Translation of Common terms

age - upper/rising
age uke - rising block (particularly to jodan, jodan age uke)
age zuki - rising punch
ashi barai - foot sweep. Either a hooking sweep using the inside/instep of the foot (sokko) or a larger sweeping of the leg.
ashi o kaete - Change stance, as from left foot to right (ashi means foot/feet)
ashi sabaki - foot movement
ashi tanren - leg conditioning
ate - joint strike
awase zuki - U punch. Double fist punch consisting of seiken zuki and ura zuki executed simultaneously.
ayumi ashi - natural stepping/walking
barai - parry
bensoku dachi - similar to kosa dachi but both feet flat on ground.
boshiken zuki - similar to seiken zuki but thumb presses firmly against the bent side of the index finger. Thumb is used to strike.
bunkai - techniques and applications of a kata
chakuchi - replacing
chishi - stone lever weight. Flat stone or concrete weight with a straight handle (typically 3-6kg). Originally an Okinawan tool for packing soil.
chudan - Middle level, belt up to collar (e.g. stomach)
dojo - Literally "way-place," or "place for learning the way," name for karate school/training room.
fudo dachi or sochin dachi (free/immovable stance)
fumikomi geri - stamping kick, strike is made by stamping inwards (the kansetsu geri is similar but towards the outside).
furi zuki - circular punch. Delivered in large circular path with swing of hips, top of hand facing inwards.
gasshuku - training camp
gedan - Lower level, "below the belt" (e.g. abdomen, groin, legs)
gedan barai - downward circular block
gi - Karate uniform (or dogi /doe-ghee/).
go kumite - full contact sparring
gyaku - reverse
gyaku mawashi geri - reverse roundhouse kick. Delivered from inside to outside of body.
gyaku zenkutsu dachi (rear defense stance) - As in zenkutsu-dachi but turned around so straight leg points forward. Head and torso turned to face forward, leaning to the rear.
gyaku zuki - reverse (rear) punch, delivered with twist of hips.
haisoku barai - instep block. Foot swung from inside to outside.
haito uchi - ridge-hand strike. Hand held as in nukite but strike is made with inside of hand, a little below the index finger.
hajime - Begin at your own speed, continue to your own count, as in free sparring or kata.
han zenkutsu dachi (half front stance) - As for zenkutsu-dachi, but feet only one shoulder-width apart. Weight is distributed evenly. Front knee is bent so that toes are obscured.
hanmi kokutsu dachi - as for kokutsu dachi, but rear leg is placed slightly to the side. Rear foot points directly sideways with back of foot aligned with big toe of front foot.
hara - centre, centre of mass
heiko dachi (natural stance) - Feet parallel, shoulder-width apart.
heiko zuki - Parallel punch. Double fist punch consisting of simultaneous left and right seiken zuki punch.
heisoku dachi (ready stance) - Feet together, legs straight and relaxed.
hidari - Left side
hiji uchi or hiji ate - elbow strike
hiki uke - pulling/grasping block
hiza geri or hiza ate - knee kick
hiza uke - knee block. hiza uchi uke (knee block from outside to inside) and hiza soto uke (knee block from inside to outside).
hoju undo - supplementary exercises utilising aids to develop strength, stamina, speed and coordination (see above)
honbu dojo - central dojo of an organisation/region
ippon kumite - one step sparring (block and counter)
ishisashi - stone padlock, with uses similar to a dumbell.
jari bako - sand-box
jiyu ippon kumite - free one step sparring, emphasis on technique
jiyu kumite - hard and fast controlled continuous free fighting (iri kumi in the Okinawan dialect)
jodan - Upper level, collar and up (e.g. face, head, throat)
junbi owarimasu - end of warmups
junbi undo - warmup and preliminary exercises
kagi zuki - hook punch
kaiko-ken zuki - crab shell fist. Thumb bent and pressed against palm. First knuckles straighted and fingers curled inwards to touch edge of plam. Strike is made with middle bone of the fingers.
kaiten ashi - forward step pivot
kakato geri - inside crescent kick (outside to inside). Also called uchi mikazuki geri.
kakatoto oshi - heel kick/heel drop
kake geri - hook kick
kake uke - hook block
kakie - a type of hand/arm exercise and associated applications used mostly for close combat. Also for improving strength, control and muchimi.
kamae - stance and distancing as assumed for sparring
kansetsu geri - stamping kick, joint kick
karate- "Empty hand" or weaponless art of defense.
karate-do - the way of karate. do means way or path (from the chinese tao).
