Japanese Karate Vocabulary: 350+ Key Terms [FULL]

Kana

Romaji

Meaning

からて

Karate

Empty hand

どう

Dō

Way, path

けんぽう

Kenpō

Fist method

ぶどう

Budō

Martial way

ぶしどう

Bushidō

Way of the warrior

せんぱい

Senpai

Senior

こうはい

Kōhai

Junior

しはん

Shihan

Master instructor

せんせい

Sensei

Teacher

でし

Deshi

Student, disciple

どうじょう

Dōjō

Training hall

かた

Kata

Form, pattern

くみて

Kumite

Sparring

きほん

Kihon

Basics, fundamentals

げい

Gei

Technique, art

れい

Rei

Bow, respect

きあい

Kiai

Fighting spirit shout

ざぜん

Zazen

Seated meditation

まい

Mai

Dance, step (movement)

じゅく

Juku

Training group

すりあし

Suri-ashi

Sliding step

はじめ

Hajime

Begin

やめ

Yame

Stop

なおれ

Naore

Return to natural position

もとに

Motoni

Back to start

せいざ

Seiza

Formal kneeling

きけん

Kiken

Forfeit

いっぽん

Ippon

Full point

はんぽん

Hanpon

Half point

しあい

Shiai

Match

しんぱん

Shinpan

Referee

ひょうしき

Hyōshiki

Signal, gesture

てんしん

Tenshin

Body shifting

うんどう

Undō

Exercise

しょうぶ

Shōbu

Contest

けんかい

Kankai

Demonstration

だん

Dan

Black belt rank

きゅう

Kyū

Colored belt rank

しんきゅう

Shinkyū

Promotion

しけん

Shiken

Examination

Kana

Romaji

Meaning

たちかた

Tachikata

Stances

ひりつ

Hiritsu

Natural stance

しぜんだち

Shizendachi

Natural stance (relaxed)

