A small selection of useful Vocabulary to enhance studies of Japanese for Karate – do
Age-Uke/Zuki: upper rising block/punch
Aka: red (first competitor)
Ashi-Barai: foot sweep
Choku-Zuki: straight punch
Chudan: middle section
Dachi: stance
Dan: degree
Dojo: training hall
Gasshuku: Karate holiday (socials and training)
Gedan: lower section
Gedan-Barai: download block
Gi: Karate suit
Gohon Kumite: five-step sparring
Gyaku-Hanmi: reverse half-facing
Gyaku-Zuki/Uke: reverse punch/block
Haito-Uchi: ridge hand strike
Haiwan-Uke: back of arm block
Hajime: start or begin
Hanmi: half-facing
Hidari: left
Hikite: withdrawing hand
Hikiwake: draw (in competition)
Ippon Kumite: one attack sparring
Jiyu-Dachi: free stance
Jiyu-Ippon Kumite: semi-free one attack sparring
Jiyu-Kumite: free sparring
Jo-gai: to go out of bounds (in a competition)
Jodan: upper section
Juji-Uke/Uchi: X-block/strike
Kagi-Uke/Zuki: hook block/punch
Kakiwake Uke: wedge block
Karate: empty hand
Karateka: one who practices Karate
Kata: forms
Keage: snap
Kekomi: thrust
Keri: kick (‘geri’ when added to another word)
Kiai: martial arts shout
Kiba-Dachi: horse straddle stance
Kihon: basic moves
Kime: focus of power
Kizami-Zuki: jab punch
Kokutsu-Dachi: back stance
Kyu: student
Mae-Geri: front kick
Mawashi-Geri: roundhouse kick
Mawate: turn
Migi: right
Mokuso: meditation
Morote-Uke/Zuki: two hand block/punch
Naore: return to ‘yoi’
Nihon-Zuki: double punch
Nukite: spear hand
Obi: belt
Oi-Zuki: lunge punch
Oss: formal greeting and indication to instructor that you understand
Rei: bow
Ren-Geri: consecutive kicks
Sanbon-Kumite: three attach sparring
Sanbon-Zuki: triple punch
Seiza: Japanese sitting position
Sensei: teacher
Shihan: master
Shiro: white (second competitor – usually blue)
Shitei: designated
Shomen: front-facing
Shuto-Uke/Uchi: knife hand block/strike
Soto Ude-Uke: outside forearm block
Sukui-Uke: scooping block
Tai-Sabaki: body shifting
Tate-Shuto-Uke: vertical knife hand block
Tate-Zuki: vertical punch
Teisho-Uchi/Uke: palm heel strike/block
Tetsui-Uchi: hammer fist strike
Tokui: of one’s own choice
Uchi: strike
Uchi Ude-Uke: inside forearm block
Uke: block
Ura-Zuki: close punch
Uraken-Uchi: back fist strike
Ushiro-Geri: back kick