Basic Terminology

Blocks

Uke
Block
Nagashi-Uke
Sweeping open hand block
Hiza-Uke
Knee Block
Kakiwake Uke
Wedge Block
Age Uke
Rising Block
Ude Uke
Inside Block
Soto Uke
Outside Block
Gedan Uke
Low Block
Morote Uke
Supported Block
Teisho Uke
Palm Block
Shuto Uke
Knife hand Block
Tettsui Uke
Hammer Block
Mawashi Empi Uke
Outside Elbow Block

Punches

Tsuki
Punch (please note it is referred as “zuki” in combined techniques)
Tate Zuki
Short Vertical Punch
Ura-Zuki
Upside Down Punch
Oi Zuki
Lunge Punch
Jun Zuki
Front Punch
Gyaku Zuki
Reverse Punch
Yumi Zuki
Bow Punch

Stances (Dachi)

Dachi
Stance
Hachiji Dachi
Balanced Stance
Zenkutsu Dachi
Front Stance
Kokutsu Dachi
Back Stance
Nekoashi Dachi
Cat Stance
Kiba Dachi
Horse Riding Stance
Sanchin Dachi
Hourglass Glass Stance
Ju-Dachi
Fighting Stance

Kicks

Keri
Kick (please note it is referred as “geri” in combined techniques)
Mae-Geri
Front Snap Kick
Yoko Geri
Side Kick
Ushiro Geri
Reverse Back Kick
Mikazuki Geri
Inside Crescent Kick
Mawashi Geri
Roundhouse Kick
Tobi Nidan Geri
Double Jumping Kick
Ashi-Barai
Leg Sweep

Strikes

Uchi
Strike
Shuto-Uchi
Pumped Knife Hand Strike
Teisho-Uchi
Palm Strike
Empi-Uchi
Elbow Strike
Nukite
Spear Hand
Haito
Upside Down Shuto (Ridge Hand)
Uraken
Back Hand Strike

Formal Count

Ichi
1
Ni
2
San
3
Shi
4
Go
5
Roku
6
Shichi
7
Hachi
8
Ku
9
Ju
10
Ju Ichi
11
Ju Ni
12

Belt Rankings

Ju Kyu
White
Ku Kyu
Yellow
Hachi Kyu
Orange
Shichi+Roku Kyu
Green
Go+Shi Kyu
Blue
San+Ni Kyu
Brown
Ichi Kyu
Shodan Kyu

Black Belt Rankings

Shodan
1st Degree Black Belt
Nidan
2nd Degree Black Belt
Sandan
3rd Degree Black Belt
Yodan
4th Degree Black Belt
Godan
5th Degree Black Belt
Rokudan
6th Degree Black Belt
Shichidan
7th Degree Black Belt
Hachidan
8th Degree Black Belt
Kudan
9th Degree Black Belt
Judan
10th Degree Black Belt********Special degree designated for an individual who devised their own style.*****

Tournament Terms

Ippon
Full point (in real life, would kill them)
Wazari
Half-point
Junbi
Get ready
Hajime
Go
Yame
Stop
Aiuchi
Clash
Toranti
Not Enough
Aka
Red
Shiro
White
Hantei
Winner

General Terms

Shiai
Tournament
Shinsa
Grading
Narabi
Line up
Marari
Turn around
Suwaru
Sit Down
Tetsui
Stand up
Ude
Inside
Soto
Outside
Yoko
Side
Mae
Front
Ushiro
Back/Reverse
Keagi
Snap
Kekomi
Thrust/punch
Tai sabaki
Body evasion movement
Jodan
High
Chudan
Mid
Gedan
Low
Migi
Right
Hidari/Kidari
Left
Karate
empty hand
Do
The Way of
Wado
Way of Peace and Harmony
Sensei
Instructor (“sen”-ahead, “sei”-life, so a person ahead of others on the floor)
Sempai
Assistant instructor/senior student
Shihan
Master
Gi
Attire
Kyu
Colour belt level
Dan
Black belt level
Mudansha
Holder of a color belt
Yudansha
Holder of a black belt
Bun Kai
“The Truth”; interpretation of the kata
Kote
Gloves/fighting gear
Arigato
Thank you
Arigato gozaimashita
Thank you for what you have done
Kiai
Focused points (where your body and mind come as one)
Kubudo
Weapons training
Ki
Spirit/power

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