Whether you’re new to karate or still secretly confused by some of the terms, here’s a cheat sheet to give you a warm inner knowing in your next karate class.
ENGLISH | JAPANESE | |
1 | BASIC | KIHON |
2 | training hall | dojo |
3 | teacher | sensei |
4 | bow | rei |
5 | kneel | seiza |
6 | meditate | mokuso |
7 | form | kata |
8 | sparring | kumite |
9 | hard | go |
10 | soft | ju |
11 | start | hajime |
12 | stop | yame |
13 | shout | kiai |
14 | STANCE | DACHI |
15 | ready | yoi dachi |
16 | on guard | kamae |
17 | front stance | zenkutso dachi |
18 | short front stance | hanzenkutso dachi |
19 | cat stance | neko dachi |
20 | sumo stance | shiko dachi |
21 | hourglass stance | sanchin dachi |
22 | STRIKE | ZUKI |
23 | front arm punch | mae-ken zuki |
24 | reverse arm punch | gyaku zuki |
25 | spear hand thrust | nukite |
26 | elbow strike | empi |
27 | back hand strike | ura-ken |
28 | KICK | GERI |
29 | front kick | mai-geri |
30 | roundhouse kick | mawashi-geri |
31 | side thrust kick | yoko-geri |
32 | knee strike | hiza geri |
33 | BLOCK | UKE |
34 | rising block | age-uke |
35 | outside block | ude-uke |
36 | inside block | uchi-uke |
37 | downward block | gedan barai (lower level sweep) |
38 | knifehand block | shuto-uke |
LEVELS | ||
39 | high | jodan |
40 | middle | chudan |
41 | low | gedan |
COUNTING | ||
42 | one | ichi |
43 | two | ni |
44 | three | san |
45 | four | shi |
46 | five | go |
47 | six | roku |
48 | seven | shichi |
49 | eight | hachi |
50 | nine | kyu |
51 | ten | ju |
No blog post on karate terminology would be complete without special mention of the word “Oss” or “OSAAA” as we like to say at Claremont dojo. It’s a generic term and a particularly enthusiastic way of saying ‘yes’ or to acknowledge something or someone. It also means “I will endure, even when being pushed” or “I will persevere, work hard, and never give up.” [Between you and me, when in doubt just say, “Oss Sensei”. With feeling.]
You’ll be hearing and using these words for as long as you practice karate, so read the list a few times before each class and you’ll soon get the hang of it.
ROBYN YOUNG | 3rd Kyu Brown Belt