へいこだち

Heikōdachi

Parallel stance

はちじだち

Hachijidachi

Figure-8 stance

くさりだち

Kusaridachi

Chain stance

ぜんくつだち

Zenkutsudachi

Front stance

こうくつだち

Kōkutsudachi

Back stance

きばだち

Kibadachi

Horse stance

しこだち

Shikodachi

Sumo stance

そけいだち

Sokeidachi

Groin stance

そくだち

Sokudachi

Side stance

つるあしだち

Tsuruashidachi

Crane stance

かみだち

Kamidachi

Upper stance

ねこあしだち

Nekoashidachi

Cat stance

くろすだち

Kurosudachi

Cross stance

はんこだち

Hankodachi

Half stance

こくつだち

Kokutsudachi

Reverse stance

ひらだち

Hiradachi

Open stance

もろあしだち

Moroashidachi

Both-legs stance

たてだち

Tatedachi

Vertical stance

つつみだち

Tsutsumidachi

Wrapped stance

ひざだち

Hizadachi

Kneeling stance

ふたつだち

Futatsudachi

Double stance

すりあしだち

Suriashidachi

Sliding stance

ちゅうだんだち

Chūdandachi

Middle stance

じょうだんだち

Jōdandachi

High stance

げだんだち

Gedandachi

Low stance

いんだち

Indachi

Inner stance

がいだち

Gaidachi

Outer stance

よこだち

Yokodachi

Side stance

せんけんだち

Senkendachi

Forward stance

かんだち

Kandachi

Observation stance

うしろだち

Ushirodachi

Rear stance

ちゅうだち

Chūdachi

Middle-weight stance

うちだち

Uchida-chi

Inner foot stance

ほこだち

Hokodachi

Spear stance

けんだち

Kendachi

Sword stance

いわだち

Iwadachi

Rock stance

Kana

Romaji

Meaning

つき

Tsuki

Punch

せいけんづき

Seiken-zuki

Forefist punch

こぶしづき

Kobushi-zuki

Fist punch

ちゅうだんづき

Chūdan-zuki

Middle punch

じょうだんづき

Jōdan-zuki

Upper punch

げだんづき

Gedan-zuki

Lower punch

おいづき

Oizuki

Lunge punch

ぎゃくづき

Gyakuzuki

Reverse punch

きざみづき

Kizamizuki

Jab punch

かけづき

Kakezuki

Hook punch

まわしづき

Mawashizuki

Roundhouse punch

うちづき

Uchizuki

Inside punch

そとづき

Sotozuki

Outside punch

うわづき

Uwazuki

Uppercut punch

ひだりづき

Hidarizuki

Left punch

みぎづき

Migizuki

Right punch

もろてづき

Morotezuki

Double-fist punch

れんづき

Renzuki

Consecutive

ひとつき

Hitotsuki

Single punch

にれんづき

Niren-zuki

Two consecutive punches

よんれんづき

Yonren-zuki

Four consecutive punches

だんれんづき

Danren-zuki

Continuous punches

うちおろしづき

Uchi-oroshi-zuki

Downward punch

あげづき

Agezuki

Rising punch

まえばらいづき

Maebarai-zuki

Front sweeping punch

うしろづき

Ushirozuki

Back punch

けんづき

Kenzuki

Fist punch (general)

しとづき

Shitōzuki

Sword-hand punch

うちこみづき

Uchikomi-zuki

Striking punch

かんづき

Kanzuki

Observation punch

えんづき

Enzuki

Circular punch

ふくらはぎづき

Fukurahagi-zuki

Calf punch (rare term, conditioning)

ひらてづき

Hirate-zuki

Palm heel punch

てのひらづき

Tenohira-zuki

Open palm thrust

すいへいづき

Suihei-zuki

Horizontal punch

たてづき

Tate-zuki

Vertical punch

まえづき

Maezuki

Forward punch

よこづき

Yokozuki

Side punch

Kana

Romaji

Meaning

けり

Geri

Kick

まえげり

Mae-geri

Front kick

よこげり

Yoko-geri

Side kick

うしろげり

Ushiro-geri

Back kick

まわしげり

Mawashi-geri

Roundhouse kick

けいこくげり

Keikoku-geri

Warning kick (light)

はいげり

Hai-geri

Crawling kick

ふみこみげり

Fumikomi-geri

Stomping kick

かかとげり

Kakato-geri

Heel kick

あしばらい

Ashibarai

Foot sweep

すくいあげげり

Sukuiage-geri

Scoop kick

おおろしげり

Ōroshi-geri

Downward kick

はねあげげり

Haneage-geri

Spring upward kick

さそいげり

Sasoig-eri

Feint kick

くろすげり

Kurosu-geri

Crossing kick

ねこあしげり

Nekoashi-geri

Cat-foot kick

しんげり

Shin-geri

Shin kick

ひざげり

Hiza-geri

Knee kick

そとまわしげり

Sotomawashi-geri

Outside round kick

うちまわしげり

Uchimawashi-geri

Inside round kick

とびまえげり

Tobimae-geri

Jump front kick

とびよこげり

Tobiyoko-geri

Jump side kick

とびまわしげり

Tobimawashi-geri

Jump roundhouse kick

とびうしろげり

Tobiushiro-geri

Jump back kick

よこかかとげり

Yoko-kakato-geri

Side heel kick

まえかかとげり

Mae-kakato-geri

Front heel kick

そとげり

Sotogeri

Outside kick

うちげり

Uchigeri

Inside kick

しゅうげり

Shūgeri

Gathered kick

かえしげり

Kaeshi-geri

Counter kick

けりかえし

Kerikaeshi

Kick return

みぎげり

Migigeri

Right kick

ひだりげり

Hidarigeri

Left kick

ちゅうだんげり

Chūdan-geri

Middle kick

じょうだんげり

Jōdan-geri

High kick

げだんげり

Gedan-geri

Low kick

みずげり

Mizugeri

Water kick (rare, soft technique)

