In this article, we will share a list of words related to Karatê. A vocabulary with moves and other words that we hear or have a connection to the sport. I hope you enjoy the article.
This document is from a source I could not identify the author. It is a quite popular list that has been spread across the internet. Unfortunately, things like kanji and kana were missing, I tried to add them.
Table of Contents
Main Karate Techniques
- Age Zuki - uppercut
- Ashi Barai - sweep
- Ashi Waza - leg technique
- Choku Zuki - straight punch
- Enpi Uchi - elbow strike (HIJI ATE)
- Fumi Komi Geri - downward thrust kick - stomp
- Gyaku Zumi - reverse punch
- Hiza Geri - knee kick
- Kagi Zuki - hook punch
- Keri Waza - kicking technique
- Kizami Zuki - short punch
- Mae Geri - front kick
- Mawashi Geri - circular kick
- Mikazuki Geri - rising kick
- Nami Gaeshi - "wave that returns" - used as defense or attack
- Nidan Geri - double kick
- Nukite - spearhand
- Hi Zuki - advancing punch
- Shuto Uchi - knife hand strike
- Suri Ashi - short displacement; walking little by little
- Tate Zuki - vertical punch
- Teisho Uchi - strike with the base of the palm of the hand
- Tettsui Uchi - hammer fist strike
- Tobi Geri - jumping kick
- Tsouki Waza - punching technique
- Uchi Waza - attack technique
- Uraken Uchi - strike with the back of the fist
- Ushiro Geri - back kick
- Yoko Geri Kekoge - upward side kick
- Yoko Geri Kekomi - side kick in penetration
- Yori ashi - long displacement
List of words related to Karate
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| 上げ | Idade | action of lifting |
| あいはっみ | oh hammi | relative position of two practitioners, with the same leg forward |
| 合氣 | Aiki | “Harmonic reunion”. When combining opponents' energy with your own, for control. |
| 相打ち | Aiuchi | simultaneous blow |
| 赤 | Red | competitor in red |
| 青 | To | competitor in blue |
| 足 | Ashi | foot, legs |
| 足払い | Ashi Barai | creep; leg sweep |
| 足踏み替え | Ashi fumikae | leg change |
| 足ろ | Ashiro | spinning blow |
| 頭 | Head | head |
| 当身 | Atemi | beat; blow |
| 合わせ | Match | combination, junction, harmonization |
| 歩み | Ayumi | progress |
| 払い | Barai | sweep |
| 拔塞 | Bassai | kata; break fortress |
| 棒 | good | long dick |
| 棒術 | Bojutsu | stick techniques |
| 木剣 | Bokken | wooden saber |
| 武士 | Bushi | warrior (samurai) |
| 武人 | Bujin | Translated as "the military person" or "the warrior person". |
| 武術 | Bujutsu | “Military Arts”, collective term for all Japanese arts practiced by the Samurai. Real combat techniques. |
| 武家 | Buke | Samurai. Translated as "Military Person or Class". |
| 分解 | Bunkai | study of the techniques and applications of KATA |
| 武士道 | Bushido | Samurai Code; |
| 気 | Chi | Chinese word for vital energy, the same as "KI" |
| 腸 | Chou | intestine |
| 中段 | Chudan | intermediate level (target), from the neck to the waist |
| 立ち | Dachi | position of the legs or bases. (Example |
| 大 | Daí | big |
| 段 | Dan | black belt level |
| 段外 | Dangai | all color bands, except for the black one |
| 道 | Do | Spiritual path of discipline. |
| 道場 | Dojo (Doujou) | place where one seeks the path, training place, gym |
| Effort | effort, dedication | |
| 演舞前 | Enbuzen | line of action of a kata, diagram of a kata |
| えんぴ | Empi | elbow, elbow strike / Kata |
| 不動心 | Fudoshin | unwavering state (See Mental Level Themes) |
| 踏み | Fumi | smash |
| 眼科く | Gankaku | crane on the rock |
| 五箇山 | gas | the hands in front of the face to make a greeting (Zen, Mokuso) |
| 下段 | Gedan | lower zone, lower level (target), from the waist to the foot |
| Gi | clothing for practice consisting of Uwagi (jacket), Zubon (pants), and Obi (belt) | |
| Giaku | strike with the hand placed against the leg that is in front | |
| Go No Sen | take the initiative later, a tactic of letting the opponent attack first to counterattack | |
| Godan | fifth (5th) | |
| Gohon Kumitê | work with the opponent, in five steps | |
| Gohon | fifth / fivefold | |
