NSKS

                                                                     KARATE TERMINOLOGY

 

CONTENTS
COUNTING	KICKING TECHNIQUE	SOME BASIC TERMS
BASIC TECHNIQUE	HAND TECHNIQUE	OTHER WORDS AND PHRASES
STANCES	BLOCKING TECHNIQUE

 

COUNTING
1. ICHI (ee-chee)- One	11. JU ICHI (joo ee-chee)- Eleven
2. NI (nee)- Two	12. JU NI (joo nee)- Twelve
3. SAN (san)- Three	13. JU DAN (joo san)- Thirteen
4. SHI (she)- Four	14. JU SHI (joo she)- Fourteen
5. GO (go)- Five	15. JU GO (joo go)- Fifteen
6. ROKU (row-ku)- Six	16.JU ROKU (joo row-ku)- Sixteen
7. SHICHI (see-chee)- Seven	17 JU SHICHI (joo see-chee)-Seventeen
8. HACHI (ha-chee)- Eight	18. JU HACHI (joo ha-chee)- Eighteen
9. KU (koo)- Nine	19. JU KU (joo koo)- Nineteen
10. JU (joo)- Ten	20. NI JU (nee joo)- Twenty

                               KIHON WAZA (key-hone wah-zah)-BASIC TECHNIQUE

 

 

GEDAN BARAI (geh-dahn-bah-rye)- downward block

JODAN UKE (jo-dahn oo-key)- upward block

KIBA DACHI (kee-bah dah-chee)- horse stance. both feet will move out to the side of the body instead of the front or back, pretend that you are riding a horse, once the legs are out to the side, bend the knees and drop the buttocks  closer to the floor, both feet should be pointing forward, keep yourback straight.

NEKO ASHI DACHI (nee-koh dah-chee)- Cat stance. stand with your feet together, point one straight and turn the other foot to an angle (45 degree angle) take the foot that is straight and move it out one step, letting only the ball of the foot touch the floor, now bend the back leg so that at least 80% of your weight is on it , from this position , you should be able to lift your front leg and balance on your back leg.

KAMAE (KAH-MY)- fighting stance

TEISHO UKE (tay-show oo-key)- palmheel block

SHUTO UKE (shoo-to oo-key)- knifehand block

SOTO UKE (so-toh oo-key)- outward middle forearm block

UCHI UKE (oo-chee oo-key)- inward block

GYAKU ZUKI (ya-koo zoo-key)- reverse punch

 

 

                                                                      DACHI (da-chee) - STANCES

 

 

The word dachi (da-chee) will usually be used when referring to a stance.

 

KIBA DACHI (kee-bah dah-chee)- horse stance,both feet will move out to the side of the body instead of front or back ,pretend that you are riding a horse, once the legs are out bend the knees and drop the buttocks closer to the floor, both feet should be pointing forward and your back straight.
FUDO DACHI (foo-do dah-chee)- rooted stance. This stance is formed from the front stance (zenkutsu dachi) by bending the back leg slightly and twisting the hips so that the trunk is rotated away from a full front position.

HEIKO DACHI (he-co dah-chee) - Natural Stance or (Attention stance) Feet shoulder width apart and hands slightly out in front of you.
Heisoku Dachi (hay-sow-koo dah-chee)- Feet Together Stance. Feet together and hands on your side.
Kokutsu Dachi (ko-kot-sue dah-chee)- Back stance. Keep feet in a similar position to zenkutsu. Most of your weight is on the back leg.
KOSA DACHI (co-sah dah-chee)- Hooked or crossed legged stance. The feet will be together, little toe to little toe. One knee will fit into the back of the other knee. Both knees will stay bent.
MUSUBI DACHI (moo-sue-bee dah-chee)- a heisoku dachi with the toes pointed outward.
Neko Ashi Dachi (nee-koh dah-chee)- This name means "cat stance". Stand with your feet together. Point one straight and turn the other foot to an angle (45° angle). Take the foot that is straight and move it out one step, letting only the ball of the foot touch the floor. Now bend the back leg so that at least 80% of your weight is on it. From this position, you should be able to lift your front leg and balance on your back leg.
JU DACHI (jew dah-chee)- Forward Stance. This stance is similar to the Front Stance (zenkutsu dachi), but it's length is shorter. Both feet should be turned slightly inward.
SEIZA (say-zah)- Sitting, kneeling. Both feet should be underneath the buttocks with both great toes touching. Hands can either on the upper thigh or on the knee.
ZENKUTSU DACHI (zen-koo-tsue dah-chee)- Front Stance. One leg forward and one leg back, shoulder width apart. The front knee will be bent until you can't see your toes and the back leg will be straight. Both feet should be pointing forward.

