Karate Terms
Click here for a pronunciation rules and a more comprehensive list of Japanese terms.
| English |
Japanese |
| Natural stance |
shizen-tai |
| Front stance |
zenkutsu-dachi |
| Back stance |
kokutsu-dachi |
| Straddle/horse stance |
kiba-dachi |
| |
|
| Straight punch |
choku-zuki |
| Reverse punch |
yaku-zuki |
| Stepping punch |
oi-zuki |
| Knife hand strike |
shuto |
| Ridge hand strike |
haito |
| Elbow strike |
empi-uchi |
| |
|
| Front kick |
mae-geri |
| Front snap kick |
mae-geri-keage |
| Front thrust kick |
maegeri-kekomi |
| Side kick |
yoko-geri |
| Side snap kick |
yoko-geri-keage |
| Side thrust kick |
yoko-geri-kekomi |
| Back kick |
ushiro-geri |
| Roundhouse kkick |
mawashi-geri |
| Downward block |
gedan-barai |
| Forearm block |
ude-uke |
| Knife hand block |
shuto-uke |
| |
|
| High-level (head area) |
joudan |
| Middle level (torso) |
chuudan |
| Lower level (below belt) |
gedan |
| |
|
| Ready |
yoi |
| Begin |
hajime |
| Finish |
yame |
| Kneel |
seiza |
| Meditate |
mokusou |
| Bow |
rei |
| |
|
| Instructor |
sensei |
| Senior |
sempai |
| Junior |
kouhai |
| |
|
| One |
ichi |
| Two |
ni |
| Three |
san |
| Four |
shi |
| Five |
go |
| Six |
roku |
| Seven |
shichi |
| Eight |
hachi |
| Nine |
ku |
| Ten |
ju |
