Below is some of the Japanese terminology that is used within the DoJo.
As your tuition rises to higher levels this terminology with be incorporated into your lessons and gradings.
General Terms | |
Dojo | Training Hall |
Dojo Kun | Dojo code |
Sensei | Instructor |
Seiza | Kneel |
Yoi | Ready |
Rei | Bow |
Hidari | Left |
Migi | Right |
Kamae-te | Move to ready position |
Hajime | Start/begin |
Yame | Finish/stop |
Mawatte | Turn |
Gi | Karate suit |
Kime | Focus |
Obi | Belt |
Kiai | Martial shout |
Kata | Formal exercises |
Kihon | Basic techniques |
Kumite | Sparring |
Jodan | Head |
Chudan | Middle body |
Gedan | Lower body |
Oss | Acknowledgment or understanding of an Instruction |
Dachi – Stances | |
Heiko dachi | Natural stance |
Musubi dachi | Informal stance |
Heisoku dachi | Feet together stance |
Zenkutsu dachi | Front stance |
Kiba dachi | Straddle stance |
Shiko dachi | Open leg/Sumo stance |
Kokutsu dachi | Back stance |
Uke – Blocks | |
Age/Jodan Uke | Rising block |
Gedan Barai | Downward 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 |
Morote uke | Augmented block |
Juji uke | X block |
Kakewake uke | Wedge block |
Tsuki – Punches | |
Kara/Choku tsuki | Straight punch |
Oi tsuki | Stepping punch |
Gyaku tsuki | Reverse punch |
Kizami tsuki | Front hand punch |
Kagi tsuki | Hook punch |
Ren tsuki | Two punch combination |
Sanbon tsuki | Three punch combination |
Uchi – Strikes | |
Age empi uchi | Rising elbow strike |
Mawashi empi uchi | Round elbow strike |
Tate empi uchi | Downward elbow strike |
Uraken uchi | Back fist strike |
Nukite | Spear hand thrust |
Haito uchi | Ridge hand strike |
Yoko empi uchi | Side elbow strike |
Ushiro empi uchi | Reverse elbow strike |
Shuto uchi | Knife hand strike |
Tetsui uchi | Hammer fist strike |
Teisho uchi | Palm heel strike |
Geri – Kicks | |
Mae geri | Front kick |
Mawashi geri | Roundhouse kick |
Hiza geri | Knee kick |
Nidan geri | Two kicks with same leg |
Yoko geri keage | Side snap kick |
Ushiro geri | Back kick |
Ren geri | Kicking combinations stepping between kicks |
Kumite – Sparring | |
Kihon Ippon Kumite | Basic one-step sparring |
Sanbon Kumite | Three step sparring |
Gohon Kumite | Five step sparring |
Jiyu Ippon Kumite | Semi-free style sparring |
Jiyu Kumite | Free style sparring |
Kaishi Ippon Kumite | Reaction sparring |