Glossary of Terms
A
Age tsuki - rising punch
Age uke - rising block
Anata wa - and you?
Antei - balance
Arigato gozaimasu - thank you
Ashi - leg
Ashi barai - leg sweep
Atama - head
Ato de - Later
B
Bo - Six foot staff (Weapon)
Bojutsu - Art of the Bo
Bunkai - The application of a move in a kata
Bushi - Warrior
Bushido - Way of the warrior
C
Chudan - Middle area
Chudan uke - Middle block
D
Dachi - Stance
Dai (Dai Ichi) - Number
Dai (Passai Dia) - Greater, major
Dai sempai - Most senior student
Dan - Black belt rank
Deashibarai - Forward foot sweep
Denwa - Telephone
Do - The way or path
Do itashimashite - You are welcome
Dojo - Place to train
Domo arigato gozaimasu - Thank you very much
Dozo - Please
E
Eku - Oar (Weapon)
Embusan - Direction (imaginary line) of fighting movements
Empi - Elbow
F
Fukyu - Fundamental, basic
Fumi komi - Stomping (kick)
G
Gedan - Lower area
Gedan uke - Lower block
Genki desu - I am fine
Geri - Kick
Gi - Karate uniform
Go - Hard or #5
Gyaku tsuki - Reverse punch
H
Hachiji dachi - Open stance
Hai - Yes
Haishu - Back of hand
Haisoku - Instep of foot
Haito - Ridge of hand
Hajime - Begin
Hanshi - Grand Master
Hara - Abdomen, center of Ki
Hayaku - Quickly
Heiko dachi - Parallel stance
Heisoku dachi - Closed foot stance
Hidari - Left
Hiji - Elbow
Hiji - Elbow smash
Hiza - Knee
I
Iie, wakarimasen - No, I do not understand
Ikaga desu ka - How are you
Ikimashou - Let's go
Ima - Now
Ippon ken - One knuckle fist
Itchoku sen - Straight line
J
Jiyu kumite - Free style sparring
Jo - Four foot staff
Jodan - Upper area
Jodan uke - Upper block
Ju - Soft or the #10
Judan - 10th Degree Black Belt
Jutsu - Art
K
Kakato - Heel of foot
Kake geri - Hook kick
Kama - Sickle (Weapon)
Kamae - Fighting stance
Kansetsu - Knuckles
Kao - Face
Kara - Empty
Karate - Empty hand
Karate do - The way of the empty hand
Kata - Predetermined form
Keage - Snap (kick)
Keiko - Practice drill
Kekomi - Thrust (kick)
Ki - Spirit
Kiai - Spirit shout
Kiba dachi - Horse riding stance
Kihon - Basic
Kime - Focus
Kimochi - Attitude
Kin geri - Groin kick
Kiotsuke - Attention
Kobudo - Ancient martial ways
Kobujutsu - Art of ancient weapons
Kohai - Junior
Kokegi - Attacher
Koko - Here
Kokoro - Mind, heart, spirit, feeling
Kokusai - International
Kokutsu dachi - Back stance
Konban wa - Good evening
Konnichi wa - Good afternoon, hello
Kootai - Switch (partners)
Koroshi waza - Killing technique
Kosa dachi - Cross-legged stance
Koshi - Hips, ball of foot
Kudasai - Please, give me the favor of
Kumite - Practice fighting
Kuzushi - Leverage
Kyobu - Chest
Kyoshi - Karate master title (7th & 8th Degree)
Kyu - Non black belt rank
Kyushu jutsu - The art of striking vital points
M
Ma - Distance
Maai - Individual distance
Mae - Front
Mae geri - Front kick
Makiwara - Punching board
Maru ni natte kudasai - Make a circle
Massugu - Straight
Matte - Wait
Mawashi geri - Round house kick
Mawate - Turn
Migi - Right
Migikae tsuki - Jab punch
Mikazuki geri - Crescent kick
Modotte - Return to ready position
Mo ichido onegaishimasu? - Could you repeat it please?
Mokuso - Quiet meditation
Mokuso owari - Meditation over
Morote uke - Augmented block
Mudansha - Kyu rank holder
Mushubi dachi - Open foot, attention stance
Muzukashii - Difficult
N
Nage waza - Throwing technique
Nagore - Deep breathing
Naihanchi dachi - Iron horse stance
Naisan - Man, Women, boy or girl
Nan ji desu ka? - What time is it?
Narra be nassai - Line up
Neko ashi dachi - Cat leg stance
Nidan geri - Double kick
Nihongo - Japanese language
Nomimono - thing to drink
Nuhite - Spear hand
Nunchaku - Flail (Weapon)
O
O-haiyoo gozaimasu - Good morning
O-negai shimasu - Teach me, please
O-yasami nasai - Good night
Obi - Belt
Ot tsuki - Lunge punch
Owarimashita - Over, finished
R
Rei - Bow, courtesy
Renmei - Association
Renshi - Highest teacher
Renshu - To study
Ryu - School or system, way
Ryukyu - The archipelago, known as Okinawa
S
Sai - Truncheon (Weapon)
Sanchin dachi - Hour glass stance
Sashi buri desu ne - Long time no see
Sayonara - Good bye
Seiken - Forefist
Seiken tsuki - Straight punch
Seiza - Formal sitting posture
Sempai - Senior student
Senaka - Back of body
Sensei - Teacher, Instructor
Shiai - Match, contest
Shihan - Master instructor
Shiko dachi - Split or square stance
Shin ken - Serious
Sho - Small, minor
Shomei - Front central area of dojo
Shomen - Front
Shomen ni rei - Bow to the front
Shurey no kuni - The country that keeps respect (On our patch)
Shuto - Knife hand
Soto uke - Outside middle block
T
Tabemono - Food
Tai - Body
Tai sabaki - Body shifting
Takai - Expensive
Tameshi wara - Breaking
Tatami - Straw floor mat
Tate - Standing, vertical
Tate tsuki - Vertical fist punch
Te - Hand
Teisho - Palm heel
Tettsui - Hammer fist
Tobi geri - Jump kick
Tonfa - Handle (Weapon)
Tsugi - Next
Tsuyoki - Strong spirit
Tuite waza - Grappling hand technique
W
Wakarimasen - I do not understand
Wakarimasu - I understand
Wakarimasuka? - Do you understand?
Waza - Technique
Y
Yakusoku kumite - Predetermined sparring
Yame - Stop
Yasashii - Easy
Yasui - Cheap
Yoi - Ready
Yoko - Side
Yoko geri - Side kick
Yudanja - Korean term meaning Black Belts of all martial arts styles
Z
Zen - All