| Gojushiho | fifty four steps | |
| Goshin | self-defense | |
reverse |
Reverse | contrary, inverse |
| Ha | break (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Hajimê | start, begin | |
nose |
Flower | nose |
| 半月 | Hangetsu | half Moon |
袴 |
Hakama | wide pants worn over the Gi like Kyudo, Kendo, Aikido, Iaido, etc. |
| 半身 | Hanmi | semi-front facing position |
| 反対 | Hantai | turn around |
| 判定 | Hantei | decision by flag (vote of the assistant referees) of a tied match |
| 八方 | Happo | eight directions |
Belly |
Hara | belly, abdomen |
| Heian (or Pinan) | means calm mind, peace, and tranquility. Heian refers to an important period in Japanese history. | |
| Heijo-shin | naturalness (See Themes of Mental Level) | |
| 平行 |
Heiko | parallel |
| 変化 |
Change | change (of position) |
| Henka-Waza | change of techniques or techniques of change | |
| 左 |
Left | left |
| Hidari Waki-gamae | left side posture | |
| Hiji | elbow | |
| Hikitê / Hikiashi | hand pull to the hip / foot pull | |
| Hiki-Waki | draw | |
| Hitosu | one unit | |
| Knee | knees | |
| Ho | direction, method | |
| Horan-no-kamae | starting position of some katas where the hand covers the closed fist | |
| Ho-shin | mental freedom (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Hyoshi | rhythm | |
| I | stomach | |
| Ichibyoshi | in one breath | |
| Ikken Hissatsu | kill with one blow | |
| Imashimuru | rebuke, forbid, repress, restrain | |
| 一本 |
Ippon | one (point, step, attack) |
| Ippon kumitê | I work with the opponent with an attack and a defense. | |
| Irimi | entry movement (in the opponent's circle) | |
| Jiku Ashi | axle leg | |
| Jiin | love and protection | |
| Personality | character, personality | |
| Jion | love and gratitude | |
| Practical Training | real fight | |
| Jitsu | technique, opportunity, or maturity (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| jette | ten hands or ten techniques | |
| Jiyu | book | |
| Jiyu Ippon Kumite | controlled free fight with only attack | |
| Jiyu Kumite | freestyle wrestling, controlled combat exercises | |
| Jo | high | |
| Jodan | higher level (target), upper zone (neck up) | |
| Joseki: upper side, place of honor (in the dojo, the south wall, to the right of the main wall) | ||
| Jun Kaiten | regular turn | |
| Ju Kumite | soft combat | |
| Kafa | shoulder | |
| Kagi / Kake | hook | |
| Kaisho-Waza | open hand techniques | |
| Kakato | heel | |
| Kekki | impetuosity, rapture, violence | |
| Stance | alert or defense position, guard, take position, posture, base (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Kamaete | order to take position | |
| Kamiza | main wall of the Dojo, on the east side, where the Tokonoma is located | |
| Kan | gaze | |
| Kansei | formation, completion, finishing | |
| Kanzou | fígado | |
| Kanku-Dai | contemplate the universe | |
| Kanku-Sho | Aiming at the universe, observing the universe | |
| Kara | empty | |
| 体 |
Body | body, the same as “Tai” |
| 空手道 |
Karate-Do | The art of empty hands, or the path that contains the universe |
| Karikome | invade, penetrate | |
| Kata | formal exercises performed in a sequential and predetermined manner, representative of a style | |
| 刀 |
Katana | sword |
| Keage | fast upward movement | |
| Keiko | training | |
| Kekomi | penetrating movement | |
| 剣 | Ken | sabre, sword / activity condition |
| Ken No Sem | take advantage of the previous initiative | |
| Ken-tai-ishi | set of defense and attack (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Keri ou Gueri | kick | |
| Keri-nuke | kick the enemy away | |
| Ki | intrinsic energy, vital energy. “Spirit.” Ideally, the mental and spiritual power, obtained through concentration and breathing, that can be applied to physical achievements. This centralized energy, inherent to every person, can be amplified and objectively manifested through the practice of any martial arts discipline. | |
| Kiai | liberated shout with the purpose of focusing all energy in a single moment – manifestation of KI / externalization of energy through the shout | |
