The following is a list of terms commonly used in our
karate training.
Terminology
Counting
| ichi | one |
| ni | two |
| san | three |
| shi | four |
| go | five |
| roku | six |
| sichi | seven |
| hachi | eight |
| ku | nine |
| ju | ten |
Commands
| lei | bow |
| hajime | begin |
| yame | stop |
| mawate | change / otherside |
| seiza | kneel / sit |
| tate | stand / vertical |
| hai | yes |
| eia | no |
| arigato | thank you |
| yoi | ready |
| ooss | verbal greeting / understand |
| Teo Toratte | let us cling together |
General Terminology
| Shindo | Way of the Free Spirit |
| Karate | Empty hand |
| Gi | Uniform |
| Obi | Belt |
| Karateka | Student |
| Joshu | Assistant |
| Sempai | Instructor |
| Sensei | Teacher |
| Hikate | Pulling arm |
| Tatami | Training mats |
| Hidari | Left |
| Migi | Right |
| Shomen | Front |
| Ushiro | Back |
| Yoko | Side |
| Jodan | Head / High |
| Chudan | Stomach / Middle |
| Gedan | Groin / Low |
Stances
| Yoi dachi | Ready stance |
| Heisoku dachi | Formal attention stance |
| Musubi dachi | Informal attention stance |
| Zenkutsu dach | Forward stance |
| Kokutsu dachi | Back stance |
| Kiba dachi | Horse stance |
| Neko ashi dachi | Cat leg stance |
| Sanchin dachi | Hour glass stance |
| Kamae dachi | Fighting stance |
| Fudo dachi | Immovable stance |
| Hangetsu dachi | Half moon stance |
| Renoji dachi | L stance |
Blocks
| Jodan uke | Upper block |
| Soto uke | Outer block |
| Uchi uke | Inner block |
| Gedan barai uke | Lower sweeping block |
| Shuto uke | Knife hand block |
| Juji uke | X block |
| Morote uke | Double arm block (reinforced block) |
| Haishu uke | Back hand block |
| Age uke | Rising block |
| Otoshi uke | Dropping block |
Punches and Strikes
| Oi zuki | Lunge punch |
| Gyaku zuki | Reverse punch |
| Kizami zuki | Jab punch |
| Uraken uchi | Backfist strike |
| Kentsui uchi | Hammer fist strike (Tettsui uchi) |
| Shuto uchi | Knife hand strike |
| Empi uchi | Elbow strike |
| Haito uchi | Ridge hand strike |
| Heiwan uchi | Forearm strike |
| Hirachen uchi | Knuckle strike |
| Hiza uchi | Knee strike (also Hiza geri) |
| Nukite | Spear hand |
| Teisho uchi | Palm heel strike |
Kicking (Geri)
| Ashi barai | Foot sweep |
| Kin geri | Groin kick |
| Mai geri | Front kick |
| Mawashi geri | Roundhouse kick |
| Yoko geri | Side kick |
| Kagi geri | Hook kick |
| Ushiro geri | Back kick |
| Mikazuki geri | Crescent kick |
| Kakato otoshi geri | Axe kick |
| Nidan geri | Double jump kick |
| Keage | Snap kick (added before or after geri) |
| Kekomi | Thrust kick (added before / after geri) |
| Tobi | Jumping kick (added before geri) |
| Tatsumaki senpuu kyaku | Tornado kick |
Kata / Forms
| Taikyoku | First Cause |
| Heian | Peaceful Mind |
| Tekki | Horse / Warrior |
| Bassai | Penetrate the Fortress |
| Jion | Castle |
Ranking
| 10th Kyu | No uniform |
| 9th Kyu | White belt |
| 8th Kyu | Yellow belt |
| 7th Kyu | Green belt |
| 6th Kyu | Blue belt |
| 5th Kyu | Purple belt |
| 4th Kyu | Orange belt |
| 3rd Kyu | Brown belt |
| 2nd Kyu | One black stripe |
| 1st Kyu | Two black stripe |
| Shodan ho | Black Belt |
| Shodan | 1st Dan Black |
| Nidan | 2nd Dan Black |
| Sandan | 3rd Dan (Sensei) |
| Yondan | 4th Dan Black |
| Godan | 5th Dan (Shihan) |