SHOTOKAN KARATE TERMINOLOGY
As with any other art form Shotokan karate has its own unique terminology, and even though Shotokan is taught all over the world, and in many different languages, it is still common in most dojos to give some commands in Japanese.
The following list of Japanese words and their English counterpart is by no means definitive and so students are encouraged to view this list as merely a starting point in their own effort to further their knowledge of all that Shotokan Karate has to offer. GENERAL TERMS: KATA TERMS : karate do - empty gedan-barai - down handed way block shihan - master chudan oi zuki - middle lunge punch sensei - teacher chudan uchi uke - sempai - senior inside outward block student tetsui zuki - kohai - junior hammer fist strike student shuto uke - sword dojo - training hall hand block obi - belt shuto zuki - sword hand strike seiza - kneel tai-sabaki - body mokuso - meditate shifting rei - bow jodan oi zuki - upper lunge punch yoi - ready jodan age uke - upper rising block hajime - begin
yoko geri keage - yame - stop side snapping kick naote - relax mae geri keage - front snapping kick hidari - left chudan uraken - migi - right middle back fist jodan - upper chudan nukite zuki - middle spear hand chudan - middle strike gedan - lower chudan gyaku zuki - middle reverse dachi - stance punch zuki - punch morote chudan uchi uke - augmented middle inside uchi - strike outward block uke - block jodan soto uke - upper forearm geri - kick strike tai sabaki - body morote gedan uchi shifting uke - augmented lower inside yori ashi - foot outward block shifting morote shita zuki - STRIKES : augmented upper inverted punch kazama zuki - jab chudan teisho yoko choku zuki - uke - middle side straight punch palm heel block oi zuki - lunge chudan yoko zuki - punch middle side punch gyaku zuki - reverse ni jodan shita zuki - punch double inverted upper punch yama zuki - mountain punch chudan tsukami uke - middle yoko zuki - side grasping block punch chudan osae uke - shita zuki - inverted middle pressing punch block ippon ken - one chudan mae empi knuckle strike uchi - middle forward elbow strike uraken - back fist chudan keito uke - tetsui - hammer fist middle chicken head block empi uchi - elbow hitosashiyubi gedan strike nukite - lower index finger spear hand nukite-zuki - spear hand strike shuto gedan barai - lower sword hand shuto - knife hand strike shuto-zuki - sword washide jodan hand strike uchi - upper eagle strike BLOCKS : jodan mae geri jodan age uke - keage - upper front upper rising block snapping kick jodan tetsui zuki - chudan uraken - upper hammer fist middle back fist gedan uke - lower chudan hiza geri - block middle knee strike kake wake uke - chudan mika zuki reverse wedge block geri - middle crescent kick haishu-uke - back hand block chudan mawashi zuki - middle round house punch soto uke - inward middle block jodan shuto juji uke - upper open uchi uke - outward hand X block middle block
ni yoko chudan morote uke - zuki - double middle augmented block side punch teisho oshi uke - chudan-tate-shuto- pressing palm heal uchi-uke -middle block level vertical inside outward sword hand shuto-uke - sword block hand block chudan choku zuki - juji-uke - X block middle straight punch STANCES : ni jodan uke - zenkutsu dachi - double rising block front stance hidari ashi dachi - kokutsu dachi - left legged stance back stance kiba dachi - horse chudan uchi otoshi - stance middle falling block fudo dachi - rooted jodan yoko uchi stance barai - upper side sweeping block neko ashi dachi - cat stance sho koko bo uke - tiger mouth block hangetsu dachi - hourglass stance chudan oi zuki maeude hineri - KICKS : middle lunge punch with turning hiza geri - knee forearm strike jodan tate mawashi mae geri - front kick uchi - upper vertical roundhouse strike yoko geri keage - side snap kick naname shita ni oshinobasu - double downward oblique yoko geri kekomi - push side thrust kick
gedan gassho uke - fumakomi - stomp lower double palm kick heel block mika zuki geri - sankaku tobi - crescent kick triangle jump mawashi geri - chudan nakadaka round kick ippon ken - middle one knuckle strike tobi geri - jump kick jodan age nihon ni mae geri - double nukite-zuki - upper front kick two finger spear hand strike ushiro geri kekomi - back thrust kick haishu uke - back hand block
jodan kensei - upper palm feint