Listed below are several terms used throughout martial arts. This list is not exhaustive nor was it meant to be. If you cannot find a term you are looking for please feel free to contact us.

Body Parts
Colors
Commands
Dachi (Stance)
Directions
General Terminology
Japanese Counting
Karate Styles
Kata
Keri-Waza (Kicking Techniques)
Ranking
Tournament
Tsuki-Waza (Punching Techniques)
Uchi-Waza (Striking Techniques)
Uke-Waza (Blocking Techniques)
Weapons

Abara	Ribs
Ago	Jaw or chin, as in mouth
Akiresu-ken	Achilles tendon
Ashi	Leg
Ashi Yubi	Toes
Ashikubi	Ankle
Atama	Head
Chi	Blood
Chikara	Power or strength
Chusoku	Ball of the Foot
Empi (also Hiji)	Elbow
Ensho	Back of the heel
Gan	Eye
Ganmen	Face
Goshi	Hip
Ha	Tooth
Haishu	Backhand
Haisoku	Instep of the foot
Haito	Ridge hand
Hana	Nose
Heisoku	Top (instep) of the foot
Hiza	Knee
Hizagashira	Knee Cap
Hizo	Spleen
Ippon Ken	Single-point index-finger Fist
Kaishu	Open hand
Kakato	Heel of the foot
Kami	Hair
Kansetsu	Joint
Karada	Body, Physique
Ken	Fist
Koken	Bent Wrist
Komekani	The temple area of the head
Koshi	Ball of the foot
Koshi	Hip
Kubi	Neck
Kuchi	Mouth
Matsukaze	The side of the neck
Me	Eye
Mimi	Ear
Momo	Thigh
Mune	Chest
Naiwan	Back of Arm
Nodo	Throat
Sakotsu	Collarbone
Seiken	Forefist, Okinawan style punch using the two largest knuckles to strike
Senaka	Back
Shinzo	Heart
Shotei	Palm-Heel
Shuto	Knife-Hand
Sokei	Groin
Sokko	Top Of The Foot
Sokutei	Sole of Foot
Sokuto	Outer edge (knife) of the foot
Sune	Shin
Tate Ken	Vertical Fist
Te	Hand
Teisho	Palm heel
Teisoku	Bottom of the foot
Tekubi	Wrist
Tendo	The crown of the head
Tettsui	Fist-Edge
Tsumasaki	Toe tips
Ude	Forearm
Wan	Arm
Yupi	Fingers
Zenshin	Whole (entire) Body

Aka	Red
Aoi	Blue
Cha	Brown
Ki	Yellow
Kuro	Black
Midori	Green
Murasaki	Purple
Shiro	White

Age-te	Hands up (cover position)
Hajime	Begin
Mawatte	Turn around
Naore	Return to Shizen-tai
Narande	Line up
Otaigai ni	Face towards each other
Seiretsu	Line up by rank
Sensei ni	Face towards the teacher
Shomen ni	Face towards the front
Shomen-ni-rei	Bow to the front
Yame	Stop
Yasume	Relax (or ready position)
Yoi	Ready

Fudo dach	Fighting Stance
Hachiji dachi	Open-legged Stance (Yoi)
Hangetsu dachi	Wide Hour-glass Stance
Hasami-dachi	Scissors stance
Heisoku dachi	Formal Attention Stance (Yoi)
Hidari Ashi Orishiku	Left Leg Kneeling
Jiyu-dachi	Free-fighting stance
Kiba dachi	Straddle Stance
Kokutsu-dachi	Back stance
Kosa dachi	Cross-legged Stance
Migi Ashi Orishiku	Right Leg Kneeling
Musube-dachi	Informal attention stance, feet turned out
Neko-ashi dachi	Cat stance
Renoji dachi	L Stance
Sanchin-dachi	Hour-glass stance
Shiko-dachi	Square or wide stance
Shizen-dachi	Natural stance
Zenkutsu-dachi	Forward or front stance

Age	Rising
Choku	Straight
Chudan	Mid-high level
De	Advancing
Gedan	Low level; Down
Gyaku	Reverse
Hidari	Left
Jodan	Head high level
Mae	Front or forward
Mawashi	Round
Migi	Right
Otoshi	Dropping
Shomen	Front of the dojo
Sokumen	Side
Soto	Outer
Tate	Vertical
Uchi	Inner
Ushiro	Back
Yoko	Side

