Terminology

 

 

General Terms

 

Dojo Trainining Hall Shomen Front
Karate Empty Hand / Chinese Hand Shomen ni rei Bow to front
Hidari Left Shoto Pine Waves
Gi Training suit Shotokan Hall of Pinewaves
Kiai Expression of spirit
Kime Focus of power
Mawate Turn
Migi Right

Morote

Double
Obi Belt
Rei Bow

 

 

Stances

 

Dachi Stance
Hangetsu Dachi Half Moon Stance
Heiko Dachi Parallel Stance
Heisoku Dachi Informal Attention stance (feet together)
Kiba Dachi Horse riding stance
Kokutso Dachi Back Stance
Musubi Dachi Knot Stance
Neko Ashi Dachi Cat stance
Renoji Dachi L Stance
Shiko Dachi Square stance
Shizentai Natural stance
Tsuruashi Dachi Crane Stance
Uchi Hachiji Dachi Inverted open leg stance
Zenkutsu Dachi Front stance

 

 

Blocks

 

Age Uke Upper Rising Block

Ashibo Kake Uke

Leg Hooking Block
Gedan Barai Downward block/sweep
Haishu Uke Backhand Block
Juji Uke Cross/ x block
Kake Uke Hooking Block
Kakiwake Uke Wedge Block
Kakuto Uke Bent wrist block
Morote Uke Double/augmented forearm block
Manji Uke Swastika block/High Low block/ chinese block
Nagashi Uke Sweeping block
Shuto Uke Knife Hand Block
Soto ude Uke Outside Forearm Block
Sukui Uke Scooping Block
Tekubi Kake Uke Wrist hooking block
Te Osae Uke Hand pressing block
Tsukami Uke Grasping Block
Uchi Ude Uke Inside Forearm Block

 

 

Punches

 

Age Zuki Rising Punch
Awase Zuki U - Punch
Choku Zuki Straight Punch
Gyaku Zuki Reverse Punch
Heiko Zuki Parallel Punch
Kagi Zuki Hook Punch
Kizami Zuki Jab Punch
Oi Zuki Stepping Punch
Sanbon Zuki Three Punches
Tate Zuki Vertical Fist Punch
Ura Zuki Close Punch
Yama Zuki Mountain / Wide U Punch

 

 

Strikes

 

Empi Uchi Elbow Strike
Hashu Uchi Backhand Strike
Haito Uchi Ridge Hand Strike
Hiji Ate Elbow Strike
Nakadaka Ippon Ken Middle Finger One Knuckle Fist
Nihon Nukite Two finger spearhand
Nukite Spearhand
Otoshi Empi Uchi Downward/Dropping Elbow strike
Shuto Uchi Knifehand Strike
Uraken Uchi Back Fist Strike

 

 

Kicks

 

 

Fumikiri Cutting Kick
Fumikomi Stamping Kick
Geri Kick
Kekomi Thrust Kick
Mae Geri Keage Front snap Kick
Mae Geri Kekomi Front Thrust Kick
Mae Tobi Geri Front Jumping Kick
Mawashi Geri Roundhouse Kick
Mikazuki Geri Crescent Kick
Ushiro Geri Back Kick
Yoko Geri Keage Side snap kick
Yoko Geri Kekomi Side Thrust Kick

 

 

Parts of the Body

 

Ago Chin Kanjinoke Hair
Ashi Foot or leg Kau Face
Ashiko Instep Keito Chicken Hand Wrist
Ashikubi Ankle Kentsui Hammer Fist
Chichi Nipple Koko Tiger Mouth
Chudan Chest/middle level Koshi Ball of foot / Hips
Chusoku Ball of Foot Kote Wrist
Do Torso / Trunk of the body Kubi Neck
Empi Elbow Kuchi Mouth
Ensho Round Heel Kumade Bear Hand
Gaiwan Outer Arm Me Eyes (pronounced may)
Gedan Groin / Lower level Mune Chest / Abdomen
Gawa Side Naiwan Inner arm
Goshi Hip Seika Tanden Lower Abdomen
Haibu Back Area Seiken Forefist
Haishu Back of Hand Seiryuto Ox Jaw Hand
Haisoku Instep Shita Tongue
Haito Ridge Hand Shuwan Palm Arm
Haiwan Back Arm Sokuto Edge of foot
Hana Nose Tanden Lower Abdomen
Hiji Elbow Te Hand
Hiraken Flat / Fore Knuckle Fist Teisho Palm Heel
Hiza Knee / Lap Tobu Head area except face
Ippon Ken One Knuckle Fist Tsumasaki Tips of toes
Kaisho Open Hand Ubi Fingers
Kakato Heel Wan Arm
Kakuto Bent Wrist Washide Eagle Hand

 

 

Oss

 

Is a curious term which is heard often throughout all Karate Lessons. It can mean a multitude of different things. It can be used as a greeting when bowing to other karateka, it can be used to indicate to other karateka that you are ready, it can be used to the instructor to indicate that you have understood an instruction. It can be used as a mark of respect when bowing to higher grades and it can also be used as a respectful way of saying to the Instructor I understand but please be patient whilst I try to put what you have taught me into practice.

 

Oss derives from two Chinese characters one means to bear hardship the other to push aside obstacles.