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Although we have endeavored to ensure this terminology list is accurate, we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or differences between associations and styles in Karate

Either click on the terminology groups listed below or scroll down the entire list

 

Stances

Punching

Strikes

Blocks

Kicking

Body Parts

Counting

Sparring

Kata

Misc

 

Stances

Back stance Kokutsu-dachi
Cat stance Neko-ashi-dachi
Crossed feet stance Re: Tekki (kata) Kosa-dachi
Diagonal straddle-leg stance (Rooted stance) Sochin-dachi
Freestyle position Kamai
Front stance (Forward stance) Zenkutsu-dachi
Half-moon stance Hangetsu-dachi
Hour-glass stance Sanchin-dachi
Informal attention stance (feet together) Heisoku-dachi
Informal attention stance (feet turned out) Musubi-dachi
Inverted open leg stance (feet turned in) Uchi-hachiji-dachi
Kneeling or one knee stance Kata-ashi-dachi
L stance Renoji-dachi
Natural position; any one of seven Shizen-tai
One leg stance Sagi-ashi-dachi
Open-leg stance (shoulder width, feet turned out) Hachiji-dachi
Parallel stance Heiko-dachi
Rooted stance Fudo-dachi
Sliding one leg stance Suri-ashi-dachi
Square stance (feet turned out) Shiko-dachi
Stance Dachi
Straddle-leg stance or horse-riding stance Kiba-dachi
T stance Teiji-dachi
   
   

Punching


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Lunge punch (stepping punch) Oi-zuki
One-knuckle fist straight punch Ippon-ken-zuki
Parallel punch Heiko-zuki
Punch to groin Gedan-zuki
Punch / Punching Zuki / Tsuki
Punching board Makiwara
Punching-techniques Tsuki-waza
Reverse punch Gyaku-zuki
Rising punch Age-zuki
Roundhouse punch Mawashi-zuki
Scissors punch Hasami-zuki
Straight punch Choku-zuki
Straight punch to body Chudan-choku-zuki
Straight punch to face/head Jodan-choku-zuki
Straight punch to groin Gedan-choku-zuki
Three consecutive punches Sanren-zuki / Sambon-zuki
U-punch Awase-zuki
Vertical fist punch Tate-zuki
Wide U-punch Yama-zuki
   
   

Strikes


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Back elbow strike Ushiro-empi-uchi / Ushiro-hiji-ate
Back-fist strike Uraken-uchi
Back-hand strike Haishu-uchi
Bottom fist strike Tettsui-uchi
Downward elbow strike Otoshi-empi-uchi / Otoshi-hiji-ate
Elbow strike Empi-uchi / Hiji-ate
Fist-hammer strike Kentsui-uchi
Forward elbow strike Mae-empi-uchi / Mae-hiji-ate
Knife hand strike Shuto-uchi
Palm-heel strike Teisho-uchi
Ridge-hand strike Haito-uchi
Rising elbow strike Age-empi-uchi
Roundhouse elbow strike Mawashi-empi-uchi
Side elbow strike Yoko-empi-uchi / Yoko-hiji-ate
Side-round elbow strike Yoko-mawashi-empi-uchi / -hiji-ate
Striking Uchi
Striking techniques Uchi-waza
Tiger mouth strike Koko-uchi
Upward elbow strike Tate-empi-uchi / Tate-hiji-ate
X-strike Juji-uchi
   
   

