 |
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 Japanese pronunciation.
Fortunately, perfect pronunciation and translation skills are not necessary for
practicing karate. Japanese terms are still used in many cases where English words
may be less descriptive or less adequate to describe a concept (For example physical focus,
'kime', and mental focus, 'zanshin', are often both translated vaguely as "focus"). Advanced
students may find it helpful to search for Japanese language resources and in-depth
information on translating and interpreting Japanese terms, but karate is in the
technique itself: the terms, in Japanese, English, or otherwise are just a way of
expressing a feeling that makes up a technique.
|
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 |
Souchin-dachi |
fu-do-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 |
Kamie |
kah-mee |
|
Punching |
Tsuki-Waza |
te-sue-key wa-za |
|
(One-handed punches) |
(Tsuki) |
(te-sue-key) |
| 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 |
Kagi-zuki |
ka-gee-zoo-key |
| G. |
Close Punch |
Ura-zuki |
you-ru-zoo-key |
| H. |
Lunge Punch |
Oi-zuki |
oi-zoo-key |
| I. |
Reverse Punch |
Guyaku-zuki |
Gee-a-q-zoo-ki |
|
(Two-handed punches) |
(Morote-zuki) |
(mo-ro-tay zoo-key) |
| A. |
Wide U Punch |
Yama-zuki |
yah-ma-zoo-key |
| B. |
U Punch |
Awase-suki |
ah-wa-say-sue-key |
| C. |
Parallel Punch |
Heiko-zuki |
hi-ko-zoo-key |
| D. |
Scissors Punch |
Hasami-suki |
hah-sa-me-sue-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 |
err-ah-ken |
| E. | Palm heel Strike |
Taisho-uchi |
tie-show-oo-chee |
|
Kicking* |
Keri Waza |
keh-ree wah-zah |
| A. | Front Kick |
Mae-geri |
my-eh-geh-ree |
| 1. | Front Snap Kick |
Mae-geri-keage |
my-eh-geh-ree-kay-ah-gay |
| 2. | Front Thrust Kick |
Mae-ger-kekomi |
my-eh-geh-ree-key-koh-mee |
| |
|
|
|
| B. | Side Kick |
Yoko-geri |
yoh-ko-geh-ree |
| 1. | Side Snap Kick |
Yoko-geri-keage |
yoh-koh-geh-ree-kay-ah-gay |
| 2. | Side Thrust Kick |
Yoko-geri-kekomi |
yoh-koh-geh-ree-key-koh-mee |
| |
|
|
|
| C. | Back Kick |
Ushiro-geri |
oo-shee-roh-geh-ree |
| 1. | Back Snap Kick |
Ushiro-geri-keage |
oo-shee-roh-geh-ree-kay-ah-gay |
| 2. | Back Thrust Kick |
Ushiro-geri-kekomi |
oo-shee-roh-geh-ree-kay-koh-mee |
| |
|
|
|
| D. | Roundhouse Kick |
Mawashi-geri |
mah-wah-she-geh-ree |
| E. | Crescent Kick |
Migazuki-geri |
me-ka-zoo-kee-geh-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-gah-eh-she |
| H. | Knee Kick |
Hiza-geri |
he-zah-geh-ree |
| I. | Flying Side Kick |
Yoko-tobi-geri |
yoh-koh-toe-be-geh-ree |
| J. | Front Instep Kick |
Kin-geri |
kin-geh-ree |
|
Blocking* |
Uke Waza |
oo-kay-wah-zah |
| A. | Downward Block |
Gedan-barai |
geh-dahn-bah-rye |
| B. | Forearm Block |
(Soto)-Ude-uke |
oo-day-oo-kay |
| C. | Rising Block |
Age-uke |
ah-gay-oo-kay |
| D. | Dropping Block |
Otoshi-uke |
oh-toh-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-sai-oo-kay |
| H. | X-Block |
Juji-uke |
joo-jee-oo-kay |
| I. | Scooping Block |
Tsukui-uke |
teh-sue-koo-ii-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 |
hih-dah-ree |
| B. | Right |
Migi |
mee-gee |
| C. | Forms |
Kata |
kah-tah |
| D. | Sparring |
Kumite |
koo-mih-tay |
| E. | Fundamentals(basics) |
Kihon |
key-hohn |
| F. | Lower Level |
Gedan |
gay-dahn |
| G. | Middle Level |
Chudan |
chew-dahn |
| H. | Upper Level |
Jodan |
joe-dahn |
| I. | Reverse |
Gyaku |
gee-yah-koo |
| J. | Non-Reverse |
Oi |
oi |
| K. | Focusing |
Kime |
kee-may |
| L. | Begin |
Hajime |
hah-jih-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 |
mah-k-so |
| Q. | Eyes Open |
Mokoso-yame |
mah-k-so-yah-may |
| R. | Bow |
Rei |
ray |
| S. | Excuse Me |
Shitsu rei shimasu |
shit-soo-ray-she-ma-suh |
| T. | Teacher |
Sensei |
sen-say |
| U. | Senior |
Sempai |
sem-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-ai |
| BB. | Remaining Spirit |
Zanshin |
zahn-shin |
| CC. | Deep Breathing(Relax) |
Shin Ko Kyu |
shin-koh-kii-you |
| DD. | Front two knuckles |
Seikhan |
sai-khan |
| EE. | Ball of the foot |
Koshi |
koh-she |
| FF. | Edge of foot |
Sikuto |
sih-koo-toe |
| GG. | Heel of foot |
Kokuto |
koh-koo-toe |
| HH. | Yes! |
Ois |
oh-ss |
| II. | Turn (180 degrees) |
Mawate |
mah-wah-tay |
| JJ. | Turn (90 degrees) |
Hontai |
hohn-tai |
| KK. | Empty |
Kara |
kah-rah |
| LL. | Free |
Jiiyu |
gee-you |
| MM. | Hips Back |
Hame |
hah-may |
| 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 |
|
|
