| This page contains a brief glossary of some of the more commonly used Japanese terminology KUGB Karateka will need on their way to gaining Black Belt.
The glossary includes the Japanese words / phrases, and their English translation, used during training sessions and gradings, and students should familiarise themselves with these terms alongside the KUGB Grading Syllabus. (The grading syllabus opens in a new browser window allowing you refer to them both side-by-side - Member Login required).
Sensei, will use these terms often, helping you to understand their meanings and pronunciations. Any questions should be discussed Sensei.
| Japanese |
Translation |
|
|
Japanese |
Translation |
| General Terms |
|
| Dojo |
Training Hall |
|
|
Dojo Kun |
Dojo code |
| Sensei |
Instructor |
|
Seiza |
Kneel |
| Rei |
Bow |
|
Yoi |
Ready |
| Migi |
Right |
|
Hidari |
Left |
| Kamae-te |
Move to ready position |
|
Hajime |
Start/begin |
| Mawatte |
Turn |
|
Yame |
Finish/stop |
| Gi |
Karate suit |
|
Obi |
Belt |
| Kime |
Focus |
|
Kiai |
Martial shout |
| Kihon |
Basic techniques |
|
Kata |
Formal exercises |
| Kumite |
Sparring |
|
Zanshin |
Martial state of mind |
| Jodan |
Head |
|
|
or awareness |
| Chudan |
Middle body |
|
Oss |
Respectful greeting |
| Gedan |
Lower body |
|
|
or acknowledgment or |
| |
|
|
|
understanding of a |
| |
|
|
|
command |
| Dachi - Stances |
|
| Heiko dachi |
Natural stance |
|
|
Heisoku dachi |
Feet together stance |
| Musubi dachi |
Informal stance |
|
Zenkutsu dachi |
Front stance |
| Kiba dachi |
Straddle stance |
|
Shiko dachi |
Open leg/Sumo stance |
| Kokutsu dachi |
Back stance |
|
|
|
| Uke - Blocks |
|
| Gedan Barai |
Downward block |
|
|
Age Uke |
Rising block |
| Soto Uke |
Outside block |
|
Uchi Uke |
Inside block |
| Shuto uke |
Knife hand block |
|
Tate Shuto uke |
Vertical knife hand block |
| Nagashi uke |
Sweeping block |
|
Haishu uke |
Back hand block |
| Empi uke |
Elbow block |
|
Juji uke |
X block |
| Morote uke |
Augmented block |
|
Kakewake uke |
Wedge block |
| Tsuki - Punches |
|
| Kara/Choku tsuki |
Straight punch |
|
|
Oi tsuki |
Stepping punch |
| Kizami tsuki |
Front hand punch |
|
Gyaku tsuki |
Reverse punch |
| Kagi tsuki |
Hook punch |
|
Ren tsuki |
Two punch combination |
| Sanbon tsuki |
Three punch combination |
|
|
|
| Uchi - Strikes |
|
| Age empi uchi |
Rising elbow strike |
|
|
Yoko empi uchi |
Side elbow strike |
| Mawashi empi uchi |
Round elbow strike |
|
Ushiro empi uchi |
Reverse elbow strike |
| Tate empi uchi |
Downward elbow strike |
|
Shuto uchi |
Knife hand strike |
| Uraken uchi |
Back fist strike |
|
Tetsui uchi |
Hammer fist strike |
| Nukite |
Spear hand thrust |
|
Teisho uchi |
Palm heel strike |
| Haito uchi |
Ridge hand strike |
|
|
|
| Geri - Kicks |
|
| Mae geri |
Front kick |
|
|
Yoko geri keage |
Side snap kick |
| Yoko geri kekomi |
Side thrust kick |
|
Mawashi geri |
Roundhouse kick |
| Ushiro geri |
Back kick |
|
Hiza geri |
Knee kick |
| Ren geri |
Kicking combinations |
|
Nidan geri |
Two kicks with same leg |
| |
stepping between kicks |
|
|
without step between |
| Kumite - Sparring |
|
| Sanbon Kumite |
Three step sparring |
|
|
Gohon Kumite |
Five step sparring |
| Kihon Ippon Kumite |
Basic one-step sparring |
|
Jiyu Ippon Kumite |
Semi-free style sparring |
| Kaishi Ippon Kumite |
Reaction sparring |
|
Jiyu Kumite |
Free style sparring |
|
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