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In Shotokan Karate-do, as in many another Japan-based martial art, all of the terms used in the Dojo are in the native tongue - Japanese. These pages attempt to provide acceptable interpretations of terms.
Click this link for a very good general purpose English-Japanese dictionary |
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Numbers | Colours |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | M | N | O | R | S | T | U | W | Y | Z |
Japanese |
English |
| Bassai-dai (Kata) | To Storm a Fortress |
| Bitei | Coccyx |
| Bo | Long Staff |
| Bojutsu | Long Staff Techniques |
| Bokken | Wooden Sword |
| Budo | Martial Way |
| Bugei | Martial Arts |
| Bunkai | Application (of moves from Kata) |
| Bushi | Warrior Class |
| Bushido | Way of the Warrior |
Japanese |
English |
| Cha-iroi | Brown |
| Cha-iroi Ichi Shiroi | Brown and White (stripe implied, for belt colours) | Cha-iroi Ni Shiroi | Brown and Double White (stripes implied, for belt colours) |
| Chinte (Kata) | Chinese Hands |
| Choku Zuki (or Tsuki) | Straight Punch |
| Chudan | Middle Level | Chui | Foul (as in competition) |
Japanese |
English |
| Dachi | Stance |
| Dai (as in Bassai-dai) | Major |
| Dan | Level (or Man) |
| Do | Way |
| Doji | Simultaneous |
| Dojo | Place of the Way; Training Place |
Japanese |
English |
| Embusen | Line(s) of movement (in Kata) |
| Empi | Elbow (anatomical - also name of Kata Empi |
| Empi Uchi/Uke | Elbow Strike/Block |
| Engetsu Uke | Circle Foot Block |
| Enoy | Spirit of getting ready |
| Eri | Collar |
Japanese |
English |
| Fudo Dachi | Rooted Stance |
| Fumikomi | Stamping kick |
| Funakoshi ((November?) 1868 - April 26th, 1957) | Gichin Funakoshi - the master, and founder of modern Karate-do |
Japanese |
English |
| Gamae | Withdrawing |
| Gankaku (Kata) | Crane on a Rock |
| Gasshuku | Training Camp |
| Gedan | Lower Level |
| Gedan Barai | Downward Block |
| Gedan Zuki | Lower Level Punch |
| Geri | Kick |
| Gi | Training Clothes |
| Gojushiho (-sho, -dai) (Kata) | Fifty-four Steps |
| Gohon Kumite | Five Attack Sparring |
| Go No Sen | Technique where opponent is tricked to attack first, exposing themselves to counter-attack |
| Gyaku | Reverse |
| Gyaku Zuki | Reverse Punch |
Japanese |
English |
| Hachiji Dachi | Naural Stance |
| Hai | Yes |
| Haishu | Back-hand |
| Haishu Uke | Back-hand Block |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Haisoku | Instep of foot |
| Haito | Ridge Hand |
| Haito Uchi | Ridge Hand Strike |
| Haiwan | Back-arm |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Hangetsu (Kata) | Half Moon |
| Hangetsu Dachi | Half Moon (or Wide Hour Glass) Stance |
| Hanmi | Half Front (45 degrees, facing opponent) |
| Hanshi | Master - honourary title for the highest black belt in an organisation |
| Hansoku-make | Lose - referring to losing by transgressing rules of a competition |
| Hara | Belly |
| Harai Te | Sweeping arm technique |
| Haiwan | Back-arm |
| Hayai | Fast |
| Heian Kata's (Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan) | The Five Heian Kata's, derived from Kanku-dai |
| Heisoku Dachi | Informal Attention Stance |
| Hichu | Adams Apple |
| Hidari | Left |
| Hikite | Both Hands retracting |
| Hikiwake | Draw |
| Hiku | Pull |
| Hiraken | Back-hand-knuckle strike |
| Hiza | Knee |
| Hiza Geri | Knee Kick |
| Hizagashira | Kneecap |
| Hombu | Main Dojo |
| Hon | Basic, fundamental |
| Horan No Kamae | 'Egg in nest' ready position, as in Kata Bassai-dai |
| Hyosh | Timing |
Japanese |
English |
| Ji'in (Kata) | Temple Grounds, or Gardens |
| Jikan | Time (as in calling time in competion) |
| Jion (Kata) | From the Temple of Jion |
| Jitte (Kata) | Ten Hands |
| Jiyu Dachi | Free Stance |
| Jiyu Ippon Kumite | Semi-free One-attack Sparring |
| Jiyu Kumite | Free Sparring |
