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Karate Terminology
Below is a fairly complete list of Japanese terms and their approximate English
translation. This list is intended to give new students a quick guide to terms that
may be used in class and a close estimate of the pronunciation.
NOTE: This is by no means a complete list of karate terms in Japanese, nor is it
a precise translation or pronunciation list. Japanese-English translation is a
complicated process that can yield several interpretations for the same phrase, and
proper Japanese pronunciation is only achieved with well-informed practice and
feedback from someone with good understanding of the Japanese language.
Fortunately, perfect pronunciation and translation skills are not necessary for
practicing karate.
|
English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
|
Stances |
Tachikata |
tah-chee-kah-tah |
| A. |
Natural Stance |
Shizen-Tai |
she-zen-tie |
| B. |
Feet-together stance |
Heisoku-dachi |
hi-so-ku da-chee |
| C. |
Informal attention Stance |
Musubi-dachi |
mu-su-be da-chee |
| D. |
Straddle leg Stance
(Horse Stance) |
Kiba-dachi |
key-ba da-chee |
| E. |
Front Stance |
Zenkutsu-dachi |
zen-koot-su da-chee |
| F. |
Back Stance |
Kokutsu-dachi |
ko-koot-su da-chee |
| G. |
Diagonal Horse Stance |
Sochin-dachi |
so-chin da-chee |
| H. |
Square Stance |
Shiko-dachi |
she-ko da-chee |
| I. |
Cross leg Stance |
Kosa-dachi |
ko-sa da-chee |
| J. |
Half moon Stance |
Hangetsu-dachi |
han-get-su da-chee |
| K. |
Hour glass Stance |
Sanchin-dachi |
san-chin da-chee |
| L. |
Cat leg Stance |
Neko ashi dachi |
neh-ko a-she da-chee |
| M. |
One legged Stance |
Sagi ashi-dachi |
sa-gee a-she da-chee |
| N. |
Kneel |
Seiza |
say-zah |
| O. |
Fighting Position |
Kamae |
kah-my |
|
Punching |
Tsuki-Waza |
t-sue-key wa-za |
| A. |
Straight Punch |
Choko-zuki |
cho-ko zoo-key |
| B. |
Vertical fist Punch |
Tate-zuki |
ta-tay zoo-key |
| C. |
Thrust Punch |
Kizami-zuki |
key-za-me zoo-key |
| D. |
Rising Punch |
Age-zuki |
a-gay zoo-key |
| E. |
Roundhouse Punch |
Mawashi-zuki |
muh-wa-she zoo-key |
| F. |
Hook Punch |
Kage-zuki |
ka-gay zoo-key |
| G. |
Close Punch |
Ura-zuki |
oo-ra zoo-key |
| H. |
Lunge Punch |
Oi-zuki |
oi zoo-key |
| I. |
Reverse Punch |
Guyaku-zuki |
Ga-ya-koo zoo-key |
| |
|
|
|
| J. |
Two-handed punches |
Morote-zuki |
more-oh-tay zoo-key |
| K. |
Wide U Punch |
Yama-zuki |
yah-ma zoo-key |
| L. |
U Punch |
Awase-zuki |
ah-wa-say zoo-key |
| M. |
Parallel Punch |
Heiko-zuki |
hay-koh zoo-key |
| N. |
Scissors Punch |
Hasami-zuki |
ha-sa-me zoo-key |
|
Striking* |
Uchi Waza |
oo-chee wah-zah |
| A. | Knife hand Strike |
Shuto-uchi |
shoe-toe oo-chee |
| B. | Ridge hand Strike |
Haito-uchi |
hi-toe oo-chee |
| C. | Elbow Strike |
Empi-uchi |
em-pee oo-chee |
| D. | Back-fist Strike |
Uraken-uchi |
oo-rah-ken oo-chee |
| E. | Palm heel Strike |
Taisho-uchi |
tie-show oo-chee |
|
Kicking* |
Keri Waza |
kay-ree wah-zah |
| A. | Front Kick |
Mae-geri |
my gay-ree |
| 1. | Front Snap Kick |
Mae-geri-keage |
my gay-ree kay-ah-gay |
| 2. | Front Thrust Kick |
Mae-geri-kekomi |
my gay-ree kay-koh-mee |
| |
|
|
|
| B. | Side Kick |
Yoko-geri |
yoh-ko gay-ree |
| 1. | Side Snap Kick |
Yoko-geri-keage |
yoh-koh gay-ree kay-ah-gay |
| 2. | Side Thrust Kick |
Yoko-geri-kekomi |
yoh-koh geh-ree kay-koh-mee |
| |
|
|
|
| C. | Back Kick |
Ushiro-geri |
oo-shee-roh gay-ree |
| 1. | Back Snap Kick |
Ushiro-geri-keage |
oo-shee-roh gay-ree kay-ah-gay |
