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Karate Terminology
If a karateka learns the japanese karate terminology, (s)he will be able to enter any karate dojo in the world and able to understand and workout .
GENERAL TERMS
Karate:
Empty Hands
Karate Do:
The Way of Karate
Karateka:
Practitioner of Karate
Dojo:
School or training room
Sensei:
Teacher
Sempai:
Senior
Kohai:
Junior
Kyu:
Rank
Gi:
Uniform
Obi:
Belt
Hai:
Yes
Osu:
"I understand and will try my best."
Also used to show respect, entusiasm.
Do not use outside of the dojo!
Do:
Way
Budo:
Way of combat
Zanshin:
Poise and control
Kime:
Focus
Kihon:
Fundamentals
Kiai:
Spirit shout/focus of spiritual energy
Kata:
Practice form
Embusen:
Floor pattern/lines of a kata
Maai:
Distance
Bunkai:
Application (interpretation) of kata techniques
Kumite:
Sparring/fighting
Ippon kumite:
One-step sparring
Yakusoku kumite:
"Promise" premeditated sparring
Gohon kumite:
Five-step sparring
Jiyyu kumite:
Free sparring
Waza:
Technique
Dachi:
Stance
Tsuki (Zuki):
Punch
Uchi:
Strike
Uke:
Block
Geri:
Kick
Ashi-barai:
Foot sweep
Kamae:
Posture
Yori-ashi:
Sliding the feet
Tai-sabaki:
Body shifting
Shotokan:
"House of Shoto" ; "pine sea"; pen name of Funakoshi.
DomoArigato Gozaimashita:
"Thank-you very much"
Onegai Shimasu:
"I welcome you to train with me"
Literally: " I make a request." Said to one's partner when initiating practice.
MAJOR CONCEPTS
Zanshin:
Awareness; Continuing mind/heart - connotes "following through" a technique while maintaining awareness
Sen:
Initiative
Sen no sen:
Seizing the initiative earlier; Attacking at the same moment your opponent attacks.
Go no sen:
Seizing the initiative later; Allowing your opponent to attack first so as to open up target for counter-attacks.
Sen sen no sen:
Seizing the opponents sen no sen; Attacking before your opponent attacks-a preemptive attack.
Ikken Hissatsu:
"To kill with one blow"
Karate ni sente nashi:
Karate does not include the first move.
Karate wa sente nari:
Karate is the first move.
Shorin (kata):
Quick movement, emphasizing speed
Shorei (kata):
Slow, strong movement, emphasizing strength
Sun-dome:
Stopping a technique just prior to contact (three centimeters)
COMMANDS
Narande:
Line up
Seiretsu:
Line up by rank
Yoi:
Ready
Yame:
Stop
Yasume:
Relax (or ready position)
Sensei ni:
Face towards the teacher
Otaigai ni:
Face towards each other
Shomen ni:
Face towards the front
Rei:
Bow
Seiza:
Meditation position-kneeling
Age-te:
Hands up (cover position)
Mawatte:
Turn around
Hajime:
Begin
Naore:
Return to Shizen-tai
DIRECTIONS
Mae:
Front
Yoko:
Side
Ushiro:
Back
Tate:
Vertical
Mawashi:
Round
Jodan:
Head high level
Chudan:
Mid-high level
Gedan:
Low level; Down
Migi:
Right
Hidari:
Left
Tobi:
Jump
Gyaku:
Reverse
Age:
Rising
Uchi:
Inner
Soto:
Outer
Otoshi:
Dropping
Sokumen:
Side
DACHI WAZA (STANCES)
Kamae:
Posture (Yoi)
Heisoku dachi:
Formal Attention Stance (Yoi)
Zenkutsu dachi:
Front Stance
Kokutsu dachi:
Back Stance
Kiba dachi:
Straddle Stance
Fudo dachi:
Fighting Stance
Musubi dachi:
Informal Attention Stance (feet in a 'V")
Hachiji dachi:
Open-legged Stance (Yoi)
Shizen-tai dachi:
Natural Stance
Neko-ashi dachi:
Cat Stance
Renoji dachi:
"L" Stance
Kosa dachi:
Cross-legged Stance
Hangetsu dachi:
Wide Hour-glass Stance
Migi Ashi Orishiku:
Right Leg Kneeling
Hidari Ashi Orishiku:
Left Leg Kneeling
UKE WAZA (BLOCKS)
Age uke:
Rising block
Gedan uke:
Down block
Soto ude uke:
Outside forearm block
Uchi ude uke:
Inside forearm block
Shuto uke:
Knife block