Ai	Harmony
Ai-kamae	Harmony posture, when your opponent and you are in matching or mirrored stances
Ai-ki	Harmonious spirit. This is where you integrate all your movements, breathing etc. To exactly match your opponents and you then control him from it. It is also called “spirit meeting” or “harmony meeting”.
Aikido	A martial art meaning the “way of harmony”
Aiuchi	Simultaneous strike
Ashi-barai	Foot sweep
Barai	Sweep
Budo	Way of combat
Bugei	Martial arts
Bunkai	Application (interpretation) of kata techniques
Bushi	Warrior
Bushido	Way of the warrior
Bushi-te	Warrior hands. One of the old names for karate.
Chowa	The harmonious mental and physical reaction while at practice
Chu	Middle
Dai	Lesser or minor
Do	Way
Doji	Simultaneous
Doji-waza	Techniques are performed simultaneously
Dojo	School or training room
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita	Thank-you very much
Dori	Practice
Doshu	Master of the way
Dozo	Please
Embusen	Floor pattern/lines of a kata
Gi	Training uniform. Traditionally white.
Gohon kumite	Five-step sparring
Goshin	Self defense
Hai	Yes
Hanaji	Nosebleed
Hayai	Quick, fast or rapid
Hombu	Headquarters
Hombu-dojo	A term used to refer to the central dojo of an organization
Iai	Sparring which begins with both the attacker and the defender seated and facing each other or swordplay
Iaido	A martial art meaning way of the sword
Iie	No
Ikken-hissatsu	To kill with one blow
Ippon kumite	One-step sparring
Jiyyu kumite	Free sparring
Ka	Person or practitioner
Kagi	Hook
Kai	Style
Kamae	Attitude, posture
Kan	Type of school
Kanji	The symbols of Japanese writing. Karate is made up of two kanji. The first being the symbol for “empty” and the second symbol being for “hand”
Karate	Open hand, empty hand
Karate-do	the way of the empty hand. This implies not only the physical aspect of karate, but also the mental and social aspects of karate.
Karate-ka	A practitioner of karate
Kata	Formal exercise, figure or shape. In karate, kata is a form or prescribed pattern of movement fighting imaginary opponents.
Kempo	Fist law, a generic term to describe fighting systems that uses the fist
Kendo	Way of the sword
Kiai	Spirit shout/focus of spiritual energy
Kihon	Basic techniques
Kime	Focus
Kobudo	Ancient warrior art, referring to weapons training
Kumite	Sparring/fighting
Maai	Distance
Makiwara	Punching board or post
Mokuso	Meditate/Gather Your Thoughts
Morote	Augmented, double or two handed
Obi	Belt
Okinawa	One of a group of island south east of Japan where karate was developed
Okinawa-te	An old name for what today is known as karate, see To-de and To-te
Oss	A word peculiar to karate; it is used as a form of respectful greeting, yes”, or I understand
Rei	Bow
Ryo	Both
Ryo-ashi	Both feet or legs
Ryo-soku	Both sides
Ryo-te	Both hands
Ryu	Way or System School or style. The literal translation of ryu is to flow, drift or circulate. The style was “handed down”-“circulated” from master to pupil.
Saho	Etiquette
Sankaku	Triangular meaning “three angles”
Sei	Tranquility or inactivity
Seishin	Mind and spirit
Seiza	Proper sitting position, kneeling. It is used for the formal opening and closing of the class.
Sekaku	Accuracy
Sempai	A senior student
Sensei	Teacher
Shin	Core, center
Sorashi	Feint
Tai-sabaki	Body shifting
Tatami	Floor mat
Tobi	Jump or jumping
Tora	Tiger
Waza	Technique
Yakusoku kumite	Promise premeditated sparring
Yori-ashi	Sliding the feet
Za	Seated or kneeling
Zanshin	Awareness of one’s surroundings
Za-rei	The traditional Japanese bow from the kneeling position

Go	Five
Gohon	Fifth
Goju	Fifty
Hachi	Eight
Hachiju	Eighty
Hyaku	One Hundred
Ichi	One
Ippon	First
Ju	Ten
Ku	Nine
Kuju	Ninety
Nanaju	Seventy
Ni	Two
NiJu	Twenty
NiJu-Go	Twenty-five
Roku	Six
Rokuju	Sixty
San	Three
Sanju	Thirty
Shi	Four
Shichi	Seven
Yon	Fourth
Yonju	Forty

Chito-ryu	A Okinawan style of karate developed by Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose
Goju-ryu	An Okinawan style of karate meaning “hard, soft way of defense”
Shorei-ryu	An Okinawan karate system originating in Naha
Shorin-ryu	A major style of Okinawan karate meaning “pine forest” school
Shotokan	A style of karate derived from the pen name of Gichin Funakoshi.
Shrui-te	An ancient Okinawan style of karate, the forerunner of Shorin ryu
Yoshukai	A traditional Japanese style of karate developed by Mamoru Yamamoto

