Basic Karate Vocabulary
The Basics
Dojo: training hall
Gi: karate uniform
Kihon: basic techniques
Kata: form or pattern of techniques against an imaginary opponent
Kumite: sparring
Kiai: the martial shout
Kime: mental focus
Jodan: upper-section (head, face)
Chudan: mid-section
Gedan: lower-section
Commands
Rei: bow
Shomen ni: face the front
Sensei ni: face the teacher
Seiza: kneel in sitting position
Mokuso: meditate
Yoi: ready
Hajime: begin
Yame: stop
Mawatte: turn around
Stances
Zenkutusu-dachi: front stance
Kiba-dachi: horse stance
Kokutsu-dachi: back stance or L-stance
Blocks
Age-uke: rising block
Soto-uke: outside block
Uchi-uke: inside block
Gedan-barai: downward block
Shuto-uke: Knife-hand block
Kicks
Mae-geri: front kick
Mawashi-geri: round kick
Yoko kekomi: side thrust kick
Yoko keage: side snap kick
Ushiro-geri: back kick
Punches
Oi-zuki: stepping punch
Gyaku-zuki: reverse punch
Kazami-zuki: jab punch
Counting 1 -10 in Japanese
1: ichi 2: ni 3: san 4: shi 5: go |
6: roku 7: shichi 8: hachi 9: kyu 10: ju |