GLOSSARY

The following is a partial list of terms that will help you better understand the Japanese Karate commands of the dojo.

age-uke: rising block
aka: red
ashi: foot
ao: blue
bunkai: self-defense application of a movement
cha: brown
chi: four
choku-zuki: straight punch
chudan: middle level
do: the way (meaning)
dojo: sacred training hall
empi: elbow
fumikomi: stomping kick
gedan: low level
gedan barai: downward block (sweep)
gi: uniform
go: five
godan: fifth level
gyaku: reverse
gyaku-tsuki: reverse punch
haishu: the back of the hand
haito-uchi: ridge-hand strike
hachi: eight
Heian (Shodan): peaceful way (peaceful mind)
heiko-dachi: stance with feet apart and held parallel
heisoku: top of the foot
heisoku-dachi: attention stance with the feet and toes together
hiki-te: the withdrawing hand
hiza: knee
ippon-kumite: one-step sparring
ichi: one
ikken hissatsu: to kill with one blow
jiyu: free; freedom; liberty
jiyu kumite: free sparring
jodan: upper-level
ju: ten
kagi-zuki: hook (short) punch
kamae: combative or fighting posture (stance)
karate: empty-hand
kata: formal training exercise set of movements (i.e. Taikyoku Shodan)
keage: snapping movement (i.e. kicking)
kekomi: thrusting movement (i.e. kicking)
keri: kicking
kiba-dachi: straddle-leg stance
kihon: basic, elementary, fundamentals
kime: the combination of focus and explosive energy required to deliver a decisive technique
kiotsuke: attention, or stand at attention
kizami-tsuki: jab
kokutsu-dachi: back stance
kosa-dachi: crossed-leg stance
kote: wrist
kote-gaeshi: wrist lock
ku: nine
kumade-uchi: bear-claw strike
kumite: sparring
maai: distance
mae-geri: front snap kick
mawashi-geri: roundhouse kick
midori: green
morote: two-handed or both handed augmented technique
nagashi-uke: deflection or sweeping block
nage: throw (throwing one's opponent down)
narande: to line-up
nidan: second level
nukite: finger(s)
oi-tsuki: lunge punch
obi: belt
osoto-gari: major outside leg sweep
rei: bow
ren-tsuki: double punch (continuous punching)
roku: six
san: three
sandan: third level
seiza: sit or kneeling
seiryuto-uchi: ox-jaw strike
sensei: teacher
sempai: "senior" student
sichi: four
sihon-nukite: spear-hand strike
shiro: white
shodan: first level (1st degree black belt)
shuto-uchi: knife-hand strike
shuto-uke: knife-hand block
soto-uke: outside block
sun-dome: arresting a technique (3 centimeters) before making contact
Taikyoku (Shodan): the first cause (number one)
tate-shuto-uke: vertical knife-hand block
teisho-uchi: palm-heel strike
tsuki: punch (sometimes spelled "zuki")
uchi: strike
ude-uke: forearm block
uke: block
ukemi: breakfalling (falling safely)
uraken-uchi: back-fist strike
ushiro-geri: back thrust kick
yodan: fourth level
yoi: ready or ready position
yoko: side
yoko-geri: side kick
yori-ashi: sliding foot
zenkutsu-dachi: front stance