| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Many of the English words have more than 1 Japanese translation. This is because of the context of which it may be applied. Also there are different dialects of the Japanese language (old and new).
For a list of areas, targets, and general body parts terminology.
Go To Body Parts
| Age | Rising |
|---|---|
| Age tsuki | Rising punch |
| Age uke | Rising block |
| Ago | Chin or jaw |
| Agura | Informal sitting |
| Aka | Red |
| Aka Ippon | Red point (tournament sparring) |
| Akiresu ken | Achilles tendon |
| Ana ta no catch | (You are)Winner |
| Arigato | Thank-you |
| Ashi or Ashibo | Leg or shin |
| Ashi kubi | Ankle |
| Ashi waza | Foot techniques |
| Ashi ura | Sole of the foot |
| Ashi yubi | Toes |
| Ashi zoko | Bottom (bottom side)of foot |
| Atemi | Striking |
| Atemi waza | Striking techniques |
| Awase uke | Combination blocks |
| Budo | Martial arts Way |
|---|---|
| Bujutsu | Martial arts techniques |
| Bunkai | Application of a technique |
| Bushi | Warrior class of Japan |
| Bushido | Way of the warrior |
| Choku tsuki | Straight punch |
|---|---|
| Chudan | Midsection of the body |
| Dachi | Stance |
|---|---|
| Dan | Black belt rank |
| De ashi barai | Forward foot sweep |
| Denzook | No count |
| Do | The way |
| Dojo | Martial arts training hall, literally "Place of the Way |
| Dokko | Mastoids |
| Domo Arigato | Thank-you |
| Embusen | Floor pattern of Kata |
|---|---|
| Empi | Elbow |
| Empi uchi | Elbow strike |
| Fukushin | Judge |
|---|---|
| Fukuto | Outside, lower thigh |
| Fumikomi | Stamping kick |
| Fushi | Knucle, joint |
| Ganmen | Face |
|---|---|
| Gai wan | Outer arm |
| Gan or Gansei | Eye |
| Gankaku Dachi | Crane stance - also Tsuru ashi or Sagi ashi dachi |
| Ganmen | Head, face |
| Gasshuku | Special Training Camp |
| Gatame | Hold, arm bar |
| Geashi | Reversal |
| Gedan | Lower part of the body |
| Gedan barai | Low block |
| Gen no sen | Allow one to attack, set up to counter-attack |
| Geri | Kick |
| Gi | Karate Uniform |
| Go | Five |
| Gyaku | Reverse, reversal |
| Gyaku tsuki | Reverse punch |
| Ha | Tooth |
|---|---|
| Hada | Skin |
| Haguki | Gums |
| Hae | Lungs |
| Haibu | Back (back rib area) |
| Haimen | Back or rear side |
| Hana | Nose |
| Hachi | Eight |
| Hachiji dachi | Natural stance |
| Hai | Yes |
| Haishu | Back of the hand |
| Haisoku | Instep |
| Haito | Ridge hand, inner blade of hand |
| Hai wan | Back of the arm |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Hanshi | Master - Usually the highest ranking in the organization |
| Hansoku | Foul |
| Hantei | Decision |
| Hara | Abdomen |
| Harai | Sweep |
| Hidari | Left |
| Hifu | Skin |
| Hiji | Elbow |
| Hitai | Forehead |
| Hiza | Knee |
| Honbu | Headquarters |
| Ibuki | Controlled breathing |
|---|---|
| Ichi | One |
| Ippon | Point (as in scoring) |
| Ippon Kumite | One-step sparring |
| Iyeh | No |
| Jikan | Time - as in tournaments |
|---|---|
| Jinzo | Kidney |
| Jiu Kumite | Freestyle sparring |
| Jodan | Head or upper area |
| Jogai | Out of bounds - tournaments |
| Ju | Ten |
| Ju Dachi | Free Fighting stance |
| Juji | Cross |
| Kache | Winner (Tournament) |
|---|---|
| Kagi | Hooking |
| Kakushin waza | Hidden technique |
| Kaisho | Open hand |
| Kakato | Heel |
| Kakuto | Bent wrist |
| Kake | Application of the technique |
| Kakiwake uke | Pushing through block |
| Kamae | Combative posture |
| Kami or Ke | Hair |
| Kansetsu | Joint lock |
| Kanzo | Liver |
| Kappo | Resuscitating (from knock out) |
| Kara | Empty |
| Karada | Body or physique |
| Karate | Empty hand, or weaponless |
| Karateka | One who practices karate |
| Kasumi | Temple (side of the head) |
| Kata | Pre-arranged form or techniques |
| Keage | Snap kick |
| Katame | Grappling |
| Keibu | Neck |
| Keito uke | Chicken head block |
| Kekome | Thrust kick |
| Kensei | Technique with silent kiai |
| Kentsui uke (tettsui uke) | Hammer fist block |
| Keri waza | Kicking techniques |
| Ketto | Blood |
| Ki | Life force - mind - spirit |
| Kiai | Shout of focus |
| Kihon | Basic technique |
| Kioskite | Attention |
| Kibadachi | Straddle (horse) stance |
| Kime | Focus |
| Kingeri | Groin kick |
| Kinniku | Muscles |
| Kinteki | Testicles |
| Kizami tsuki | Jab punch |
| Kohai | A student junior to one's self |
| Kokutsudachi | Backstance |
| Koken | Wrist, bent wrist |