| Jo | Short staff |
| Jodan | Upper Level |
| Jogai | Out of bounds |
| Joko | Slow |
| Juji Uki | X-Block |
Japanese |
English |
| Ka | Student |
| Kachikake | Point of jaw |
| Kaeshi | Counter attack |
| Kaeshu Ippon Kumite | Counter attack, semi-free sparring |
| Kage Uki | Hook Block |
| Kage Zuki | Hook Punch |
| Kai | Style |
| Kaisho | Open hand (palm) |
| Kaiten | Rotating |
| Kakae Te | Trapping block |
| Kakato | Heel |
| Kakiwake Uke | Wedge Block |
| Kake-te (or Kake Waza) | Hooking technique |
| Kakushi Waza | Hidden techniques |
| Kakuto | Wrist |
| Kamaete | Get Ready |
| Kami | Hair |
| Kan | Hall |
| Kanazawa (1931 - ) | Hirokazu Kanazawa, successor to Master Funakoshi |
| Kanku (-sho, -dai) (Kata) | Look to the Sky |
| Kansetsu Waza | Joint lock techniques |
| Kappo | Techniques for resuscitating people suffering from shock to nervous system |
| Kara | Empty |
| Karate | Empty Hand |
| Kasumi | Temple |
| Kata | Form, or Formal Exercise |
| Katana | Long curved sword |
| Kawashi | Evasion |
| Keagi | Snap |
| Keichu | Back of neck |
| Keiko | Joined fingertips |
| Keito Uke | Chicken-head Wrist-block |
| Kekomi | Thrust |
| Kempo | Fist Law (in Chinese: Chuan Fa) |
| Ken | Fist |
| Kensei | Technique carried out with silent Kiai |
| Kesa Geri | Diagonal kick |
| Ki | Inner Strength |
| Kiai | Shout |
| Kiba Dachi | Horse riding Stance |
| Kihon | Basics |
| Kihon Ippon Kumite | Basic One Attack Sparring |
| Kime | Focus (Tension and Relaxation) |
| Kin Geri | Groin Kick |
| Kinteki | Testicles |
| Kiroi | Yellow |
| Kizami Zuki | Jabbing Punch |
| Ko | Small, lesser |
| Ko Bo Ittchi | The idea of attack and defence as a unified event |
| Kobore | Tibia |
| Kohai | Junior (to oneself) |
| Koken | Wrist joint |
| Kokoro | Spirit in the heart |
| Kokutsu Dachi | Back Stance |
| Kosa | Crossing |
| Kosa Uke | Crossing Block |
| Koshi | Ball of the Foot |
| Koshin | Rearward |
| Kuatsu | Resuscitation of person unconcious from strangulation or shock |
| Kubi | Neck |
| Kumade | Bear Hand |
| Kumite | Sparring |
| Kun | Oath |
| Kuroi | Black |
| Kyoku | Breathing |
| Kyosen | Solar plexus |
| Kyoshi | Master instructor |
| Kyototsu | Sternum |
| Kyu | Grade (or Boy) |
| Kyusho Waza | Pressure point techniques |
Japanese |
English |
| Ma-ai | Distance |
| Ma-ai | Distance/timing (in respect to one's partner) |
| Mae | Front |
| Mae Geri | Front Kick |
| Mae Ukemi | Forward roll |
| Makiwara | Striking Post |
| Manabu | Method of learning by copying what you see |
| Manji Uke | Double arm block (one Gedan Barai, one Judan Uchi Uke) |
| Mata | Top of thigh |
| Matte | Wait |
| Mawashi Geri/Zuki | Roundhouse Kick/Punch |
| Mawat-te | Turn |
| Meikyo (Kata) | Bright Mirror |
| Midori | Green |
| Migi | Right (opposite to Left) |
| Mikazuki Geri | Crescent Kick |
| Mimi | Ears |
| Mokuso | Meditation. A pause for reflection to clear one's mind |
| Moroashi Dachi | Semi-forward stance |
| Morote | Augmented |
| Morote Uke | Augmented Block |
| Morote Zuki | Augmented Punch |
| Moto Dachi | Short forward stance (e.g. as achieved in Heian Sandan when pulling back for Tetsui Uchi |
| Mudansha | Non-blackbelt students |
| Mune | Chest |
| Murasaki | Purple |
| Musubi Dachi | Attention stance (as before Rei), feet at 45 degrees |
Japanese |
English |
| Nagashi Uke | Sweeping Block |
| Nage Waza | Take-down techniques |
| Naginata | Pole-arm weapon with blade at one end |
| Moroashi Dachi | Semi-forward stance |
| Naiwan Uke | Inside (of) arm block |
| Nami Ashi | Inside Leg Block |
| Neko Ashi Dachi | Cat Stance |
| Nidan Geri | Double Kick |
| Nihon Nukite | Two-finger Spear Hand |
| Nijushiho (Kata) | Twenty-four Steps |
| Nukite | Spear hand |
| Nunchaku | Okinawan weapon (two sticks with chain or rope connecting them at one end) |
Japanese |
English |
| Sae Rei Tu | Line up |
| Sagi Ashi Dachi | One-legged stance |
