Beg Karate Terminology

Arigato gozaimas

“Thank you”

Budo

The “martial way”. A term for martial arts as a lifestyle.

Dojo

Training hall

Dojo kun

Rules of the dojo

Hai

Yes

Hajime

“Begin”

Hara

Physical and spiritual center of the body

Hidari

“Left”

Ikken Hissatsu

“One hit, one kill”

Kamae

Posture or ready position (pronounced “gamae” when preceded by another word, such as “koshi gamae”

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Karate

“Empty” “Hand”

Karate-do

Way of the empty hand

Karate-jitsu

“Art of the empty hand”

Karate-ka

Student of karate

Karetsu

Stand up

Kata

Prearranged form of defense and attack

Keikogi/Karate-gi.

Practice uniform

Kiai

Loud vocalization timed with a decisive technique/spirit

Kihon

Basics

Kihon waza

Basic drills

Kime

Focus

Kiotsuki

Attention

Kizami

Refers to a technique using the front hand or foot.

Kohai

Your junior

Kotai

Moving backward

Kumite

Sparring

Maai

Distance maintained between opponents during kumite.

Mae

Front

Mawate

Turn around

Migi

“Right”

Mokuso

Close eyes, calm mind (used during meditation)

Mokuso yame

Open eyes (used during meditation)

Obi

Belt

Onegai shimasu

“Please assist me”

Oss!

Respectful acknowledgment. Verbal acknowledgment between Karate-ka

Rei

Bow

Reigi

Manners

Saho

the evidence of etiquette or manners through action

Seiza

Formal sitting position

Setsu

Principals

Sempai

Your senior

Sensei

Instructor or teacher

Shomen

Focal point of the dojo

Sun-dome

Bringing attacks to a sudden halt just before making contact

Tore

Attacker or giver in a drill

Uke

Defender or receiver in a drill

Yame

“Stop” or finish

Yasume

“Rest” or relax

Yoi

“Ready”

Yoko

“Side”

Zanshin

Perfected beginning, perfect ending. A sense of mental follow through and preparedness

Zazen

Seated meditation. Eyes closed, hands at hara, mind empty

Jyodan

Upper level target. The point below the nose and above the upper lip in the middle of the face.

Chudan

Mid-level or chest level target. A point directly in the middle of the chest on the solar plexus

Gedan

Lower or stomach level target. Along the mid-line of the body on the stomach. Above the belt.

Tachi

Stance (pronounced “dachi” when attached to another word such as “zenkutsu dachi”)

Heiko Dachi

Feet parallel to each other. Shoulder width apart. Used for yoi position.

Heisoku Dachi

Closed foot stance (feet together)

Kiba Dachi

Side stance or “horse riding stance”. Feet are 2 shoulder widths apart. Toes parallel or slightly inward. Heels outward. Both knees bent. Weight should be 50/50.

Kokutsu Dachi

Back stance. Front toes pointed straight, back toes pointing 90 degrees to the side. Back knee bent and carrying 70% of the weight. Front leg slightly bent, holding 30% of the weight.

Musubi Dachi

Closed V stance. Heels touching, toes at 45 degrees. Used for kiotski (bowing) stance.

Renoji Dachi

“L” stance

Shizentai

Natural posture/Relaxed stance

Zenkutsu Dachi

Forward stance. Feet parallel, toes forward, shoulder width apart. 2 shoulder lengths long. Front knee should be bent, back leg straight. Weight should be 60% forward, 40% in the rear footwork.

Enbusan

Line or pattern of a kata.

Deashi

Take off or acceleration with the feet in stance.

Te

“Hand”

Hiki-te

Pulling hand

Haishu

Back of the hand

Haito

Ridge hand

Haiwan

Back of the forearm

Empi

Elbow (also “hiji”)

Ken

Fist

Nukite

Spear hand

Shuto

Knife hand

Tsuki

Punch (prononced “zuki” when attached to another word, as in “gyaku zuki”)

Uchi

Strike

Ude

Forearm