Common Terms.

Karate (空手)Kara - empty, te – hand

Karateka (空手家) Someone who practices karate

Shotokan (松涛館)Shoto - pine leaves, Kan - House

Dojo (道場)Training Hall, lit. place of the way

Sensei Teacher

Kyu Levels below black belt

Dan The black belt levels

 

Instructions in the Dojo.

Rei Bow

Yoi Ready position

Chūdan (中段) Stomach level

Jōdan (上段) Head level

Gedan (下段) Groin level

 

Numbers.

On some occasions the Sensei may count in Japanese. Counting in Japanese is fairly simple and normally in Karate you only need to know how to count to ten!

Ichi (一) One

Ni (二) Two

San (三) Three

Shi (四) Four

Go (五) Five

Roku (六) Six

Shichi (七) Seven

Hachi (八) Eight

Kyu (九) Nine

Ju (十) Ten

 

Techniques.

Kihon (基本) Fundamentals or basics

Kata (型 or 形) Form or pattern

Kumite (組手) Sparing/fighting

 

Blocks-Uke

Gedan Barai (下段払い) Downward block

Age Uke (上げ受け) Rising block

Uchi Uke Middle inside block

Soto Uke  Middle outside clock

Shuto Uke Knifehand block

Tate Shuto Uke Straight armed knifehand block

 

Attacks

Tsuki (突き) Punch

Oi Tsuki (追い突き) Stepping punch

Gyaku Tsuki (逆突き) Reverse punch

Kizami Tsuki (刻突) Front hand snap punch

Ren Tsuki 2 punch combination

Sanbon Tsuki 3 punches

Age Tsuki Rising punch

Age Empi Rising elbow strikeYoko Empi Side elbow strike

Maewashi Empi Roundhouse elbow strike

Nukite Spear hand strike

Shuto Knife hand strike

Haito Ridge hand strike

Uraken uchi Backfist strike

 

Geri Kick

Mae Geri  Front kick

Yoko Geri Side kick

Maewashi Geri Roundhouse kick

Ushiro Geri Back kick

Kakato Geri Axe kick

Ushiro Maewashi Geri Reverse Roundhouse

Tobi Geri Flying kick

Ashi Waza Leg techniques

Nami Ashi Block using the leg, as in Tekki Shodan

 

Stances-Dachi

Zenkutsu Dachi Front stance

Kokutsu Dachi Back stance

Shiko Dachi Horse Riding stance with feet pointed outward 

Kiba Dachi Horse stance with feet pointed forward

Heisoku Dachi Feet together stance

Heiko Dachi Natural stance