This is the sixth post in a series of posts on karate terms which covers many general terms used in the dojo during training.
There are also a couple of videos after the list that cover many karate terms for beginners.
For previous posts in this series, please click the links below:
- Karate Terms in Japanese Part 1 – Counting in Japanese
- Karate Terms in Japanese Part 2 – Directions and Body Parts
- Karate Terms in Japanese Part 3 – Stances
- Karate Terms in Japanese Part 4 – Techniques
- Karate Terms in Japanese Part 5 – Training Equipment, Tournament and Rankings
Content
General karate terms
Age: rising, upwards
Budo: the way of martial arts
Chudan: chest area, approximately from neck to belly button
Dan: level
De-ai: the concept of using opponent’s momentum to increase the effectiveness of counterattack
Do: way, path
Dojo kun: martial arts ethics, martial arts code
Dojo: training place
Embusen: set line pattern for kata
Empi: elbow
Gasshuku: special karate training camp
Gedan: lower area of body
Gi: karate uniform
Go: hard, unyielding
Gohon kumite: five-step sparring technique
Goju ryu karatedo: the hard and soft style of karate
Hai: acknowledgement, yes
Haishu: back hand
Haito: ridge hand
Haiwan: back arm
Hajime: begin
Hanmi: half-front (45 degree) facing position
Happo kumite: sparring exercise with 8 opponents
Heian: peaceful mind
Hidari: left
Hiji: elbow
Honbu dojo: head dojo of an organisation
Jodan: face/head area
Ju: soft, flexible
Junbi undo: warming up exercises
Jyu ippon kumite: one-step free style sparring
Jyu kumite: free style sparring
Jyu sanbon kumite: sequence of 3 flowing jyu ippon kumite exercises by opponents
Kaishugata: open fist kata (e.g. Gekisai and Saifa)
Kakato: heel
Kamae te: ready hands
Kamae: ready stance, posture
Kata: forms
Keage: snap action
Keito: chicken-head wrist
Kekomi: thrusting action
Keri: kick
Kiai: a shout of spirit and determination
Kihon: basic exercises
Kime: focus point, a decisive finish
Kumite: sparring
Ma-ai: distancing between opponents
Makiwara: punching post
Mawatte: turn around
Migi: right
Mokkuso: close eyes
Mubobi: lack of defensive attitude
Muchimi: heavy, sticky action
Nidan: two
Obi: belt
Oos: a shout of respect, acknowledgement, understanding, courtesy
Otagai-ni: toward each other (otagai-ni rei means bowing toward each other)
Rei: respect, bow
Seiza: kneeling position
Semete: attacking partner
Sempai: senior student
Senpai: senior student
Sensei: the one who comes before, teacher, instructor, master
Sentei kata: student’s preferred grading kata
Shiai: competition
Shihan: master or professor
Shime: sanchin testing
Shitei kata: mandatory grading kata
Shomen: front of the dojo
Sokuto: food edge
Suri ashi: sliding step
Tai sabaki: evasion, moving body to avoid an opponent
Tanden: elixir field, sea of qi, energy center or the body’s power center
Te: hand
Teisho: palm hand
Tokoi kata: favourite kata
Tori: person throwing
Tsuki ashi: sliding
Ude tanren: forearm conditioning
Ude: forearm
Yame: cease activity
Yoi: ready position
Zanshin: state of being aware and ready
Basic karate term videos
Here is a 10-minute video that covers 24 commonly used words in a karate dojo.
You will do very well if you remember and understand the meanings of these 24 words at around the time you get your yellow or orange belt.
This video covers 50 Japanese words commonly used in Japanese martial arts.
This video is 23 minutes long but it covers many karate terms for beginners, including general terms and basic technique terms.
References