Blocks


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Ankle hooking block Ashikubi-kake-uke
Augmented block Morote-uke
Augmented-forearm block Morote-ude-uke
Back-arm block Hai-wan-uke
Back-arm sweeping block Haiwan-nagashi-uke
Back-hand block Haishu-uke
Bent-wrist block Kakuto-uke
Block from inside outward Uchi-uke
Blocking Uke
Chicken-head wrist block Keito-uke
Circular sole block Sokutei-mawashi-uke
Combined palm-heel block Teisho-awase-uke
Downward block Gedan-uke / Gedan-barai
Downward hooking block Gedan-kake-uke
Dropping block Otoshi-uke
Forearm block Ude-uke
Forearm block stepping in Fumikomi-ude-uke
Forearm pressing block Maeude-deai-osae
Forearm twist block Maeude-hineri-uke
Grasping block Tsukami-uke
Hand pressing block Te-osae-uke
Hand sweeping block Te-nagashi-uke
Hooking block Kake-uke
Hooking knife-hand block Kake-shuto-uke
Inside block stepping in Fumikomi-uchi-uke
Inside block (forearm) Uchi-ude-uke
Inside leg block Nami-ashi
Inside-block against body attack Chudan-uchi-uke
Knife hand block Shuto-uke
Knife hand block stepping in Fumikomi-shuto-uke
Knife-hand block against body attack Chudan-shuto-uke
Leg hooking block Ashibo-kake-uke
Outside forearm block Soto-ude-uke
Outside (forearm) block against body attack Chudan-ude-uke
Ox-jaw block Seiryuto-uke
Palm-heel block Teisho-uke
Pressing block Osae-uke
Pressing block stepping in Deai-osae-uke
Pressing block with foot edge Sokuto-osae-uke
Pressing block with sole Sokutei-osae-uke
Ridge-hand block Haito-uke
Rising block Age-uke
Scooping block Sukui-uke
Side two-hand block Sokumen-awase-uke
Swazsticker position / block (developed from 'Budist symbol') Manji-uke
Sweeping block Nagashi-uke
Two-handed grasping block Morote-tsukami-uke
Two-handed scooping block Morote-sukui-uke
Upper block against head attack Jodan-age-uke
Upper block stepping in Fumikomi-age-uke
Vertical knife-hand block Tate-shuto-uke
Wedge block Kakiwake-uke
Wrist-hooking block Te-kubi-kake-uke
X-block Juji-uke
   
   

Kicking


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Back kick Ushiro-geri
Back roundhouse kick (spinning) Ushiro-mawashi-geri
Combination kick Renzoku-geri
Consecutive kicking Ren-geri
Crescent kick Mikazuki-geri
Cutting kick Fumikiri
Diagonal kick Kesa-geri
Double jumping kick Nidan-tobi-geri
Double kick Nidan-geri
Front kick Mae-geri
Front kick to face Jodan-mae-geri
Front kick to the body Chudan-Mae-geri
Front leg kick Mae-ashi-geri
Front snap kick Mae-geri-keage
Front thrust kick Mae-geri-kekomi
Groin kick Kin-geri
Jump kick Tobi-geri
Jump kick - both legs, same time Jumbo-geri
Jumping front kick Mae-tobi-geri
Jumping side kick Yoko-tobi-geri
Kick off (snap kick) Kebanashi
Kick / Kicking Geri
Kicking techniques Geri-waza
Knee kick Hiza-geri
Rear-leg kick Ushiro-ashi-geri
Reverse roundhouse kick Gyaku-mawashi-geri
Rising block (reverse foot) Age-uke-gyaku-ashi
Roundhouse kick Mawashi-geri
Side kick Yoko-geri
Side snap kick Yoko-geri-keage
Side thrust kick Yoko-geri-kekomi
Snap kick Keage
Snap kick with foot edge Sokuto-keage
Stamping Kick Fumikomi
Thrust kick Kekomi
Thrust kick to face Jodan-kekomi
Thrust kick to groin Gedan-kekomi
   
   

Body Parts


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Ankle Ashi-kubi
Arm Wan
Arm sword Wanto
Arm-stick Shubo
Back-arm Hai-wan
Back-fist Uraken
Back-hand Haishu
Back, rear Senaka / Ushiro
Ball of the foot Ko-shi
Bear-hand Kumade
Bent-wrist Kakuto
Bottom fist Tettsui
Breast Chibusa
Chest Mune
Chest area Chudan
Chicken-head wrist Keito
Chin or jaw Ago
Eagle hand (beak) Washide
Ear Mimi
Elbow Empi or Hiji
Eyes Me
Face Kao
Face area Jodan
Fingers Ubi
Fist-hammer Kentsui
Foot Ashi
Foot edge (inside) Sokutei
Foot edge (outside) Sokuto
Foot techniques Ashi-waza
Forearm Ude
Fore-fist Seiken
Fore-knuckle fist Hiraken
Four finger spear hand Shihon-nukite
Genitals Seishokuki
Hair Kaminoke
Hand Te
Hand-hammer Shittsui
Head Atama
Heel Enju / Kakato
Hips Koshi
Inner arm Nai-wan
Instep Haisoku
Knee Hiza
Knee cap Hizagashira
Knife hand Shuto
Legs Ashi
Lip Kuchibiru
Lower area of body Gedan
Middle knuckle fist Nakadaka-ken
Middle-finger one-knuckle fist Nakadaka-ippon-ken
Mouth Kuchi
Navel Tanden
Neck Kubi
Nose Hana
One-finger spear hand Ippon-nukite
One-knuckle fist Ippon-ken
Open hand Kaisho
Outer arm Gai-wan
Ox-jaw hand Seiryuto
Palm arm Shu-wan
Palm-heel Teisho
Raised sole Jo-sokutei
Reverse foot Gyaku-ashi
Ridge-hand Haito
Round heel En-sho
Shoulders Kata
Side Yoko
Skin Hifu or hada
Sole of foot Ashi-no-ura
Spear-hand straight thrust Nukite
Stomach (concept of spiritual centre) Hara
Teeth Ha
Thigh Momo
Throat Nodo
Thumb Oyayubi
Tips of toes Tsumasaki
Toes Ashi-ubi
Tongue Shita
Two finger spear-hand Nihon-nukite
Wrist Te-kubi
   
