Technical Terminology

Greetings and Salutes

Osu                                                               Patience and Determination. Comes from ‘oshi shinobu’ which means to never give up. It also comes from ‘osu 

                                                                       no seishin’ which means perseverance under pressure.

                                                                       It is used among Red Dragon practionners to show respect or to say “I understand”.

Shinzen ni rei                                              Greeting to the ancestors

Shomen ni rei                                              Greeting in direction of the person standing in the place of honor (usually more elevated than the students)

Mokuso                                                        Meditation (silent thought) / Close your eyes

Mokuso yame                                             Open your eyes

Sensei ni rei                                                 Greeting to the teacher

Sempai ni rei                                               Greeting to the assistant teacher

Otagai ni rei                                                Greeting to the other students

Tatte kudasai                                              Stand on your feet (right foot first)

Osu Arigato gozaimashita                       Thank you so much

Osu Shitsurei shimashita                          I apologize

Titles and Status

Sosai President

Kancho Director

Hanshi Honorable Master

Shihan Grand Master (5th dan or more)

Sensei School Master / Teacher (3rd dan or more)

Sempai Senior / Teacher’s assistant

Shidoin Instructor

Karateka Student

Kohai Junior student

Otagai Each other / Other students

Yudansha Black belt student

Places and Clothing

Honbu Head quarters

Dojo Training Hall (Way place)

Dogi (gi) Training clothes

Obi Belt

Kyu Belt dash for lower belts (colored-belts)

Dan Belt dash for black belts

Kuroi obi Black belt

Shodan Shinsa Dan test / Black Belt test

Shokyu Shinsa Kyu Test / Color belt test

Nyumon Join to the Dojo

Hamon Excommunicate

Shonen bu Kids class

Jyoshi bu Ladies class

Ippan bu Regular adult class

Sonen bu Senior class

Basic Terminology (kihon jutsugo)

Anza Relaxed Sitting

Bunkai Application (analysis)

Budo Martial Way

Do Path

Dojo Kun Training Hall Oath

Fukuso Accouterment

Fumiashi Step (with a change of feet)

Gasshukoku United States

Goshin jutsu Self defense

Hanmi Upper body shifted angled to avoid direct strike and ready for your next move

Ibuki Forced Tension Breathing

Karate Empty hand

Kamaete Take Ready Position

Kata Form

Ki Inner Energy

Kiai Explosive Scream, Yelling, Battle Shout

Kiai Irete With Explosive Energy

Kihon Basics

Kihon waza Basic techniques

Kime Focus

Kokusai International

Kosa Switch (i.e. switch stance L to R or R to L)

Kotai Switch (i.e. partners switch places in a drill)

Kumite Combat, Sparring, Fighting

Yakusoku kumite Pre-arranged combat

Ippon kumite Pre-arranged combat / 1 block and 1 counter-attack (the two participants are standing at 

the same place)

Sanbon kumite Pre-arranged combat / 3 blocks followed by 3 counter-attackes while the participants move 

straight.

Jiyu kumite Free-sparring/Semi-Contact fighting

Jissen kumite Full contact fighting

Maai Interval (between opponents)

Makiwara Striking Post (straw wrapped)

Mugorei No Counting (no commands)

Mushin Without Thought (no mind)

Naore Return to Starting Position

Nogare Calm Controlled Breathing / Breathing technique – breath silently

Okuriashi Shuffle Step (sending foot)

Rei Bow / Greeting / Homage

Renmei Federation

Renma Polishing, Training

Renraku Combinations

Seishin Spirit

Tatte Stand up

Mawatte Turn Around

Hantai Opposite side

Yame Stop

Yasume Rest, at Ease

Yoi Ready

Seiza Formal Kneeling (correct sitting)

Kamaete On guard

Hajime Start

Ryu Style (of karate)

Tameshiwari Braking exercise / test (wood, ciment, ice, baseball bat, etc)

Tanden Center of Body (below navel)

Waza Technique(s)

Zanshin Remain Alert (remaining mind)

Directions

Jodan Upper Level

Chudan Middle Level

Gedan Lower Level

Age Rising / While raising

Happo 8 directions

Hidari Left

Juji Cross arm

Kake Hooked

Mae Front, forward

Mawashi Round, Circular

Migi Right

Naname In diagonal, at 45 degrees

Oroshi Descending / While going down

Sagari While going backward

Sayu Left and right alternatively

Shita From below / down

Shomen Front of Dojo

Soto From outside to inside, outside

Tobi While jumping

Naka / Uchi Fron inside to outside, inside

Ue Up

Ura Reverse, Backward

Ushiro Behind

Yoko On sides, from sides

 Colors

Aka Red

Shiro White

Kiiro Yellow

Cha Brown

Ao Blue

Midori Green

Kuro Black

Body Weapons – The hand and arms as weapon

Seiken Fist / Forefist (correct fist)

Shuto Knife hand

Te Hand

Hiji / Enpi Elbow

Tetsui Hammer fist

Koken Arc fist

Uraken Reverse fist / Back hand

Haisho Backhand

Haito Reverse knife hand

Hiraken Flat Fist

Nukite Finger tip strike

Nakayubi Ippon Ken Middle Finger Knuckle Fist

Oyayubi Ippon Ken Thumb Knuckle Fist

Shotei Palm heel

Kote Forearm

Ryutoken Dragon’s Head Fist

Toho Sword Peak Hand

Body Weapons – The leg and foot as a weapon

Sokuto Knife edge foot

Haisoku Instep

Kakato Heel

Hiza Knee

Chusoku Ball of the foot

Teisoku Arch of the foot

Sune Shin

Tsumasaki Toe

Body Weapons – Others

Zutsuki Head-butt

Taiatari Tackle

Body parts as a target

Jodan (Neck and Head)

