Karate Terminology

Blue Belt Terminology

• Age (ah-gay) - rising

• Bunkai (bun-keye) - interpretation; application of form

• Gasho (ga-show) - praying position

• Gyaku tsuki (ya-ku-zu-ki) - reverse punch

• Hajime (ha-ji-mei) - begin

• Hiki te (he-kee-tay) - pullback hand

• Kaette (keye-et-tay) - turn around

• Kagato (ka-ga-to) - heel of foot

• Kamae (ka-my) - on-guard position

• Keage (key-ah-gay) - snap

• Keiko Ken Tsuki (kei-ko-ken-zuki) - chicken beak fist

• Kekomi (key-ko-me) - thrust

• Ken - fist

• Kiai (kee-aye) - spirit meeting (yell)

• Kiotski (key-ot-ski) - come to attention

• Maai (may-eye) - distance (or timing) between you and your opponent

• Mate (ma-te) - wait

• Mae ude (my oo-day) - forearm

• Mokuso (muk-so) - meditation

• Mokuso yame (muk-so yah-mei) - stop meditation

Green Belt Terminology

• Oi Tsuki (oy-zuki) - Lunge punch; chasing punch

• Ritsu Rei (rit-su ray) - standing bow

• Seiza (say-zah) - to sit down in kneeling position

• Sensei Ni Tashita Rei - (sen-sei-nee-ta-shi-ta-ray) - bow to the instructor

• Shita (shee-ta) - down

• Shomen Ni Taishita Rei (sho-men-nee-ta-she-ta-ray) - bow to the front

• Sokuto (so-koo-to) - edge of foot

• Tachi (ta-chee) - up

• Te Katana Uke (te-ga-ta-na-oo-kay) - hand sword cover (1 hand open, other hand closed fist)

• Te Uke (te-oo-kay) - hand cover (closed fists)

• Ura Shuto (uraa-shoo-to) - ridge hand

• Yame (yah-mei) - stop

Purple Belt Terminology

• Ashi (ah-shee) - foot or leg

• Atemi (ah-te-mee) - striking vital areas

• Chikara (chee-kar-ah) - strength

• Koshi (ko-shee) - hip

• Ibuki (ee-bu-kee) - "hard" breath

• Kake Uke (ka-kay-oo-kay) - hook block

• Kao (kow) - face

• Kin Geri (ken-gare-ee) - top of foot kick

• Kime (kee-me) - focus

• Kazushi (ka-zoo-shee) - break balance

• Makiwara (ma-kee-wa-ra) - striking board

• Morote (mah-row-te) - two hands

• Mune (moo-nay) - chest

• Okinawa-te (o-ki-naw-wa-te) - old name for karate; literally means "Okinwan Hand"

• Saika Tanden (saki-tawn-den) - lower stomach

• Seir Yuto (sear-yoo-to) - ox jaw strike

• Soto (soo-to) - outside

• Tekubi (te-koo-bee) - wrist; literally "neck of the hand"

• Tori (toar-ree) - attacker

• Uchi (ooch-chee) - inside

• Uke (oo-kay) - defense, block, defender (or receiver)

• Yubi (yoo-bee) - fingers

Brown Belt (3rd Class) Terminology

• Bu (boo) - military/martial

• Dashe Te (da-shi-te) - faster

• Hachi Maki (ha-chi-ma-key) - headband

• Hanten Kan (han-ten-kan) - 90 degree turn

• Hata (ha-tah) - flag

• Heiken Waza (hey-ken-wa-za) -  balancing techniques

• Hi Kimi (hi-ki-mi) - sway to rear

• Honbu (hon-boo) - main headquarters dojo

• Hsiang (si-ang) - symbols (tachi tu - diagram of the supreme ultimate)

• Jiki Dan (jee-kee-dan) - personal consultation with the sensei on matters of a spiritual nature, usually regarding attitude

• Jutsu (jut-soo) - art/method

• Kagi Te (ka-gee-te) - locked hands

• Kami (ka-mee) - spirit

• Kamiza (ka-mee-za) - the altar to God in every honbu dojo

• Ka Po (ka-po) - resuscitation (first aid)

• Katate (ka-ta-te) - single hand

• Keiko Gi (kay-ko-gee) - training clothes

• Koan (koan) - intuitive riddle

• Koroshi (ko-row-shi) - Okinawan term for point (ippon)

Brown Belt (2nd Class) Terminology

• Kun (koon) - creed

• Kyosho (kyo-show) - vital parts of the body

• Maki (ma-kee) - wrap/wind around

• Minna De (min-na-day) - all together

• Moku Teki (mo-ku-te-key) - the innermost aim of Karate practice

• Monto (mon-to) - disciple

• Mune Ate (moo-nay-ah-te) - bamboo chest armor

• Mudra (moo-drah) - symbolic hand gesture

• Mushin (moo-shin) - no mindedness

• Okugi (oh-koo-gee) - secret

• Okuri (oh-kur-ee) - pull back (like hikite)

• Omou (oh-mow) - think

• Pakua (pa-kwa) - eight triagrams

• Ron Bun (ron-boon) - thesis required for dan grades

• Ro Shi (row-shee) - old teacher

• Ryote (ree-oh-te) - alternate for morote

• Sei Shi (say-shee) - a true history (referring to Karate)

• Seito (say-tow) - pupil

• Sempai (sem-pie) - senior student

• Sessen Kumite (ses-sen koo-mi-te) - close-in fighting

Brown Belt (1st Class) and Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) Terminology

• Set Subi (set-soo-bi) - equipment

• Shiki Sha (shee-key-sha) - leader (director)

• Shiri Zoku (sher-ee-zo-koo) - to retreat

• Sho Sen (show-sen) - combat/war

• Shu Ho (shoo-ho) - practice method

• Sori Mi (soar-ee-mee) - body swaying

• Suna Bu Koro (soo-nah-boo-ko-ro) - sand punching bag

• Su Waru (soo-wa-roo) - sit down

• Ten Ji (ten-jee) - display of Karate skill (exhibition)

• Ude Tate (oo-day-ta-tay) - push up

• Ug Wan Jo (oog-wan-joe) - Okinawan prayer place (dojo)

• Wazamei (wa-za-may) - names of the techniques

• Yoi (yo-wee) - good

• Yoka Sei (yo-ka-say) - beginner

• Yoten (yo-ten) - key points

• Yu Kan (yoo-kan) - bravery

• Zen (zen) - a commitment to experience

• Zenken Tan (zen-ken-tan) - 180 degree turn