Karate Dojo Terms

Home

There are a number of Japanese words and terms used in a dojo (school). Since many of these terms are used when someone talks about karate or other Japanese martial arts, we have provided a brief glossary of terms you are likely to encounter when reading about karate.

General Terms

Basic Terms

School - Dojo
Basics - Kihon
Upper body - Jodan
Middle body - Chudan
Lower body - Gedan
Teacher - Sensei
Senior Student - Senpai
School - Dojo
Ready - Yoi
Bow - Rei

Begin - Hajime
Stop - Yame
Return (to rest) - Naotte
Turn - Mawatte
Yes - Hai
Sit (on knees) - Seiza
(Breathing) Meditation - Mokuso
Line Drills - Ido
Forms - Kata
Please (teach me) - Onegashimasu
Thank You (very much) -Doomo Arigatoo (Gozaimasu)

Pronunciation

a - "ah"
i - "ee"
u - "oo"
e - "eh"
o - "oh"
ei - "ay" e.g. say
ai - "I"

Numbers

One - ichi
Two - ni
Three - san
Four - shi/yon
Five - go
Six - roku
Seven - shichi
Eight - hachi
Nine - kyu/ku
Ten - jyu/ju

Advanced terms

Right - Migi
Left - Hidari
Tension - Shime
Timing - Ma

Analytical thought - Yushin
Without consious thought - Mushin
Sliding step - Suri ashi
Changing step - Okuri ashi
Body shifting - Tai sabaki

Strikes - Tsuki/Uchi

Basic terms

Basic punch - Shomen zuki
Lunge punch - Oi zuki
Reverse punch - Gyaku zuki
Inverted punch - Shita zuki
Plam strike - Shote uchi
Knifehand strike - Shuto uchi
Circling fist - Furu uchi
Backfist - Riken/Ura zuki
Spearhand - Nukite

Advanced terms

One knuckle strike - ippon ken
Middle knuckle strike - Naka taka ken
Vertical fist - Tate zuki
Elbow strike - Hiji ate
Hammerhand - Tetsui

Blocks - Uke

Basic terms

High/rising block - Age uke
Middle block - Chudan uke
Low block - Gedan Barai
Hooking block - Kake uke
Circling block - Mawashi uke

Advanced terms

Forearm block - Ude uke
Inverted hooking block - Ura Kake uke
Double block - Joge uke

Kicks - Geri

Basic terms

Front kick - Mae geri
Circling kick - Mawashi geri
Side kick - Sokuto geri
Back kick - Ushiro geri
Groin kick - Kogan geri
Knee/joint kick - Kansetsu geri

Advanced terms

Knee strike - Hiza geri

Stances - Dachi

Basic terms

Ready stance - Heiko dachi
In-turned stance - Sanchin dachi
Cat-foot stance - Neko-ashi dachi
Forward leaning stance - Zenkutsu dachi
Horse stance - Shiko dachi

Advanced terms

Fishhook stance - Re-no-ji dachi
Short forward stance - Han-Zen dachi
Cross stance - Kosa dachi

Sparring - Kumite

Basic terms

Promised sparring - Yakusoku kumite
Upper-body only - Ran Geki
Free style sparring - Jiyu kumite
One point sparring - Ippon kumite

Advanced terms

Ground fighting - Newaza