Basic Techniques and Terminology in Okinawan Karate
Japanese Numbers:
1 – ICHI 6 – ROKU
2 – NI 7 – SHICHI / NANA
3 – SAN 8 – HACHI
4 – SHI / YON 9 – KU
5 – GO 10 – JU
Glossary of Terms
Age (ah-gey)- rising.
Anza (ahn-zah)- cross leg sitting.
Ate (ah-teh)- smash.
Atemi (ah-teh-me)- concentrated destructive power.
Barai (bah-rye)- to parry.
Bu (boo)- military.
Budo (boo-doh)- military way or way of fighting (ex. Judo, Kendo, Kyudo, Karate-do, Kobudo).
Budoka (boo-doh-kah)- military art practitioner.
Bunkai (bun-kye)- hidden meaning, an interpretation of the techniques performed in kata.
Chikara (chee-kah-rah)- strength.
Chudan (chew-dahn)- middle area.
Do (doh)- way.
Dojo (doh-joh)- school.
Gedan (geh-dahn)- low area.
Genki (gehn-key)- vigor; energy.
Hajime (hah-zhim-ay)- begin.
Hidari (he-dah-rhee)- left.
Hittsui (hit-tsue-ee) OR Hiza (he-zah)- knee.
Jodan (joh-dahn)- high or upper area.
Ju (joo)- flexibility.
Kamae (kah-may)- fighting posture.
Kan (kahn)- house or hall.
Karategi (kah-rah-teh-ghee)- a uniform.
Karateka (kah-rah-teh-kah)- Someone who practices karate.
Kata (kah-tah)- a prearranged set of movements, consisting of stances, strikes, blocks, and kicks, used as a teaching aid.
Ki (key)- intrinsic energy, a hidden strength that everyone possesses.
Kiai (key-aye)- "spirit joining".
Kiotsuke (key-oot-skay)- a command given to stand in musubi dachi (a heisoku dachi with the toes pointed outward and hands by your side).
Kobudo (ko-boo-doh)- weapons.
Kumite (koo-mih-teh)- fighting.
Kuzushi (koo-zoo-she)- to unbalance.
Kyu (kyoo)- the rank under black belt.
Kyoshu (key-oh-shoe)- striking point.
Maai (mah-aye)- distancing.
Makiwara (mah-key-wah-rha)- a hard object used for striking, usually made of wood or braided straw.
Matte (mat-teh)- stop.
Mawate (mah-wah-teh)- turn.
Migi (me-ghee)- right.
Mokuso (moh-keh-so)- meditate.
Nage (nah-geh)- throw.
Obi (oh-bee)- belt.
Rei (ray)- formal bowing.
Renshu (ren-shoe)- to train, practice, drill, etc.
Ryu (roo)- school.
Ryu-ha (roo-hah)- style.
Sensei (sehn-seh-ee)- "those who have gone before", or teacher.
Shinki (shin-key)- nerve.
Shita (she-tah)- down.
Skashi (skah-she)- to avoid.
Tachimas (tah-chee-mahs)- to rise or stand up.
Tai Sabaki (tye sah-bah-key)- body movement
Tori (toh-ree)- a term given to the "aggressor" when working with a partner.
Uke (oo-kay)- a term given to the "defender" when working with a partner.
Ukemi (oo-kehm-ee)- break fall.
Uye (oo-ee)- up.
Waza (wah-zah)- technique.
Yame (yah-may)- stop.
Yoi (yoy)- command given to stand in ready stance.
STANCES - Dachi (dah-chee)
Fudo Dachi (foo-doh dah-chee)- Feet shoulder width apart and hands slightly out in front of you.
Heisoku Dachi (hay-sow-koo dah-chee)- Feet together and hands on your side.
Iaigoshi Dachi (ey-aye-go-she dah-chee)- kneeling stance. One foot on the floor and the opposite knee on the floor, both pointing in the same direction.
Ippon Ashi Dachi (ih-pon ah-she dah-chee)- one legged stances.
