Terminology

Terminology

Below is the terminology you will encounter throughout your time in the dojo. It is useful to understand what these words mean and vital for your black belt exam. Use this page to revise for the test.

Dojo Kun

Hitotsu. Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto
Hitotsu. Makoto no michi wo mamoru koto
Hitotsu. Doryoku no Seishin wo yashinau koto
Hitotsu. Reigi wo omonzuru koto
Hitotsu. Kekki no yu wo imashimuru koto

 One, to strive for the perfection of character.
One, to defend the path of truth.
One, to foster the spirit of effort.
One, to honour the principles of etiquette.
One, to guard against impetuous courage.

Beginning Commands

  • Seiretsu: Line up by rank
  • Seiza: Meditation position-kneeling
  • Mokuso: Meditate/Gather Your Thoughts
  • Shomen ni: Face towards the front
  • Sensei ni: Face towards the teacher
  • Rei: Bow

General Commands

  • Yoi: Ready
  • Hajime: Begin
  • Yame: Stop
  • Yasume: Relax (or ready position)
  • Mawatte: Turn around

Directions

  • Mae: Front
  • Yoko: Side
  • Ushiro: Back
  • Mawashi: Round
  • Jodan: Head high level
  • Chudan: Mid-high level
  • Gedan: Low level; Down
  • Migi: Right
  • Hidari: Left
  • Gyaku: Reverse
  • Age: Rising
  • Uchi: Inner
  • Soto: Outer

Descriptions of Techniques

  • Waza: Technique
  • Dachi: Stance
  • Tsuki (Zuki): Punch
  • Uchi: Strike
  • Uke: Block
  • Geri: Kick

Dachi Waza (Stances)

  • Heisoku dachi: Feet Together Stance
  • Zenkutsu dachi: Front Stance
  • Kokutsu dachi: Back Stance
  • Musubi dachi: Formal Attention Stance (feet in a ‘V”)
  • Hachiji dachi: Open-legged Stance (Yoi)
  • Kame: Fighting Stance

Tsuki Waza (Punches)

  • Oi tsuki: Lunge punch
  • Gyaku tsuki: Reverse punch
  • Kizami tsuki: Jab
  • Oi-gyaku tsuki: Lunging reverse punch

Uchi Waza (Strikes)

  • Nukite: Spear-hand
  • Uraken-uchi: back fist back of fist strike
  • Enpi-uchi: elbow strike elbow strike

Uke Waza (Blocks)

  • Age uke: Rising block
  • Gedan barai: Down block
  • Soto ude uke: Outside forearm block
  • Uchi ude uke: Inside forearm block
  • Shuto uke: Knife-hand block
  • Morote uke: Augmented block

Geri Waza (Kicks)

  • Mae geri: Front kick
  • Mawashi geri: Roundhouse kick
  • Yoko geri keage: Side snap kick
  • Yoko geri kekomi: Side thrust kick
  • Ushiro geri: Back thrust kick
  • Fumikomi geri: Stomping kick (Heian 3, 5)

Counting

  • Ichi: One
  • Ni: Two
  • San: Three
  • Shi: Four
  • Go: Five
  • Roku: Six
  • Shichi: Seven
  • Hachi: Eight
  • Ku: Nine
  • Ju: Ten

General Terms

  • Karate: Empty Hands
  • Do: Way
  • Karate Do: The Way of Karate
  • Karateka: Practitioner of Karate
  • Shotokan: “House of Shoto”; “Pine Sea”; pen name of Funakoshi.
  • Dojo: School or training room
  • Sensei: Teacher
  • Sempai: Senior students
  • Renshi: Entry Level Master
  • Shihan: Master Instructor
  • Kyu: Rank (Lower colored belts)
  • Dan: Rank (Upper black belts)
  • Gi: Uniform
  • Obi: Belt
  • Hai: Yes
  • Iie: No
  • Osu: “I understand and will try my best.”
  • Kiai: Spirit shout/focus of spiritual energy
  • Dozo: Please
  • Domo Arigato Gozaimashita: “Thank-you very much”
  • Onegai Shimasu: Said to one’s partner when initiating practice.
  • Kime: Focus
  • Kihon: Fundamentals/Basics
  • Kata: Practice form
  • Embusen: Floor pattern/lines of a kata
  • Bunkai: Application (interpretation) of kata techniques

Kumite

  • Kumite: Sparring/fighting
  • Ippon kumite: One-step sparring
  • Sanbon kumite: Three-step sparring
  • Gohon kumite: Five-step sparring
  • Yakusoku kumite: “Promise” premeditated sparring
  • Jiyyu kumite: Free sparring

COLORS (IRO)

  • White Shiro
  • Purple Murasaki
  • Yellow Kiiroi
  • Orange Orenji
  • Blue Aoi
  • Green Midori
  • Brown Chairo
  • Black Kuroi
  • Red Akai