Common Karate Terminology

General Words and Commands

• karate - "Empty hand" or weaponless art of defense.
• dojo - Literally "way-place," or "place for learning the way," name for karate school/training room.
• obi - Belt
• gi - Karate uniform (or dogi).
• sensei - Instructor
• sempai - Senior student
• hajime - Begin at your own speed, continue to your own count, as in free sparring or kata.
• yame - Stop.
• migi - Right side
• hidari - Left side
• mokuso - Meditation (eye's closed)
• yoi - Ready position (for kata etc.), in musubi dachi stance, hands one fist in front of belt, crossed left over right, palms down.
• ashi o kaete - Change stance, as from left foot to right (ashi means foot/feet)
• te o kaete - Change hands, used for all hand techniques (te means hand/hands)
• mawatte - Turn around/other way

Directions (to strike, etc.)

• mae - Front
• yoko - Side
• mawashi - Around, eg round-house
• ushiro - Back

Areas (to strike, etc.)

• jodan - Upper level, collar and up (e.g. face, head, throat)
• chudan - Middle level, belt up to collar (e.g. stomach)
• gedan - Lower level, "below the belt" (e.g. abdomen, groin, legs)

Counting

• ichi - One
• ni - Two
• san - Three
• shi - Four
• go - Five
• roku - Six
• shichi - Seven
• hachi - Eight
• kyu - Nine
• ju - Ten

For a more comprehensive list of karate terminology CLICK HERE