Table of Contents Full Terminology Table Counting Reference (IchiβJu) This reference collects Japanese/English karate terminology as taught in rading syllabus (10th Kyu White Belt through to Black Belt), plus the standard universal Japanese vocabulary that underpins own terms.
Most karate terms are compound words built from a common set of root words. Knowing these roots makes it easier to decode unfamiliar terms on the fly.
Japanese Meaning Example Dachi (η«γ‘) Stance Zenkutsu Dachi β Long Forward Stance Tsuki / Zuki (ηͺγ) Punch / Thrust Chudan Tsuki β Stomach Level Punch Geri (θΉ΄γ) Kick Mae Geri β Front Kick Uke (εγ) Block Jodan Age Uke β Rising Head-Level Block Uchi (ζγ‘) Strike (noun) Shuto Uchi β Knife-Hand Strike Uchi (ε
) Inside (prefix) Uchi Uke β Inside Hooking Block Soto (ε€) Outside Soto Uke β Outside Block Age (δΈγ) Rising Age Uke β Rising Block Barai (ζγ) Sweep / Clear Gedan Barai β Downward Sweeping Block Empi (θ) Elbow Mawashi Empi β Round Elbow Strike Shuto (ζε) Knife-Hand Shuto Uchi β Knife-Hand Strike Haito (θε) Ridge-Hand Haito β Ridge-Hand Strike Uraken (θ£ζ³) Back-Fist Uraken Uchi β Back-Fist Strike Nukite (貫ζ) Spear-Hand Nukite β Spear-Hand Strike Kentsui / Tettsui (ζ³ζ§) Hammer-Fist Kentsui Uchi β Hammer-Fist Strike Hiza (θ) Knee Hiza Geri β Knee Strike Ashi (θΆ³) Foot / Leg Ashi Barai β Foot Sweep Hiki-te (εΌγζ) Pulling Hand Hiki-te β Retracting Hand Mawashi (εγ) Round / Circular Mawashi Geri β Round Kick Mae (ε) Front Mae Geri β Front Kick Yoko (ζ¨ͺ) Side Yoko Geri β Side Kick Ushiro (εΎγ) Back Ushiro Geri β Back Kick Keage (θΉ΄δΈγ) Snap (kick) Mae Geri Keage β Front Snap Kick Kekomi (θΉ΄θΎΌγΏ) Thrust (kick) Mae Geri Kekomi β Front Thrust Kick
Full Terminology Table Category Belt / Level Japanese English Source Stance White 10th Kyu Heiko Dachi Ready Stance public site Stance White 10th Kyu Han Zenkutsu Dachi Short Fighting Stance public site Stance White 10th Kyu Zenkutsu Dachi Long Forward Stance public site Stance White 10th Kyu Kiba Dachi Horse Riding Stance public site Stance White 10th Kyu Shiko Dachi Sumo Stance public site Stance Orange 7th Kyu Sanchin Dachi Pigeon Toe Stance public site Stance Orange 7th Kyu Neko-Ashi Dachi Cat Stance public site Stance Orange 7th Kyu Kokutsu Dachi Back Leaning Stance public site Stance Universal Musubi Dachi Attention/Informal Stance (feet together, heels touching) Universal Stance Universal Hachiji Dachi Natural/Open-Leg Stance Universal Stance Universal Fudo Dachi Rooted/Immovable Stance Universal Stance Universal Renoji Dachi L-Stance Universal Strike White 10th Kyu Chudan Tsuki Stomach Level Punch public site Strike White 10th Kyu Jodan Tsuki Head Level Punch public site Strike White 10th Kyu Ura Uchi Forward Back-Fist public site Strike White 10th Kyu Yoko Ura Uchi Side Back-Fist public site Strike White 10th Kyu Shita Tsuki Short Punch public site Strike White 10th Kyu Hijiate Rising Elbow Strike public site Strike White 10th Kyu Mawashi Empi Round Elbow Strike public site Strike Orange 7th Kyu Shuto Uchi Outside Knife-Hand Strike public site Strike Orange 7th Kyu Gyaku Shuto Uchi Inside Knife-Hand Strike public site Strike Orange 7th Kyu Haito Ridge-Hand Strike public site Strike Universal Nukite Spear-Hand/Finger-Tip Strike Universal Strike Universal Kentsui / Tettsui Uchi Hammer-Fist Strike Universal Strike Universal Uraken Uchi Back-Fist Strike (general) Universal Strike Universal Gyaku Tsuki Reverse Punch Universal Strike Universal Oi Tsuki Lunge Punch Universal Strike Universal Kizami Zuki Jab Universal Strike Universal Mae Empi Forward Elbow Strike Universal Strike Universal Ushiro Empi Rear Elbow Strike Universal Block White 10th Kyu Jodan Age Uke Rising Head-Level Block public site Block White 10th Kyu Uchi Uke Inside Hooking Block public site Block White 10th Kyu Soto