   

Counting


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One Ichi
First Sho
Two/Second Ni
Three/Third San
Four Shi
Fourth Yon
Five/Fifth Go
Six/Sixth Roku
SevenSeventh Shichi
Eight/Eighth Hachi
Nine/Ninth Ku
Ten/Tenth Ju
   
   

Sparring


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Basic one-step sparring Kihon-ippon-kumite
Basic sparring Kihon kumite
Five step sparring Gohon-kumite
Free-style sparring Jiyu-kumite
One step sparring Ippon-kumite
Semi-free one-step sparring Jiyu-ippon-kumite
Sparring Kumite
Three step sparring Sanbon-kumite
Two-step freestyle sparring (2nd step free) Okuri-jiyu-ippon-kumite
Return one step sparring Kaeshi-ippon-kumite
   
   

Kata


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Compulsory Kata Shitai
Favourite kata Tokui
Forms Kata
Performance Line Enbusen
   

'All kata are listed as per performed within the ESKA association'

 
First cause Taikyoku-shodan
Peaceful Mind (5 off) Heian (Shodan to Godan)
Horse riding 1st level Tekki-shodan
To Penetrate a fortress (major) Bassai-dai
'Viewing the sky' (major) Kanku-dai
Flying swallow Enpi
Ten hands Jitte
Named after Chinese temple 'Jion Ji' Ji'in
Temple Jion
Half moon Hangetsu
Horse riding 2nd level Tekki-nidan
To Penetrate a fortress (minor) Bassai-Sho
Crane on a rock Gankaku
Unusual / Strange / Chinese Hands Chinte
'Viewing the sky' (minor) Kanku-Sho
24 Steps Nijushiho
Bright mirror Meikyo
To root, or to preserve the peace (as perthe strance) Sochin
King's crown Wankan
Hands like the clouds Unsu
54 Steps (major) Gojushiho-dai
54 Steps (minor) Gojushiho-sho
Horse riding 3rd level Tekki-sandan
   
   

Miscellaneous


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Agreement, understand, hello etc Oss
Begin Hajime
Belt (sash) Obi
Blue Ao
Bow Rei
Consecutive Ren
Deep breathing and empty mind (Meditation) Mokso
Distancing Ma-ai
Empty - Chinese Kara
Empty-hand fighting Karate
Focusing the muscles - Tension Kime
Front Mae
Grade (below black belt) Kyu
Half-front-facing position Hanmi
Hand techniques Te-waza
Hooking throw Kake-Nage
Inner power (spirit) Ki
Jacket Gi
Jumping Tobi
Junior grade Kohai
Left Hidari
Level (Black belt & above) Dan
Main dojo or HQ Hombu
Master (6th Dan and above) Shihan
Meditation Mokuso
Moving and stepping Unsoku
Oath Kun
Person or practitioner Ka
Pulling hand Hikate
Ready Yoi
Red Aka
Relax Enoy
Reverse Gyaku
Right Migi
Senior Sempai
Shout used to unite Ki and Physical power Kiai
Sliding Suri
Smashing techniques Ate-waza
Staff (wooden) Bo
Stop - finish Yamae
Student of karate Karateka
Teacher Sensei
Teacher we bow Sensei-ne-rei
Technique Waza
Test of technique's power Tameshi-wari
Throwing techniques Nage-waza
Tiger mouth position Koko-gamae
Training gym Dojo
Turn Mawate
Way Do
White Shiro

ESKA. ESKA Shotokan karate. ESKA - English Shotokan Karate Association. ESKA karate.