| Kon bon wa | Good evening (after daylight) |
| Konnichi wa | Good evening (during daylight) |
| Kosa uke | Crossed block |
| Koshi | Ball of foot |
| Ku | Nine |
| Kuchi | Mouth |
| Kubodo | Weapons training |
| Kudasai | Please (if you please) |
| Kudsurogu | Relax or rest |
| Kumiuchi | Grappling |
| Kumite | Sparring |
| Kyobu | Chest |
| Kyu | Colored belt rank |
| Ma-ai | Distancing |
|---|---|
| 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 | Striking board |
| Makoto | Absolute sincerity, from a pure open mind |
| Manabu | Learning by imitating |
| Matte | Wait |
| Mawashi geri | Roundhouse kick |
| Mawashi tsuki | Roundhouse punch, hook punch |
| Mawatte, mawri, mawaru | Turn |
| Me | Eye |
| Men | Face |
| Migi | Right (side) |
| Mikazuki | Crescent |
| Mikazuki geri | Crescent kick |
| Mimi | Ears |
| Mo Ichido | Once again |
| Mokuso | Contemplation, meditation |
| Morote uke | Augmented block |
| Mudansha | Student without black belt rank |
| Mune | Chest |
| Mushin | No mind - to act (or adapt) without thinking |
| Musubi Dachi | Attention stance |
| Myaku | Pulse |
| Naifanchi, Naihanchi Dachi | Straddle stance |
|---|---|
| Nai wan | Inner arm |
| Namiashi | Sweep avoidance |
| Neko | Cat |
| Nekoashidachi | Cat stance |
| Ni | Two |
| Nidan tobi geri | Double jump kick |
| Nodo | Throat |
| Nukite | Spear hand |
| Obi | Belt |
|---|---|
| Ohiyo gozaimasu | Good Morning |
| Oi tsuki | Lunge punch |
| Okuri ashi barai | Foot sweep |
| Onigaishimasu | Please teach me |
| Osoto | Outside |
| Osoto Uke | Outside (forearm) block |
| Osu | Greetings |
| Oswate | Sit down |
| Otate | Stand up |
| Oyasumi nasai | Good night (departure) |
| Oyo waza | Application interpreted from kata techniques |
| Rei | Bow |
|---|---|
| Reigi or reishiki | Etiquette |
| Rensei | Practise tournament - critique |
| Renshi | Expert instructor, one who has mastered himself |
| Rokkotsu | Rib |
| Roku | Six |
| Ryu | School of martial arts |
| Sakotsu | Collar bone |
|---|---|
| San | Three |
| Sanchin dachi | Hourglass stance |
| Satori | Enlightenment |
| Sebone | Backbone, spine |
| Seiryuto | Base of the ridge hand |
| Seiza | Kneeling/Sitting position |
| Sempai | Senior |
| Senaka | The back |
| Sen no sen | Attack at the exact moment of your opponents attack |
| Sensei | Teacher |
| Seoi | Shoulder |
| Seridsu | Line up |
| Shiai | Tournament |
| Shihan | Master Instructor |
| Shikkaku | Disqualification |
| Shin, Shinzo | Heart |
| Shintai | Body |
| Shiri | Buttocks |
| Shita | Tongue |
| Shizen dachi | Sparring stance |
| Sho | Palm of hand |
| Shomen | To the front |
| Shofu | Side of neck |
| Shuto | Knife hand |
| Shuto uchi | Knife hand strike |
| Shuto uke | Knife hand block |
| Sokko | Top of the foot |
| Sokuto | Edge of the foot |
| Soru | Sit down (or kneel) |
| Soto | Outside |
| Soto ude uke (Osoto uke) | Outside forearm block |
| Suigetsu | Solar-plexis |
| Suwari | Sit |
| Tai | Body |
|---|---|
| Taikaky | Build or physique |
| Taisabaki | Body twisting evasion movements |
| Tanden | Navel |
| Tatte | Stand up |
| Te | Hand |
| Te gatana uke (shuto uke) |
Hand sword block |
| Teisho | Palm heel |
| Tenshin | Moving, shifting |
| Tenshin Sho | Divine intervention |
| Tettsui | Hammer fist |
| Tome | Return to original position |
| Tomoe | Stomach |
| Tsukami waza | Catching technique |
| Tsuki | Punch or fist |
| Tuite | Grappling skills |
| Uchi | Inner |
|---|---|
| Ude | Forearm |
| Ude uki | Forearm block |
| Uke | Block |
| Ukemi waza | Breakfall techniques |
| Uraken (reiken) uchi | Back fist strike |
| Uratsuki | Close punch |
| Ushiro | Rear |
| Ushiro geri | Back kick |
| Wado | Way of Peace and Harmony |
|---|---|
| Wan | Arm |
| Waza | Technique |
| Wazari | Half point |
| Yama | Mountain |
|---|---|
| Yamabushi | Mountain warriors |
| Yawara | Control |
| Yame | Stop |
| Yasumi | Rest |
| Yobo | Face |
| Yodansha | One who is a black belt |
| Yoi | Ready |
| Yoko | Side |
| Yoko geri | Side kick |
| Yubi | Finger |
| Yubisaki | Fingertip |
| Yudansha | Black Belt |
| Zanshin | Awareness |
|---|---|
| Zazen | Sitting meditation |
| Zen | Buddhist sect or Religious meditation |
| Zenshin | Whole body |
| Zenkutsudachi | Forward stance |
| Zenwan | Forearm |
| Zori | Japanese slippers |
| Zuno | Head or brains |

| Home |
Why Karate? |
Our Instructors |
Cool Pics |
| Wado Kai Karate |
Terminology |
Gradings |
Newsletters |