Kokutsu Dachi (koh-koo-tsu dah-chee)- back leg bent stance. Keep feet in a similar position to zenkutsu. Most of your weight is on the back leg.
Kosa Dachi (koh-sah dah-chee)- Hooked or crossed legged stance. The feet will be together, little toe to little toe. One knee will fit into the back of the other knee. Both knees will stay bent.
Musubi Dachi (moo-sue-be dah-chee)- a heisoku dachi with the toes pointed outward.
Nai Hanchi Dachi (ni hahn-chee dah-chee)- Both feet will move out to the side of the body instead of front or back. (Pretend that you are riding a horse). Once the legs are out to the side, bend the knees and drop the buttocks closer to the floor. Both feet should be pointing forward. Keep your back straight.
Neko dachi (neh-koh dah-chee)- This name means "cat stance". Stand with your feet together. Point one straight and turn the other foot to an angle (45° angle). Take the foot that is straight and move it out one step, letting only the ball of the foot touch the floor. Now bend the back leg so that at least 80% of your weight is on it. From this position, you should be able to lift your front leg and balance on your back leg.
Seisan dachi (seh-ee-sahn dah-chee)- This stance is similar to the zenkutsu dachi, but it's length is shorter. Both feet should be turned slightly inward.
Seiza (seh-zah)- Sitting, kneeling. Both feet should be underneath the buttocks with both great toes touching. Hands can either on the upper thigh or on the knee.
Shiko dachi (she-ko dah-chee)- This stance is performed the same as the nai hanchi dachi but instead of the feet pointing straight forward, they are pointed out and away from the body.
Zenkutsu dachi (zen-koo-tsue dah-chee)- One leg forward and one leg back, shoulder width apart. The front knee will be bent until you can't see your toes and the back leg will be straight. Both feet should be pointing forward.
HAND TECHNIQUES - Te waza (teh wah-sah)
Empi Uchi (en-pee oo-chee)- elbow strike.
Gyaku Zuki (gya-koo zoo-key)- reverse punch.
Haishu (hi-shoo)- back of hand.
Haito (hah-ee-toh)- knife hand.
Hiji Ate (he-gee ah-teh)- elbow smash.
Hike Te (hee-kee teh)- withdrawing hand.
Kaku Zuki (kah-kuh zoo-key)- square punch, ex. Nai Hanchi Shodan.
Kakuto (kah-koo-toh)- bent wrist.
Kentsui (ken-tsue-ee)- hammer fist.
Morote Zuki (moe-row-teh zoo-key)- double punch. (simultaneous)
Nukite (noo-key-teh)- spear hand.
Oi Zuki (oh-ee zoo-key)- lunge punch.
Seiken Zuki (say-ken zoo-key)- straight punch.
Shi Zuki (she zoo-key)- beak thrust.
Shuto (shoe-toe)- knife hand.
Tate Zuki (tah-teh zoo-key)- vertical punch.
Teisho (teh-show) OR Shotei (show-teh)- palm heel.
Tettsui (tett-soo-ee)- hammer fist.
Tsuki Te (tsue-key teh)- hand strike
Uchi Te (oo-chee teh)- the hand doing the striking.
Ura Zuki (oo-rah zoo-key)- close punch. (upper cut)
Uraken (oo-rah-ken)- back fist.
Yama Zuki (yah-mah zoo-key)- U punch.
Zuki (zoo-key)- punch.
BLOCKS - Uke (oo-kay)
Age Uke (ah-geh oo-kay)- rising block
Chudan Uke (chew-dahn oo-kay)- outward middle forearm block
Gedan Barai (geh-dahn bah-rye)- low parry
Hasami Uke (hah-sah-me oo-kay)- scissor block.
Kosa Uke (koe-sah oo-kay)- cross block.
Morote Uke (moe-row-teh oo-kay)- augmented forearm block
Soto Uke (so-toh oo-kay)- inward middle forearm block
FOOT TECHNIQUES - Ashi waza (ah-she wah-zah)
Fumakomi (foo-mah-koh-me)- side stomp kick.
Geri (geh-rhee)- kick.
Kansetsu Geri (can-set-sue geh-rhee)- kicks aimed at joints.
