Terminology
Numbers :
rei : zero
ichi : one
ni : two
san : three
shi (yon)
: four
go : five
roku : six
shichi
(nana) : seven
hachi : eight
ku : nine
ju : ten
ju ichi : eleven
ju ni : twelve
ju ku : nineteen
ni ju : twenty
ni ju ichi : twenty one
san ju : thirty
A
age: rising,
upward
ago: chin
⏩ai: union,
meeting; harmony
aiki: harmony,
union of energies
aikido: way of
harmony; Japanese martial art of joint locking and throwing
aiuchi: simultaneously
striking (each other); clash
⏩aka: red
⏩ashi: leg,
foot
ashi-barai: foot
sweep
atama: head
ate: hit,
strike, smash
atemi: hit to
body
⏩awase: combined,
joined together
⏩ayumi: walking,
stepping
B
barai (harai): sweep
basami (hasami): scissors
⏩bo: staff,
long stick used as weapon
bokken: wooden
sword (katana) usually used for
practice
⏩bu: martial;
war, stick
budo: martial
way; way of war
⏩bunkai: analysis;
study of kata applications
⏩buse (fuse): lay
down
bushi: warrior
bushido: way of
the warrior; warrior code
C
chakugan: focus attention; viewpoint; looking
at your opponent
chi gung (qigong): (Chinese) breath skill,
breathing exercises to promote internal energy development
chika-ma: short distance
⏩choku: direct, straight
chuan fa: (Chinese) fist way; Chinese
martial art of striking and kicking, also known as kung fu or wushu
⏩chudan: middle level
⏩chui: warning; usually the second warning in a competition
match
D
dachi (tachi): stance; standing
dai (tai): big; great; body
⏩dan: level
daoshi (taoshi): topple, make fall
deshi: student
⏩do: path, way; torso
dogi (gi): training uniform
dojo: place for studying the way; the room in which one
practices budo
domo arigato: thank you
dori (tori): hold, grab; attacker, the one
applying the technique to the uke
dosoku: across torso
dozo: please
E
embusen: line on floor; performance line of a kata, kata floor
pattern
empi (hiji): elbow
ensho: heel
eri: collar
F
fudo: unmoving, rooted
fukushin: corner judge, assistant judge
fumikomi: thrusting step, stomp kick
furi: swinging
⏩fuse (buse): lay down
G
gaeshi (kaeshi): reversing, returning
gaijin: outsider, foreigner, non-Japanese
gaiwan: outer forearm
⏩ganmen : face
garami (karami): entangle, entwine
gari (kari): cut, reap
gassho: joined palm
gasshuku: special training camp
gatame (katame): lock, hold, tighten
⏩gedan: lower level
geiko (keiko): training, practice
geri (keri): kick
⏩gi (dogi): training uniform
go: five; after
go-no-sen: seize the initiative later,
usually involving a defense and then a counterattack
goshi (koshi): hip; ball of the foot
guruma (kuruma): wheel
⏩gyaku: reverse, opposite
H
hachi: eight
hachiji: shape of character for hachi (8)
hadaka: naked
⏩hai: yes
haishu: backhand
haisoku: instep of foot
haito: sword-ridge; ridge-hand
haiwan: back-arm, back of forearm
hajime: begin
hakama: traditional pleated pants worn by budo students
han: half
hangetsu: half-moon
hanmi: half-body, body turning
hansoku: rule violation; disqualification from a competition
event
hantai: opposite side; opposition
⏩hantei: decision
hara: stomach, belly
harai (barai): sweep
harakiri: belly cut; form of ritual
suicide
hasami (basami): scissors
⏩hashiru : run
hayai: quick, fast; early
heian: peace and stability; peaceful mind
heiko: parallel
heisoku: closed feet, feet together
henka: change sides; variation of a form or technique
⏩hidari: left
hiji (empi): elbow
hiki: pull; retreat
hikiashi: pulling foot, pulling leg
hikite: pulling hand
hikiwake: tie, equal, draw
hineri: twisting
hiragana: written symbols used as part
of the Japanese writing system
hiraken: flat fist, fore-knuckle fist
hiraki: lateral dodging
hitai: forehead
hiza: knee
hodoki: freeing
hokotenkan: changes in direction
honbu: headquarters
I
iaido: way of harmony in action; Japanese martial art of
drawing and cutting with the sword
ibuki: breath; forced abdominal breathing usually accompanied
by throat contraction and guttural sound
ichi: one
ikken-hissatsu: one fist certain kill, to kill
with one blow
inyo: symbol of the JKA
ippon: one point, one side, one step, etc.
