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 age 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)