Keage (kay-ah-geh)- snap.
Kekomi (kay-koh-me)- thrust.
Mae Geri (mah-eh geh-rhee)- front kick.
Mae Geri Kakato (mah-eh geh-rhee kah-kay-toh)- front kick with the heel.
Mawashi Geri (mah-wah-she geh-rhee)- round kick with the top of the foot.
Mikazuki Geri (me-kah-zoo-key geh-rhee)- crescent kick.
Sokuto Geri (sow-koo-toe geh-rhee)- side kick with the blade or edge of the foot.
Ushiro Geri (oo-she-row geh-rhee)- back kick.
Yoko Geri (yoh-koh geh-rhee)- side kick with the heel.
PARTS OF THE BODY - Karada (kah-rah-dah)
Abara bone (ah-bah-rah bo-neh)- ribs.
Ashi (ah-she)- foot and/or leg.
Ashi no yubi (ah-she no yoo-be)- ankle.
Atama (ah-tahm-ah)- head.
Empi (en-pee)- elbow.
Hana (hahn-ah)- nose.
Hara (hah-rah)- In Japanese culture, the center of a persons being or consciousness (two inches below the navel).
Hiji (he-gee)- elbow.
Josokutei (joh-soh-koo-teh)- ball of the foot.
Kakato (kah-kay-toh)- heel.
Kata (kah-tah)- shoulder.
Karada (kah-rah-dah)- body.
Ken (ken)- fist.
Koshi (koh-she)- hip.
Kubi (koo-be)- neck.
Me (meh)- eye.
Mimi (me-me)- ear.
Mômo (moo-moh)- thigh.
Mune (moo-nih)- chest.
Nodo (no-doh)- throat.
Senaka (sin-ah-kah)- back.
Sokuto (sow-koo-toe)- edge of the foot.
Suigetsu (sue-ee-geh-tsue)- solar plexus.
Te (teh)- hand.
Tekubi (teh-koo-be)- wrist.
Ude (oo-deh)- forearm.
Yubi (yoo-be)- fingers.
1 – ICHI 6 – ROKU
2 – NI 7 – SHICHI / NANA
3 – SAN 8 – HACHI
4 – SHI / YON 9 – KU
5 – GO 10 – JU
Glossary of Terms
Age (ah-gey)- rising.
Anza (ahn-zah)- cross leg sitting.
Ate (ah-teh)- smash.
Atemi (ah-teh-me)- concentrated destructive power.
Barai (bah-rye)- to parry.
Bu (boo)- military.
Budo (boo-doh)- military way or way of fighting (ex. Judo, Kendo, Kyudo, Karate-do, Kobudo).
Budoka (boo-doh-kah)- military art practitioner.
Bunkai (bun-kye)- hidden meaning, an interpretation of the techniques performed in kata.
Chikara (chee-kah-rah)- strength.
Chudan (chew-dahn)- middle area.
Do (doh)- way.
Dojo (doh-joh)- school.
Gedan (geh-dahn)- low area.
Genki (gehn-key)- vigor; energy.
Hajime (hah-zhim-ay)- begin.
Hidari (he-dah-rhee)- left.
Hittsui (hit-tsue-ee) OR Hiza (he-zah)- knee.
Jodan (joh-dahn)- high or upper area.
Ju (joo)- flexibility.
Kamae (kah-may)- fighting posture.
Kan (kahn)- house or hall.
Karategi (kah-rah-teh-ghee)- a uniform.
Karateka (kah-rah-teh-kah)- Someone who practices karate.
Kata (kah-tah)- a prearranged set of movements, consisting of stances, strikes, blocks, and kicks, used as a teaching aid.
Ki (key)- intrinsic energy, a hidden strength that everyone possesses.
Kiai (key-aye)- "spirit joining".
Kiotsuke (key-oot-skay)- a command given to stand in musubi dachi (a heisoku dachi with the toes pointed outward and hands by your side).
Kobudo (ko-boo-doh)- weapons.
Kumite (koo-mih-teh)- fighting.