Bassai	To Penetrate a Fortress
Chinto	Fighting to the East
Kusanku	Chinese Military Attaché
Mugen	Endless
Niseishi	Twenty-four Movements
Rohaidai	Vision of White Crane
Rohaisho	Vision of White Crane
Ryusan	Three Dragons
Sanchin	Three Conflicts
Sanshiryu	Thirty-six Hands
Seisan	Crescent Moon
Shihohai	Four Directions
Sochin	The Grand Prize
Tenshin	Body Turning
Zenshinkotai	Advance in Turn

Fumikomi geri	Stomping kick
Geri	Kick
Geri-waza	Kicking techniques
Hiza geri	Knee kick/strike
Kagi-geri	Hook kick
Keage	Snapping a kick
Kekomi	Thrust, see kerikomi
Mae geri keage	Front snap kick
Mae geri kekomi	Front thrust kick
Mae-geri	Front kick
Mawashi-geri	Roundhouse kick
Mika-zuki-geri	Crescent kick
Name ashi geri	Returning wave kick
Nidan geri	Double kick
Nidan-mae-geri	Double-jump front kick
Soto mikazuki geri	Outside crescent kick
Tobi geri	Flying kick
Uchi mikazuki geri	Inside crescent kick
Ushiro-geri	Back kick
Yoko-geri	Side kick
Yoko-geri-keage	Side snap kick
Yoko-geri-kekomi	Side thrust kick
Yoko-tobi-geri	Jumping side kick

Dan	Level or degree of black belt rank.
Godan	Fifth degree black belt
Hachidan	Eighth degree black belt
Hanshi	Master, an honorary title given to the highest black belt of an organization, signifying their understanding of their art
Judan	Tenth degree black belt
Kudan	Ninth degree black belt
Kyu	Rank below Shodan (1st degree black belt)
Mudansha	Students without black-belt ranking
Nidan	Second degree black belt
Renshi	Entry Level Master
Rokudan	Sixth degree black belt
Sandan	Third degree black belt
Shichidan	Seventh degree black belt
Shihan	A formal title meaning master or master instructor, a teacher of teachers
Shodan	First degree black belt
Yondan	Fourth degree black belt
Yudansha	Black-belt practitioners of any degree

Aite	Opponent
Ai-uchi	Clash; simultaneous scoring technique, no point awarded to either. Referee brings fists together in front of chest.
Aka	Red
Aka No Kachi	Red Victorious
Atenai yoni	Warning without penalty; referee raises 1 hand in fist with other hand covering it at chest level and shows it to offender.
Atoshi baraku	A little more time left; an audible signal given by time keeper 30 seconds before actual end of bout.
Chui	Warning
Encho-sen	Extension; after a draw, the match goes into overtime. Referee reopens match with command “shobu hajime”.
Fukushin shugo	Judges conference
Fusen-gachi	Victory by default
Hansoku	Foul; imposed following serious infraction, results in opponents score being raised to sanbon.
Hansoku chui	Warning with an ippon penalty, ippon added to opponents score.
Hansoku-make	Lose by disqualification
Hantei	Judge’s decision/decision; judgment. Referee calls for judgment by blowing his whistle and judges render their decision by flag signal
Hantei kachi	Winner by decision
Hikiwake	Draw; referee crosses arms over chest, then uncrosses and holds arms out from the body with the palms showing upwards.
Ippon shobu	One point match; used in tournaments
Jikan	Time
Jogai	Out of Bounds; Referee points with index finger at a 45° angle to the area boundary on the side of the offender.
Jogai keikoku	Second exit from fighting area. Waza-ari penalty given to opponent.
Keikoku	Severe warning; warning with waza-ari penalty in sanbon shobu. Penalty added to opponents score. Imposed for minor infractions for which a warning has previously been given in the bout. Referee points index finger to feet of offender at angle of 45°.
Mienai	I could not see. A call by a judge to indicate that a technique was not visible from his/her angle.
Mumobi	Warning for lack of regard for one’s own safety. Referee points 1 index finger in the air at a 60° angle on side of offender.
Mumobi keikoku	Warning with waza-ari penalty.
Sanbon Shobu	Three point Match
Sanbon Shobu Hajime	Start the Match
Shiai-jo	Ring (size = 8-10 meters square)
Shido	Light warning
Shikkaku	Disqualification; opponents score raised to sanbon.
Shiro No Kachi	White Victorious
Shobu hajime	Start the Match
Shugo	Judges called. Referee beckons with arms to the judges.
Toranai	No point
Tsuzukete hajime	Resume fighting begin. Referee standing on his line steps back into zenkutsu dachi and brings palms of hands toward each other
Uchi-majiri	Brawl (melee)
Wazari	Half point