| Kihaki | spirit | |
| Basics | fundamentals, basic techniques | |
| Kime | power focus; finishing move; conclusion; union of physical and mental energy at the moment of impact, decision | |
| Kime-Waza | decisive technique | |
| 起立 |
Kiritsu | raise |
| Ko | small back | |
| Kobu-Do (Kobu - Jutsu)Way, or technique of the ancient martial arts of Okinawan warriors. | ||
| Kohai | younger practitioner, the opposite of Sempai | |
| Heart | spirit, heart | |
| Kokyu | breathing (rhythm), respiratory force | |
| Koto | suffix that transforms the expression into an order; competition area | |
| Koshi /Goshi | hip, PE ball | |
| Kote | pulse | |
| Ku | nothing, empty, sky | |
| Neck | neck | |
| Mouth | mouth | |
| Kumite | Fighting, combat, training where defense and attack techniques are applied | |
| Kun | commandment, obligation | |
| Kurai | degree of virtue (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Kuzishi | imbalance | |
| Kyo | failure (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Kyodo | movement | |
| Kyusho | vital points | |
| Kyu | levels of ranks below black | |
| Maai | distance, correct distance | |
| May | front | |
| Maki | roll up | |
| Makiwara | traditional target made of straw wrapped around a wooden post fixed to the ground for training hand strikes | |
| Makoto | truth, sincerity, honesty | |
| Mamoru | obey, respect, keep, comply, defend | |
| Mawarikomi | rotate (like a pestle) | |
| Mawashi | circular motion | |
| I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that. | eye | |
| Meikyo | clean mirror, mirror of the soul (See Themes of Mental Level) | |
| Me No Tsukekata | eye fixation | |
| Metsuke | how to look and observe (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Road | path | |
| Midale | karate training method that consists of attacks | |
| 右 |
Right | right |
| Migi Waki-gamae | right side position | |
| Mimi | ear | |
| Mitsu-no-koki | three chances (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Mokuso: literally | not to think; a concentration attitude performed during the ceremonial beginning and end of Budo practice, meditation | |
| Peach | thighs | |
| Moroashi-gari | two leg sweep | |
| Morote | both hands | |
| motorbike no ichi | starting position | |
| Mu | The concept of total negation of everything that seems to exist (Maya), analogous to that of Shunya in Buddhist philosophy. | |
| Munem | extreme emptiness in the intention (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Munen Muso | free from all ideas and thoughts | |
| Mushin | state of integration between the mind and body in which the mind is free of illusions (unnecessary thoughts) | |
| Mussô | extreme emptiness in thought (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Nanandan | seventh (7th) | |
| Nidan | second (2nd) | |
| Nage Waza | projection techniques | |
| Cat | cat | |
| Nihon | second / double | |
| Nijushiho | 24 steps | |
| Nobashi | extension, stretching action | |
| Nodo | throat | |
| Nokachi | victory | |
| Nukite | attack with the fingertips | |
| O | big | |
| Hello | strike with the same hand as the leg that is in front | |
| Omonzuru | to respect, to have a lot of regard for, to appreciate, to esteem, to venerate, to honor | |
| お尻 |
Oshiri | buttocks |
| Okuri | slide | |
| Osae | immobilization | |
| Otagai-ni-rei | mutual greeting | |
| Otoshi | top down movement | |
| Pinan | See Heian | |
| Randori | free combat | |
| Rei | greet greeting | |
| Reigi | etiquette, courtesy, civility, good manners, respect | |
| Renzoku Waza | continuous techniques | |
| Ri | expansion (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Ritsu-rei | standing greeting | |
| Ryo | both | |
| Ryu | style, school | |
| Sabaki | dodge | |
| Sai | trident-shaped weapon originating from Okinawa | |
| Samurai | Japanese warriors faithful to codes of honor and conduct | |