karateka - a karate practioner
kata - a sequence of pre-arranged movements and techniques
keiko-ken zuki - one knuckle fist. Index finger joint protrudes slightly and is held firmly in place by thumb.
keri (-geri) - kick
keri ashi - kicking foot
ki - spirit and energy (similar to chi)
kiai - shout given as techniques are delivered to focus energy
kiba dachi or naifanchi dachi (horse stance) - Feet roughly two shoulder-widths apart, parallel, toes pointed forwards.
kihon - basics
kime - focus
kin geri - Gedan kick using kasokutei (top of foot ).
kizami zuki - leading punch, jab
ko uchi - bent wrist strike, similar to ura ken uchi with open hand (wrist is initially bent, but snaps out).
ko uke - wrist block, wrist bent inwards, middle finger touching thumb. Block with end of forearm (particularly jodan ko uke). Also called koken uke.
kokutsu dachi (back stance) - Rear knee bent, with foot facing to the outside. Forward leg approximately two shoulder-widths in front of and perpendicular to rear foot (i.e. facing forwards). 70% of weight on rear leg, 30% on foward leg.
kongoken - oval metal weight (invented by Chojun Miyagi, typically 30-40kg)
kosa dachi (crossed-leg stance) - One leg crossed over the other with both knees bent. Front foot flat on ground. Rear leg supported on ball of foot. Front foot facing to outside at 45º.
kosa uke (cross block) - arms crossed at wrist, with backs of hands facing downwards and inwards towards each other.
kote uchi - forearm strike.
kumite - sparring
kuri uka - circular elbow block
ma-ai - correct distancing or timing with respect to one's partner
mae - Front
mae geri - front kick. mae geri keage is a snap front kick, and mae geri kekomi is a thrust front kick. The strike is made with the ball of the foot (josokutei), and with the toes pulled up and back. mae kakato geri is a kick that strikes with the heel.
mae tobi geri - jumping front kick
makiage kigu - wrist roller
makiwara - striking post. A post with the striking area wrapped in rope (hence the name) or leather.
mawashi - Around, eg round-house
mawashi geri - roundhouse kick
mawashi zuki - round hook punch, with top of hand facing outwards/upwards.
mawatte - Turn around/other way
migi - Right side
mikazuki geri - crescent kick (inside to outside). Also called soto mikazuki geri.
mokuso - Meditation (eye's closed)
morote - both hands simultaneously
moto dachi - Similar to naname shiko dachi, but leading foot points directly forward and rear foot points directly outwards.
muchimi - heavy/sticky but still flowing (a desirable feature of many techniques)
mushin - to do something automatically or without having to think about it.
musubi dachi (ready stance) - Heels together, with each foot pointing outwards 45º (forming a right angle between the feet).
nagashi uke - sweeping block
naihanchi dachi - as for sanchin dachi but feet even (neither is further forward than the other).
nakadaka ippon-ken zuki or just nakadaka zuki - middle knuckle punch. Similar to keiko-ken zuki, but using second finger. Thumb and index finger press firmly against middle finger to hold it in place.
naname shiko dachi (diagonal straddle stance) - as for shiko dachi but at a 45º angle.
neko ashi dachi (cat stance) - Rear knee bent, with foot flat on ground, and toes facing to the outside. Resting lightly (10%) on the front leg, approximately one shoulder-width from the rear leg. Toes of front foot facing forwards, flat on ground with heel of foot raised. Crouching slightly, with front leg in centre of body, bent a little at the knee. Torso erect.
nigiri-game - gripping jar
nukite zuki - finger thrust/spear hand. Straight hand, middle finger slightly bent so first three fingers are roughly even in length. Thumb bent and held tightly against palm.
obi - Belt
oi zuki - lunge punch
osae uke - pressing block
otoshi geri - descending kick, or axe kick (also otoshi kake geri)
otoshi uke - descending block, eg shotei otoshi uke (palm-heel descending block)
randori kumite - slow and soft free style sparring with emphasis on technique
renoji dachi (Japanese character Re stance) - Feet one shoulder width apart, front leg in centre of body pointing directly forwards. Rear leg pointing outwards 45º. Legs relaxed and straight.
ritsurei - standing bow
sabaki - general term for body moving/shifting techniques
san dan gi - basic three step/three level sparring
sanbon kumite - three step sparring
sanbon shobu kumite or shiai kumite - three point competition karate
sanchin dachi (tension stance) - Feet shoulder-width apart, weight distributed evenly over both legs. Kneeds tensed and pulled inwards. Forward foot slightly ahead of rear foot, so that back of front foot aligns with the front of the rear foot. Toes pointed slightly inward. Back straight and hips tensed, with pelvis pulled forwards and upwards.