| Sai | Okinawan weapon |
| Sakotsu | Collar bone |
| Sanbon Kumite | Three Attack Sparring |
| Sanbon Shobu | Three-point match (competition) |
| Sanbon Zuki | Triple punch | Sanchin Datchi | (Narrow) Hour Glass Stance |
| Sasae | Prop |
| Sashi Ashi | Stepping Over |
| Sashite | Raising the hand to strike, block or grab |
| Seiken | Fore Fist |
| Seiryuto | Ox-jaw (block or strike with base of Shuto |
| Seiza | Kneeling Position |
| Sempai | Senior student |
| Sen No Sen | Attack at exactly same time as opponent |
| Sen Sen No Sen | Attack before opponent (pre-emptive) |
| Sensei | Teacher (One who has gone before) |
| Seppuku | Japanese ritual suicide |
| Shiai | Contest (e.g. match in competition) |
| Shidoin | Assistant instructor, not yet a Sensei |
| Shihan | Teacher of teachers |
| Shiko Dachi | Square stance |
| Shime waze | Choking/strangling techniques |
| Shiroi | White |
| Shizentai | Natural stance |
| Sho (as in Bassai-sho) | Minor |
| Shobu | Official contest |
| Shomen | Front or top of head, but also used to refer to front of the Dojo, as in Shomen Rei! |
| Shoto | Pine Waves (Master Funakoshi's pen-name) |
| Shotokan | Hall of Shoto |
| Shushin | Referee |
| Shuto | Knife Hand |
| Shuto Uchi | Knife Hand Strike |
| Sochin (kata) | Immovable Stance |
| Sochin Dachi | Immovable, Straddle-leg Stance (from Sochin Kata) |
| Sode | Sleeve |
| Soete | Open Hand |
| Sokumen | Side |
| Sokuto | Side of Foot |
| Soto Ude Uke | Outside Forearm Block |
| Sukui | Scooping |
| Sutemi | Sacrifice |
| Suwari Waza | Sitting position techniques |
Japanese |
English |
| Tachi | Long, single-edged curved Samurai sword |
| Tai | Body |
| Tai Sabaki | Body-shifting |
| Taikyoku Shodan (Kata) | First Cause |
| Tai Sabiki | Body Shifting |
| Tameshiwara | Test by Breaking |
| Tanto | Short dagger, often used in Seppuku |
| Tate | Vertical |
| Te | Hand |
| Teiji Dachi | T-Stance |
| Teisho | Palm Heel |
| Tekki | Iron Horse, or Iron Knight |
| Tekki Shodan, Nidan, Sandan (Katas) | Tekki Katas of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd levels |
| Tekubi | Wrist |
| Tento | Top of head |
| Tettsui | Bottom/Hammer Fist |
| Tettsui Uchi | Bottom Fist Strike |
| Te Wazza | Hand Techniques |
| Tobi | Jumping |
| Tokui | Favourite |
| Tomoe | Stomach |
| Tonfa | Farm implement used as weapon by Okinawans |
| Tora | Tiger |
| Tsukami | Grasping, or catching |
| Tsumasaki | Tips (of Fingers or Toes) |
| Tsuru Ashi Dachi | Crane Leg Stance |
| Tuite | Grappling |
Japanese |
English |
| Uchi | Strike |
| Uchi Ude Uke | Inside Forearm Block |
| Ude | Forearm |
| Uke | Block |
| Ukemi Waza | Breaking fall techniques |
| Uki Ashi Dachi | Stance akin to cat stance (Neko Ashi Dachi), used in the Kata Hangetsu |
| Unsu (Kata) | Hands Like a Cloud |
| Ura Zuki | Close-quarter Punch |
| Uraken | Back Fist |
| Ushiro | Back |
| Ushiro Geri | Back kick |
Japanese |
English |
| Wa | Harmony |
| Wakizashi | Short sword, about 3/4 length of Katana |
| Wan | Arm |
| Wankan (Kata) | Kings Crown |
| Washide | Eagles beak hand |
| Waza | Technique |
| Waza-ari | Half point (in competition) |
Japanese |
English |
| Zanchin | Awareness |
| Za-rei | Traditional bow from kneeling position |
| Zenkutsu Dachi | Front Stance |
| Zenshin | Forward |
| Zori | Japanese-style slippers |
| Zuki (or Tsuki) | Punch |
| Numeral | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Japanese | Ichi | Ni | San | Shi | Go | Roku | Sichi | Hachi | Ku | Jyu | Jyu Ichi | Jyu Ni | Jyu San | Jyu Shi | Jyu Go | Jyu Roku | Jyu Shichi | Jyu Hachi | Jyu Ku | NiJyu |
| English | Black | Blue | Brown | Green | Orange | Purple | Red | White | Yellow |
| Japanese | Kuroi | Aoi | Cha-iroi | Midori | Oranji | Murasaki | Aka | Shiroi | Kiroi |
This list of terms is under constant review.
Please let us know of any errors or ommissions by 
.