ひこうげり

Hikō-geri

Flying kick

えんげり

En-geri

Circular kick

Kana

Romaji

Meaning

うけ

Uke

Block

あげうけ

Age-uke

Rising block

そとうけ

Soto-uke

Outside block

うちうけ

Uchi-uke

Inside block

げだんばらい

Gedan-barai

Downward sweeping block

ちゅうだんうけ

Chūdan-uke

Middle block

じょうだんうけ

Jōdan-uke

Upper block

けんうけ

Ken-uke

Fist block

こてうけ

Kote-uke

Forearm block

しゅとうけ

Shuto-uke

Knife-hand block

ひらてうけ

Hirate-uke

Palm block

はいうけ

Hai-uke

Back hand block

けんせつうけ

Kessetsu-uke

Joint block

そうけんうけ

Sōken-uke

Double fist block

もろてうけ

Morote-uke

Augmented block

かけうけ

Kake-uke

Hook block

くろすうけ

Kurosu-uke

Cross block

うけながし

Ukenagashi

Sweeping block

そとながしうけ

Sotonagashi-uke

Outer sweep block

うちながしうけ

Uchinagashi-uke

Inner sweep block

しんとううけ

Shintō-uke

Divine sword block

えんぴうけ

Empi-uke

Elbow block

ひざうけ

Hiza-uke

Knee block

そくうけ

Soku-uke

Leg block

ひじうけ

Hiji-uke

Elbow block

かんうけ

Kan-uke

Observation block

まえばらいうけ

Maebarai-uke

Forward sweep block

うしろうけ

Ushiro-uke

Back block

ふたりうけ

Futari-uke

Double block

たちうけ

Tachi-uke

Standing block

ちからうけ

Chikara-uke

Power block

すいへいうけ

Suihei-uke

Horizontal block

たてうけ

Tate-uke

Vertical block

よこばらい

Yokobarai

Side sweeping block

いんうけ

In-uke

Inner block

がいうけ

Gai-uke

Outer block

てのひらうけ

Tenohira-uke

Palm block (open hand)

