Common Japanese Terms

Numbers

Japanese Numeral		Japanese Numeral
ichi	1	roku	6
ni	2	shichi	7
san	3	hachi	8
shi	4	ku	9
go	5	juu	10

Stances

Japanese Term	English Translation
zenkutsu-dachi	front stance
kohkutsu-dachi	back stance
kiba-dachi	horse stance
neko-ashi-dachi	cat stance
fudoh-dachi	rooted stance

Hand Attacks

Japanese Term	English Translation
tsuki	punch
oi-zuki	stepping punch
choku-zuki	punch
gyaku-zuki	reverse punch
kizami-zuki	jab punch
nukite-uchi	spear hand
uraken-uchi	back fist
enpi-uchi	elbow strike

Leg Attacks

Japanese Term	English Translation
keri	kick
mae-geri	front kick
mawashi-geri	roundhouse kick
yoko kekomi (geri)	side thrust kick
yoko keage (geri)	side snap kick
ushiro-geri	back kick
ashi barai	foot sweep

Blocks

Japanese Term	English Translation
age-uke	upper block
soto-uke	outside block
uchi-uke	inside block
gedan-barai	down block
shuto-uke	knife hand block
juuji-uke	x-block
morote-uke	double arm block

Kumite

Japanese Term	English Translation
kumite	sparring
(kihon) gohon kumite	five-step sparring
(kihon) sanbon kumite	three-step sparring
(kihon) ippon kumite	one-step sparring
jiyuu kumite	free sparring
shiai kumite	tournament sparring

Other Words

Japanese Term	English Translation
joh-dan	upper level / face
chuudan	middle level / solar plexus
gedan	low level / groin
kihon	basic(s) / fundamentals
kiai	yell
kime	decision / focus
rei	bow
yoh-i	``get ready"
yame	stop / lit. ``the finish"
yasume	at ease / relax
hajime	begin
mokusoh	meditate
dojo	karate school
seiza	sit down
seiretsu	line up
sensei	karate teacher