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

Karateka         Student

Kohai         Junior student

Otagai         Each other / Other students

Places and Clothing

Dojo    Training Hall 

Dogi    Training clothes

Obi    Belt

Kyu    Belt dash for lower belts (colored-belts)

Dan    Belt dash for black belts

Kuroi obi    Black belt

Basic Terminology (kihon jutsugo)

Bunkai    Application (analysis)

Budo    Martial Way

Dojo Kun    Training Hall Oath

Fumiashi    Step (with a change of feet)

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

Karate     Empty hand

Kamaete    Take Ready Position

Kata     Form

Ki     Inner Energy

Kiai     Explosive Scream, Yelling, Battle Shout

Kihon     Basics

Kihon waza     Basic techniques

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

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

Naore     Return to Starting Position

Nogare     Calm Controlled Breathing / Breathing technique – breath silently

Rei     Bow / Greeting / Homage

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)

Waza     Technique(s)

Directions

Jodan     Upper Level

Chudan     Middle Level

Gedan     Lower Level

Age     Rising / While raising

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

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

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

Tsumasaki       Toe

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/Side 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

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)