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JKA NY Dojo Japanese Terms
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

First published 1/20/21 with many thanks to Kei Kubota for his efforts editing and enriching this resource for our dojo.

Counting

Ichi - one

Ni - two

San - three

Shi, Yon - four

Go - five

Roku - six

Shichi, Nana - seven

Hachi - eight

Ku, Kyū - nine

Jū – ten

Stances

-dachi - Stance

Fudō-dachi - Immovable stance. Sōchin stance.

Gankaku-dachi - Crane stance, with raised foot's instep touched on the back of supporting leg’s knee.

Hachiji-dachi/Hanoji-dachi - Open leg stance, with toes open. Japanese letter ハ (hachi/ha) shape.

Hangetsu-dachi - Half moon stance.  Similar to Sanchin-dachi, but longer/wider.

Heisoku-dachi - Closed-feet stance (heels and toes together).

Heikō-dachi - Open leg stance, with feet parallel.

Kiba-dachi - Horse-riding stance, straddle-leg stance with feet parallel.

Kōkutsu-dachi - Back stance.

Kōsa-dachi - X stance/Crossed stance.
Moto-dachi - Free sparring stance. Narrower than Zenkutsu-dachi, with weight even.

Musubi-dachi - Attention stance (heels together, toes open).

Neko-ashi-dachi - Cat stance.

Renoji-dachi - L stance. Japanese letter レ(re) shape.

Sanchin-dachi - Hourglass stance.

Sagi-ashi-dachi - Crane stance, with raised foot's arch touched on the side of supporting leg’s knee.

Shiko-dachi - Sumo stance, straddle-leg stance with toes open.

Shizen-tai - Natural stance.  Same as Hachiji-dachi/Hanoji-dachi.

Teiji-dachi/Chōji-dachi - T stance. Japanese letter 丁 (tei/chō) shape.

Uchi-hachiji-dachi/Uchi-hanoji-dachi - Open leg stance, with toes inward.

Zenkutsu-dachi - Front stance.

Blocks

Uke - Block (literally "To receive").

Age Uke - Rising block.

Awase Uke - Combined block.

Gedan-barai - Downward block, low sweeping block.

Haishu Uke - Backhand block (a block using the back of the hand).

Haitō Uke - Ridge-hand block.

Jūji Uke - X-block.

Kaishō Uke - Open hand block.
Kake Uke - Hook block.

Kakiwake Uke - Wedge block.

Keitō Uke - Chicken head block.

Manji Uke - Gedan-barai + Jōdan Uchi Uke with back stance.

Mikazuki-geri Uke - Block with crescent kick. 

Morote Uke - Augmented block.

Osae Uke - Pressing block.

Shutō Uke - Knife hand block.

Soto Uke - Outside block.

Tate Shutō Uke - Vertical knife hand block.

Tettsui Uke - Hammer fist block.

Uchi Uke - Inside block.

Yama Uke - Mountain block.

Punches

Tsuki/-zuki - Punch.

Age-zuki - Rising punch.

Awase-zuki - U-punch.

Choku-zuki - Straight punch.

Dan-zuki - Double punches with the same fist.

Gyaku-zuki - Reverse punch.

Hasami-zuki - Scissor punch.

Heikō-zuki - Parallel punch.

Kagi-zuki - Hook punch.

Kizami-zuki - Jab Punch.

Morote-zuki - Augmented punch.

Oi-zuki - Lunge punch, chasing punch.

Ren-zuki - Double punches with alternative fists. 

Tate-zuki - Punch with a vertical knuckle.

Ura-zuki - Upper punch (delivered with the palm above) .

Yama-zuki - Mountain punch.

Kicks

Keri/-geri - Kick.

Harai/-barai - Sweep.

Ashi-barai - Foot/Leg sweep.

Fumikomi-geri - Stamping kick.

Kakato-geri - Heel kick.

Keage - Snap kick.

Kekomi - Thrust kick.

Mae-geri - Front kick.

Mawashi-geri - Roundhouse kick.

Mikazuki-geri - Crescent moon kick.

Nami-gaeshi - Returning wave kick.

Nidan-geri - Double kick.

Tobi-geri - Jump kick.

Ura-mawashi-geri - Reverse roundhouse kick. Kake-geri.

Ushiro-geri - Back kick.
Ushiro-mawashi-geri - Back spin kick.

Yoko-geri - Side kick.

Miscellaneous

Arigatō - Thank you.

Arigatō Gozaimashita - Thank you very much.

Bunkai - Analysis, application of kata.

Chūdan - Mid-section.

Dan - Step.

Dō - Way/path.

Dōgi - Training uniform. Keiko-gi.

Dōjō - Literally, "Place of the way." The place where martial arts are practiced.

Gedan - Lower section.

Gyaku - Reverse.

Hai - Yes.

Hajime - Begin.

Hidari - Left.

Hikite - Pulling hand.

Iie - No.

Jōdan - Upper level.

Kamiza - Seats for seniors. 

Karate - Empty hand.

Karate-dō - The way of the empty hand.

Karate-ka - A practitioner of karate.

Kata - A prescribed sequence of techniques against imaginary opponents.

Kiai - A shout. A spirit. (Literally means to concentrate "ki.")

Kihon - Something which is fundamental. Basic techniques.

Kime - Focus of power (concentration of spirit and body to make a decisive technique)

Kiotsuke - Attention.

Kyū - Class. Any rank below shodan (first degree black belt).

Maai - Distance.

Mawatte - Turn around.

Migi - Right.

Mokusō - The command given at the meditation before/after the training session, which means clear your mind.

Obi - Belt.

Oss - A greeting.

Rei - Bow.

Reigi - Manners.

Sahō - Etiquette.

Seiza - Sitting down neatly/formally.

Sempai - One's senior.

Sensei - Teacher.

Shodan - First step, first degree black belt.

Shōmen - Front, front of the dojo.

Shūgō - Gather, assemble.

Tai Sabaki - Body shifting/evasion.

Waza - Technique(s), skill.

Yame - Stop.

Yasume- Rest.

Yōi - Preparation.