Morote uke:
Augmented block
Kakiwaki uke:
Reverse wedge block (Heian 4)
Juji uke:
X block
Kosa uke:
Cross block (Uchi/gedan uke-Heian 3)
Manji uke:
Hi/low block (Heian 5)
Tate shuto uke:
Vertical knife-hand block (Heian 3)
Haishu uke:
Back-hand block (Heian 5)
Empi uke (or Hiji uke):
Elbow block (Heian 3)
Osae uke:
Pressing block (Heian 2, 3)
Otoshi uke:
Dropping or falling block (Heian 2, 3)
Nagashi Uke:
Sweeping block (Tekki, Jion)
Haiwan Nagashi Uke:
Sweeping back-arm block
Te Nagashi Uke:
Sweeping hand block (parry) (Heian 5)
Sukui Uke:
Scooping block (Bassai, Chinte)
Sokumen Awase Uke:
Side combined block (Bassai-Dai)
Tsukami Uke:
Grasping block (Bassai-Dai, Jion)
Awase Shuto Age Uke:
Combined rising knife-hand block (Kanku-Dai)
Ryowan Uchi Uke:
Double inside block( Jion, Bassai-Sho)
Seiryuto Uke:
Ox-Jaw block
GERI WAZA (KICKS)
Mae geri keage:
Front snap kick
Mae geri kekomi:
Front thrust kick
Yoko geri keage:
Side snap kick
Yoko geri kekomi:
Side thrust kick
Mawashi geri:
Round kick
Ushiro geri:
Back thrust kick
Fumikomi geri:
Stomping kick (Heian 3, 5)
Uchi mikazuki geri:
Inside crescent kick
Soto mikazuki geri:
Outside crescent kick
Tobi geri:
Flying kick
Name ashi geri:
Returning wave kick (Tekki 1)
Hiza geri:
Knee kick/strike
Nidan geri:
Double kick (Kanku-Dai)
TSUKI WAZA (PUNCHES)
Oi tsuki:
Lunge punch
Gyaku tsuki:
Reverse punch
Kizami tsuki:
Jab
Choku tsuki:
Straight punch
Kagi tsuki:
Hook punch
Oi-gyaku tsuki:
Lunging reverse punch
Ura tsuki:
Close punch
Morote tsuki:
Parallel punch
Ren tsuki:
Double punch
San tsuki:
Triple punch
Age tsuki:
Rising punch
Gedan tsuki:
Downward punch
Yama tsuki:
Wide "U" punch
Awase tsuki:
"U" punch
Otoshi tsuki:
Dropping punch (Empi)
Ippon Ken tsuki:
One-knuckle fist punch (Hangetsu)
UCHI WAZA (Strikes)
Tettsui
Hammer-fist strike
Kumade Uchi:
Bear Claw Strike
Uraken Uchi:
Backfist Strike
Hiraken Uchi:
Foreknuckle Strike
Teisho Uchi:
Palm Heel Strike
Ippon Nukite Uchi:
Single Finger Strike
Nihon Nukite Uchi:
Two Finger Strike (Fork)
Shuto Uchi:
Knife Hand Strike
Soto Shuto Uchi:
Outside Knife Hand Strike
Uchi Shuto Uchi:
Inside Knife Hand Strike
Shihon Nukite Uchi:
Spear Hand Strike
Gyaku Haito Uchi:
Reverse Backfist Strike
Haito Uchi:
Backfist Strike
Empi Uchi:
Elbow Strike
Mawashi Empi Uchi:
Round Elbow Strike
Mae Empi Uchi:
Front Elbow Strike
Otoshi Empi Uchi:
Downward Elbow Strike
Ushiro Empi Uchi:
Back Elbow Strike
Yoko Empi Uchi:
Side Elbow Strike
Yoko Mawashi Empi Uchi:
Side Roundhouse Elbow Strike
Tate Empi Uchi:
Upward Elbow Strike
Hiza Age Ate:
Rising Knee Strike
Washide Uchi:
Eagle Beak Strike
Koko Uchi:
Tiger Mouth Strike
Haishu Uchi:
Back Hand Strike
KATA
Taikyoku:
First Cause
Heian:
Peaceful mind
Tekki:
Iron Knight
Bassai:
Storm the Fortress
Sho:
Lesser, small
Dai:
Greater, big
Jion:
Bhuddist temple name; Gratitude for the Bhudda (2nd Kyu)
Kanku:
To look at the sky (2nd Kyu)
Hangetsu:
Crescent or Half moon (1st Kyu)
Empi:
Flying Swallow (1st Kyu)
Chinte:
Extraordinary Hands (Nidan)
Jitte:
Ten Hands (Nidan)
Gankaku:
Crane on a rock (Sandan)
Sochin:
To keep the peace; Grand Suppression (Sandan)
Nijushiho:
Twenty-four steps (Sandan)
Shorei Kata:
Light and quick; emphasizing agility and speed
Shorin Kata:
Slow, hard, and strong; emphasizing muscles and strength
BODY PARTS
Ken:
Fist
Ippon Ken:
Single-point index-finger Fist
Tate Ken:
Vertical Fist
Te:
Hand
Kaishu:
Open hand
Tekubi:
Wrist
Teisho:
Palm heel
Ude:
Forearm
Empi (also Hiji):
Elbow
Ashi:
Leg
Ashikubi:
Ankle
Hiza (also Hitsui):
