Glossary of English and Japanese Terms
- Pronunciation keys of Japanese terms are given in parentheses.
- How to read Japanese in English alphabet (rōmaji):
- English vowels a=ah, i=ee, u=oo, e=eh and o=oh
- A macron or a line over a vowel indicates that it is pronounced for twice the length of the vowel without a macron or a line. Sometimes an “h” is added instead, as in Mr. Ohshima’s name. The first “o” in Mr. Ono’s name, on the other hand, is not lengthened. Ohno and Ono are two different names. However, these sounds are just approximations and there are some exceptions.
- Please note that the pronunciation keys given here are only approximations and are primarily designed for the members in the U.S. and Canada. They may not necessarily be helpful for the members of international affiliates.
Numbers
| One | |
| Two | |
| Three | |
| Four | |
| Five | |
| Six | |
| Seven | |
| Eight | |
| Nine | |
| Ten | |
General
| Head Instructor / Master instructor (of an organization) *(see Notes) | shihan (shee-hahn) |
| Instructor *(see Notes) | sensei (sehn-seh-ee) |
| Training hall | dōjō (doh-joh) |
| Training uniform | keiko gi (keh-ee-koh gee) / gi (gee) |
| Training uniform belt | obi (oh-bee) |
| Vocal expulsion of air | kiai (kee-ah-ee) |
| Black Belt rank | dan (dahn) |
| White/Brown belt rank | kyū (kyoo) |
| Meditation | mokusō (moh-koo-soh) |
| Bow | rei (reh-ee) / lei (leh-ee) |
| Assume stance | kamaete (kah-mah-eh-teh) |
| Get ready | yōi (yoh-ee) |
| Begin | hajime (hah-jee-meh) |
| Pivot / assume opposite direction | kaette (kah-eht-teh) |
| Stop | yame (yah-meh) |
| At ease | yasume (yah-soo-meh) |
| Basic training | kihon (kee-hohn) |
| Formal exercise/forms | kata (kah-tah) |
| Sparring | kumite (koo-mee-teh) |
| Escape techniques | torite(toh-ree-teh) |
| Throwing techniques | nagewaza(nah-geh-wah-zah) |
| Foot sweep | ashibarai (ah-shee-bah-rah-ee) |
| Maximum effectiveness / focus of techniques | kime (kee-meh) |
| Pulling hand | hikite (hee-kee-teh) |
| Breathing center in lower abdomen | tanden (tahn-dehn) |
| Getting into the opponent | irimi (ee-ree-mee) |
| Elbow Attacks | enpi (ehn-pee) / empi (ehm-pee) |
| Jumping-in attack | tobikomi (toh-bee-koh-mee) |
| Continuous Techniques | renzoku waza (rehn-zoh-koo wah-zah) |
| Punching board | makiwara (mah-kee-wah-rah) |
| Staff | bō (boh) |
Standing Forms
Standing Forms:
| Front stance |
|
| Back stance |
|
| Horse riding stance |
|
| Immovable stance |
|
| Cat stance |
|
| Natural stance |
|
| Close-leg stance |
|
| Half-facing stance |
|
| Open-leg stance |
|
Blocks
Blocks:
| Downward block | |
| Rising block | |
| Forearm block | |
| Hammer block | |
| Knife-hand block | |
| Cross-arm block | |
| Two-hand block | |
| Palm-heel block | |
Hand Techniques
Hand Techniques:
| Lunge punch | |
| Reverse punch | |
| Jab | |
| Continuous punches alternating hands | |
| Continuous punching attacks | |
| Punching with horse riding stance | |
| Double punch | |
| Hook punch | |
| Palm-heel | |
| Rising punch | |
Striking Techniques
Striking Techniques:
Uchi Waza (oo-chee-wah-zah)
| Back-fist strike |
|
| Bottom-fist strike |
|
| Knife-hand strike |
|
| Spear-hand |
|
| Two-finger spear-hand |
|
| Fore-fist |
|
| Fore-knuckle fist |
|
| One-knuckle fist |
|
| Middle finger/knuckle fist |
|
| Ridge-hand |
|
Kicks
Kicks:
| Front kick | |
| Round kick | |
| Side-thrust kick | |
| Side-up kick | |
| Crescent kick | |
| Stamping kick | |
| Rear kick | |
| Double front kick | |
| Flying front kick | |
| Flying side-thrust kick | |
| Front kick with front leg | |
| Front-thrust kick | |
| Continuous kicks | |
| Foot edge | |
| Heel | |
| Kneecap | |
Sparring
Sparring:
| Basic one-time sparring | |
| Free one-time sparring | |
| Three-time sparring | |
| Five-time sparring | |
| Free-style | |
| Upper body | |
| Middle body | |
| Lower body | |
| Distance, timing, and other things between opponents | |
| Match | |
| Bow | |
| One point match | |
| Begin | |
| Stop | |
| Clash | |
| I award no point | |
| Continue | |
| One more time | |
| End of match | |
| Half-point | |
| Point | |
| Two half-points equal one point | |
| Draw | |
| Red | |
| White | |
| Red is the winner | |
| Referee | |
Throwing Techniques
Throwing Techniques:
| to topple a folding screen | |
| spinning top | |
| encircle the neck | |
| half wheel | |
| ‘v’ turning swallow | |
| to spear a ball | |
| to push off a cliff | |
| to encircle with the arm | |
| to hammer upside down | |
| Performer of the technique | |
| Receiver of the technique | |
| Falling techniques | |
Notes:
When Shihan or Sensei is used as an honorific or a title, there are a few important things one needs to be aware of:
- Shihan or Sensei is attached to the end of the person’s family name, e.g., Ohshima Shihan (not Shihan Ohshima), Ohshima Sensei (not Sensei Ohshima)
- According to the Japanese culture, it is not appropriate to call oneself Shihan or Sensei, or introduce oneself with the title Shihan or Sensei, e.g., Instructor John Doe shouldn’t call himself Shihan, Sensei, Doe Shihan or Doe Sensei. His students can, but he shouldn’t.
- The same thing applies to the honorific san (meaning Mr., Mrs., or Miss). Mr. John Smith shouldn’t call himself Smith-san or John Smith-san. San can be attached only to the end of others’ names.
Adapted from Shotokan Karate of America website. Revised and adapted by Hiroko Mori (September 2004, audio added October 2009, updated to HTML5 Sept 2014) Audio voice recordings by Hiroko Mori. Conversion to MP3 and linkages by John Schoneboom & Mike Lyon.