Dictionary

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

Japanese	English
Age Uke	Upper Rising Block
Age Zuki	Upper Rising Punch
Aka	Red
Aoi	Blue
Ai Ki	Harmonious Spirit
Ashi	Foot
Ashi Barai	Foot Sweep
Ashi Ura	Sole of Foot
Ashikubi	Ankle
Atama	Head
Ate	Strike
Atemi	Striking
Awase	Combined
Azato (1827/8 - 1906)	Master Yasutsune Azato was one of the two most important teachers of Master Funakoshi. Note Master Azato shares his forename with Master Itosu.

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Japanese	English
Iee Iie	No
Ippon	One
Ippon Ken	One-knuckle Fist
Ippon Nukite	One Finger Spear Hand
Itosu (1830/32 - 1916)	Master Yasutsune Itosu was one of the two most important teachers of Master Funakoshi. Note Master Itosu shares his forename with Master Azato.

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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Japanese	English
O	Big
Obi	Sash, or Belt
Oi Zuki	Stepping Punch
Okinawa	Influential home of Japanese Karate
Onaji	The same
Onegai Shimasu	"I ask of you..." (e.g. a polite precursor to asking a question of Sensei or a training partner)
Orenji	Orange
Osae	Pressing
Osae Uke	Pressing Block
Oss	General term, predominately meaning "Yes, I understand", but is also used for "Thank-you", or "Hello"
Osu	Push
Otoshi	Dropping (e.g. Otoshi Empi)
Oyayubi Ippon Ken	Thumb knuckle

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Japanese	English
Rei	Respect, invariably demonstrated with a bow
Reigi	Ettiquette
Renoji Dachi	'L' stance
Rensei	Practice tournament
Renshi	Master of oneself (usually applied to an expert instructor)
Ren Zuki	Combination Punching
Ryo	Both
Ryoken	Both Fists
Ryowan	Both Arms
Ryu	School

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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Japanese	English
Yama Zuki	Wide U-Punch
Yame	Stop
Yari	Polearm weapon with straight blade
Yoi	Ready
Yoko	Side
Yoko Empi	Side Elbow (Strike)
Yoko Geri	Side Kick
Yubi	Finger
Yudanshi	Blackbelt
Yusei-gachi	Winner (of competition)

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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