Techniques

Karate has lot’s of techniques, some obvious and some not so obvious.  As a beginner you will learn the basic techniques that you need for your grading.  These basic techniques will taught by us using the English and Japanese terminology.  As you progress through the grades you will use more Japanese and less English.

If you ever go to another club in the UK or anywhere in the world you be able to follow the moves as they will use the Japanese names too.

Japanese Translation Japanese Translation
General Terms
Dojo Training Hall Dojo Kun Dojo code
Sensei Instructor Seiza Kneel
Rei Bow Yoi Ready
Migi Right Hidari Left
Kamae-te Move to ready position Hajime Start/begin
Mawatte Turn Yame Finish/stop
Gi Karate suit Obi Belt
Kime Focus Kiai Martial shout
Kihon Basic techniques Kata Formal exercises
Kumite Sparring Zanshin Martial state of mind
Jodan Head or awareness
Chudan Middle body Oss Respectful greeting
Gedan Lower body or acknowledgment or
understanding of a
command
Dachi – Stances
Heiko dachi Natural stance Heisoku dachi Feet together stance
Musubi dachi Informal stance Zenkutsu dachi Front stance
Kiba dachi Straddle stance Shiko dachi Open leg/Sumo stance
Kokutsu dachi Back stance
Uke – Blocks
Gedan Barai Downward block Age Uke Rising block
Soto Uke Outside block Uchi Uke Inside block
Shuto uke Knife hand block Tate Shuto uke Vertical knife hand block
Nagashi uke Sweeping block Haishu uke Back hand block
Empi uke Elbow block Juji uke X block
Morote uke Augmented block Kakewake uke Wedge block
Tsuki – Punches
Kara/Choku tsuki Straight punch Oi tsuki Stepping punch
Kizami tsuki Front hand punch Gyaku tsuki Reverse punch
Kagi tsuki Hook punch Ren tsuki Two punch combination
Sanbon tsuki Three punch combination
Uchi – Strikes
Age empi uchi Rising elbow strike Yoko empi uchi Side elbow strike
Mawashi empi uchi Round elbow strike Ushiro empi uchi Reverse elbow strike
Tate empi uchi Downward elbow strike Shuto uchi Knife hand strike
Uraken uchi Back fist strike Tetsui uchi Hammer fist strike
Nukite Spear hand thrust Teisho uchi Palm heel strike
Haito uchi Ridge hand strike
Geri – Kicks
Mae geri Front kick Yoko geri keage Side snap kick
Yoko geri kekomi Side thrust kick Mawashi geri Roundhouse kick
Ushiro geri Back kick Hiza geri Knee kick
Ren geri Kicking combinations Nidan geri Two kicks with same leg
stepping between kicks without step between
Kumite – Sparring
Sanbon Kumite Three step sparring Gohon Kumite Five step sparring
Kihon Ippon Kumite Basic one-step sparring Jiyu Ippon Kumite Semi-free style sparring
Kaishi Ippon Kumite Reaction sparring Jiyu Kumite Free style sparring