Other Terms

  • age – upper/rising
  • ashi tanren – leg conditioning
  • bunkai – techniques and applications of a kata
  • gasshuku – training camp
  • gyaku – reverse
  • hara – centre, centre of mass
  • hoju undo – supplementary exercises utilising aids to develop strength, stamina, speed and coordination (see above)
  • honbu dojo – central dojo of an organisation/region
  • junbi undo – warmup and preliminary exercises
  • junbi owarimasu – end of warmups
  • kakie – a type of hand/arm exercise and associated applications used mostly for close combat. Also for improving strength, control and muchimi.
  • kamae – stance and distancing as assumed for sparring
  • karate-do – the way of karate. do means way or path (from the chinese tao).
  • karateka – a karate practioner
  • kata – a sequence of pre-arranged movements and techniques
  • ki – spirit and energy (similar to chi)
  • kiai – shout given as techniques are delivered to focus energy
  • kihon – basics
  • kime – focus
  • ma-ai – correct distancing or timing with respect to one’s partner
  • morote – both hands simultaneously
  • muchimi – heavy/sticky but still flowing (a desirable feature of many techniques)
  • mushin – to do something automatically or without having to think about it.
  • ritsurei – standing bow
  • seiken – normal fist (front two knuckles)
  • seiza – kneeling
  • shihan – chief/master instructor. For IOGKF Goju Ryu this is Morio Higaonna.
  • shime – testing of sanchin kata
  • soto – outside (inside to outside)
  • tako ashi – gripping the floor with spread toes.
  • uchi – inside (outside to inside) or strike
  • ude tanren – forearm conditioning
  • zarei – sitting bow