Japan Karate Association of Wisconsin

Japanese Terminology for Younger (Pre-Karate) Students

Our dojo uses many Japanese terms. You will learn many naturally as your training progresses. Please check your specific promotion exam requirements to see which terms are required for your rank.

Counting / Numbers:

one ichi
two ni
three san
four shi or yon
five go
six roku
seven shichi or nana
eight hachi
nine ku 
ten ju

General Terminology:

begin hajime
stop yame
bow rei
kneel seiza
meditate mokuso
arise (from kneeling) ki-retsu
attention kiyotsuke (key-oat-skay)
front wall shomen
teacher (born before) Sensei
senior Senpai
junior Kohai
ready yoi
karate practitioner karateka
training hall dojo
uniform gi
empty hand karate
the way of the empty hand karate-do
basics kihon
forms kata 
spirited yell kiai
belt obi
turn around mawate

Stances:

stance dachi
attention stance (heels together feet out) musubi dachi
parallel ready stance heiko dachi
front stance zenkutsu dachi
back stance kokutsu dachi
straddle stance or horse riding stance kiba dachi

Blocks:

block uke
rising/face block age uke
low sweeping block gedan barai
inward block soto-uke
outward block uchi-uke

Hand Techniques:

lunge punch oi-zuki
reverse punch gyaku-zuki

Foot Techniques:

kick geri
front kick mae geri (my-gary)
roundhouse kick mawashi geri