
Commentary by S.N. – Bunkai is an important aspect of our training because in prepares the mind/body for physical confrontation, which many are not routinely exposed to. People can freeze-up when a physical confrontation occurs. A current theory names this Behavioral In-action – “as your frontal lobes process the sight of the situation, your brain can’t find a match and gets stuck in a loop of trying and failing to come up with the right response – Hence: Immobility” (1). The military calls this process the “Dislocation of Expectation”. The Aviation Industry calls this “Negative Panic”.
(1) Information from “The Survivors Club by Ben Sherwood” 2010.
Another Source for Japanese Karate Terminology is a Penn State Website:
