Glossary (Commonly used words and phrases)

 

Counting/Numbers
Ichi/Sho - One
Ni - Two
San - Three
Shi/Yon - Four
Go - Five
Roku - Six
Shichi/Nana - Seven
Hachi - Eight
Ku - Nine
Ju - Ten

General Terms
Shugo - Line up
Keioske - Attention
Onegaishimasu - Please do me a favour
Arigato - Thank you
Arigato gozaimasu - Thank you very much (more polite)
Domo arigato gozaimasu - Thank you very much (most polite)
Bunkai - Analysis of movements (usually kata)
Bushido - Way of the warrior
Shitsurei Shimasu - Sorry for being late
Kata - Formal form/exercise
Gi - Uniform
Hai - Yes
Rei - Bow
Hajime - Begin
Honbu (pronounced 'hombu') - Main dojo or Headquarters
Kodokan - Lecture Hall (literally: a place to study the information or the way [of karate])
Dojo - Training/exercise hall
Yoi - Ready
Yame - Stop
Hidari - Left
Migi - Right
Kiai - Shout of spirit
Ki - spirit
Mawatte - Turn
Osensei - Grand Master or Founder of style (e.g. Shoshin Nagamine)
Soke - Master of Style or Headmaster (e.g. Takayoshi Nagamine)
Sensei - Teacher
Senpai (pronounced 'sempai') - Senior
Hanshi / Hanshisei - Master Instructor (Literal meaning: 'Model expert')
Kyoshi – Advanced Instructor (Literal meaning: 'Teaching expert')
Renshi – Senior Instructor (Literal meaning: 'Polished expert')
Yudansha - Those with a Dan or black belt holder
Mudansha - Those without a Dan (i.e. kyu grades)
Chief Instructor - Refers to the head of the Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate Association of Australia. (Known in Japanese as 'Shibucho' this literally means 'Branch Chief')
Head Dojo Instructor / Dojo Head - Refers to the head of an individual dojo & owner of a branch under the MKAA/WMKA. (Known in Japanese as 'Dojocho' this literally means 'Dojo Chief')

Stances
Shizentai dachi (1) - Natural stance
Shizentai dachi (2) - Narutal walking stance
Fudo dachi - Formal attention stance
Heisoku dachi - Closed-footed stance
Nekoashi dachi - Cat stance
Jigotai dachi - Squat stance
Naihanchi dachi - Straddle-leg stand
Zenkutsu dachi - Front stance
Naname zenkutsu dachi - Diagonal stance
Kokutsu dachi - Back stance
Kosa dachi - Cross-leg stance
Ippon-ashi dachi - One-leg stance
Iaigoshi dachi - Kneeling stance
Seiza - Formal sitting position

Areas
Jodan - Upper
Chudan - Middle
Gedan - Lower

Seiken waza (Fist technique)
Jodan zuki - Upper punch
Chudan zuki - Middle punch
Gedan zuki - Lower punch
Kaku zuki - Square punch
Tomoe zuki - Circular block and punch
Sayu zuki - Double side punch
Kakushi zuki - Hidden fist punch
Oi zuki - Chasing punch
Morote zuki - Augmented-side punch
Gyaku Zuki - Reverse punch

Yubi waza (Finger technique)
Nukite zuki - Spear-hand thrust
Morote-nuki zuki - Double spear-hand thrust
Shi zuki - Beak thrust

Uchi waza (Striking technique)
Uraken uchi - Backfist strike
Kentsui uchi - Hammer-fist strike
Shuto uchi - Knife-hand strike
Haito uchi - Reverse knife-hand strike

Ate waza (Smashing technique)
Hiji ate - Elbow smash
Hiza ate - Knee smash
Shotei ate - Palm-heel smash

Uke (Blocking technique)
Jodan uke - Upper block
Chudan soto uke - Inside outward block
Chudan uchi uke - Outside inward block
Gedan uke - Lower block
Kosa uke - Cross block
Morote soe uke - Augmented forearm block
Shuto uke - Knife-hand block
Chudan hasami uke - Middle scissors block
Makite uke - Winding knife-hand block
Magetori barai uke - Rising upward both-hand knife block
Torite uke - Grasping-hand block
Gedan haito yoko uke - Lower siderward reverse knife-hand block
Shotei uke - Palm heel block
Hiji uke - Elbow block

Keri/geri (Kicking technique)
Kyobu geri - Chest kick
Mae geri - Front kick
Yoko geri - Side kick
Mawashi geri - Roundhouse kick
Fukubu geri - Abdomen kick
Kinteki geri - Groin kick
Sokuto geri - Foot-edge kick
Nidan geri - Flying-front kick
Ushiro geri - Back kick