Age tsuki	Rising punch
Awase tsuki	U punch
Choku tsuki	Straight punch
Gedan tsuki	Downward punch
Gyaku tsuki	Reverse punch
Gyaku-zuki	Reverse punch
Ippon Ken tsuki	One-knuckle fist punch
Kagi tsuki	Hook punch
Kizami-zuki	Jab punch
Mawashi-zuki	Roundhouse punch
Morote-zuki	Double-fist punch
Oi-gyaku tsuki	Lunging reverse punch
Oi-zuki	Lunge punch
Otoshi tsuki	Dropping punch (Empi)
Ren tsuki	Double punch
San tsuki	Triple punch
Seiken-zuki	Fore fist punch
Teisho-zuki	Palm-heel punch
Tsuki (Zuki)	Punch
Ura tsuki	Close punch
Yama tsuki	Wide “U” punch

Age-empi-uchi	Upward elbow strike or rising elbow strike, see tate empi uchi (vertical elbow strike)
Age-haisoku-uchi	Rising instep strike, raising your instep into your attackers groin
Empi-uchi	Elbow strike
Gyaku Haito Uchi	Reverse Backfist Strike
Haishu Uchi	Back Hand Strike
Haito-uchi	Ridge hand strike
Hiraken Uchi	Foreknuckle Strike
Hiza Age Ate	Rising Knee Strike
Ippon-nukite	One-finger spearhand
Kentsui-uchi	Fist-hammer strike
Koko Uchi	Tiger Mouth Strike
Kumade Uchi	Bear Claw Strike
Mae Empi Uchi	Front Elbow Strike
Mawashi Empi Uchi	Round Elbow Strike
Nihon Nukite Uchi	Two Finger Strike (Fork)
Nihon-nukit	Two-finger spearhand
Nukite	Spear hand
Otoshi Empi Uchi	Downward Elbow Strike
Shihon Nukite Uchi	Spear Hand Strike
Shuto-uchi	Knife hand strike
Soto Shuto Uchi	Outside Knife Hand Strike
Tate Empi Uchi	Upward Elbow Strike
Teisho Uchi	Palm Heel Strike
Tettsui-uchi	Hammer-fist strike
Uchi	Strike
Uchi Shuto Uchi	Inside Knife Hand Strike
Uraken-uchi	Back fist strike
Ushiro Empi Uchi	Back Elbow Strike
Washide Uchi	Eagle Beak Strike
Yoko Empi Uchi	Side Elbow Strike
Yoko Mawashi Empi Uchi	Side Roundhouse Elbow Strike
Yonhon-nukite	Spearhand

Age uke	Rising block
Awase Shuto Age Uke	Combined rising knife-hand block (Kanku-Dai)
Chudan-soto uke	iddle-outside block
Chudan-uchi uke	Middle-inside block
Empi uke (or Hiji uke)	Elbow block
Gedan-uke	Down block
Haishu uke	Back-hand block
Haiwan Nagashi Uke	Sweeping back-arm block
Jodan-uke	Upper block
Juji-uke	Cross-x block
Kakiwaki uke	Reverse wedge block
Kosa uke	Cross block
Manji uke	Hi/low block
Morote uke	Augmented block
Nagashi Uke	Sweeping block
Osae uke	Pressing block
Otoshi uke	Dropping or falling block
Ryowan Uchi Uke	Double inside block
Seiryuto Uke	Ox-Jaw block
Shuto-uke	Knife-hand block
Sokumen Awase Uke	Side combined block
Sokutei-osae-uke	Pressing block w/sole
Sokuto-osae-uke	Pressing block w/foot edge
Soto ude uke	Outside forearm block
Sukui Uke	Scooping block
Tate shuto uke	Vertical knife-hand block
Te Nagashi Uke	Sweeping hand block
Tsukamai-uke	Grasping block
Uchi ude uke	Inside forearm block
Uke	Block

Bo	The bo, also know as a staff, is a long wooden pole typically about 6 feet in length. The bo was used by farmers in Okinawa to herd animals or placed across the shoulders to carry supplies.
Bokken	Wooden sword
Eku	A wooden oar used by the Okinawans that was improvised as a weapon
Jo	Short staff about 4 to 5 feet in length
Kama	Sickles
Katana	The longer of the two swords worn by samurai
Nunchaku	A flail like weapon made of two pieces of wood connected by a length of rope or chain.
Sai	An Okinawan weapon resembling a handheld pitchfork.
Shinai	Bamboo sword
Tonfa	A farm tool developed into a weapon by the Okinawans