Terminology

A basic understanding of the terminology will assist you in class
Commencement of Class
Sensei Ni Rei [Sen-say-knee ray]Sensei O-negai shimasu [Oh-neh-guy She-muss]
Senpai Ni Rei [Sen-pie-knee ray]Senpai O-negai shimasu [Oh-neh-guy She-muss]
Otagai Ni Rei [Oh-tah-guy-knee ray]O-negai shimasu [Oh-neh-guy She-muss]
Conclusion of Class
Sensei Ni Rei [Sen-say-knee ray]Sensei Arigatōgozaimashita [Ah-ree-gah-toh Goh-zai-mah-shta]
Senpai Ni Rei [Sen-pie-knee ray]Senpai Arigatōgozaimashita [Ah-ree-gah-toh Goh-zai-mah-shta]
Otagai Ni Rei [Oh-tah-guy-knee ray]Arigatōgozaimashita [Ah-ree-gah-toh Goh-zai-mah-shta]

  • Commencement of class = (lit. Teacher, please) “Teacher, please help me in my endeavours.”
  • Conclusion of class = (lit. Teacher, thank you) “Teacher, thank you for what you have done for me”
MorningArrivalSensei O-hayou Gozaimasu [She-harn/Sen-say O-ha-yo Gohzah-ee-muss]
"Teacher, Good Morning"
DepartureSensei Sayonara [(She-harn/Sensei Sah-yo-nah-rah]
"Teacher, Goodbye"
AfternoonArrivalSensei Konnichi wa [She-harn/Sen-say Kon-nee-chiwah]
“Teacher, Good afternoon/hello”
DepartureSensei Sayonara [She-harn/Sen-say Sah-yo-nah-rah]
“Teacher, Goodbye”
EveningArrivalSensei Konban Wa [She-harn/Sen-say Kon-bahn-wa]
“Teacher, Good Evening”
DepartureSensei O-Yasumi Nasai [She-harn/Sen-say Oh-yahsue-me-na-sigh]
“Teacher, Goodnight”

  • Remember that after greeting instructors and other members, complete your attendance sheet
CommandPronunciationMeaning
Rei[Ray]Bow
Yoi[Yoh-ee]Ready
Kamae[Ka-mah-eh]Take your position
Seiza[Say-zah]Ceremonial seated positions
Shomen[Shoh-men]Front
Otagaini[Otah-guy-ni]Together
Mokuso[Mo-koo-soh]Meditation
Hajime[Ha-gee-meh]Start/commence
Yame[Yah-mey]Stop
Hai[Ha-ee]Yes
Iie[Ee-eh]No
Wakarimasen[Wa-ka-ree-mah-sen]I don't understand
Migi[Me-gee]Right
Hidari[He-dah-ree]Left
Kiai[Kee-I]Martial art shout/yell
TerminologyPronunciationMeaning
Dojo[Doh-joh]Training hall
Honbu Dojo[Hon-bu Doh-joh]Headquarter training hall
Dan[Done]Refers to the grade of Black Belt
Kyu[K-you]Refers to the grades below Black Belt
Kihon[Kee-hon]Basic training
Kata[Kah-tah]Formal pattern training
Kumite[Koo-me-teh]Practical application training with an opponent (Self defence, sparring including sports karate)
Tan Gan Ho[Tun-gun-hoh]Activity to promote arm position, footwork, eye control
CountPronunciationMeaning
Ichi[Ee-chee]1
Ni[Knee]2
San[Sun]3
Shi[She]4
Go[Goh]5
Roku[Roh-koo]6
Shichi[She-chee]7
Hachi[Hah-chee]8
Kyuu[Q]9
Jyuu[Jew]10
BlockPronunciationMeaning
Gedan Barai [Geh-dun Bah-rye]Downward block
Age Uke [Ah-geh Oo-keh]Upward block
Soto Uke[Soh-Toh Oo-keh]Outside block
Uchi Uke [Ooh-chee Ooh-keh]Inside block
Nagashi Uke[Nah-Gah-she OohKeh]Sweeping block
Jodan Haishu Uke[Hi-shoe Ooh-keh]Hand block
Jodan Nagashi Haishu Uke[Hi-shoe Ooh-keh]Double block using the two blocks above consecutively
Gedan Soto Barai[Geh-done Soh-toh Bar-rye]Sweeping block covering the stomach or lower targets – similar to downward block but with the blocking hand is open
Osae Uke[O-sah-eh Oo-keh]Pressing block
PunchPronunciationMeaning
Ken [Ken]Fist
Shomen-Tsuki[Shoh-men Ski]Punch to the front
Gyaku-Tsuki [Gi-yah-ku Ski]Reverse punch
Jun Tsuki[Joon-Ski]Front fist punch (stationary)
O(i)-Tsuki[Oi ski]Lunge punch
O(i)-Gyaku Tsuki[Oi Gi-yah-ku Ski]Step in lunch punch; stationary reverse punch
KicksPronunciationMeaning
Hiza Geri[He-zah Geh-ree]Knee kick
Shomen Keri[Show-men Keh-ree]Front kick from Musubi Dachi
Kehan-ashi[Keh-han Ah-she]Stationary front/snap kick in either Zenkutsu Dachi or Heian Dachi
Mae Geri[Mah-eh Geh-ree]Front kick and land forward
Mawashi Geri [Mah-wah-she Geh-ree]Roundhouse kick
StrikesPronunciationMeaning
Hiji Uchi
[He-jee ooh-chee]Elbow strike
Tate Hiji Uchi
[He-jee ooh-chee ta-teh]Vertical elbow strike (usual target is under the opponent’s chin)
Yoko Hiji Uchi [Yoh-ko He-jee ooh-chee ta-teh]Elbow strike to the side
Ushiro Hiji Uchi[Ooh-she-roh He-jee ooh-chee]Elbow strike behind
Uraken Uchi
[Oohrah-ken ooh-chee]Back fist strike
Otoshi Uraken Uchi
[Oh-toh-she Oohrah-ken ooh-chee]Dropping back fist (usual target is on top of the bridge of the nose)
Yoko Uraken Uchi [Yoh-ko Oohrah-ken ooh-chee]Back fist strike to the side
Ushiro Uraken Uchi [Ooh-she-roh Oohrah-ken ooh-chee]Back fist strike behind
Kata categoryKata specificsDescription
Happo (Eight Directional) Happo TsukiEight directional punching
Happo Tsuki KeriEight directional punching + kicking
No Waza (Four Directional)Sonoba Shiho WazaStationary Multi-directional/4 directions punching: right foot back into ‘kamae’
Shiho WazaMulti-directional techniques - left foot back into ‘kamae’ with lunge punch on the last move
O(i)-Tsuki no WazaLunge punches technique
Keri No WazaKicks technique
Uke No WazaBlocks technique
Gyaku Tsuki No WazaReverse punchess technique
No Kata (“H” Pattern) O(i)- Tsuki No KataLunge punches pattern
Keri No KataKicks pattern
Uke No KataBlocks pattern
Gyaku Tsuki No KataReverse punches pattern
Hangeki (Counter attack)O(i) - Tsuki No Kata HangekiLunge punches pattern with counter attacks
Pinan SeriesPinan Nidan2nd Step in the Pinan series of kata

  • Syllabus of kata for White and Yellow Belts