Knee
Ensho:
Back of the heel
Heisoku:
Top (instep) of the foot
Teisoku:
Bottom of the foot
Kakato:
Heel of the foot
Koshi:
Ball of the foot
Sokuto:
Outer edge (knife) of the foot
Tsumasaki:
Toe tips
Atama:
Head
Wan:
Arm
Naiwan:
Back of Arm
Kata:
Shoulder
Jiku Ashi:
Pivot leg
Jodan:
Head level
Chudan:
Mid-level
Gedan:
Lower level
COUNTING
Ichi:
One
Ni:
Two
San:
Three
Shi:
Four
Go:
Five
Roku:
Six
Shichi:
Seven
Hachi:
Eight
Ku:
Nine
Ju:
Ten
NiJu:
Twenty
NiJu-Go:
Twenty-five
Hyaku:
One Hundred
Ippon:
First
Yon:
Fourth
Gohon:
Fifth
COLORS
Shiro:
White
Ki:
Yellow
Ao:
Blue
Midori:
Green
Murasaki:
Purple
Cha:
Brown
Kuro:
Black
Aka:
Red
TOURNAMENT TERMS
Sanbon Shobu:
Three point Match
Ippon shobu:
One point match; used in tournaments
Sanbon Shobu Hajime:
Start the Match
Shobu hajime:
Start the Match
Tsuzukete hajime:
Resume fighting — begin. Referee standing on his line steps back into zenkutsu dachi and brings palms of hands toward each other
Shiai-jo:
Ring (size = 8-10 meters square)
Wazari:
Half point
Ippon:
Full point
Toranai:
No point
Jogai:
Out of Bounds; Referee points with index finger at a 45� angle to the area boundary on the side of the offender.
Jogai keikoku:
Second exit from fighting area. Waza-ari penalty given to opponent.
Jogai keikoku:
4th and final exit from the fighting area. 4th exit causes victory to the opponent.
Ai-uchi:
Clash; simultaneous scoring technique, no point awarded to either. Referee brings fists together in front of chest.
Uchi-majiri:
Brawl (melee)
Atoshi baraku:
A little more time left; an audible signal given by time keeper 30 seconds before actual end of bout.
Jikan:
Time
Encho-sen:
Extension; after a draw, the match goes into overtime. Referee reopens match with command "shobu hajime".
(Aka/Shiro) No Kachi:
(R/W) Victorious
Fusen-gachi:
Victory by default
Hansoku-make:
Lose by disqualification
Hikiwake:
Draw; referee crosses arms over chest, then uncrosses and holds arms out from the body with the palms showing upwards.
Hansoku:
Foul; imposed following serious infraction, results in opponents score being raised to sanbon.
Shugo:
Judges called. Referee beckons with arms to the judges.
Fukushin shugo:
Judges conference
Hantei:
Judge’s decision/decision; judgement. Referee calls for judgement by blowing his whistle and judges render their decision by flag signal
Mienai:
I could not see. A call by a judge to indicate that a technique was not visible from his/her angle.
Hantei kachi:
Winner by decision
Chui:
Warning
Shido:
Light warning
Atenai yoni:
Warning without penalty; referee raises 1 hand in fist with other hand covering it at chest level and shows it to offender.
Hansoku chui:
Warning with an ippon penalty, ippon added to opponents score.
Keikoku:
Severe warning; warning with waza-ari penalty in sanbon shobu. Penalty added to opponents score. Imposed for minor infractions for which a warning has previously been given in the bout. Referee points index finger to feet of offender at angle of 45�.
Mumobi:
Warning for lack of regard for one’s own safety. Referee points 1 index finger in the air at a 60� angle on side of offender.
Mumobi keikoku:
Warning with waza-ari penalty.
Shikkaku:
Disqualification; opponents score raised to sanbon.
Shiro:
White
Aka:
Red
Aite:
Opponent
WEAPONS
Bo:
Long staff
Jo:
Short staff
Sai:
forked knife (Jitte)
Nunchaku:
Thrasher (two sticks joined by a chain)
Kama:
Sickles
Tonfa:
Batons
Shinai:
Bamboo sword
Bokken:
Wooden sword
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