ONE KARATE - MANY PATHS

The Karate Dictionary

Explore the shared words, techniques and ideas used across karate

空手道

01 - 28 TERMS

Body & Direction

身体部位・方向

Terms for body parts, directions and target levels used in karate.

02 - 18 TERMS

Stances & Footwork

立ち方・運足

Terms for posture, stance and movement around the training space.

Illustration of Stance

Illustration of Natural stance

shizentai自然体

Illustration of Sparring stance

kumite-dachi組手立ち

Sparring stance

Illustration of Immovable stance

fudo-dachi不動立ち

Immovable stance

Illustration of Parallel stance

heiko-dachi平行立ち

Parallel stance

Illustration of Attention stance

musubi-dachi結び立ち

Attention stance

Illustration of Front stance

zenkutsu-dachi前屈立ち

Illustration of Back stance

kokutsu-dachi後屈立ち

Illustration of Horse stance

kiba-dachi騎馬立ち

Illustration of Cat stance

neko-ashi-dachi猫足立ち

Illustration of Sanchin stance

sanchin-dachi三戦立ち

Illustration of Square stance

shiko-dachi四股立ち

Illustration of Crane stance

tsuru-ashi-dachi鶴足立ち

Illustration of Hooked-foot stance

kake-ashi-dachi掛け立ち

Hooked-foot stance

Illustration of Open-leg stance

hachiji-dachi八字立ち

Open-leg stance

Illustration of Cross stance

kosa-dachi交差立ち

Illustration of Half-moon stance

hangetsu-dachi半月立ち

Half-moon stance

Illustration of Sliding footwork

suri-ashi擦り足

Sliding footwork

03 - 15 TERMS

Hand Techniques

手技

Punches, strikes and other techniques performed with the hands and arms.

Illustration of Punch or thrust

Punch or thrust

Illustration of Lunge punch

oi-zuki追い突き

Illustration of Reverse punch

gyaku-zuki逆突き

Illustration of Vertical punch

tate-zuki縦突き

Illustration of Downward punch

shita-zuki下突き

Illustration of Mountain punch

yama-zuki山突き

Illustration of Rising punch

age-zuki上げ突き

Illustration of Hook punch

kagi-zuki鉤突き

Illustration of Double punch

morote-zuki諸手突き

Illustration of Spear hand

Illustration of Strike

Illustration of Side strike

yoko-uchi横打ち

Illustration of Downward strike

oroshi-uchi降ろし打ち

Downward strike

Illustration of Rising strike

age-uchi上げ打ち

Illustration of Round strike

mawashi-uchi廻し打ち

04 - 18 TERMS

Kicks & Leg Techniques

足技

Kicks, sweeps and other techniques performed with the legs and feet.

Illustration of Kick

keri (geri)蹴り

Illustration of Front kick

mae-geri前蹴り

Illustration of Side kick

yoko-geri横蹴り

Illustration of Roundhouse kick

mawashi-geri廻し蹴り

Roundhouse kick

Illustration of Back kick

ushiro-geri後ろ蹴り

Illustration of Spinning hook kick

ushiro-mawashi-geri後ろ廻し蹴り

Spinning hook kick

Illustration of Knee strike

hiza-geri膝蹴り

Illustration of Hook kick

kake-geri掛け蹴り

Illustration of Foot sweep

ashi-barai足払い

Illustration of Heel kick

kakato-geri踵蹴り

Illustration of Front snap kick

mae-keage前蹴上げ

Front snap kick

Illustration of Side snap kick

yoko-keage横蹴上げ

Illustration of Crescent kick

mikazuki-geri三日月蹴り

Illustration of Groin kick

kin-geri金的蹴り

Illustration of Jump kick

tobi-geri飛び蹴り

Illustration of Double jump kick

nidan-geri二段蹴り

Double jump kick

Illustration of Joint kick

kansetsu-geri関節蹴り

Illustration of Axe kick

kakato-otoshi-geri踵落とし蹴り

05 - 18 TERMS

Blocks, Off-Balancing & Control

受け・崩し・制御技

Blocks, parries, off-balancing and methods of controlling an opponent.

