General Karate Terms & Glossary
General Karate Terms & Glossary
Karate is usually taught using the original Japanese terms. This page is a glossary where you
find a collection of generic terms that occur in a variety of contexts in Karate.
find a collection of generic terms that occur in a variety of contexts in Karate.
Karate Glossary
Age | Rising |
Ashi o kaete | Change legs (stance) |
Ashi tanden | Leg conditioning |
Atemi | Art of striking vital points |
Budo | Martial way or Path (Tao in chinese) |
Bushi | Martial man, warrior |
Bushido | Way of the warrior (Code of conduct) |
Bunkai | Applications of kata |
Chudan | Middle area |
Dojo | Martial arts training place |
Gasshuku | Training camp |
Gedan | Lower area |
Gi or Dogi | Karate uniform |
Go | Hard, rigid |
Goju-ryu | Hard and soft style |
Gyaku | Reverse |
Hara | Central point of body |
Hari kiri | Ritual suicide |
Hajime | Begin |
Hai | Yes |
Hidari | Left |
Hojo undo | Supplementary exercises |
Honbu dojo | Main dojo |
Ie | No |
Ju | Soft, flexible |
Junbi undo | Warm up exercises |
Junbi owarimasu | End of warm up |
Kakie | Strength exercise |
Kamaete | On guard |
Kame | Fighting stance |
Karate | Empty hand |
Karate-do | The way of karate |
Karateka | One who practises karate |
Kata | A set of pre-arranged techniques |
Ki | Spirit,life energy (Chi in Chinese) |
Ki ai | Shout to focus energy |
Kihon | Basic techniques |
Kime | Focus |
Kohai | Junior student |
Mai-ai | Fighting distance |
Mawatte | Turn around |
Migi | Right |
Mokuso | Meditation |
Morote | Double or both hands together |
Muchimi | Heavy sticky feeling |
Obi | Belt |
Ritsurei | Standing bow |
Ryu | School or tradition |
Samurai | Japanese warrior class of feudal era |
Seiken | Fist with focus on first two knuckles |
Seiza | Kneeling position |
Sempai | Lower dan grade, senior student |
Sensei | Instructor/Teacher |
Shihan | Master instructor |
Shime | Sanchin kata testing |
Soto | Outside (inside to outside) |
Tanden | Strength centre of body |
Te | Hand |
Te o kaete | Change hands |
Uchi | Inside (outside to inside) |
Ude Tanden | Forearm conditioning |
Yame | Stop or fininsh |
Yoi | Ready position |
Zanshin | Awareness in defence or attack |