Budo Karate Club Glasgow
Authentic Shotokan Karate
Glossary
This glossary of karate terms is organised alphabetically into several sections for ease of access – Hand and Arm Techniques, Leg Techniques, Stances and Miscellaneous.Hand and Arm Techniques – [Tsuki (punches), Uchi (strikes) and Uke (blocks)]
Age-zuki Rising punch
Age-uke Rising block
Choku-zuki Straight punch
Empi Elbow
Empi-uchi (Hiji-ate) Elbow strike
Gedan Barai Downward block
Gyaku-zuki Reverse punch
Haishu Back Hand
Haishu-uchi Backhand strike
Haishu-uke Backhand block
Haito Ridge hand/inner knife hand
Haito-uchi Ridge hand strike
Hiraken Four knuckle
Hiraken-zuki Four knuckle fist straight punch
Ippon-ken One knuckle fist
Ippon-ken zuki One knuckle fist straight punch
Ippon-nukite One finger spear hand
Juji-uke X block
Kagi-zuki Hook punch
Kake-te Hook hand
Kake-uke Hooking block
Kakiwake-uke Wedge block
Kakuto Bent wrist
Kakuto-uke Bent wrist block
Keito Chicken head wrist
Keito-uke Chicken head wrist block
Koken Wrist
Kote Forearm
Kumade Bear claw hand
Mawashi-zuki Roundhouse punch
Moroto-uke Augmented forearm block
Moroto-zuki Double fist punch
Nakadate-ippon-ken Middle finger one-knuckle fist
Nihon-nukite Two finger spear hand
Nukite Spear hand straight thrust
Oi-zuki Lunge punch
Osae-uke Pressing block
Oyayubi-ipponken Thumb one-finger fist
Seiken Forefist
Seiken-choku-zuki Forefist straight punch
Seiryuto Ox-jaw hand
Shuto Knife hand
Shuto-uchi Knife hand strike
Shuto-uke Knife hand block
Soto-uke Block from outside inwards
Sukui-uke Scooping block
Teisho Palm heel
Teisho-uchi Palm heel strike
Teisho-uke Palm heel block
Teisho-zuki Palm heel straight punch
Tettsui Hammer fist (bottom fist)
Tettsui-uke Hammer fist block
Tettsui-uchi Hammer fist strike
Tsukami-uke Grasping block
Uchi-uke Block from inside outwards
Ude Forearm
Ude-uke Forearm block
Ura-zuki Close punch
Uraken Backfist
Uraken-uchi Backfist strike
Yama-zuki U punch
Leg Techniques
Ashi-barai Leg sweep
Ashigatana Footsword (Outer edge of foot)
Chusoku Ball of the foot
Fumikomi Stamping kick
Fumi-waza Stamping techniques
Haisoku Instep
Hiza Knee
Hiza-geri Knee kick
Hittsui Knee
Hittsui-geri Knee kick
Kakato Heel
Kakato-geri Heel kick
Kansetsu-geri Side kick to knee, shin, etc
Keri-waza Kicking techniques
Kin-geri Groin kick
Koshi Ball of the foot
Mae-geri Front kick
Mae-geri-keage Front snap kick
Mae-geri-kekomi Front thrust kick
Mawashi-geri Roundhouse kick
Mikazuki-geri Crescent kick
Mikazuki-geri-uke Crescent kick block
Naka-ashi Ball of the foot
Soko-ashi Arch of the foot
Sokuto Foot edge
Tobi-mae-geri Flying front kick
Tobi-yoko-geri Flying side kick
Teisoku Sole of foot
Ushiro-geri Back kick
Yoko-geri Side kick
Yoko-geri-kekomi Side thrust kick
Yoko-geri-keage Side snap kick
Stances (Dachi)
The importance of correct stance in karate cannot be over-emphasised. As explained in his seminal 1966 book “Dynamic Karate”, Master Masatoshi Nakayama, then Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association, “if the body lacks balance and stability, offensive and defensive techniques will be ineffective. The ability to defend against an attack under any circumstances depends largely upon the maintenance of correct form. Stance in karate is mainly concerned with the position of the lower part of the body. Powerful, fast, accurate, and smoothly executed techniques can be performed only from a strong and stable base”.
Within the Shotokan style, the following are the main stances, divisible into two broad categories – Shizen-tai (natural position where the body remains relaxed but alert, with the potential for moving into a position of attack or defence) and Fighting stances (from which a variety of appropriate techniques can be delivered).
Heisoku-dachi Informal attention stance (feet parallel and touching)
Musubi-dachi Informal attention stance (heels together, feet turned out)
Hachiji-dachi Open leg stance (heels hip width apart, feet turned out at 45 degrees)
Uchi-hachiji-dachi Inverted open leg stance (as above, but feet turned in at 45 degrees)
Heiko-dachi Parallel stance (similar to open leg stance, but with feet parallel)
Teiji-dachi T stance (T shaped feet, back foot turned slightly inward)
Renoji- dachi L stance (L shaped feet, line bisecting front foot passing rear heel)
Zenkutsu-dachi Front stance (knee over front foot, back leg straight, hip width apart)
Kokutsu-dachi Back stance (heels in line, rear knee turned outwards)
Kiba-dachi Straddle leg/Horse-riding stance (knees bent and feet parallel)
Shiko-dachi Square stance (As above, but feet turned out and lower hip position)
Sochin-dachi Rooted stance (Fudo-dachi) (combines Front and Straddle positions)
Neko-ashi-dachi Cat stance (Short back stance with front heel raised)
Sanchin-dachi Hour-glass stance (knees bent and turned inward, toe/heel in line)
Hangetsu-dachi Half-moon stance (midway between Front and Hour-glass, knees in)
(The undernoted diagrams are included with acknowledgement to Masatoshi Nakayama)
Miscellaneous
Dojo Training place (literally “the place of the Way)
Hajime The command “Begin”
Jiyu-ippon-kumite Semi-freestyle one blow sparring
Jiyu-kumite Freestyle sparring
Karate-gi Karate suit
Kamae The command “On guard”
Kihon-kumite Basic sparring
Kime Focus or Ki (concentration of strength)
Kumite Sparring
Ma-ai Distancing
Makiwara Punching board
Mawate The command “Turn”
Misu-no-kokoro “A mind like water” (fluid thinking)
Rei Bow
Ritsu – Rei / Za – Rei Standing Bow / Kneeling Bow
Seiza The command “Kneel”
Yoi The command “Ready”
Yame The command “Stop”
