Shotokan Terminology

GENERAL TERMS

Karate: Empty Hands
Karate Do: The Way of Karate
Karateka: Practitioner of Karate
Shotokan: “House of Shoto”; Pen name of Funakoshi
Dojo: School of training or academy
Sensei: Teacher
Sempai: Senior
Kohi: Junior
Kyu: Rank
Gi: Uniform
Obi: Belt
Osu: ” I understand and will try my best.” Also used to show respect, enthusiasm. Do not use outside the dojo!
Budo: Way of combat
Zanshin: Poise and control
Kime: Focus
Kihon: Fundamentals/Basics
Kiai: Spirit shout/focus or spiritual energy
Kata: Practice form
Embusen: Floor pattern/lines of a kata
Maai: Distance
Bunkai: Application (interpretation) of kata techniques
Kumite: Sparring/fighting
Sanbon Kumite: Three-step sparring
Ippon kumite: One-step sparring
Jiyyu kumit: Free sparring
Waza: Technique
Dachi: Stance
Tsuki (Zuki): Punch
Uchi: Strike
Uke: block
Rei: Bow
Geri: Kick

Ashi-barai: Foot sweep
Kamae: Posture
Yame: Stop
Yori-ashi: Sliding the feet
Tai-sabaki: Body shifing
Mokuso: Meditate/Gather Your Thoughts
Dozo: Please
Onegai Shimasu: “I welcome you to train with me”
Aka: Red
Shiro: White

COUNTING

Ichi: One
Ni: Two
San: Three
Shi: Four
Go: five
Roku: Six
Shichi: Seven
Hachi: Eight
Ku: Nine
Ju: Ten
NiJu: Twenty
Ippon: First

DACHI WAZE (STANCE)

Zenkutsu dachi: Front Stance
Kokutsu dachi: Back Stance
Kiba dachi: Straddle (Horse) Stance
Fudo dachi: Fighting Stance
Musubi dachi: Informal Attention Stance (feet in “V”)
Hachiji dachi: Open-legged Stance (Yoi)
Shizen-tai dachi: Natural Stance
Neko-ashi dachi: Cat Stance
Renoji dachi: “L” Stance
Kosa dachi: Cross-Legged Stance
Hangetsu dachi: Wide Hour-glass Stance

DIRECTION

Mae: Front
Yoko: Side
Ushiro: Back
Mawashi: Round
Jodan: Head high level
Chudan: Mid-high level
Gedan: Low level; Down
Migi: Right
Hidari: Left
Gyaku: Reverse
Uchi: Inner
Soto: Outer

UKE WAZE (BLOCKS)

Age uke: Rising block
Gedan uke: Down block
Soto ude uke: Outside froearm block
Shuto uke: Knife block
Morote uke: Augmented block
Juji uke: X block
Manji uke: Hi/Low block (Heian 5)
Tate Shuto uke: Vertical knife-hand block (Heain 3)
Haishu uke: Back-hand block (Heian 5)
Empi uke (or Hiji uke): Elbow block (Heian 3)
Nagashi uke: Sweeping block

GERI WAZE (KICKS)

Mae geri keage: Front snap kick
Yoko geri keage: Side snap kick
Yoko kekomi: Side thrust kick
Mawashi geri: Round house kick
Ushiro geri: Back thrust kick
Fumikomi geri: Stomping kick
Uchi mikazuki geri: Inside crescent kick
Soto mikazuki geri: Outside crescent kick
Tobi geri: Flying kick
Hiza ger: Knee kick/strike
Nidan geri: double kick (Kanku-Dai)
Ushiro mawashi geri: Reverse round house kick

TSUKI WAZA (PUNCHES)

Oi tsuki: Lunge punch
Gyaku tsuki: Revese punch
Kizami tsuki: Jab
Choku tsuki: Straight punch
Kagi tsuki: Hook punch
Oi-gyaku tsuki: Lunging revese punch
Ura tsuki: Close punch
Morote tsuki: Parallel punch
Sanbon tsuki: triple punch
Ren tsuki: Double punch
Age tsuki: Rising punch
Gedan tsuki: Down punch
Yame tsuki: Wide “U” punch
Otoshi tsuki: Dropping punch (Empi)
Ippon Ken tsuki: One-knuckle fist punch (Hangetsu)

UCHI WAZA (STRIKES)

Tettsui: Hammer-fist strike 
Uraken Uchi: Backfist Strike 
Teisho Uchi: Palm Heel Strike 
Shuto Uchi: Knife Hand Stike 
Nukite Uchi: Spear Hand Strike 
Empi Uchi: Elbow Strike 
Tate Empi Uchi: Upward Elbow Strike

OFFICIAL WTKO KATA

Heian 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Tekki 1, 2, 3,
Bassai Dai
Bassai Sho
Kanku Dai
Kanku Sho
Empi
Jion
Jiin
Jitte
Gankaku
Unsu
Meikyo
Sochin
Nijushio
Wankan
Gojushiho-sho
Gojushiho-dai
Chinte
Hangetsu
Kakuyoku Shodan
Kakuyoku Nidan
Suishu
Kashu
Hachimon
Senka
Meikyo Nidan

Japanese Karate-Do

Located at
Five Seasons Family Sports Club
11790 Snider Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
(260) 786-0727

Train Hard and Train Often!