Kuzushi (koo-zoo-she)- to unbalance.
Kyu (kyoo)- the rank under black belt.
Kyoshu (key-oh-shoe)- striking point.
Maai (mah-aye)- distancing.
Makiwara (mah-key-wah-rha)- a hard object used for striking, usually made of wood or braided straw.
Matte (mat-teh)- stop.
Mawate (mah-wah-teh)- turn.
Migi (me-ghee)- right.
Mokuso (moh-keh-so)- meditate.
Nage (nah-geh)- throw.
Obi (oh-bee)- belt.
Rei (ray)- formal bowing.
Renshu (ren-shoe)- to train, practice, drill, etc.
Ryu (roo)- school.
Ryu-ha (roo-hah)- style.
Sensei (sehn-seh-ee)- "those who have gone before", or teacher.
Shinki (shin-key)- nerve.
Shita (she-tah)- down.
Skashi (skah-she)- to avoid.
Tachimas (tah-chee-mahs)- to rise or stand up.
Tai Sabaki (tye sah-bah-key)- body movement
Tori (toh-ree)- a term given to the "aggressor" when working with a partner.
Uke (oo-kay)- a term given to the "defender" when working with a partner.
Ukemi (oo-kehm-ee)- break fall.
Uye (oo-ee)- up.
Waza (wah-zah)- technique.
Yame (yah-may)- stop.
Yoi (yoy)- command given to stand in ready stance.
STANCES - Dachi (dah-chee)
Fudo Dachi (foo-doh dah-chee)- Feet shoulder width apart and hands slightly out in front of you.
Heisoku Dachi (hay-sow-koo dah-chee)- Feet together and hands on your side.
Iaigoshi Dachi (ey-aye-go-she dah-chee)- kneeling stance. One foot on the floor and the opposite knee on the floor, both pointing in the same direction.
Ippon Ashi Dachi (ih-pon ah-she dah-chee)- one legged stances.
Kokutsu Dachi (koh-koo-tsu dah-chee)- back leg bent stance. Keep feet in a similar position to zenkutsu. Most of your weight is on the back leg.
Kosa Dachi (koh-sah dah-chee)- Hooked or crossed legged stance. The feet will be together, little toe to little toe. One knee will fit into the back of the other knee. Both knees will stay bent.
Musubi Dachi (moo-sue-be dah-chee)- a heisoku dachi with the toes pointed outward.
Nai Hanchi Dachi (ni hahn-chee dah-chee)- Both feet will move out to the side of the body instead of front or back. (Pretend that you are riding a horse). Once the legs are out to the side, bend the knees and drop the buttocks closer to the floor. Both feet should be pointing forward. Keep your back straight.
Neko dachi (neh-koh dah-chee)- This name means "cat stance". Stand with your feet together. Point one straight and turn the other foot to an angle (45° angle). Take the foot that is straight and move it out one step, letting only the ball of the foot touch the floor. Now bend the back leg so that at least 80% of your weight is on it. From this position, you should be able to lift your front leg and balance on your back leg.
Seisan dachi (seh-ee-sahn dah-chee)- This stance is similar to the zenkutsu dachi, but it's length is shorter. Both feet should be turned slightly inward.
Seiza (seh-zah)- Sitting, kneeling. Both feet should be underneath the buttocks with both great toes touching. Hands can either on the upper thigh or on the knee.
Shiko dachi (she-ko dah-chee)- This stance is performed the same as the nai hanchi dachi but instead of the feet pointing straight forward, they are pointed out and away from the body.
Zenkutsu dachi (zen-koo-tsue dah-chee)- One leg forward and one leg back, shoulder width apart. The front knee will be bent until you can't see your toes and the back leg will be straight. Both feet should be pointing forward.
HAND TECHNIQUES - Te waza (teh wah-sah)
Empi Uchi (en-pee oo-chee)- elbow strike.
Gyaku Zuki (gya-koo zoo-key)- reverse punch.
Haishu (hi-shoo)- back of hand.
Haito (hah-ee-toh)- knife hand.
Hiji Ate (he-gee ah-teh)- elbow smash.
