| Martial Arts Dictionary… |
| Not sure what Sensei is saying? Find it here. |
|
| Martial Arts Terminology Japanese to English |
| A |
| Age |
Rising |
| Age tsuki |
Rising punch |
| Age uke |
Rising block |
| Aka |
Red |
| Ashi |
Foot/leg |
|
| b |
| Bunkai |
Application of form/kata |
| Bushi |
Warrior class of Japan |
| Bushido |
Way of the warrior |
| Bujutsu |
Fighting arts of the warrior class of Japan |
|
| c |
| Choku tsuki |
Straight punch |
| Chudan |
Middle (of body, i.e. torso) |
|
| d |
| Dachi |
Stance |
| Dan |
Rank of black belt; 1st dan is the lowest, 10th the highest |
| Do |
The way |
| Dojo |
Exercise hall, the place where one practices the martial arts |
|
| e |
| Empi |
Elbow |
| Empi uchi |
Elbow strike |
| Empi uke |
Elbow block |
|
| f |
| Fumikomi |
Stamping kick |
| Funakoshi, Gichin |
Father of Japanese Karate |
|
| g |
| Gedan |
Lower, waist or below |
| Gedan barai |
Low block |
| Gedan juji uke |
Lower X-block |
| Gedan shuto uke |
Lower knife-hand block |
| Geri |
Kick |
| Gi |
Uniform for practicing martial arts |
| Go |
Five |
|
| Gyaku |
Reverse, reversal |
| Gyaku tsuki |
Reverse punch (opposite hand and leg) |
|
| h |
| Hachi |
Eight. |
| Hachiji dachi |
Open leg stance |
| Hadari |
Left |
| Haitto |
Ridge hand (first knuckle of thumb and side of hand) |
| Haitto uchi |
Ridge hand strike |
| Hajimae |
Begin |
| Herajika-San |
Moose Mountain |
| Hidari |
Left (side) |
| Hittsui |
Knee |
| Hittsui geri |
Knee strike (upward, side) |
|
| i |
| Ichi or Sho |
One. |
| Ippon |
Full point in a contest |
| Ippon kumite |
One step sparring |
|
| j |
| Jiyu kumite |
Free sparring |
| Jodan |
Upper, shoulders or above |
| Jodan juji uke |
High X-block |
| Joseke |
Upper seat |
| Ju |
Ten. |
| Ju-ichi |
Eleven. |
| Juji |
Cross. Juji gatame, juji uke |
| Juji uke |
X-block |
|
| k |
| Kagi tsuki |
Hook punch |
| Kakiwake uke |
Pushing through block |
| Kamae |
Literally, “fortress”; protection provided the back hand |
| Kara |
Empty |
| Karate |
A martial arts style featuring strikes |
| Literally, “empty hand” |
| Kata |
Stylized form, pre-arranged techniques simulating an imaginary fight |
| Katana |
Long sword |
| Ki |
Vital energy. |
| Kiai |
Shout or yell with vital energy (ki) |
| Kiba dachi |
Horse stance |
| Kime |
Focus |
| Kokutsu dachi |
Back stance |
| Ku |
Nine. |
| Kumite |
Sparring |
| Kyu |
Grade under black belt; 10th kyu is the lowest and 1st the highest. |
|
| l |
|
| m |
| Mae |
Front |
| Mae geri |
Front kick |
| Mae geri keage |
Front snap kick |
| Mae geri kekomi |
Front thrust kick |
| Mae tobi geri |
Jump front kick |
| Makiwara |
Punching board |
| Matae |
Stop |
| Mawashi geri |
Roundhouse kick |
| Mawashi tsuki |
Roundhouse punch |
| Migi |
Right (side) |
| Mikazuki |
Crescent |
| Mikazuki geri |
Crescent kick |
| Mikazuki geri uke |
Crescent kick block |
| Morote |
Two arm or two hand |
| Morote tsuki |
Double forward fist strike |
| Morote uke |
Double forearm block |
| Mudansha |
Non black belt holder |
|
| n |
| Nagashi uke |
Flowing block |
| Necho |
Cat |
| Necho ashi dachi |
Cat stance |
| Ni |
Two. |
| Nidan geri |
Double jump kick |
| Ni-ju |
Twenty. |
| Ni-ju-ichi |
Twenty one. |
| Nukite |
Spear hand |
|
| o |
| Obi |
Belt |
| Ohtsuka, Hinori |
10th dan; founder of Wado Kai Karate |
| Oi tsuki |
Forward lunge punch (same side hand and leg) |
| Okuri ashi barai |
Foot sweep |
|
| p |
|
| q |
|
| r |
| Randori |
Free practice (judo sparring) |
| Rei |
Bow |
| Roku |
Six. |
| Ryu |
Style of school or martial art |
|
| s |
| San |
Three. |
| Sanchin dachi |
Hourglass stance (derived from Sanchin kata) |
| San-ju |
Thirty |
| Seiza |
Sitting position |
| Sempai |
Senior |
| Sensei |
Teacher |
| Shi |
Four. |
| Shichi |
Seven. |
| Shihan |
Master instructor (4th-5th Dan) |
| Shintani, Masaru |
9th dan; direct student of Sensei Ohtsuka and former president of SWKKF |
| Shiro |
White |
| Shotei |
Palm heel strike (also may use as block) |
| Shuto |
Knife-edge hand (little-finger side of palm) |
| Shuto uchi |
Knife hand strike |
| Shuto uke |
Knife hand block |
| Soto ude uke |
Outside forearm block |
|
| t |
| Tate tsuki |
Vertical punch |
| Te |
Hand. See also Karate |
| Teisho |
Palm heel |
| Teisho tsuki |
Palm heel punch |
| Teisho uchi |
Palm heel strike |
| Teisho uke |
Palm heel block |
| Tettsui |
Hammer fist; downward strike with closed fist, little finger side as the striking surface |
| Te-waza |
Hand techniques |
| Tori |
Defender, demonstrator of technique; or, pull |
| Tsuki |
Punch; knuckle strike with first two knuckles only |
| Tsuki waza |
Punching techniques |
|
| u |
| Uchi |
Inner; or, Strike. |
| Uchi waza |
Striking techniques |
| Ude |
Forearm |
| Ude uki |
Forearm block |
| Uke |
Block (Age uke); or, Attacker, on whom techniques are practiced |
| Uraken uchi |
Back fist strike |
| Ushiro |
Rear |
| Ushiro geri |
Back kick |
|
| v |
|
| w |
|
|
| x |
|
| y |
| Yoi |
Ready |
| Yoko |
Side |
| Yoko geri |
Side kick |
| Yudansha |
One who is a black belt |
|
| z |
| Zazen |
Sitting meditation |
| Zen |
1. Buddhist sect |
| 2. Religious meditation |
| Zenkutzo dachi |
Front stance |
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Moose Mountain Karate 