ippon-ken: one-knuckle fist
irimi: body entering
J
jiku-ashi: pivot leg; supporting leg
jime (shime): strangulation, choking
jinchu: philtrum area just above upper lip, part of the
maxilla
jiyu (jyu): freestyle, free
jiyu-ippon-kumite: 1-step free sparring,
semi-free sparring
jiyu-kumite: free sparring
jo: short wooden staff
⏩jodan: upper level
⏩jogai: out of bounds
ju: soft, gentle; ten
judo: gentle way; Japanese martial art of wrestling
juji: cross, shape of character for ju (10)
jujutsu: gentle art; Japanese martial art of striking,
grappling, and joint manipulation
jun: follow, chase; corresponding to
jutsu: art, technique, skill
K
kachi: victory, win; value, merit
kaeshi (gaeshi): reversing, returning
kafukubu: abdomen
kagi: hook
kaikomi: lifting the knee high and tucked in close to body
(preparing for kick)
kaisho: open hand(s)
kaiten: rotation
kakato: heel
kakiwake: wedge; push aside; separate
kakuto: crane-head; back of wrist
⏩kamae: posture, position, guard
kamaete: go into position
kanji: Chinese script used as part of the Japanese writing
system
kansetsu: joint; joint locking
kao: face
kara: empty
karami (garami): entangle, entwine
karate (karate-do): empty hand; Japanese martial
art of punching, striking, and kicking
karateka: student of karate
kari (gari): cut, reap
kata: form, shape, pattern; one side; shoulder
katakana: written symbols used as part
of the Japanese writing system
katame (gatame): lock, hold, tighten
katana: Japanese single-edged curved sword,
preferred weapon of the samurai
⏩keage: snap kick; rising kick
keiko (geiko): training
keikoku: caution; usually the first warning
in a competition match
keimochi: Okinawan noble class
keito: chicken head
⏩kekomi: thrust kick
ken: fist; sword
kensei: diversion, feint; sword saint, title given to a
warrior of legendary skill in swordsmanship
kendo: way of the sword; Japanese martial art of fencing
kentsui: hammer-fist
keri (geri): kick
ki: internal energy, spirit, breath (pronounced chi in
Chinese)
kiai: union of energy; spirit yell
kiba: horse-riding
kihon: basic, fundamental
kihon-gohon-kumite: basic 5-step sparring
kihon-ippon-kumite: basic 1-step sparring
kihon-sanbon-kumite: basic 3-step sparring
kiken: withdraw, retreat; forfeit (a match)
kime: focus; to decide; deciding factor; winning move
kinteki: testicles, groin region
ki-o-tsuke: ready at attention (in musubi-dachi)
kirigaeshi: returning cut
kirikae: switch, change
kirikae-ashi: switch the feet
kiritsu: stand up
kitsutsuki: woodpecker
kizami: jab; to nick, notch, or carve out; cutting; attacking
with the lead hand or leg
ko: small
kobudo: ancient martial arts; the study of ancient weaponry
kohai: junior student
koho: rear, behind, back direction
koko: tiger-mouth
kokoro: spirit, heart
kokutsu: back bend
⏩kokyu: breathing
komi: thrust, drive forward
kosa: cross
koshi (goshi): hip; ball of the foot
koshiki: traditional, old style
kote: wrist
kubotan: self defense keychain developed by Takayuki Kubota
kudaki: crush; break into pieces
kumade: bear-hand
kumi: meeting; grip
kumite: sparring; meeting of hands
kung fu (gung fu): (Chinese) great skill; martial
art of striking and kicking, also known as chuan fa or wushu
⏩kuro: black
kuruma (guruma): wheel
kutsu (kussu): bend
kuzushi: unbalancing an opponent; demolish, collapse
kyoku: extreme; ultimate
⏩kyu: rank; non-black belt; nine
kyusho: pressure point
L
M
ma: distance
maai: proper meeting distance between two partners
⏩mae: front
maki: roll up, wrap
makiwara: rolled straw; striking post
manji: swastika; swirling, vortex
matte: stop, wait
mawashi: rotating, turning; circular
mawate: turn
⏩men: face
mienai: could not see
migi: right
mikazuki: crescent-moon
mizu-nagare: water flowing
mokuso: meditation
morote: both hands, double-hand
moto-no-ichi: back to starting positions
muboubi: defenseless
mudansha: student possessing kyu level,
not black belt
mugorei: without count, no count
mukae: meet; go ahead
muki (muke): facing, direction
mune (muna): chest
mushin: no mind, without thought
muso: incomparable
musubi: united
N
nagashi: flowing
nage: throw, projection
naiwan: inner forearm
nakae: enter the fighting area
nami-gaeshi: returning wave
⏩naname: diagonal
naore: recover
nei chia: (Chinese) internal styles (of
martial arts)
⏩nai : no
neji: twisting, spiralling
neko-ashi: cat-leg
ni: two
nigiri: control
nukete-masu: off target attack
nukite: spear-hand
O
o: big, great
⏩obi: belt
okuri: sliding; sending
omote: front; facing; exterior
⏩osae: pressing; holding, immobilizing
oshi: pushing
osu (oss): word of acknowledgement used
in many karate dojo (implies "yes, I understand")
⏩otagai: mutual, each other
⏩otoshi: falling, dropping
⏩oyo: application (of kata)
P
pankration: (Greek) all powerful; a
"no rules" match of striking and wrestling introduced in the 33rd
Olympics
Q
qigong (chi gung): (Chinese) breath skill,
breathing exercises to promote internal energy development
R
randori: taking chaos,grasping freedom; freestyle practice
⏩rei: bow; respect
ren: alternate, consecutive
renoji: L-shape, shape of character for re
roku: six
ryo: both, two
ryoken: both fists
ryosho: both palms
ryosoku: both sides
ryu: school, style
ryuun: current clouds, flowing clouds
S
sabaki: shifting, dodging, displacing
sagiashi: crane-leg
sakate: throat
saken: left fist
samurai: to serve; ancient Japanese warriors
san: three
sanchin: hour-glass; 3 wars
sankaku: triangle
sasae-ashi: supporting leg
sashi: stealthy
sasho: left palm
seiken: fore-fist
seiritsu: line up
seiryuto: ox-jaw; sabre
⏩seiza: sit correctly; kneel (position before and after budo class)
sempai: senior student
sen: before; advance; reaction; initiative
sen-no-sen: seize the initiative earlier,
usually involving a simultaneous counter-attack
sen-sen-no-sen: seize the initiative in
anticipation of opponent's attack (before the actual attack)
sensei: born before; teacher
senshu: competitor
sentei: selection, grouping
seppuku: ritual suicide
shi (yon): four
⏩shiai: match, contest
shichi (nana): seven
shihan: teacher; master teacher
shihon: four directions, four points, etc.
