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Karate Terminolgy
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Understanding Japanese terminology can present a problem for beginners and experienced
karateka. Here is a selection of translations to help improve your understanding.
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Stances & Movements |
Body Positioning |
| Japanese |
English translation |
Japanese |
English translation |
| Dachi |
Stance |
Kamae |
Ready |
| Yoi dachi |
Natural stance |
Shomen ni |
Full body facing |
| Zenkutsu dachi |
Front stance |
Hanmi |
Half body facing |
| Kokutsu dachi |
Back stance |
Irimi |
Turned through 90º |
| Kiba dachi |
Straddle stance |
| Fudo dachi |
Immovable stance |
Hand techniques |
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Zuki |
Punch |
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Leg techniques |
Choku zuki |
Straight punch |
| Geri |
Kick |
Oi zuki |
Stepping punch |
| Mae geri |
Front kick |
Gyaku zuki |
Reverse punch |
| Yoko geri |
Side kick |
Tate zuki |
Vertical fist |
| Mawashi geri |
Round house kick |
Ura zuki |
Close punch |
| Ushiro geri |
Back kick |
Mawashi zuki |
Round house punch |
| Ura mawashi geri |
Hook kick |
Jun zuki |
Lunge punch |
| Ushiro ura mawashi geri |
Spinning hook kick |
Kagi zuki |
Hook punch |
| Fumikomi geri |
Stamping kick |
Age zuki |
Rising punch |
| Tobi geri |
Jumping kick |
Kizami zuki |
Front hand punch |
| Ren geri |
Combination kicking |
Morote zuki |
Double hand punch |
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Blocking |
Hand & feet striking points |
| Uke |
Block |
Ippon nukite |
One fingered strike |
| Age uke |
Rising block |
Nihon nukite |
Two fingered strike |
| Soto uke |
Outside block |
Shuto |
Knife hand strike |
| Uchi ude uke |
Inside block |
Tetsui |
Hammer fist |
| Gedan barai |
Downward block |
Teisho |
Outside edge strike |
| Shuto uke |
Knife hand block |
Tatai shuto |
Palm heal strike |
| Atoshi uke |
Descending block |
Sokuto |
Knife edge of foot |
| Nagashi uke |
Flowing block |
Kakato |
Heal strike |
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Koshi |
Ball of foot |
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Regions of the body |
Hiza geri |
Knee strike |
| Jodan |
Face |
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| Chudan |
Stomach |
Forms of karate sparring |
| Gedan |
Groin |
Ippon kumite |
One step basic |
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Sanbon kumite |
Three step basic |
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Form |
Gohon kumite |
Five step basic |
| Kata |
Forms |
Jiyu ippon |
One free attack |
| Kihon |
Basic techniques |
Jiyu kumite |
Open/free fighting |
| Kumite |
Sparring |
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