Common Karate Terms

Counting in Japanese

General Terms

Kihon (kee-hohn) - basic techniques
Kata (kah-tah) - pre arranged forms consisting of techniques
Kumite (koo-mee-teh) - sparring
Osu (ohss) - used to mean almost anything; an affirmative, an agreement, a greeting, etc.
Kime (kee-meh) - focus
Kiai (kee-aee) - spirit yell to focus and strenghten techniques; a "coming together of decision/spirit/energy"
Johdan (joh-dahn) - upper level i.e. face, chin, head
Chudan (choo-dahn) - mid-level i.e. chest, stomach
Gedan (geh-dahn) - low-level i.e. groin, knees, shins
Dojo kun (doh-joh koon) - the five precepts of shotokan karate

Commands

Yoi (yoy) - get ready (into ready stance)
Hajime (hah-jee-meh) - begin
Yame (yah-meh) - stop
Yasume (yah-su-meh) - relax
Mawatte (mah-wah-teh) - turn around (in stance)
Rei (ray) - bow
Shomen ni rei (shoh-men nee ray) - bow to the front (of the dojo)
Sensei ni rei (sen-say nee ray) - bow to instructor
Otaigai ni rei (oh-tai-gai nee ray) - bow to each other (partner)
Seiza (say-zah) - sit (in Japanese formal sitting position)
Mokusoh (mohk-soh) - meditate

Stances

Zenkutsu dachi (zen-koo-tsoo dah-chee) - front stance
Kokutsu dachi (koh-koo-tsoo dah-chee) - back stance
Kiba dachi (kee-bah dah-chee) - side stance (horseriding/straddle stance)
Hachiji dachi (hah-chee-jee dah-chee) - ready stance (yoi position)

Blocks

Age uke (ah-geh oo-keh) - rising block
Gedan barai (geh-dahn bah-raee) - downward block
Soto uke (soh-toh oo-keh) - outside forearm block
Uchi uke (oo-chee oo-keh) - inside forearm block
Shuto uke (shoo-toh oo-keh) - knifehand block

Arm techniques

Oi zuki (oy zoo-kee) - stepping punch
Gyaku zuki (gyah-koo zoo-kee) - reverse punch
Kizami zuki (kee-zah-mee zoo-kee) - jab
Sanbon zuki (sahn-bohn zoo-kee) - triple punch
Nukite (noo-kee-teh) - spearhand strike
Empi uchi (em-pee oo-chee) - elbow strike
Uraken (oo-rah-ken) - backfist strike
Tettsui (tet-soo-ee) - hammerfist strike

Leg Techniques

Mae geri (maee geh-ree) - front snap kick
Yoko keage (yoh-koh geh-ree keh-ah-geh) - side snap kick
Yoko kekomi (yoh-koh geh-ree keh-koh-mee) - side thrust kick
Kizami geri (kee-zah-mee geh-ree) - front leg snap kick
Mawashi geri (mah-wah-shee geh-ree) - roundhouse kick
Ushiro geri (oo-shee-roh geh-ree) - back thrust kick
Nidan geri (nee-dahn geh-ree) - double kick
Hiza geri (hee-zah geh-ree) - knee strike