| Sambon-kumite | combat in three attacks | |
| San-satsuho | strategy (See Topics of Mental Level) | |
| Sanbon | third / triple | |
| Sandan | third (3rd) | |
| Sasae | sustain, bear | |
| Satori | Perfection. Opening of mind and spirit, resulting from the accumulation of knowledge, intuitive understanding, or sudden experience that reveals the ultimate reality of beings and things, as well as full identity with oneself and the universe. | |
| Sex | tranquility, inactivity | |
| Seishin | spirit, soul, will, intention, mindset | |
| Seiza | the correct way to sit, sitting in the kneeling position | |
| No | take the initiative before | |
| Without father | most senior student | |
| Back | costs | |
| Sen-no-sen | anticipation | |
| 先生 |
Teacher | teacher; teacher |
| Sensei-ni-rei | greeting to the teacher | |
| Sensei-ni-tashi-rei | greeting towards the teacher | |
| Shihan | high grade teacher | |
| Shiho | four directions | |
| Shikko | walk in kneeling position | |
| Shim | spirit | |
| Shimoza | west wall of the dojo, opposite the kamiza, where the students sit | |
| Shimozeki | north wall of the Dojo, where non-practicing assistants can stay | |
| White | white competitor, still used in competitions of the FPKI and the CBKI | |
| Shi-shin | imprisonment (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Shissui | clean water (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Shizen Kumite | natural kumite | |
| Shizentai | natural position – body remains relaxed but alert, standing | |
| Heart | heart | |
| Sho | indoor, small, private | |
| Shobu-Zuyosa | snatch victory from the jaws of defeat | |
| Shodan | first (1st) | |
| Shomen | facing | |
| Shomen-ni-king | greeting for the main wall of the Dojo | |
| Shotei | palm strike | |
| Shu | defense (See Mental Level Themes) | |
| Shuto | open-hand strike using the side of the pinky finger | |
| Sochin | unshakable spirit | |
| Sokuto | little toe, side of the pinky finger | |
| Sonoba | stopped | |
| Outside | outside | |
| Sun-Dome | interruption of a technique, to stop a technique | |
| Sutemi | Abandonment of the body, techniques in which the performer lets himself fall | |
| Tai | Body, the same, the same as “karada”, alertness | |
| Tai-No Sen | evaluation of the subsequent initiative | |
| Tai Sabaki | dodge | |
| Tachikata | position, posture | |
| Tate | vertical | |
| You | hand | |
| Tekki | Iron Knight. Fighting aside. Ride a horse | |
| Wrist | pulse | |
| bye | middle zone | |
| To: | far away | |
| Tobi | jumping blow | |
| Specialty | stronger | |
| Tokui-Waza | strongest technique | |
| i-took-you | combat techniques originating from the island of Tomari (Okinawa) | |
| take | circular | |
| Tori | what attacks, what executes | |
| Moon | direct hit, punch | |
| Tsukkomi | onslaught | |
| Tsutomuru | to strive, to strive, to try hard | |
| Home | indirect blow inside | |
| Ude | arm, forearm | |
| Uke | defense, block | |
| Ukemi | fall winding | |
| one | parting the clouds | |
| Ura | movement performed by rolling; the opponent's back | |
| Ushiro | back, behind, backward | |
| Wa | Peace, harmony. | |
| Wankan | King's crown | |
| Technique | technique | |
| Waza O Hodokosu Koki | psychological moment to execute a technique | |
| Wakibara | chest side | |
| Yakosoku | combined, without resistance | |
| Yame | stop | |
| Yashinau | feed, sustain, maintain, create | |
| Yasume | order to relax | |
| Good | prepare, position of attention, ready to work, order of attention | |
| Yori-ashi | foot slides (like the advancement of a kizame-zuki) | |
| Yoko | side | |
| Yonbon | room / quadruple | |
| Yondan | fourth (4th) | |
| Yu | vigor, courage | |
| Yubi | fingers | |
| 油断者 | Yudansha | graduated practitioner; black belt (any degree) |
| 斬新 | Zanshin | state of mental/spiritual readiness, warrior spirit, focused |
| 座礼 | Za-rei | seiza greeting, salutation in seiza |
| 前方 | Zenpo | towards the front |
| 前 | Zen | front, Japanese discipline, a branch of Buddhism |
