General Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Dojo | Training hall |
| Gi | Japanese uniform |
| Hajime | Begin! |
| Kiai | Strong battle shout |
| Karate | Empty hand |
| Karateka | Karate practitioner |
| Kata | Pre-arranged movements |
| Maitta | I surrender |
| Rei | Bow |
| Tatami | Training mat |
| Uke | Receiver in pair practice |
| Yame | Stop/halt |
Beginning and Ending Commands
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Seiretsu | Line up |
| Musubi Dachi | Heels together, toes outward |
| Seisa | Sit down on your feet |
| Mokuso | Eyes closed, back straight, breathe in and out. Mokuso means “silent/still” (moku) and “thoughts” (so). Mokuson can be interpreted as “be like a tree.” |
| Otagai Ni Rei | Bow to each other |
| Senpai Ni Rei | Bow to the senior practitioner |
| Sensei Ni Rei | Bow to the teacher |
| Kiritsu | Stand up |
Line Technique Commands
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Ashi Kaitee | Change stance side! |
| Yoi | Ready stance, shoulder-width apart |
| Hidari Hanmi Kamaete | Move to left-side fighting stance! |
| Migi Hanmi Kamaete | Move to right-side fighting stance! |
| Kibadachi | Wide stance, feet straight forward |
| Shikodachi | Wide stance, feet outward |
| Zenkutsudachi | Front stance |
| Kokutsudachi | Back stance |
| Nekoashidachi | Cat stance |
| Mawatte | 180-degree turn! Change stance side |
Body Parts
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Ashi | Leg |
| Chudan | Middle body |
| Empi | Elbow |
| Gedan | Lower body |
| Haito | Ridge hand |
| Hiza | Knee |
| Jodan | Head area |
| Kakato | Heel |
| Nukite | Fingertips |
| Shuto | Knife hand |
| Te | Hand |
| Ude | Arm |
Stances
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Dachi | Stance |
| Hanmi Kamae | Fighting stance |
| Kibadachi | Wide stance, feet straight forward |
| Kokutsudachi | Back stance |
| Musubidachi | Heels together, toes outward |
| Nekoashidachi | Cat stance |
| Shikodachi | Wide stance, feet straight forward |
| Yoidachi | Ready stance |
| Zenkutsudachi | Front stance |
Blocks
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Gedanbarai | Downward block |
| Jodanuke | Upward block |
| Moroteuke | Augmented block |
| Nagashiuke | Sweeping block |
| Shutouke | Knife hand block |
| Sotouke | Outside block |
| Teishouke | Palm heel block downward |
| Uchiuke | Inside block |
Hand Techniques
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Empi | Elbow strike |
| Gyakuzuki | Reverse punch |
| Haito | Ridge hand strike |
| Junzuki | Lunge punch |
| Kumade | Bear palm |
| Nagashizuki | Sweeping punch |
| Nukite | Spear hand strike |
| Shuto | Knife hand strike |
| Sonobazuki | Punch from standing position |
| Teisho | Palm heel strike |
| Tetsui | Hammer fist strike |
| Tobikomizuki | Jumping punch |
| Uraken | Back fist strike |
| Urazuki | Uppercut |
| Tsuki | Punch |
Kicking Techniques
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Ashibarai | Foot sweep |
| Keri | Kick |
| Hantobi | Half jump |
| Hizageri | Knee kick |
| Kakatogeri | Heel kick |
| Komawashigeri | Half roundhouse kick |
| Maegeri | Front kick |
| Mawashigeri | Roundhouse kick |
| Migazukigeri | Crescent kick |
| Nidangeri | Double jump kick |
| Sokutogeri | Side kick |
| Surikomi | Step-in |
| Tobigeri | Jump front kick |
| Uramawashigeri | Reverse roundhouse kick |
| Ushirogeri | Back kick |
| Ushiromawashigeri | Back roundhouse kick |
Sparring/Kumite Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Aka | Red |
| Ao | Blue |
| Kumite | Karate competition where points are scored for clean strikes and kicks |
| Ippon Kumite | One-step sparring |
| Ji-yu Kumite | Free sparring |
| Suzukette Hajime | Continue sparring |
| Ippon | Three points in kumite |
| Waza-ari | Two points in kumite |
| Yuko | One point in kumite |
Numbers
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Ichi | 1 |
| Ni | 2 |
| San | 3 |
| Shi | 4 |
| Go | 5 |
| Roku | 6 |
| Shichi | 7 |
| Hachi | 8 |
| Kyū | 9 |
| Jū | 10 |
Additional Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| Hai | Yes |
| Budo | Japanese martial art |
| Budoka | Martial artist |
| Dan | Black belt rank |
| Sensei | Teacher |
| Gi | Uniform |
| Kihon | Basics |
| Kyū | Student rank, colored belt |