SANCHIN DACHI (san-chin dah-chee)- Hourglass Stance

 

 

                         TE WAZA (tay wah-zah) - HAND TECHNIQUES

 

 

Age ZukI (ah-geh zoo-key) rising punch

CHOKIU ZUKI (chock-who zoo-key)- straight punch.
EMPI UCHI (em-pee oo-chee)- elbow strike.
GYAKU ZUKI (gya-koo zoo-key)- reverse punch.

GYAKU AGE ZUKI (gya-koo ah-geh zoo-key) rising reverse punch e.g in kata enpi
HAISHO (hi-shoo)- back of hand.
HAITO UCHI (hi-toe oo-chee) - ridge hand strike
HIKE Te (hee-key tay)- withdrawing hand, the hand on the hip.

IPPON KEN (hip-on ken) second knuckle strike (middle finger)

KIAGE ZUKI (kee-a-gee zoo-key) - hook punch
KAKU ZUKI (kah-koo zoo-key)- square punch
KAKATO (kah-koo-toe)- bent wrist.

KIZAMI ZUKI (kee- zam-ee zoo-key) - snapping (jab) punch
MOROTE ZUKI (moh-row-tay zoo-key)- double punch or u punch.

NAKADAKA IPPON KEN (nack-her-dack-her hip-on ken) - one knucle fist
NUKITE (noo-key-tay)- spear hand.

NIHON NUKITE (knee-on noo-key-tay) - two finger spear hand
OIE ZUKI (oh-ee zoo-key)- lunge punch.

OTOSHI ZUKI (oh-toe-shee zoo-key) - dropping punch
SHI ZUKI (shee zoo-key)- beak thrust.
SHUTO (shoo-toe)- knife hand
TATE ZUKI (tah-tay zoo-key)- vertical punch.
TEISHO UCHI (tay-show oo-chee)- palm heel strike.
TETTSUI (tay-t-sue-ee)- hammer fist.
TSUKI TE (tsu-key tah)- hand strike
UCHIE TE(oo-chee tay)- the hand doing the striking.
URA ZUKI(oo-rah zoo-key)- close short punch with inverted fist similar to upper cut
URAKEN (ree-kin)- back fist.
YAMA ZUKI (yah-mah zoo-key)- U punch. eg in kata bassai dai and wankan
ZUKI (zoo-key)- punch.

 

 

                                             UKE (oo-key)- BLOCKS

 

Age Uke (Ah-geh oo-key) upward block
CHUDAN UKE (chew-dahn oo-key)- outward middle forearm block

GYAKO UCHI UKE (yak-co who-che oo-key) -reverse outward midlevel block
GEDAN BARAI (geh-dahn bah-rye)- downward block
HASAMI UKE (ha-sah-may oo-key)- scissor block.

HAWIAN UKE (hey- one oo-key) - square side block (e.g in the kata Heian nidan)

KAISHO HAWIAN UKE (kay-sho hey-one oo-key) - Knife - hand square side block (e.g in the kata heian yondan)

JUJI UKE (jew-gee oo-key)- x block open hand

JUJI UKE SEIKON (jew-gee oo-key see-con) x block closed fist instead of x block open hand

KAKE UKE (kah-keh oo-keh) - hook block
KOSA UKE (co-sah oo-key)- cross block.
MOROTOE UKE (moe-row-teh oo-key)- augmented forearm block, wedge block

NAGASHI UKE (nag- a-she oo-key) - rising palm sweep block (e.g in the kata tekki shodan)

OTOSHI UKE (o-toe-she oo-key) dropping forearm block

SHOTO GEDAN BARAI (sho-tye geh-dahn bah-rye) Knife-hand sweeping low block
TEISHO UKE (tye-sho oo-key)- palmheel block
SHUTO UKE (shoo-toh oo-key - knifehand block
SOTO UKE (so-toh oo-key)- inward middle forearm block
UCHI UKE (oo-chee oo-key) - outward block

UDE BARAI (oo-de bah-rye)- reverse sweeping forearm block

 

 

                    GERI WAZA (ah-she wah-zah)-KICKING TECHNIQUES

 

 

Geri (geh-rhee)- kick.

Ashi Barai (ah-she bah-rye) - leg sweep

GYAKU MAWASHI GERI ( yak-co mah-wha-she geh-rhee) - round kick performed from inside going outwards

HIZA GERI (he-zah) - knee strike

FUMAKOMI (foo-mah-ko-mee)- side stomp kick.

KAKATO GERI ( kah-kah-toe-geh-rhee)- front kick with the heel also known as axe kick.
KANSETSU GERI (can-set-sue geh-rhee)- kicks aimed at joints.

KIN GERI (kin ghe-rhee) - front kick to the groin (unlike mae geri where the foot points up with toe bent back, the foot points farward).

