| 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 |
