Counting in Japanese

Karate is usually taught using the original Japanese terms, and that includes counting in Japanese. The second syllable is slightly suppressed, so “Ichi” becomes phonetically more like “itch!” and “Roku” sounds more like “Rokk”.

Traditionally, in Kihon (training of basic techniques), students produce a Ki-Ai (Shout) at the 10th repetition of a technique. In partner training such as Ippon Kumite (one-step sparring), the speed and power of each technique is gradually increased.

Counting

Ichi	One
Ni	Two
San	Three
Shi	Four
Go	Five
Roku	Six
Shichi	Seven
Hachi	Eight
Ku	Nine
Ju	Ten

 

Karate Stances – Japanese Terms

“Dachi” or “Tachi” means stance in Japanese, and describes primarily the position of the feet in various Karate stances. Stances are very important in delivering power and also quick responses in various situations and are thus emphasis in Kihon (basic training). Strong stances can give a smaller person a significant advantage over a larger attacker.

Stances – Dachi

Fudo dachi	Free stance
Hachiji dachi	Natural stance (feet shoulder width apart toes slightly pointed out)
Han zenkutsu dachi	Half front stance (Short Zenkutsu dachi)
Hachiji dachi	Natural stance (feet shoulder width apart toes slightly pointed out)
Heiko dachi	Parallel stance (feet shoulder width apart)
Heisoku dachi	Closed foot stance (feet together)
Kiba dachi	Horse riding stance (feet parallel)
Kokutsu dachi	Back stance
Musubi dachi	Formal attention stance (feet together)
Neko ashi dachi	Cat stance
Renoji dachi	The letter L stance
Sanchin dachi	Hourglass stance
Sesan dachi	Side facing straddle stance
Shiko dachi	Straddle leg stance (horse stance feet at 45 degrees)
Zenkutsu dachi	Front stance

Karate Blocking Techniques – Japanese Terms

“Uke” means block in Japanese, and can be performed with hands, arms, legs and feet.

Karate Blocks

Ashi barai	Blocking sweep
Age uke (Jodan uke)	Rising block (Upper block)
Chudan suki uke	Middle scooping block
Chudan shotei yoko uke	Middle level open hand block
Chudan uke	Inside circular block
Chudan uchi uke	Outside forearm block (Middle Block)
Gedan barai	Downward block (Lower block)
Gedan uchi barai	Downward block (Fom outside inward)
Haisoku barai	Instep block (Inside to outside)
Hiji uke	Elbow block
Hiki uke	Open hand pulling grasping block
Hiza uchi uke	Knee block (Blocking outside to inside)
Hiza soto uke	Knee block (Blocking inside to outside)
Kake uke	Open hand hooking block
Ko uke	Wrist block
Kosa uke	Cross block arms crossed at wrist
Mawashi uke	Round house block with two hands
Morote uke	Reinforced block
Otoshi uke	Blocking downward with palm heel
Shotei gedan bari	Open hand downward block
Shotei otoshi uke	Open hand dropping block
Shotei uke	Palm heel block
Shuto uke	Knife hand block
Sokutei harai uke	Block with sole of the foot (Outside to inside)
Tora guchi	Circular double block to gedan and jodan
Uchi uke	Inside forearm block
Ura uke	Back hand block

Karate Hand Techniques – Japanese Terms

“Te” means hand in Japanese, and Kara-Te is often reported to mean “empty hand”. Zuki (often also spelled tsuki) means punch.

Often the same technique is referred to by different names, for example, for the elbow strike you may find the Japanese terms Empi Uchi, Hiji Uchi, or Hiji Ate that all usually mean the same thing!

HAND TECHNIQUES – TE WASA

Age zuki	Rising punch
Awase zuki	U punch
Boshiken zuki	Thumb fist
Choku zuki	Straight punch
Chudan zuki	Middle level punch
Empi uchi	Elbow strike
Furi zuki	Circular punch
Gyaku zuki	Reverse punch
Haishu	Back hand
Haito uchi	Sword ridge hand
Hasami zuki	Scissors punch
Heiko zuki	Parallel punch
Hiji uchi	Elbow strike
Jodan zuki	Upper level punch
Kagi zuki	Hook punch
Kaiko ken zuki	Crab shell fist, four knuckle strike
Kizami zuki	Jab or leading punch
Kote uchi	Forearm strike
Ko uchi	Bent wrist strike
Kuma-de	Bear hand
Mawashi zuki	Round hook punch
Nagashi zuki	Flowing punch
Nakadaka ippon ken zuki	Middle finger knuckle punch
Nihon zuki	Double punch
Nukite zuki	Finger thrust
Oi zuki	Lunge punch
Sanbon zuki	Triple punch
Seiken zuki	Fore fist strike
Shotei uchi	Palm heel strike
Shotei zuki	Palm heel thrust
Shuto uchi	Knife hand strike (Karate Chop)
Tateken zuki	Vertical fist punch
Tsuki (zuki)	Punch or thrust
Tettsui uchi	Hammer fist strike
Uchi	Strike
Ura ken uchi	Back fist strike
Ura zuki	Short punch (palm up)
Yama zuki	Mountain punch
Washi de	Eagle hand

Karate Foot Techniques – Japanese Terms

“Ashi” means foot in Japanese, and “Geri” (sometimes also spelled “Keri”) means kick.

FOOT TECHNIQUES / KICKING – ASHI WAZA

Ashi barai	Foot sweep
Fumikomi geri	Heel stamping kick
Hiza geri	Knee kick
Kansetsu geri	Knee joint kick
Keri (Geri)	Kick
Kakato geri	Heel of foot kick
Kin geri	Groin kick (Haisoku, instep)
Mae geri (Keage)	Front kick (snap)
Mae geri (Kekomi)	Front kick (thrust)
Mae tobi geri	Jumping front kick
Mawashi geri	Round house kick
Nidan geri	Double front snap kick (Back leg first)
Ren geri	Double front snap kick (Front leg first)
Tsumasaki mae geri	Front kick with tips of toes
Ura yoko geri	Spinning side kick
Ushiro geri	Back thrust kick
Yoko geri (Keage)	Side snap kick
Yoko geri (Kekomi)	Side thrust kick
Yoko tobi geri	Jumping side kick

PARTS OF THE FOOT

Haisoku	Instep
Hiza	Knee
Josokutei	Ball of the foot
Kakato	Heel of the foot
Sokuto	Foot edge
Tsumasaki	Tip of the toes

Striking – Japanese Terms

DIRECTIONS TO STRIKE

Mae	To the front
Yoko	To the side
Mawashi	Round house (Around)
Ushiro	To the rear

AREAS TO STRIKE

Jodan	Upper level, from neck up, Head
Chudan	Middle area, neck to belt, Stomach
Gedan	Lower level, belt down, Groin