MAE ASHI BARAI (mah ah-she bah-rye) - leg sweep of front leg

MAE GERI (mah geh-rhee) - front kick of back leg
MAE GERI MAE ASHI (mah geh-rhee mah-ah-she)- front kick of front leg

MAE GERI KOSHI (mah geh-rhee ko-she)- front kick with the ball of the foot.

MAE-REN GERI (mah ren ghe-rhee) double kick (= double mae geri)

MAE TOBI GERI (mah toby ghe-rhee) - front flying kick
MAWASHI HIZA GERI (mah-wha-she he-zha ghe-rhee) - circular knee kick
MAWASHI GERI (mah-wha-she geh-rhee)- round kick with the top of the foot.
MAWASHI GERI KOSHI (mah-wha-she geh-rhee ko-she)- round kick with the ball of the foot.
MIKAZUKI GERI (mik-ah zoo-key geh-rhee)- crescent kick.

NIDAN TOBI GERI (knee-dan toby ghe-rhee) - double jump front kick

TOBI HIZA GERI ( toby he-zha ghe-rhee) - jumping knee kick

TOBI USHIRO MAWASHI GERI ( toby oo-she-row mah-wha-she ghe rhee) - jumping reverse round kick

TOBI USHIRO GERI (toby oo-she-row ghe-rhee) - jumping back kick
USHIRO GERI (oo-she-row geh-rhee)- back kick.

USHIRO MAWASHI GERI (oo-she-row mah-wha-she geh-rhee) - reverse round hook kick

YOKO GERI Keage (yoh-koh geh-rhee key-ah-gay)- snap side kick with the heel.
YOKO GERI Kekomi (yoh-koh geh-rhee key-ko-mee)- thrust side kick with the heel.

YOKO TOBI GERI ( yoh-koh toby ghe-rhee) - jumping side kick

 

 

                   THROWS, TAKEDOWNS AND GRAPPLING – NAGE WAZA TO KATAME WAZA

 

 

ASHI HANE (ah-shee hah-neh) - Inside Foot Sweep

ASHI HARAI (ah-shee hah-rahee) - Outside Foot Sweep

IPPON SEOI NAGE (ip-on sea-o na-gay) - Single Shoulder Throw

KANSETSU WAZA (kahn-seh-su sahee) - Joint Lock Technique

KATAME (kah-tah-meh) - grappling

KOTE GAEISHI  (koh-teh hee-neh ree) - Wrist Lock (Twist)

KO-GOSHI NAGE (koh goh-shee na-gay) - minor hip throw

KO-KATA GURUMA (koh-kah-tah -goo-roo-mah) - mayjor shoulder wheel 

OBI OTOSHI (o-bee o-toe-she) - Belt Drop Throw

O-KATA GURUMA (o kah-tah-goo-roo-mah) - major shoulder wheel

O-GOSHI NAGE (o go-she na-gay) -  Major hip throw

OSOTO GARI (oh-soh-toh gah-reh) - major outer rear sweeping throw

OTOSHI NAGE (o-toe-she na-gay) - Dropping Throw  

TAI - OTOSHI (tie o-toe-she) - body drop

UKEMI (oo-keh-mee) -Break Fall

UDE-GARAME (00-day ga-ta-mee) - arm lock

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        PARTS OF THE BODY

 

 

 

AGO (ah-go) - jaw - chin

ATAMA (ah-tah-mah)- head
ASHI (ah-she)- foot and/or leg.

ASHIKUBI (as-skew-bee) - ankle

ASHI YUBI - (ah-she you-bee) - toes

CHICHI (che-che) nipple

CHI (che) - blood
EMPI (en-pe)- elbow
HANA (hah-nah)- nose

HICHU (hee-chu) - windpipe

HIZA (he-zah)- knee.

KATA (cat-tah) - shoulder
KAKATO (kah-kah-toe)- heel of foot

KAKUTO (kah-koo-toe) - top of bent wrist

KAO (cooo) - face
KARADA (kah-rah-dah)- body
KEN (ken)- fist.
KOSHI (ko-she)- ball of the foot
KUBI (koo-bee)- neck

KUCHI (koo-che) - mouth

MATA (mah-tah) - groin area
ME (meh)- eye.

MIMI (me-me) - ear

MOMO ( moe-moe) - thigh
MUNE (moo-nee)- chest.
NODO (no-dough)- throat.

ONAKA (un-nak-ah) - stomach
SHINKI (sheen-key)- nerve.