まえばらい

Maebarai

Forward sweep

かんせつうけ

Kansetsu-uke

Joint block

そとまわしうけ

Sotomawashi-uke

Outside circular block

Kana

Romaji

Meaning

うち

Uchi

Strike

あて

Ate

Hit, strike

しとうち

Shitō-uchi

Sword-hand strike

ていしょうあて

Teishō-ate

Palm-heel strike

ひらてうち

Hirate-uchi

Flat-hand strike

えんぴうち

Empi-uchi

Elbow strike

ひじうち

Hiji-uchi

Elbow strike

うわうち

Uwa-uchi

Upper strike

まえばらいうち

Maebarai-uchi

Forward sweep strike

みずおちうち

Mizuochi-uchi

Solar plexus strike

かたてうち

Katate-uchi

One-hand strike

もろてうち

Morote-uchi

Two-hand strike

こぶしうち

Kobushi-uchi

Fist strike

せいけんうち

Seiken-uchi

Forefist strike

うちおろし

Uchi-oroshi

Downward strike

かけうち

Kake-uchi

Hook strike

まわしうち

Mawashi-uchi

Round strike

てのひらあて

Tenohira-ate

Palm strike

つきあて

Tsuki-ate

Punch strike

くろすあて

Kurosu-ate

Cross strike

そとまわしうち

Sotomawashi-uchi

Outside circular strike

うちまわしうち

Uchimawashi-uchi

Inside circular strike

したうち

Shita-uchi

Downward strike

あげうち

Age-uchi

Rising strike

そくとうあて

Sokutō-ate

Foot edge strike

けんうち

Ken-uchi

Sword strike

かんあて

Kan-ate

Hard strike

はねあげうち

Haneage-uchi

Springing upward strike

よこあて

Yoko-ate

Side strike

うちがえし

Uchigaeshi

Counter strike

そくとううち

Sokutō-uchi

Edge-of-foot strike

ふくうち

Fuku-uchi

Abdomen strike

みみうち

Mimi-uchi

Ear strike

したけんうち

Shitaken-uchi

Lower fist strike

かたあて

Kata-ate

Shoulder strike

まえあて

Mae-ate

Forward strike

うしろあて

Ushiro-ate

Backward strike

すいへいうち

Suihei-uchi

Horizontal strike

たてあて

Tate-ate

Vertical strike

Kana

Romaji

Meaning

どうぎ

Dōgi

Training uniform

からてぎ

Karate-gi

Karate uniform

おび

Obi

Belt

しろおび

Shiro-obi

White belt

くろおび

Kuro-obi

Black belt

あかおび

Aka-obi

Red belt

あおおび

Ao-obi

Blue belt

きいろおび

Kiiro-obi

Yellow belt

みどりおび

Midori-obi

Green belt

ちゃいろおび

Chairo-obi

Brown belt

せんす

Sensu

Fan (traditional weapon)

ぼくとう

Bokutō

Wooden sword

しない

Shinai

Bamboo sword

たんとう

Tantō

Short knife

つえ

Tsue

Cane, staff

ぼう

Bō

Staff

じょ

Jō

Short staff

ぬんちゃく

Nunchaku

Nunchaku

さい

Sai

Sai (trident weapon)

とんふぁ

Tonfa

Tonfa

かま

Kama

Sickle

しゅりけん

Shuriken

Throwing star

まきわら

Makiwara

Striking post

さどうぐ

Sadōgu

Training equipment

てんしんばこ

Tenshinbako

Footwork box

すもうまわし

Sumōmawashi

Belt for sumo

てっぽうだい

Teppōdai

Striking stand

ぱんちみっと

Panchi-mitto

Punch mitt

きっくみっと

Kikku-mitto

Kick pad

すぽんじぱっと

Suponji-patto

Sponge pad

へるめっと

Herumetto

Helmet

しんぐ

Shingu

Shin guard

ぐろーぶ

Gurōbu

Gloves

ぷろてくたー

Purotekutā

Protector

みっと

Mitto

Mitt

さぽーたー

Sapōtā

Supporter

どう

Dō

Body protector (armor)

たて

Tate

Shield

けんどうぐ

Kendōgu

Kendo gear

ばんだな

Bandana

Headband

Kana

Romaji

Meaning

はじめ

Hajime

Begin

やめ

Yame

Stop

なおれ

Naore

Return to natural position

れい

Rei

Bow

おねがいします

Onegaishimasu

Please (used before practice)

ありがとうございました

Arigatō gozaimashita

Thank you (after practice)

きけん

Kiken

Forfeit

しあい

Shiai

Match

しょうぶ

Shōbu

Contest

しんぱん

Shinpan

Referee

いっぽん

Ippon

Full point

わざあり

Waza-ari

Half point

はんてい

Hantei

Judge’s decision

まって

Matte

Wait

もとに

Motoni

Back to start

せいざ

Seiza

Formal sitting

たって

Tatte

Stand up

いち

Ichi

One

に

Ni

Two

さん

San

Three

し

Shi

Four

ご

Go

Five

ろく

Roku

Six

しち

Shichi

Seven

はち

Hachi

Eight

きゅう

Kyū

Nine

じゅう

Jū

Ten

もういっかい

Mō ikkai

Once more

がんばって

Ganbatte

Do your best

きをつけ

Ki o tsuke

Attention

よい

Yoi

Ready

けいこ

Keiko

Training

しけん

Shiken

Test, exam

しょうり

Shōri

Victory

まけ

Make

Defeat

けっか

Kekka

Result

ふっかつ

Fukkatsu

Recovery

つづけ

Tsudzuke

Continue

おわり

Owari

Finish

たいけつ

Taiketsu

Face-off

けんがく

Kengaku

Observation