Here is a list of terminology used in the practice of Okinawan and Japanese
Karate and other Japanese martial arts.
| Goju Ryu |
Hard-Soft Way |
| Jo |
Upper area (point under the nose, upper lip as a punching target) |
| Chu |
Middle area (sternum area as a striking target) |
| Ge |
Lower area (groin area as a striking target) |
| Migi |
Right |
| Hidari |
Left |
| Rei |
Bow |
| Koryu Kata |
Older traditional kata |
| Hukyu Kata |
Newer kata, introduced by Seikichi Toguchi |
| Kiso Kumite |
Pre-arranged sparring |
| Jiyu Kumite |
Free Sparring |
| Sanchin Dachi |
Strong stance with the one foot forward, toes turned inward, and the
thighs pulling inward. |
| Shiko Dachi |
Wide horse stance, feet at 45 degrees to the line of attack, thighs
at 45 degrees to floor. |
| Zenkutsu Dachi |
Forward stance, front foot forward, bent with the knee over the ankle,
rear leg straight back with foot at 45 degree angle. |
| Neko Ashi Dachi |
Cat stance, T stance with 90% of the body weight on the back foot,
10% on the front. |
| Mae Geri |
Front kick |
| Yoko Geri |
Side kick |
| Mawashi Geri |
Roundhouse kick |
| Ushiro Geri |
Back kick |
Here are more terms. This list was taken from the
Basic Terms
|
Term
|
Meaning
|
| Chudan |
Middle area |
| Dan (don) |
"Level," referring to the rank of black belt and above. |
| Dojo (dough-joe) |
The place where karate is studied. |
| Gedan |
Lower area |
| Hajime |
Begin |
| Hidari |
Left |
| Jodan |
Upper area |
| Kamae |
Combative posture or Ready Position |
| Kata (Kah-tah) |
Formal exercises. Pre-arranged attack/defense routines. |
| Kihon (key-hone) |
Basic techiniques. Kicks, blocks, punches and stances. |
| Kime |
Focus |
| Kohai (co-high) |
A student of lower rank than oneself. |
| Kumite (Coo-me-tay) |
Sparring, practiced with a partner. |
| Kyu (que) |
"Step," referring to ranks below black belt. |
| Migi |
Right |
| Rei |
Bow |
| Sempai (sem-pie) |
A student of higher rank than oneself. |
| Sensei (sen-say) |
The chief instructor at a dojo. Also any person instructing a class. |
| Yame |
Stop |
| Yoi |
Ready |
Stances
|
Term
|
Meaning
|
| Hachiji Dachi |
Natural stance (feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly out) |
| Heiko Dachi |
Parallel stance (feet shoulder width apart) |
| Heisoku Dachi |
Closed foot stance (feet together) |
| Kiba Dachi |
Horse riding stance |
| Kokutsu Dachi |
Back leaning stance |
| Migi Heiko Dachi |
Right foot forward Heiko Dachi |
| Musubi Dachi |
Formal attention stance (heels together, feet at an angle) |
| Naihanchi Dachi |
Kiba Dachi with the heels out and toes in |
| Naname Shiko Dachi |
Diagonal straddle leg stance |
| Neko Ashi Dachi |
Cat stance |
| Sanchin Dachi |
Hourglass stance |
| Shiko Dachi |
Straddle leg stance |
| Shizen Dachi |
Short forward stance |
| Uchi Hachiji Dachi |
Natural stance with heels out and toes in |
| Zenkutsu Dachi |
Front stance, Forward stance |
General Terminology
|
Term
|
Meaning
|
| Agura-wo-kaku |
Informal seating position |
| Ai |
Harmony |
| Aikido |
The Way of Harmony |
| Aite |
Opponent in a contest |
| Aiuchi |
Simultaneous Strike |
| Ananku |
An Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kata, meaning Light From The South |
| Atemi |
Body stikes |
| Ato-uchi |
Delayed strike, feint |
| Bo |
Wooden staff, traditionally as long as the wielder is tall |
| Bogu |
Body armour |
| Budo |
Martial way |
| Bugei |
Martial arts |
| Bunkai |
Applications of kata movements |
| Bushi |
Warrior |
| Bushido |
Way of the warrior |
| Chinto |
An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata, meaning Fighting to the East |
| Do |
Way or path |
| Eku |
An Oar |
| Gi |
Uniform |
| Goju-Ryu |
Hard, Soft Way. An Okinawan style of Karate |
| Gojushiho |
An Okinawan kata, meaning 54 steps |
| Heian |
Peace, tranquility. Funakoshi renamed the pinan kata "Heian" |
| Hombu |
Headquarters |
| Iaido |
Way of the sword |
| Ippon kumite |
One step sparring |
| Isshin Ryu |
"One Heart School" An Okinawan style of karate |
| Jion |
A Shorei Ryu kata |
| Judo |
Gentle way |
| Jujutsu |
Art of gentleness |
| Kama |
Grass sickle (an Okinawan weapon) |
| Kanku Dai |
A Shotokan Kata, meaning "To view the sky" Developed from the Okinawan
kata Kusanku |
| Kansetsu waza |
Joint locking techniques |
| Karate |
Open Hand, empty hand |
| Karate-do |
The way of karate |
| Kareta-ka |
Karate practitioner |
| Katana |
The longer of the two swords worn by Samurai |
| Kendo |
Way of the sword |
| Kiai |
"Spirit meeting" A loud yell or shout |
| Kobayashi Ryu |
"Small Forest" An Okinawam form of Shorin Ryu karate |
| Kobudo |
Ancient warrior art. Usually refers to weapons training |
| Kusanku |
An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata, named after a Chinese Master |
| Kyusho |
Vital point |
| Makiwara |
Punching post |
| Mawatte |
Turn around |
| Meijin |
Expert |
| Mikazuke geri |
Crescent kick |
| Mokuso |
Quiet thought, meditation |
| Nunchaku |
An Okinawan weapon. Two 1 foot lengths of wood hinged together by cord.
Was probably developed from a horse bridle or a rice flail. |
| Obi |
Belt |
| Okinawa |
One of a group of island South East of Japan. Where karate was developed |
| Passai |
An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata, meaning unknown |
| Pinan |
A seies of 5 kata formulated by Itosu in 1903 |
| Sai |
A steel pronged truncheon |
| Sanchin |
The core Goju Ryu kata, which emphasises correct breathing |
| Seisan |
An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata |
| Seiza |
Kneeling position |
| Sensei-ni-rei |
Bow to the teacher |
| Shihan |
Master (can be 5th dan and above) |
| Shomen |
Front of Dojo |
| Shomen-ni-rei |
Bow to the front |
| Shorei Ryu |
An Okinawan karate system which originated in Naha |
| Shorin Ryu |
The major style of Okinawan karate, meaning "Pine Forest" school |
| Shotokan |
A style of Japanese Karate developed by Funakoshi |
| Shuri-te |
An ancient Okinawan style of karate - the forerunner of Shorin Ryu |
| Tai sabaki |
Body shifting/evasion |
| Tameshiwari |
To test and to break |
| Teisho |
Palm heel |
| Tonfa |
An Okinawan weapon, similar to the sidearm used by Police |
| Ukemi |
Breakfalling |
| Wado Ryu |
Way of Peace School. A Japanese style of karate |
| Wakizashi |
The shorter of two swords worn by the Samurai |
| Wanshu / Wansu |
An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata named after a Chinese Master |
| Waza |
Technique(s) |
| Zanshin |
Awareness |
