Kihon - General

On this page is the Japanese and its translation of the basic Karate techniques.

KARATE TERMINOLOGY

Note: The English spelling of Japanese terms is far from standardised. Different sources may use a different spelling than the one shown here. It is more important to understand the phonetic sound of the term, so that you recognise it when it is used in training.

AGE (ah-geh) Rising

ASHI (ah-she) Foot

ASHI O KAETE (ah-shee oh kah-eh-teh) Change leg (stance)

ATAMA (ah-tahm-ah) Head

ATE WAZA (ah-teh wah-zah) Breaking techniques

ATEMI (ah-teh-me) Striking the vital points

BO (boh) 6-foot wooden staff tapered at each end

BUNKAI (bun-kye) Practical fighting applications from the KATA

CHI (chee) Chi is the Chinese word for the basic energy that makes up the universe

CHOKU (cho-koo) Straight

CHOKUSEN (cho-koo-sen) Straight line

CHUDAN (chew-dahn) Centre area: from the collar to the belt, the stomach

DACHI (da-chee) Stance

DAN (dahn) Black belt grades

DO (doh) The Way refers to the choice of a particular route through the journey of life

DOJO (doh-joh) Training hall - "The Place Of The Way" or the place, Jo, where you will learn the way, Do.

EMPI (en-pee) Elbow

FUMI KOMI (foo-me-koh-me) Stamping kick

GASSHUKU (gas-shoo-koo) Training camp

GEDAN (geh-dahn) Low area: the groin

GERI (geh-rhee) Kick

GERI WAZA (geh-rhee wah-zah) Kicking techniques

GI (ghee) Karate suit

GO (goh) Hard

GOJU RYU (goh-joo roo) Hard (Go) Soft (Ju) Style (Ryu)

GOSHI (goh-she) Hip

HAI (hi) " I understand" (less formal than OSU)

HAISOKU (hi-sow-koo) The instep

HAISHU (hi-shoo) Backhand

HAITO (hah-ee-toh) Ridgehand

HAJIME (hah-zhim-ay) Begin or continue at your own speed or count

HANMI (hahn-me) Half front facing

HARA (hah-rah) Stomach

HARAI (hah-rye) Sweeping

HIDARI (he-dah-rhee) Left

HIZA (he-zah) Knee

HOJO UNDO (hoh-joh un-doh) Supplementary exercises (with equipment)

IPPON KEN (eep-pohn-ken) One knuckle fist

IPPON KUMITE (eep-pohn koo-me-teh) One point (attack) sparring defender blocks and counter attacks

JIYU KUMITE (gee-you koo-me teh) Free style sparring (hard and fast, but controlled)

JO (joh) "The Place"

JODAN (jo-dahn) Upper area: from the collar up, the face

JU (joo) Soft

JUMBI UNDO Warming up exercises

KAISHO (kah-ee-show) Open hand

KAKIE (kah-key) Pushing hands exercises and applications

KAMAE (kah-may) On guard i.e. take up position ready to fight in free sparring or assume a set position in moving basics

KARATE (kah-rah-teh) Empty hand

KARATE-DO (kah-rah-teh-doh) The way of karate

KARATE-KA (kah-rah-teh-ka) A student of karate

KATA (kah-tah) Forms or patterns

KEAGE (key-ah-geh) Snap kick

KEKOMI (kay-koh-me) Thrust kick

KI (key) See CHI

KI AI (key-aye) KI AI is the powerful karate shout. Its power comes from the stomach, not from the throat and it tightens the stomach muscles. A strong KI AI shows spirit. The KI AI comes with and helps KIME (focus).

KIHON (key-hohn) Practice

KIHON KUMITE (key-hohn koo-me-teh) Basic one step sparring

KIHON WAZA (key-hohn wah-zah) Basic techniques

KIME (key-may) Focus. There are two kinds of focus: momentary and continuous. In momentary focus all of our physical and mental energies are concentrated in a small area of our body. Energy begins in the lower extremities, gathers momentum and power from the hips and stomach, then snaps at the point of contact with our opponent's body. Continuous focus is found in SANCHIN and TENSHO - the "breathing" Katas

KI O TSUKE (key-oh-tsue-key) Attention

KIRITSU (key-writ-soo) Stand up

KOBUDO (koh-boo-do) "The Way of Weapons"

KOSHI (koh-shee) Ball of the foot

KUBI (koo-be) Neck

KUMITE (koo-me-teh) Sparring

KYU (kyoo) A coloured belt grade

MAE (may) To the front

MAKIWARA (mah-key-wha-rha) Punching board

MAWATTE (mah-wha-tay) Turn round or about face

MIGI (me-ghee) Right

MOKUSO (moh-keh-so) Kneeling meditation.

MOMO (moh-moh) Thigh

MON (mon) A junior grade between KYU grades

NAGASHI UKE WAZA (nah-gah-she oo-kay wah-zah) Sweeping block techniques

NUKITE (noo-keh-tay) Spearhand

OBI (oh-bee) A coloured belt designating the grade of the practitioner

OSU (oos) Many meanings e.g. "Thank you" or "I understand"

RANDORI (ran-doh-ree) Slow and soft free style sparring with emphasis on technique "Play fight"

REI (ray) Bow

RYU (ryoo) Style

SAI (sigh) A metal trident shaped weapon

SAN DAN GI (san-dahn-gee) Three movement sparring from Gekisai Kata

SANBON KUMITE (san-bohn koo-me-teh) Three step sparring (3 Jodan, 3 Chudan, 3 Gedan)

SEIKEN (say-ken) Fore fist

SEIZA (sigh-zah) Kneel

SEMPAI (sehm-pye) Assistant instructors or higher graded students usually a Brown belt

SENSEI (sehn-she-ee) Teacher - "The one who has gone before" - 1 st Dan and above

SHIHAN (shee-han) Master - Chief Instructor

SHI SHI (shee-shee) An Okinawan training aid

SHOMEN (show-men) The front of the Dojo, which represents the contribution of past masters. We show our respects at the beginning and end of each class and on entering or exiting the Dojo by bowing to this area.

SHUGO (shoo-goh) Line up

SURI ASHI (soo-rhee ash-ee) Sliding step

SOKUTO (so-koo-to) Foot edge

TAI SABAKI (tye sah-bah-key) Turning step

TANDEN (than-den) Area below the navel - The centre of CHI (KI)

TORI (toh-ree) Defender

TSUKI (zoo-key) Punch

UCHI (oo-chee) Strike

UDE (oo-deh) Fore-arm

UKAE (oo-kay-eh) Attacker

UKE (oo-kay) Block

UKEMI (oo-kehm-ee) Breakfalls

URAKEN (oo-rah-ken) Backfist

USHIRO (oo-she-row) To the back

WAZA (wah-zah) Techniques

YAME (yah-may) Stop

YOI (yoy) Ready i.e. in Msubi Dachi position

YOKO (yoh-koh) To the side

YUDANSHA (you-dahn-shah) Black belt holder (any rank)

Kihon - General