Shotokan Karate Terminology
This list of Japanese words and their English
translations is not comprehensive.
Peter Lindsay's web site was the original
source for the material on this web page. This material
has been duplicated here with his permission. For more
details please visit http://www.shotokankarate.ca.
GENERAL TERMS
karate do - empty handed way
shihan - master
sensei - teacher
sempai - senior student
kohai - junior student
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dojo- training hall
obi - belt
seiza - kneel
mokuso - meditate
rei - bow
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yoi - ready
hajime - begin
yame - stop
naote - relax
hidari - left
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migi - right
jodan - upper
chudan - middle
gedan - lower
dachi - stance
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zuki - punch
uchi - strike
uke - block
geri - kick
tai sabaki - body shifting
yori ashi - foot shifting
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BLOCKS
jodan age uke - upper rising
block
jodan tetsui zuki - upper hammer fist
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gedan uke - lower block
kake wake uke - reverse wedge block
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haishu-uke - back hand block
soto uke - inward middle block
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uchi uke - outward middle
block
morote uke - augmented block
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teisho oshi uke - pressing palm
heal block
shuto-uke - sword hand block
juji-uke - X block
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STANCES
zenkutsu dachi - front
stance
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kokutsu dachi - back
stance
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kiba dachi - horse
stance
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fudo dachi - rooted stance
neko ashi dachi - cat stance
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hangetsu dachi - hourglass
stance
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STRIKES
kazama zuki - jab
choku zuki - straight punch
oi zuki - lunge punch
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gyaku zuki - reverse punch
yama zuki - mountain punch
yoko zuki - side punch
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shita zuki - inverted punch
ippon ken - one knuckle strike
uraken - back fist
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tetsui - hammer fist
empi uchi - elbow strike
nukite-zuki - spear hand strike
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shuto - knife hand
shuto-zuki - sword hand strike
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KICKS
hiza geri - knee strike
mae geri - front kick
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yoko geri keage - side snap
kick
yoko geri kekomi - side thrust kick
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fumakomi - stomp kick
mika zuki geri - crescent kick
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mawashi geri - round kick
tobi geri - jump kick
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ni mae geri - double front
kick
ushiro geri kekomi- back thrust kick
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KATA TERMS
gedan-barai - down block
chudan oi zuki - middle lunge punch
chudan uchi uke - inside outward block
tetsui zuki - hammer fist strike
shuto uke - sword hand block
shuto zuki - sword hand strike
gedan-barai - down block
tai-sabaki - body shifting
jodan oi zuki - upper lunge punch
jodan age uke - upper rising block
yoko geri keage - side snapping kick
mae geri keage - front snapping kick
chudan uraken - middle back fist
chudan nukite zuki - middle spear hand strike
chudan gyaku zuki - middle reverse punch
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morote chudan uchi uke -
augmented middle inside outward block
jodan soto uke - upper forearm strike
morote gedan uchi uke - augmented lower inside
outward block
morote shita zuki - augmented upper inverted
punch
chudan teisho yoko uke - middle side palm heel
block
chudan yoko zuki - middle side punch
ni jodan shita zuki - double inverted upper
punch
chudan tsukami uke - middle grasping block
chudan osae uke - middle pressing block
chudan mae empi uchi - middle forward elbow
strike
chudan keito uke - middle chicken head block
hitosashiyubi gedan nukite - lower index finger
spear hand
shuto gedan barai - lower sword hand strike
washide jodan uchi - upper eagle strike
jodan mae geri keage - upper front snapping
kick
chudan uraken - middle back fist
chudan hiza geri - middle knee strike
chudan mika zuki geri - middle crescent kick
chudan mawashi zuki - middle round house
punch
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jodan shuto juji uke - upper
open hand X block
ni yoko chudan zuki - double middle side
punch
chudan-tate-shuto-uchi-uke -middle level vertical
inside outward sword hand block
chudan choku zuki - middle straight punch
ni jodan uke - double rising block
hidari ashi dachi - left legged stance
chudan uchi otoshi - middle falling block
jodan yoko uchi barai - upper side sweeping
block
sho koko bo uke - tiger mouth block
chudan oi zuki maeude hineri - middle lunge punch
with turning forearm
jodan tate mawashi uchi - upper vertical
roundhouse strike
naname shita ni oshinobasu - double downward
oblique push
gedan gassho uke - lower double palm heel
block
sankaku tobi - triangle jump
chudan nakadaka ippon ken - middle one knuckle
strike
jodan age nihon nukite-zuki - upper two finger
spear hand strike
haishu uke - back hand block
jodan kensei - upper palm feint
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