Understanding the terminology used in Shotokan Karate is crucial for effective learning and practice. This section provides a glossary of common Japanese terms, their pronunciations, and meanings, helping students to better comprehend instructions and the philosophy behind the techniques.

General Terms

Arigato - Thank You (Informal)
Arigato gozaimasu - Thank You (Formal)
Bo - Staff (Weapon)
Bunkai - The application of kata with a partner
Chudan - Middle (Stomach Level)
Dachi - Stance
Dan - Black Belt Rank
Dojo - School (Martial Arts)
Dojo Kun (Five Rules for Behaviour) - Training Hall Rules
Dozo - Please
Embusen - Line of movement
Gedan - Lower (Groin or Lower Level)
Geri (or Keri) - Kick
Gi (Gee) - Uniform
Hai (sounds like Hi) - Yes
Hajime - Begin
Jodan - Upper (Head Level)
Kata - Form (or Pattern)
Koshi Kaiten - Hip Rotation
Kiai - Yell (Spirit Yell or Battle Shout)
Kihon - Basics
Kumite - Sparring
Kime - Focus
Kyu - Colour Belt Rank
Lie - No (false)
Maai - Distancing (The correct distance between two opponents)

Makiwara - Punching Board
Mokuso - Meditate
Nage Waza - Throwing Techniques
Mawatte - Turn Around
Obi - Uniform Belt
Osu (Oss)- Persevere When Pushed (Will Try My Best) However, be aware that the term Osu can be used for many different things in various dojos.
Rei - Bow
Seiretsu - Line Up
Seiken - Forefist
Seiza - Kneeling Formal Position
Sempai - Senior Student
Sensei - Instructor (Martial Arts Teacher)
Sensei ni rei - bow to the Teacher
Shomen ni rei - Bow to the front
Tori - Attacker
Uchi - Strike
Uke - Block (or the Defender)
Yame - Stop
Yasume - Relax
Yoko - side, sideways
Yoi - Ready, prepare
Waza - Technique
Zuki (or Tsuki) - Punch

Numbers

One – Ichi
Two – Ni
Three – San
Four – Shi
Five – Go
Six – Roku
Seven – Shichi
Eight – Hachi
Nine – Kyu
Ten – Juu
Eleven – Juu Ichi
Twelve – Juu Ni
Thirteen – Juu San

Fourteen – Juu Shi
Fifteen – Juu Go
Sixteen – Juu Roku
Seventeen – Juu Shichi
Eighteen – Juu Hachi
Nineteen – Juu Kyu
Twenty – Ni Juu
Thirty – San Juu
Forty – Shi Juu
Fifty – Go Juu
Hundred – Hyaku
Two Hundred – Ni Hyaku
Thousand – Sen

Punches & Hand/Arm Strikes (tsuki, waza)

Zuki (or Tsuki) - Punch
Uchi - Strike
Age Zuki - Rising Punch
Choku Zuki - Straight punch
Gyaku Zuki - Reverse Punch
Empi Uchi - Elbow Strike
Haito Uchi - Ridge Hand Strike
Ippon Ken - One Knuckle Strike
Kage Zuki - Hook Punch
Kizami Zuki - Jab Punch
Mawashi Zuki - Roundhouse Punch

Morote Zuki - Double Punch
Nukite Zuki - Spear Hand Strike
Nihon Nukite – Two Finger Spear
Oi Zuki - Lunge Punch
Sanbon Zuki - Triple Punch
Shotei Uchi - Palm Heel Strike
Shuto Uchi - Knife Hand Strike
Tetsui Uchi - Hammer Fist Strike
Ura Zuki - Uppercut Punch
Uraken Uchi - Back Fist Strike
Yama Zuki - Two-Level Double Punch or Mountain Punch

Kicks (geri, waza)