sashi-ishi - natural stone weights
seiken - normal fist (front two knuckles)
seiken zuki or choku zuki - basic punch with closed fist, striking with front two knuckles.
seiza - kneeling
sempai - Senior student
sensei - Instructor
sesan dachi (side facing straddle stance) - Similar to yokomuki shiko dachi, but leading foot points directly forward and rear foot points directly outwards.
shihan - chief/master instructor. For IOGKF Goju Ryu this is Morio Higaonna.
shiko dachi (straddle stance) - Feet spread approximately two shoulder-widths apart, toes pointed outward at 45º. Weight distributed evenly over both legs. Knees bent deeply and pulled back as far as possible. Torso erect. Lower legs/shins approximately vertical.
shime - testing of sanchin kata
shirasagiashi dachi or sagiashi dachi (one-legged or crane stance) - Leg raised and tucked behind knee of supporting leg. Supporting leg bent at knee and foot turned outward, weight shifted back above supporting leg.
shotei uke - palm heel block, particularly to gedan, also called shotei gedan barai.
shotei zuki - palm-heel thrust. Hand is open as in nukite, wrist bent back. Strike made with bottom of hand, as in tettsui (also called teisho zuki).
shuto uchi - knife-hand strike, eg shuto hasami uchi (knife-hand strike to neck).
shuto uke - knife hand block
sokutei harai uke - block with the sole of the foot. Foot swung from outside to inside.
sokutei osae uke - pressing block with sole of the foot. Pressing down hard against the attacker's ankle, as in a yoko geri.
soto - outside (inside to outside)
soto hachiji dachi or just hachiji dachi (natural stance) - Feet shoulder-width apart, feet both pointing outwards at 45º.
sukui uke - scoop block
suri ashi - sliding step
tai sabaki - body movement
tako ashi - gripping the floor with spread toes.
tan - barbell. Originally the wheels of a trolley.
tateken zuki - vertical fist punch. Top of hand faces out to the side.
te o kaete - Change hands, used for all hand techniques (te means hand/hands)
te sabaki - hand movement
temochi-shiki makiwara - hanging striking post
tenkan ashi - pivot - pivot backstep
tenshin - moving, shifting
tetsu geta - iron clogs
tetsuarei - dumbell
tetsui uke - hammerfist block
tettsui uchi - bottom fist strike. Closed fist, strike with bottom of fist.
tobi geri - jumping kick
tobi nidan geri - jumping double kick
tora guchi - highly circular block simultaneously to both gedan and jodan, ending with a push forward (characteristic of Goju Ryu).
tou - cane or bamboo bundle
tsugi ashi - shuffling step
tzuki (-zuki) - punch
uchi - inside (outside to inside) or strike
uchi hachiji dachi (natural stance) - As for soto-hachiji-dachi but feet pointing slightly inwards.
uchi yoko uke - inside forearm block
ude tanren - forearm conditioning
uke - block
ura ken uchi - back fist strike, snapping wrist, striking with top of knuckles.
ura mawashi geri - spinning roudhouse kick
ura mikazuki tobi geri - spinning jumping crescent kick
ura ushiro tobi geri - spinning jumping back kick
ura yoko geri - spinning side kick
ura yoko tobi geri - spinning jumping side kick
ura zuki - short punch (palm side up)
ushiro - Back
ushiro geri - back thrust kick
ushiro tobi geri - jumping back kick
yakusoku kumite - prearranged sparring
yama zuki (mountain punch) - Double punch as in awase zuki, but seiken zuki is higher and is delivered in a circular over-arm fashion and ura zuki is lower and rises slightly.
yame - Stop.
yoi - Ready position (for kata etc.), in musubi dachi stance, hands one fist in front of belt, crossed left over right, palms down.
yoko - Side
yoko geri - side kick. yoko geri keage is a snap side kick, and yoko geri kekomi is a thrust side kick. The strike is with sokuto, the outside edge of the foot.
yoko tobi geri - jumping side thrust kick
yoko uke - side block (particularly to mid height, chudan yoko uke). Palm up, blocking with thumb side of forearm, to the ouside. Also called soto ude uke, soto yoko uke, and ude uke.
yokomuki shiko dachi (sideways straddle stance) - As for shiko-dachi, but looking directly to the side.
yori ashi - dragging step
zarei - sitting bow
zenkutsu dachi (front stance) - Forward leg bent at the knee with 60% of weight on front leg and 40% on rear leg. Knee of rear leg locked and extended approximately two shoulder-widths behind lead foot. Torso erect. Feet facing outwards at 45º.
zu zuki - headbutt.