Monday, March 30, 2009

Karate Vocabulary and Terms

As Karate is a martial art that originated in Okinawa, Japan, Japanese terms and etiquette are used during its practice. As a student progresses, they learn these Japanese terms from hearing them in continual use during training.

Included here are some of the most commonly used terms and technique names to help students revise what they hear in their training.








Stances

Zenkutsu Dachi......................Front Stance

Kiba Dachi..........................Horse Stance

Shiko Dachi.........................Sumo Stance

Kokutsu Dachi.......................Back Stance

Neko-Ashi Dachi.....................Cat Stance

Sanchin Dachi.......................Hour Glass Stance

Tsuru-Ashi Dachi....................Crane Stance


Punching Techniques


Jodan Zuki.........................Face Punch

Chudan Zuki........................Body Punch

Gedan Zuki.........................Lower level Punch - below waist

Oi Zuki............................Lunge Punch

Gyaku Zuki.........................Reverse Punch

Ura Zuki...........................Uppercut Punch

Mawashi Zuki.......................Roundhouse Punch

Kagi Zuki..........................Hook Punch

Morote Zuki........................Double Fist Punch

Okazaki Sensei conditioning his gyaku zuki - reverse hand punch - on the makiwara.

Striking Techniques

Shuto Uchi..........................Knife Hand Strike

Haito Uchi..........................Ridge Hand Strike

Uraken Uchi.........................Back Fist Strike

Haishu Uchi.........................Back Hand Strike

Tettsui Uchi........................Hammer/Bottom Fist Strike

Taisho/Shotei Uchi..................Palm Heel Strike

Empi Uchi...........................Elbow Strike

Nukite Uchi.........................Spear Hand Strike

Shuto uchi - knife hand strike - a particularly effective blow!


Kicking Techniques


Mae Geri............................Front Kick

Mawashi Geri........................Round House Kick

Yoko Geri Kekomi....................Side Thrust Kick

Yoko Geri Keage.....................Side Snap Kick

Ushiro Geri.........................Back Kick

Ushiro Mawashi Geri.................Back Roundhouse Kick

Fumikomi Geri.......................Stamping Kick

Tobi Mae Geri.......................Flying Front Kick

Tobi Mawashi Geri...................Flying Roundhouse Kick

Tobi Yoko Geri......................Flying Side Kick

Tobi Ushiro Geri....................Flying Back Kick

Tobi Ushiro Mawashi Geri............Flying Back Roundhouse Kick

Mikazuki Geri.......................Cresent Kick

Hiza Geri...........................Knee Kick

Kakato otoshi Geri.........................Axe Kick

Andre Bertel Sensei, 6th Dan,  New Zeland demonstrates yoko geri keage - side snap kick. Note use of the blade of the foot as the striking surface.


Blocking Techniques

Age Uke..............................Rising Block

Shuto Uke............................Knife Hand Block

Soto ude Uke.........................Outside Block

Uchi ude Uke.........................Inside Block

Gedan Bari...........................Downward Sweeping Block

Shotei Uke...........................Palm Heel Block

Morote Uke...........................Double Fist Reinforced Block

Kakuto Uke...........................Bent Wrist Block

Tsukami Uke..........................Grasping/grabbing Block

Kosa Uke.............................Cross Block

Nagashi Uke..........................Parry/"Sweeping" Block

Sukui Uke............................Scooping Block

Haishu Uke...........................Back Hand Block

Kanazawa Hirokazu Sensei demonstrating a basic form of soto ude uke- outside block.

Other Terms

Sensei.................................Instructor/Teacher

Rei....................................Bow/Respect

OSU!...................................Persevere!/Acknowledgement

Yoi....................................Ready

Kame...................................Ready/fighting position

Mawate.................................Turn

Kiai...................................Shout (Energy release)

Yame...................................Stop

Dojo.................................."Place to follow the way"/Karate training Hall

Obi....................................Belt

Gi/Dogi................................Karate suit

Jodan..................................Head Area

Chudan.................................Abdominal Area

Gedan..................................Lower Area (groin and below)

Dachi..................................Stance

Zuki...................................Punch

Uke....................................Block

Geri...................................Kick

Uchi...................................Strike

Gyaku..................................Reverse Position

Hidari.................................Left

Migi...................................Right

Hiza...................................Knee

Empi/Hiji..............................Elbow

Seiken.................................Fist

Sokuto.................................Side of Foot

Ippon Ken..............................One Knuckle Fist

Surikomi...............................Short Step

Kekomi.................................Thrust

Kokyu..................................Breathing

Zanshin................................Awareness

Kata...................................Solo practice form

Ashi Barai.............................Leg Sweep

Kumite.................................Fighting/Sparring

Yakusoku Kumite........................Pre Arranged Sparring

Ippon Kumite...........................One Step Sparring

Jiyu Kumite............................Free Sparring

Shiai Kumite...........................Competition Sparring

The legendary Mikio Yahara Sensei - yoko tobi geri!