Terms

Key Shotokan Terms – English to Japanese

• Basics – Kihon

• Begin – Hajime

• Black Belt Rank – Dan

• Block – Uke

• Bow – Rei

• Color Belt Rank – Kyu

• Focus – Kime

• Form (or Pattern) – Kata

· The application of kata with a partner is called Bunkai in Japanese.

• Instructor (Martial Arts Teacher) – Sensei

• Kick – Geri (or Keri)

• Kneeling Formal Position – Seiza

• Line Up – Seiretsu

• Meditate – Mokuso

• Persevere When Pushed (Will Try My Best) – Osu (Oss) – However, be aware that the meaning for term Osu (Oss) can vary greatly between various dojos. It is also frequently used by non-Japanese Karate students for terms like “Yes”, “I understand”, etc.

• Please – Dozo

• Punch – Zuki (or Tsuki)

• Punching Board – Makiwara

• Return to Normal – Naore

• School (Martial Arts) – Dojo

• Senior Student – Sempai

• Sparring – Kumite

• Staff (Weapon)

• Stance – Dachi

• Stop – Yame

• Strike – Uchi

• Target Levels

· Upper (Head Level) – Jodan

· Middle (Stomach Level) – Chudan

· Lower (Groin or Lower Level) – Gedan

• Technique – Waza

• Thank You (Formal – Past Tense) – Domo Arigato Gozaimashita

• Thank You (Informal) – Arigato

• Throwing Techniques – Nage Waza

• Training Hall Rules – (Ethical principles)

• Turn Around – Mawatte

• 20 Principles (Precepts)

• Uniform – Gi (Gee)

• Uniform Belt – Obi

• Yell (Spirit Yell or Battle Shout) – Kiai

• Yes – Hai (sounds like Hi)

Shotokan Punches & Hand/Arm Strikes

• Punch – Zuki (or Tsuki)

• Strike – Uchi

• Back Fist Strike – Uraken Uchi

• Double Punch – Morote Zuki

• Elbow Strike – Empi Uchi

• Hook Punch – Kage Zuki

• Jab Punch – Kizami Zuki

• Knife Hand Strike – Shuto Uchi

• Lunge Punch – Oi Zuki

• One Knuckle Strike – Ippon Ken

• Palm Strike (Palm Heel Strike) – Teisho Uchi

• Reverse Punch – Gyaku Zuki

• Ridge Hand Strike – Haito Uchi

• Rising Punch – Age Zuki

• Spear Hand Strike – Nukite Zuki

• Uppercut Punch – Ura Zuki

Shotokan Kicks

• Kick – Geri (or Keri)

• Back Thrust Kick – Ushiro Geri

• Crescent Kick – Mika Zuki Geri

• Foot Sweep – Ashi Barai

• Front Kick – Mae Geri

• Knee Strike – Hiza Geri

• Reverse Round Kick – Gyaku Mawashi Geri

• Round Kick – Mawashi Geri

• Side Snap Kick – Yoko Geri Keage

• Side Thrust Kick – Yoko Geri Kekomi

• Stomp Kick – Fumakomi Geri

Shotokan Stances

• Stance – Dachi

• Shizentai – Natural stance

• Attention Stance (Feet Together) – Heisoku Dachi

• Attention Stance (Feet in V Shape) – Musubi Dachi

• Back Stance – Kokutsu Dachi

• Cat Stance (or Cat Foot Stance) – Neko Ashi Dachi

• Crossed Feet Stance – Kosa Dachi

• Front Stance – Zenkutsu Dachi

• Heiko Dachi – Parallel Stance

• Heisoku Dachi – Feet-together Stance

• Half Moon Stance – Hangetsu Dachi

• Horse Riding Stance – Kiba Dachi

• Hourglass Stance – Sanchin Dachi

• Kosa Dachi – Cross Legged Stance

• L Stance – Renoji Dachi

• Rooted Stance (Immovable Stance) – Fudo Dachi

• T Stance – Teiji Dachi

Shotokan Blocks

• Block – Uke

• Down Block – Gedan Barai

• Inside Forearm Block – Uchi (Ude) Uke

• Knife Hand Block – Shuto Uke

• Outside Forearm Block – Soto (Ude) Uke

• Palm Block (Palm Heel Block) – Teisho Uke

• Reinforced Block (Augmented Block) – Morote Uke

• Rising (punching) Block – Age Uke or Jodan Uke

• X Block – Juji Uke

Shotokan – Japanese Numbers

• One – Ichi

• Two – Ni

• Three – San

• Four – Shi

• Five – Go

• Six – Roku

• Seven – Shichi or Nana

• Eight – Hachi

• Nine – Kyu

• Ten – Juu

• Eleven – Juu Ichi

• Twelve – Juu Ni

• Thirteen – Juu San

• Fourteen – Juu Shi

• Fifteen – Juu Go

• Sixteen – Juu Roku

• Seventeen – Juu Shichi or Nana

• Eighteen – Juu Hachi

• Nineteen – Juu Kyu

• Twenty – Ni Juu

• Thirty – San Juu

• Forty – Shi Juu

• Fifty – Go Juu

• Hundred – Hyaku

• Two Hundred – Ni Hyaku

• Thousand – Sen