Ashi Barai - Foot Sweep
Fumakomi Geri - Stomp Kick
Geri (or Keri) - Kick
Gyaku Mawashi Geri - Reverse Round Kick
Hiza Geri - Knee Strike
Kakato Geri - Axe Kick
Kin Geri - Groin Kick
Mae Geri - Front Kick

Mae Tobi Geri - Front Jump Kick (Back Leg First)
Mawashi Geri - Round Kick
Mika Zuki Geri - Crescent Kick
Ushiro Geri - Back Thrust Kick
Ushiro Mawashi Geri - Spinning Back Roundhouse Kick
Ura Mawashi Geri - Back Hook Kick
Yoko Geri Keage - Side Snap Kick
Yoko Geri Kekomi - Side Thrust Kick

Stances

Dachi - Stance
Fudo Dachi - Rooted Stance (Immovable Stance)
Han Zenkutsu Dachi - Fighting Stance (Shortened or Half Zenkutsu)
Hachiji Dachi - Open Leg Stance / Natural Stance
Heiko Dachi - Parallel Stance
Hangetsu Dachi -Half Moon Stance
Heisoku Dachi - Closed Leg Stance (Attention Stance - Feet Together)
Kiba Dachi - Horse Riding Stance
Kokutsu Dachi - Back Stance

Kosa Dachi - Crossed Feet Stance
Musubi Dachi - Attention Stance (Feet in V Shape)
Neko Ashi Dachi - Cat Stance (or Cat Foot Stance)
Renoji Dachi - L Stance
Sanchin Dachi - Hourglass Stance
Shiko Dachi - Sumo Stance
Teiji Dachi - T Stance
Tsuru ashi Dachi - Heron-foot Stance
Zenkutsu Dachi - Front Stance

Blocks (uke, waza)

Uke - Block
Age Uke - Rising Block
Gedan Barai - Down Block
Jiji Uke - Elblow block
Juji Uke - X Block
Kake Uke - Hook Block
Morote Uke - Reinforced Block (Augmented Block)

Nagashi Uke - Sweeping Block
Osae Uke - Pressing Block
Shuto Uke - Knife Hand Block
Soto Uke - Outside Forearm Block
Teisho Uke - Palm Block (Palm Heel Block)
Uchi Uke –Inside Forearm Block

Sparring (Kumite)

Go-hon Kumite - 5 step Sparring
San-bon Kumite - 3 step Sparring
Kihon-ippon Kumite - Basic 1 step Sparring
Kaeshi-ippon - Return 1 step Sparring

Jiyu-ippon Kumite - Semi-freestyle Sparring
Okuri Jiyu-ippo Kumite - 2 step semi-freestyle sparring
Jiyu Kumite - Freestyle Sparring

Go No Sen - Allow opponent to attack first
Sen No Sen - Attack at the exact moment the opponent attacks
Hanmi Gamae - Fighting stance
Shomen - Square facing
Hanmi - Side facing
Tai Sabaki - Shift body out of line of attack
Suri Ashi - Sliding your feet
Tsugi Ashi - Step-up with the back foot and then advance the front foot
Yori Ashi - Slide in closer with your front foot first, then slide up your back foot
Maai - Distancing, timing and attitude respective to your opponent

Human Anatomy (target areas for strikes)

Abdomen (Belly) – Hara
Ankle – Ashikubi
Arm – Wan
Ear – Mimi
Elbow – Empi or Enpi (sounds like En-pee or Em-pee)
Eye – Me
Face – Kao
Finger – Yubi
Fist – Ken
Foot – Ashi
Groin – Kinteki
Hair – Kami

Hand – Te
Head – Atama (sounds like Ah-ta-ma)
Heel – Kakato (sounds like Ka-ka-toe)
Jaw – Ago
Knee – Hiza (sounds like He-zah)
Mouth – Kuchi
Nose – Hana
Palm of Hand – Shute
Shoulder – Kata
Throat – Nodo (sounds like No-doe)
Toe – Tsumasaki
Wrist – Tekubi