Uke Outside Block public site Block White 10th Kyu Gedan Barai Downward Sweeping Block public site Block White 10th Kyu Gedan Uke Groin Sweeping Block public site Block Orange 7th Kyu Chu-ge Uke Double Block public site Block Orange 7th Kyu Kake Uke Open-Hand Hook Block public site Block Orange 7th Kyu Mawashi Uke Open-Hand Round Block public site Block Orange 7th Kyu Shuto Uke Knife-Hand Block public site Block Universal Morote Uke Augmented/Reinforced Block Universal Block Universal Juji Uke X-Block Universal Block Universal Manji Uke Double Block (one arm gedan barai, one uchi uke) Universal Kick White 10th Kyu Mae Geri Front Kick public site Kick White 10th Kyu Mawashi Geri Round Kick public site Kick White 10th Kyu Yoko Geri Side Kick public site Kick White 10th Kyu Ushiro Geri Back Kick public site Kick Universal Ashi Barai Foot Sweep Universal Kick Universal Mae Geri Keage Front Snap Kick Universal Kick Universal Mae Geri Kekomi Front Thrust Kick Universal Kick Universal Yoko Geri Keage Side Snap Kick Universal Kick Universal Yoko Geri Kekomi Side Thrust Kick Universal Kick Universal Hiza Geri Knee Kick/Strike Universal Kata White/Yellow Taigyoku Shodan First Kata public site Kata Yellow Taigyoku Nidan Second Kata public site Kata Green 6th Kyu Saifa Third Kata public site Kata Blue 5th Kyu / Red 4th Kyu Bassai Dai Fourth Kata public site Kata Brown 3rd Kyu Seiunchin Fifth Kata public site Kata Brown 2nd Kyu Empi Sixth Kata public site Kata Brown 1st Kyu Sanseru Seventh Kata public site Kata Brown 1st Kyu Sepai Eighth Kata public site Kata Shodan Ho Hangetsu Ninth Kata public site Kata Black Belt (Dan) Shisochin Kata (Dan-level) public site Kata Black Belt (Dan) Kanku Sho Kata (Dan-level) public site Kata Black Belt (higher Dan) (remaining kata toward 15 total β not published) β Not publicly available Target Area Universal Jodan Upper Level (face/head/neck) Universal Target Area Universal Chudan Middle Level (chest/torso) Universal Target Area Universal Gedan Lower Level (below the belt) Universal Body Part Universal Empi Elbow Universal Body Part Universal Hiza Knee Universal Body Part Universal Sokuto Foot Edge Universal Body Part Universal Uraken Back of Fist Universal Body Part Universal Shuto Knife-Edge of Hand Universal Body Part Universal Haito Ridge (Thumb-Side) of Hand Universal Command/Etiquette Universal Rei Bow Universal Command Universal Shomen-ni-Rei Bow to the Front of the Dojo Universal Command Universal Sensei-ni-Rei Bow to the Instructor Universal Command Universal Otagai-ni-Rei Bow to Each Other Universal Command Universal Yoi Ready Universal Command Universal Hajime Begin Universal Command Universal Yame Stop Universal Command Universal Matte Wait Universal Command Universal Mawate Turn Universal Command Universal Kamae Prepare/Get into Position Universal Command Universal Mokuso Meditate (Close Eyes) Universal General Term Universal Karate Empty Hand Universal General Term Universal Karateka Karate Practitioner Universal General Term Universal Dojo Training Hall Universal General Term Universal Sensei Teacher/Instructor Universal General Term Universal Kancho Head of Organisation (used by for founder) public site General Term Universal Gi Karate Uniform Universal General Term Universal Kata Formal Pattern/Sequence Universal General Term Universal Kumite Sparring Universal General Term Universal Kihon Basic Techniques Universal General Term Universal Kyu Coloured Belt Grade (below black belt) Universal General Term Universal Dan Black Belt Grade Universal General Term Universal Kiai Focused Shout Universal General Term Universal Hiki-te Retracting (pulling) Hand Universal Counting Universal IchiβJu OneβTen Universal
Counting Reference (IchiβJu) Number Japanese 1 Ichi 2 Ni 3 San 4 Shi / Yon 5 Go 6 Roku 7 Shichi 8 Hachi 9 Ku 10 Ju