shikkaku: disqualification (from entire
tournament)
shime (jime): strangulation, choking
shinai: practice sword made out of split bamboo, usually used
in kendo
⏩shiro: white
shitei: designation; mandatory
shizen: natural
sho: palm; small
shobu: contest, match
shodan: first level black belt
shomen: front; top of head
shoto: pine waves, whispering pines; Gichin Funakoshi's
pen-name
shugo: meeting
shuto: sword-hand, knife-hand
shuwan: anterior forearm
sode: sleeve
soete: added hand
soku: foot
sokumen: side
sokuto: blade of foot
soto: outside, exterior
suihei: horizontal
suigetsu: solar plexus
sukui: scooping; spoon
sun: unit of length, about 3 cm
sun-dome: to stop a technique just
before making contact
suri (yori): sliding, gliding
sutemi: abandon body; sacrifice throw
suwari: kneeling
T
tachi (dachi): stance, standing
tadzuna: bridle, reins
tai (dai): big; great; body
tai chi (tai chi chuan): (Chinese) supreme
ultimate (fist); Chinese internal martial art performed very slowly
⏩tadashi : right
tai-sabaki: body shifting, dodging
tameshiwari: breaking test; breaking
bricks, wood, etc.
tanden: center of abdomen, body's center of
energy
tanto: short sword, knife, dagger
taoshi (daoshi): topple, make fall
tatami: training mats; straw mats
tate: vertical; stand; build
⏩te: hand
te-hodoki: hand freeing
teinoji: T-shape, shape of character
for tei
teisho: palm-heel
tekki: iron horseman
tekubi: wrist
ten: sky, heaven; universe
tenkan: divert, turning, circular movement
tettsui: iron hammer, hammer-fist
tenbin: balance
to-ma: long distance
tobi (tobikomi): leap, jump, fly
tobu: head
tode: Chinese hand; Okinawan martial art preceding karate
tokui: favorite; best, one's specialty
tora: tiger
tori (dori): hold, grab; take; attacker,
the one applying the technique to the uke
torimasen: did not take; competitor did not
receive a point, no point
tsugi: follow; shuffle (shuffle step)
tsukami (zukami): grasp, grip, grab
tsuru: crane
tsuki (zuki): punch; thrust
tsuzukete: continue, keep going; resume
fighting
U
uchi: inside, interior; strike, hit
uchikomi: driving, pounding in; repeated
practice without completion
ude: arm
uke: block; receive; defender, the one receiving the
technique from the tori
ukemi: break-falling, body receive
uken: right fist
uke-tsuki (tsuki-uke): block-punch
ukete-masu: blocked attack
unsoku: footwork, movements of feet
⏩ura: inverted, back
uraken: backfist
ushiro: back, behind, rear
usho: right palm
V
Vrajmushti: (Indian) thunderbolt fist or
diamond fist; martial art of India focusing on grappling and striking
W
wai chia: (Chinese) external styles (of
martial arts)
wakizashi: Japanese short sword, smaller
version of the katana
wan: arm
washide: eagle-hand
waza: technique, skill
waza-ari: half point; technique occurred
wushu: (Chinese) martial arts; martial art of striking and
kicking, also known as kung fu or chuan fa
X
Y
yakusoku-kumite: announcement sparring
yama: mountain
yame: stop, finish
yasume: relax, rest
yin yang: (Chinese) symbol representing
the duality of nature
⏩yoi: ready
⏩yoko: side, sideways, lateral
yori (suri): sliding, gliding
yowai: weak; fragile
yubi: finger
yudansha: student possessing dan level(s),
black belt
⏩yumi: bow (i.e. as in bow and arrow)
Z
⏩za: sit
zanshin: remaining mind, relaxed state of readiness
zenkutsu: front bend
zukami (tsukami): grasp, grip, grab
zuki (tsuki): punch; thrust
TRY TO LEARN AND SPEAK THESE JAPANESE TERMS.....IT WILL BRING YOU MORE CLOSER TO KARATE THAN EVER BEFORE.....