| 2. | Back Thrust Kick |
Ushiro-geri-kekomi |
oo-shee-roh gay-ree kay-koh-mee |
| |
|
|
|
| D. | Roundhouse Kick |
Mawashi-geri |
mah-wah-she gay-ree |
| E. | Crescent Kick |
Migazuki-geri |
me-ka-zoo-kee gay-ree |
| F. | Stomping Kick |
Fumikomi |
foo-me-koh-me |
| 1. | Side Stomping Kick |
Yoko-Fumikomi |
yoh-koh foo-me-koh-me |
| |
|
|
|
| G. | Inside Snapping Kick |
Namigaeshi |
nah-me-guy-she |
| H. | Knee Kick |
Hiza-geri |
he-zah geh-ree |
| I. | Flying Side Kick |
Yoko-tobi-geri |
yoh-koh toe-be gay-ree |
| J. | Front Instep Kick |
Kin-geri |
kin gay-ree |
|
Blocking* |
Uke Waza |
oo-kay wah-zah |
| A. | Downward Block |
Gedan-barai |
gay-don ba-rye |
| B. | Forearm Block |
Soto-ude-uke |
so-toe oo-day oo-kay |
| C. | Rising Block |
Age-uke |
ah-gay oo-kay |
| D. | Dropping Block |
Otoshi-uke |
oh-toe-she oo-kay |
| E. | Inward Block |
Uchi-uke |
oo-chee oo-kay |
| F. | Knife hand Block |
Shuto-uke |
shoe-toh oo-kay |
| G. | Upside-down Forearm
Block |
Osai-uke |
oh-sigh oo-kay |
| H. | X-Block |
Juji-uke |
joo-jee oo-kay |
| I. | Scooping Block |
Tsukui-uke |
t-sue-kwee oo-kay |
*Due to the large amount of striking,
kicking, and blocking techniques only the fundamental ones are listed here.
General Terms
|
English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| A. | Left |
Hidari |
he-dah-ree |
| B. | Right |
Migi |
mee-gee |
| C. | Forms |
Kata |
kah-tah |
| D. | Sparring |
Kumite |
koo-me-tay |
| E. | Fundamentals(basics) |
Kihon |
key-hone |
| F. | Lower Level |
Gedan |
gay-don |
| G. | Middle Level |
Chudan |
choo-don |
| H. | Upper Level |
Jodan |
joe-don |
| I. | Reverse |
Gyaku |
ga-yah-koo |
| J. | Forward Lunge |
Oi |
oi |
| K. | Focusing |
Kime |
kee-may |
| L. | Begin |
Hajime |
ha-jee-may |
| M. | Backward |
Ushiro |
oo-shee-roh |
| N. | Assume natural stance
(Shizen-tai) |
Yoi or (yame) |
yoi (yah-may) |
| O. | Do you understand? |
Wakarimasu? |
Wah-kah-ree-ma-suh |
| P. | Eyes Closed |
Mokoso |
moh-kuh-so |
| Q. | Eyes Open |
Mokoso-yame |
moh-kuh-so yah-may |
| R. | Bow |
Rei |
ray |
| S. | Excuse Me |
Shitsu rei shimasu |
she-t-soo ray she-ma-suh |
| T. | Teacher |
Sensei |
sen-say |
| U. | Senior |
Senpai |
sen-pie |
| V. | Thank You (Formal) |
Arigato Gozaimasuta |
ah-ree-gah-toe go-zai-ma-shuh-tah |
| W. | Yes-Get up |
Hai-tate |
hi tah-tay |
| X. | Uniform |
Do-Gi |
doh-gee |
| Y. | Place where karate
Is practieced |
Dojo |
doh-joe |
| Z. | Belt |
Obi |
oh-be |
| AA. | Yell! |
Kiai |
kee-eye |
| BB. | Remaining Spirit |
Zanshin |
zahn-shin |
| CC. | Deep Breathing(Relax) |
Shin Ko Kyu |
shin-koh-key-you |
| DD. | Front two knuckles |
Seiken |
say-ken |
| EE. | Ball of the foot |
Koshi |
koh-she |
| FF. | Edge of foot |
Sokuto |
soh-kuh-toe |
| GG. | Heel of foot |
Kokuto |
koh-kuh-toe |
| HH. | Yes! |
Oss |
oh-ss |
| II. | Turn (180 degrees) |
Mawate |
mah-wah-tay |
| JJ. | Turn (90 degrees) |
Hontai |
hohn-tai |
| KK. | Empty |
Kara |
kah-rah |
| LL. | Free |
Jiyu |
jee-you |
| MM. | Hips Back |
Hanmi |
han-mee |
| NN. | Hips Forward |
Zemi |
zeh-mee |
| OO. | Center(movement) |
Tanden |
tahn-den |
Numbers
|
English |
Japanese |
Pronunciation |
| A. | One |
Ichi |
ee-chee |
| B. | Two |
Ni |
nee |
| C. | Three |
San |
sahn |
| D. | Four |
Shi |
shee |
| E. | Five |
Go |
goh |
| F. | Six |
Roku |
roh-koo |
| G. | Seven |
Shichi |
shee-chee |
| H. | Eight |
Hachi |
hah-chee |
| I. | Nine |
Ku |
koo |
| J. | Ten |
Ju |
joo |
|
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