Hike Te (hee-kee teh)- withdrawing hand.
Kaku Zuki (kah-kuh zoo-key)- square punch, ex. Nai Hanchi Shodan.
Kakuto (kah-koo-toh)- bent wrist.
Kentsui (ken-tsue-ee)- hammer fist.
Morote Zuki (moe-row-teh zoo-key)- double punch. (simultaneous)
Nukite (noo-key-teh)- spear hand.
Oi Zuki (oh-ee zoo-key)- lunge punch.
Seiken Zuki (say-ken zoo-key)- straight punch.
Shi Zuki (she zoo-key)- beak thrust.
Shuto (shoe-toe)- knife hand.
Tate Zuki (tah-teh zoo-key)- vertical punch.
Teisho (teh-show) OR Shotei (show-teh)- palm heel.
Tettsui (tett-soo-ee)- hammer fist.
Tsuki Te (tsue-key teh)- hand strike
Uchi Te (oo-chee teh)- the hand doing the striking.
Ura Zuki (oo-rah zoo-key)- close punch. (upper cut)
Uraken (oo-rah-ken)- back fist.
Yama Zuki (yah-mah zoo-key)- U punch.
Zuki (zoo-key)- punch.
BLOCKS - Uke (oo-kay)
Age Uke (ah-geh oo-kay)- rising block
Chudan Uke (chew-dahn oo-kay)- outward middle forearm block
Gedan Barai (geh-dahn bah-rye)- low parry
Hasami Uke (hah-sah-me oo-kay)- scissor block.
Kosa Uke (koe-sah oo-kay)- cross block.
Morote Uke (moe-row-teh oo-kay)- augmented forearm block
Soto Uke (so-toh oo-kay)- inward middle forearm block
FOOT TECHNIQUES - Ashi waza (ah-she wah-zah)
Fumakomi (foo-mah-koh-me)- side stomp kick.
Geri (geh-rhee)- kick.
Kansetsu Geri (can-set-sue geh-rhee)- kicks aimed at joints.
Keage (kay-ah-geh)- snap.
Kekomi (kay-koh-me)- thrust.
Mae Geri (mah-eh geh-rhee)- front kick.
Mae Geri Kakato (mah-eh geh-rhee kah-kay-toh)- front kick with the heel.
Mawashi Geri (mah-wah-she geh-rhee)- round kick with the top of the foot.
Mikazuki Geri (me-kah-zoo-key geh-rhee)- crescent kick.
Sokuto Geri (sow-koo-toe geh-rhee)- side kick with the blade or edge of the foot.
Ushiro Geri (oo-she-row geh-rhee)- back kick.
Yoko Geri (yoh-koh geh-rhee)- side kick with the heel.
PARTS OF THE BODY - Karada (kah-rah-dah)
Abara bone (ah-bah-rah bo-neh)- ribs.
Ashi (ah-she)- foot and/or leg.
Ashi no yubi (ah-she no yoo-be)- ankle.
Atama (ah-tahm-ah)- head.
Empi (en-pee)- elbow.
Hana (hahn-ah)- nose.
Hara (hah-rah)- In Japanese culture, the center of a persons being or consciousness (two inches below the navel).
Hiji (he-gee)- elbow.
Josokutei (joh-soh-koo-teh)- ball of the foot.
Kakato (kah-kay-toh)- heel.
Kata (kah-tah)- shoulder.
Karada (kah-rah-dah)- body.
Ken (ken)- fist.
Koshi (koh-she)- hip.
Kubi (koo-be)- neck.
Me (meh)- eye.
Mimi (me-me)- ear.
Mômo (moo-moh)- thigh.
Mune (moo-nih)- chest.
Nodo (no-doh)- throat.
Senaka (sin-ah-kah)- back.
Sokuto (sow-koo-toe)- edge of the foot.
Suigetsu (sue-ee-geh-tsue)- solar plexus.
Te (teh)- hand.
Tekubi (teh-koo-be)- wrist.
Ude (oo-deh)- forearm.
Yubi (yoo-be)- fingers.
