• Karate (空手): Empty hand

• Dojo (道場): Training Place/hall

• Sensei (先生): Teacher/Instructor

• Kohai (後輩): Junior student

• Senpai (先輩): Senior student

• Rei (礼): Bow, respect

• Ki (気): Spirit, energy

 

 

Stances (Dachi - 立ち)

• Zenkutsu-dachi (前屈立ち): Front stance

• Kokutsu-dachi (後屈立ち): Back stance

• Kiba-dachi (騎馬立ち): Horse stance

• Neko-ashi-dachi (猫足立ち): Cat stance

• Shiko-dachi (四股立ち): Sumo stance

 

 

Strikes (Tsuki/Uchi - 突き/打ち)

• Seiken-zuki (正拳突き): Forefist punch

• Gyaku-zuki (逆突き): Reverse punch

• Oi-zuki (追い突き): Lunge punch

• Uraken (裏拳): Backfist strike

• Shuto-uchi (手刀打ち): Knife-hand strike

• Empi-uchi (猿臂打ち): Elbow strike

 

 

Kicks (Geri - 蹴り)

• Mae-geri (前蹴り): Front kick

• Yoko-geri (横蹴り): Side kick

• Mawashi-geri (回し蹴り): Roundhouse kick

• Ushiro-geri (後蹴り): Back kick

 

 

Blocks (Uke - 受け)

• Gedan-barai (下段払い): Downward block

• Soto-uke (外受け): Outside block

• Uchi-uke (内受け): Inside block

• Age-uke (上げ受け): Rising block

• Shuto-uke (手刀受け): Knife-hand block

 

 

Movements

• Mawatte (回って): Turn

• Hajime (始め): Begin

• Yame (止め): Stop

• Kiai (気合い): Spirit shout

 

 

Kata Terms

• Kata (型): Form, pattern

• Heian Shodan (平安初段): Peaceful Mind First Level

• Tekki Shodan (鉄騎初段): Iron Horse First Level

• Bassai Dai (抜塞大): Penetrating the Fortress (Dai means big)

 

 

Kumite Terms

• Kumite (組手): Sparring

• Jiyu Kumite (自由組手): Free sparring

• Ippon Kumite (一本組手): One-step sparring

• Sanbon Kumite (三本組手): Three-step sparring

 

 

Etiquette

• Dojo Kun (道場訓): Dojo precepts

• Osu (押忍): A term of respect and acknowledgement

 

 

Miscellaneous

• Tameshiwari (試し割り): Breaking (boards, bricks)

• Bunkai (分解): Application of kata