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Karate Terms

Listed below are a number of common terms used in most Karate groups and classes around the world.Below are a list of common terms used in most Karate Schools.
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Japanese Term UsedEnglish Version / ProununciationNumbers
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ichi ee-chee or sometimes "itch!" 1 
ni nee 2 
san sahn 3 
shi shee 4 
go goh 5 
roku rohk - "The R is rolled of the tongue" 6 
shichi sheech 7 
hachi hahch 8 
ku kuh 9 
ju juh 10 
dachi stances  
sen kutsu dachi front stance - Basic training stance  
ko kutsu dachi back stance  
kiba dachi horse or side stance  
sochin dachi or fudo dachi the immovable stance  
neko dachi cat stance  
shizen tai ready stance  
uke waza blocking techniques  
age uke upper rising block  
gedan barai downward block - especially for blocking kicks  
ude uke middle block  
uchi uke inside - outside block  
shoto uke knife - hand block  
kakiwake uke two - handed separating block  
tsuki punch  
oi zuki step - in punch  
gyaku zuki reverse punch  
kizami zuki jab punch - usually to the head  
nukite spear hand  
ura-ken back fist  
empi elbow  
geri kick  
maeh geri front snap kick  
mawashi geri roundhouse kick  
yoko geri kekomi side thrust kick  
yoko geri keage side snap kick  
ushiro geri back kick  
Kumite sparring  
jo dan head level (area of attack)  
chu dan stomach level (area of attack)  
ge dan lower level (leg area of attack)  
ippon kumite one step sparring (training)  
sanban kumite three step sparring (training)  
jiyu kumite semi free sparing  
kihon basic training (as in basic movements)  
kiai spirit focus (our finishing yell of focus and spirit)  
kime decision focus  
rei bow (especially at the end of class)  
yoi get ready (assume ready stance)  
yame STOP!  
mawatte turn (movement from one direction to the opposite)  
hajime begin (especially used during sparring)  
mokuso quiet personal meditation (everyone close eyes)  
seiza proper kneeling position (during open/close of class)  
sempai senior student (usually a teaching assistant)  
ko-hai junior student (a more negative term)  
Karateka all practitioners of Karate  
Osu "us" (patience with myself and others) Yes sir!  
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242days since
Class Start 2011