Illustration of Block

Illustration of Rising block

age(jodan)-uke上段受け

Illustration of Lower sweeping block

gedan-barai下段払い

Lower sweeping block

Illustration of Outside block

soto-uke外受け

Illustration of Inside block

uchi-uke内受け

Illustration of Knife-hand block

shuto-uke手刀受け

Knife-hand block

Illustration of Hooking block

kake-uke掛け受け

Illustration of Augmented block

morote-uke諸手受け

Augmented block

Illustration of Cross block

juji-uke十字受け

Illustration of Sweeping parry

nagashi-uke流し受け

Illustration of Scooping block

sukui-uke掬い受け

Illustration of Dropping block

otoshi-uke落とし受け

Illustration of Palm-heel block

syotei-uke掌底受け

Palm-heel block

Illustration of Off-balancing

Illustration of Throwing techniques

nage-waza投げ技

Throwing techniques

Illustration of Joint-locking techniques

kansetsu-waza関節技

Joint-locking techniques

Illustration of Gripping

Illustration of Pulling hand

hikite引き手

06 - 45 TERMS

Training, Competition & Etiquette

稽古・試合・礼法

Terms for practice, sparring, competition and dojo etiquette.

dojo	道場	Training hall	The place where karate is practised.
budo	武道	Martial way	Japanese martial disciplines understood as ways of physical and personal practice.
karate-gi	空手着	Karate uniform	The uniform worn for karate practice or competition. Gi means uniform.
obi	帯	Belt	A belt worn with the karate uniform; its colour may indicate grade.
sensei	先生	Teacher	A respectful title commonly used for a karate teacher.
senpai	先輩	Senior	A senior member of a dojo or organisation. In some organisations, "Senpai" refers to a black belt.
kohai	後輩	Junior	A junior member of a dojo or organisation.
kyu	級	Class grade	A rank below black belt level in many grading systems.
dan	段	Black-belt grade	An advanced rank system, commonly beginning with shodan.
rei	礼	Bow or respect	A bow and the wider principle of respect expressed in karate etiquette.
mokuso	黙想	Meditation	A short period of quiet reflection, often used at the beginning or end of practice.
kiai	気合	Spirit shout	A focused shout used to coordinate breath, intent and movement.
waza	技	Technique	A general word for a martial technique or skill.
seiza	正座	Kneeling posture	A formal kneeling sitting posture used in many dojo.
shomen	正面	Front	The front-facing direction or the front of an opponent or training space.
yoi	用意	Ready	A command or instruction to prepare.
hajime	始め	Begin	A command to begin an exercise or match.
yame	止め	Stop	A command to stop an exercise or match.
naore	直れ	Return	A command to return to the previous position or posture.
maai	間合い	Distance and timing	The fighting distance and timing between two people.
zanshin	残心	Remaining awareness	Continued awareness and readiness after completing a technique.
kime	決め	Focus	The focused coordination of body, breath and intent at the moment of a technique.
kihon	基本	Fundamentals	Basic techniques and drills that form the foundation of training.
kata	型	Form	A structured sequence of movements that preserves and teaches karate principles.
kumite	組手	Sparring	Partner practice that ranges from pre-arranged drills to free sparring.
yakusoku-kumite	約束組手	Prearranged sparring	Partner practice with agreed attacks, defences and responses.
jiyu-kumite	自由組手	Free sparring	Sparring in which participants respond freely within agreed rules.
bunkai	分解	Application analysis	The analysis and practical interpretation of movements from a kata.
embu	演武	Demonstration	A formal demonstration of karate techniques, often performed solo or with partners.
shiai	試合	Match	A competitive match or bout.
shiai-jo	試合場	Competition area	The designated area where a match takes place.
shushin	主審	Referee	The central referee who controls the match.
fukushin	副審	Judge	An assistant judge who supports officiating decisions.
ippon	一本	Full point	A high-value score in some karate competition systems.
waza-ari	技あり	Half point	A score awarded for a recognised technique in some rule systems.
yuko	有効	Point	A score awarded for an effective technique in some rule systems.
hantei	判定	Decision	A decision made by officials when a contest cannot be decided by score alone.
hansoku	反則	Penalty	A penalty for breaking competition rules.
jogai	場外	Exit from area	Leaving the competition area when the rules treat it as an offence.
kachi	勝ち	Win	The result of winning a match, contest or decision.
make	負け	Lose	The result of losing a match, contest or decision.
kiken	棄権	Forfeit	Withdrawal from a match or event.
shikkaku	失格	Disqualification	A severe competition penalty resulting in disqualification.
aka	赤	Red	The competitor or side identified by red in some competition systems.
shiro	白	White	The colour white; often used for a belt or a competitor designation depending on the organisation.