Ago Chin / Jaw

Me Eye

Hana Nose

Nodo Throat

Komekami Temple

Kuchi Mouth

Mimi Ear

Kubi Neck

Ganmen Face

Jinchu Spot between nose and mouth

Miken Spot between eyes

Atama Head

Chudan (Torso area)

Suigetsu / Hara Stomach / Solar Plexus

Mune Chest

Sakotsu Clavicle / Collarbone

Rokkotsu / Abara Rib

Kata Shoulder

Hizo Spleen

Kanzo Liver

Senaka / Ushiro Back

Shinzo Heart

Ude Arms

Te Hand

Yubi Finger

Tekubi Wrist

Kobushi / Ken Fist

Gedan (Groin and legs)

Kinteki (kin) Groin

Ashi Leg

Hiza Knee

Kansetsu Joint

Momo Thigh

Koshi Hip

Sune Shin

Kakato Heel

Fukurahagi Calf

Kihon Waza (Basic techniques)

Tsuki Punch (thrust)

Uchi Strike

Uke Block

Geri Kick

Punching Techniques (tsuki waza)

Seiken chudan / Jodan tsuki Fist strike to the chudan / jodan

Seiken ago uchi Fist strike to the chin

Seiken Furi Uchi Hook Strike

Seiken Oi Tsuki Lunge Punch

Seiken Morote Tsuki Two-Handed Punch

Seiken Gyaku Tsuki Reverse Punch

Seiken Tate Tsuki Vertical Punch

Seiken Jun Tsuki Side (corresponding) Punch

Uraken ganmen uchi Back fist strike to the face

Uraken sayu uchi Back fist strike to the left & right opponents

Uraken hizo uchi Back fist strike to side of the stomach

Uraken Oroshi Ganmen Uchi Descending Face Strike

Uraken mawashi uchi Back fist roundhouse strike to the temple

Shita tsuki Flipped fist strike to the middle section

Tetsui Oroshi Ganmen Uchi Descending Face Strike with hammer fist

Tetsui Komekami Uchi Temple Strike with hammer fist

Tetsui Hizo Uchi Spleen Strike with hammer fist

Tetsui Mae Yoko Uchi Forward Side Strike with hammer fist

Tetsui Yoko Uchi Side Strike with hammer fist

Enpi Uchi Elbow strike

Striking Techniques (uchi waza)

Shuto ganmen uchi Shuto strike to the temple

Shuto sakotsu uchi Shuto down strike to the collarbone

Shuto sakotsu uchikomi Shuto forward strike to the collarbone

Shuto uchi uchi Shuto outward strike to the temple or neck

Shuto hizo uchi Shuto strike to the spleen/abdomen

Shuto Yoko Ganmen Uchi Side Face Strike

Nihon Nukite Two-Fingered Spear Hand

Yonhon Nukite Four-Fingered Spear Hand

Shotei Uchi Palm Heel Strike

Hiji Ate Elbow Strike

Mae Hiji Ate Forward Elbow Strike

Age Hiji Ate Rising Elbow Strike

Ushiro Hiji Ate Backwards Elbow Strike

Oroshi Hiji Ate Descending Elbow Strike

Blocking techniques (uke waza)

Jodan uke Upper block

Soto uke Middle section from outside to inside

Uchi uke Middle section from inside to outside

Gedan braai Lower block

Kosa uke / Uchiuke gedanbarai Uchiuke & gedanbarai at a same time

Morote Chudan Uchi Uke Two-Handed Middle Area Inside Block

Mawashi uke Roundhouse block

Shuto mawashi uke Shuto roundhouse block

Juji Uke Crossed Block

Kake Uke Hooked Block

Shotei Uke Palm Heel Block

Enkei gyaku tsuki Reverse strike with circular motion block on Zenkutsu dachi stance

Kicking Techniques (geri waza)

Mae keage Front upper kick with no knee snap

Hiza geri Knee kick

Kin geri Groin kick

Mae geri Front snap kick

Yoko keage Side upper kick with no knee snap

Kansetsu geri Knee joint kick

Yoko geri Side kick

Ushiro geri Back kick

Uchi mawashi geri Roundhouse kick with no knee snap outward

Soto mawashi geri Roundhouse kick with no knee snap inward

Mawashi geri Roundhouse kick

Ushiro mawashi geri Spinning roundhouse kick

Kakato otoshi ax kick

Domawashi kaiten geri Suicidal jumping spin kick

Tobi geri Jumping kick

Tobi Mae Geri Jumping Front Kick

Nidan geri Jumping kick with shuffle legs

Numbers (kazu)

1 (Ichi)

2 (Ni)

3 (San)

4 (Shi / Yon)

5 (Go)

6 (Roku)

7 (Shichi / Nana)

8 (Hachi)

9 (Kyu)

10 (Jyu)

11 (Jyu Ichi)

12 (Jyu Ni)

13 (Jyu San)

14 (Jyu Shi)

15 (Jyu Go)

16 (Jyu Roku)

17 (Jyu Shichi)

18 (Jyu Hachi)

19 (Jyu Kyu)

20 (Ni Jyu)

30 (San Jyu)

40 (Yon Jyu)

50 (Go Jyu)

60 (Roku Jyu)

70 (Nana Jyu)

80 (Hachi Jyu)

90 (Kyu Jyu)

100 (Hyaku)

1000 (Sen)

10000 (Man)