SINAKA (sin-nak-ah) - back
SOKUTO (sow-kow-too)- edge of the foot
SUIGETSU (see-gets)- solar plexus

SUNE (su-nay) shin
TE (tay)- hand.
TEKUBI (tay-koo-bee)- wrist
UDE (oo-day)- forearm

YUBI (you-bee) - finger

WAN  (one) - arm

WAKI (wha-kee) - armpit

                                                         BASIC TERMS

 

AGE (ah-gay)- rising.
ANZA (ah-n-zah)- cross leg sitting.
ATE (ah-tay)- smash.
ATEMI (ah-tay-mee)- concentrated destructive power.
BARAI (bah-rye)- to parry.
BOGU (bo-goo)- protective equipment used during fighting or practicing with weapons.
BU (boo)- military.
BUDO (boo-doe)- military way or way of fighting (ex. Judo, Kendo, Kyudo, Karate-do, Kobudo).
BUNKAI (boon-ki)- hidden meaning, an interpretation of the techniques performed in kata.
CHIKARA (chee-kha-rha)- strength.
CHUDAN (chew-dahn)- middle, ex. chest and stomach area.
CHUDEN (chew-den)- intermediate level of instruction. Usually when pertaining to bunkai instruction.
DO (doe)- way.
DOJO (doe-joe)- school. Literally "place of the Way." Also "place of enlightenment." The place where we practice Karate. Traditional etiquette prescribes bowing in the direction of the designated front of the dojo (Shomen) whenever entering or leaving the dojo.
EMPI (en-pe)- elbow
FUMIDASU (thum-me-daz) - stepping forward

GEDAN (geh-dahn)- low, ex. anything below the obi.
GENKI (gehn-key)- vigor; energy.
HAJIME (ha-gee-may)- begin.
HANSHI (hahn-shee) - "Master." An honorary title given to the highest Black Belt of an organization, signifying their understanding of their art.
HARA (hah-rah)- In Japanese culture, the center of a persons being/consciousness. Located approximately two inches below the navel.
HIDARI (he-dah-ray)- left.
JODAN (joe-dahn)- high, ex. the head.
JU (joo)- flexibility.
KAMAE (kah-may)- fighting posture.
Kan (con)- house or hall.
KARATE GI (kah-rah-teh-gee)- a uniform.
KARATEKA (kah-rah-teh-kah)- Someone who practices karate.
KATA (kah-tah)- The formal patterns that are the backbone of karate training. Kata develops form, style, balance, speed, and control. Kata trains the individual in alertness of mind and body.
KENPO (kem-po) OR Kempo (kem-po)- "Law of the Fist"
KI (key) OR Qi (key)- intrinsic energy, a hidden strength that everyone possesses.
KIAI (kee-ii)- "spirit joining".
KOBUDO (ko-boo-doe)- weapons.
KUMITE (koo-me-tay)- fighting.
KUZUSHI (koo-zoo-she)- to unbalance.
KYU (quu)- the rank under black belt.
KYUSHO (kuu-show)- striking point, vital point
MAAI (mah-aye)- distancing.
MAKIWARA (mah-key-war)- a hard object used for striking, usually made of wood or braided straw, used to strengthen hands and improve focus.
MATTE (mat-tay)- stop.
MAWATE (may-wah-tay)- turn.
MIGI (me-gee)- right.

MOKUSO (mok-sue)- meditate.
NAGE (nah-gay)- throw.
OBI (o-be)- belt.
OKUDEN (oh-koo-den) - "Secret Teaching". Usually used in relation to instruction in bunkai.
REI (ray)- formal bowing.

REN (ren) - double punch (choku zuki) - (gyaku zuki)
RENSHU (rin-shoe)- to train, practice, drill, etc.
RYU (roo)- school.
RYU-HA (roo-ha)- style.

SANBON (san-bon) - tripple punch (age zuki) - (gyaku zuki) - (choku zuki)
SENPAI (sin-pie)- senior student
SENSEI (sin-say)- teacher or "those who have gone before"
SHIHAN (shee-hahn)- "teacher of teachers" senior instructor or dojo director
SHITA (she-tah)- down.
SHODEN (show-den) - basic level of instruction. Usually used in relation to instruction in bunkai.
SKASHI (skah-she)- to avoid.

SURIKOMI (surry-com-hee) -(to step)  away of stepping between each action
TAI SABAKI (tie sah-bah-key)- body movement

TSURI ASHI (soo-reei ah-shee) - sliding step

TATAMI (ta-tam-he) - training matt
TORI (toe-ree)- a term given to the "aggressor" when working with a partner.
TUITE (too-it-tay)- grappling techniques
UKE (oo-key)- a term given to the "defender" when working with a partner.
UKEMI (oo-kee-me)- break fall.
UYE (oo-ee)- up.
WAZA (wah-zah)- technique.
YAME (yah-may)- stop.
YOI (yoo-ee)- command given to stand in ready stance.

YORI-ASHI (yoh-ree ah-she) sliding of feet

ZA REI (zah ray)- kneeling bow.