top of page
Glossary of Karate terminology used.
This page contains a brief glossary of some of the more commonly used Japanese terminology Karateka will need on their way to gaining Black Belt.
The glossary includes the Japanese words / phrases, and their English translation, used during training sessions and gradings, and students should familiarise themselves with these terms
General terms
Japanese | English |
|---|
Loading...
Dachi – Stances
English | Japanese |
|---|---|
Open leg/Sumo stance | Shiko dachi |
Back stance | Kokutsu dachi |
Straddle stance | Kiba dachi |
Front stance | Zenkutsu dachi |
Informal stance | Musubi dachi |
Feet together stance | Heisoku dachi |
Natural stance | Heiko dachi |
Uke – Blocks
English | Japanese |
|---|---|
Wedge block | Kakewake uke |
Augmented block | Morote uke |
X block | Juji uke |
Elbow block | Empi uke |
Back hand block | Haishu uke |
Sweeping block | Nagashi uke |
Vertical knife hand block | Tate Shuto uke |
Knife hand block | Shuto uke |
Inside block | Uchi Uke |
Outside block | Soto Uke |
Rising block | Age Uke |
Downward block | Gedan Barai |
Tsuki – Punches
English | Japanese |
|---|---|
Three punch combination | Sanbon tsuki |
Two punch combination | Ren tsuki |
Hook punch | Kagi tsuki |
Reverse punch | Gyaku tsuki |
Front hand punch | Kizami tsuki |
Stepping punch | Oi tsuki |
Straight punch | Kara/Choku tsuki |
Uchi – Strikes
English | Japanese |
|---|---|
Ridge hand strike | Haito uchi |
Palm heel strike | Teisho uchi |
Spear hand thrust | Nukite |
Hammer fist strike | Tetsui uchi |
Back fist strike | Uraken uchi |
Knife hand strike | Shuto uchi |
Downward elbow strike | Tate empi uchi |
Reverse elbow strike | Ushiro empi uchi |
Round elbow strike | Mawashi empi uchi |
Side elbow strike | Yoko empi uchi |
Rising elbow strike | Age empi uchi |
Geri – Kicks
English | Japanese |
|---|---|
Crescent kick | Mikazuki geri |
Two kicks with same leg without step between | Nidan geri |
Kicking combination stepping between kicks | Ren geri |
Knee kick | Hiza geri |
Back kick | Ushiro geri |
Roundhouse kick | Mawashi geri |
Side thrust kick | Yoko geri kekomi |
Side snap kick | Yoko geri keage |
Front kick | Mae geri |
Kumite – Sparring
English | Japanese |
|---|---|
Free style sparring | Jiyu Kumite |
Reaction sparring | Kaishi Ippon Kumite |
Semi-free style sparring | Jiyu Ippon Kumite |
Basic one-step sparring | Kihon Ippon Kumite |
Five step sparring | Gohon Kumite |
Three step sparring | Sanbon Kumite |
bottom of page