Shotokan Beginner Terminology

Karate-empty hand
Dojo-gym or place where you go to practice
Mokuso-meditate
Seiza-sit
Mawate-turn
Rei-bow
Shomeni-rei-bow to the school and arts
Ottogani-rei-bow between students and instructor
Sempai-senior student
Sensei-honorable teacher
Shihan-a master, or one who devotes a lifetime to the study of an art
Gichin Funakoshi-the father of modern day karate, founder of Shotokan Karate
Jodan-upper level
Chudan-middle level
Gedan-lower level
Kata-form, a series of offensive and defensive movements performed against one or
more imaginary opponents
Kiai-shout, a harmony of mind and body
Dojo Precepts-principles karate students are to uphold in their daily lives
Yoi-command to go to ready position

Four Basic Karate Techniques Punches

1) Tsuki-punch Oi-Zuki-lunge punch
2) Geri-kick Gyaku-Zuki-reverse punch
3) Uke-block
4) Uchi-strike

Kicks Blocks
Mae Geri-front kick Gedan Barai-down block
Mawashi Geri-round kick Jodan Age Uke-rising block
Yoko Geri-side kick Ushi Uke-inside block
Kekomi Yoko Geri-side thrust kick Soto Uke-outside block
Ushiro Geri-back kick Shuto Uke-knife hand block
Mikazuiki Geri-crescent kick Morote Uke-augmented block
Hiji Uke-elbow block

Strikes
Uraken Uchi-back fist strike
Tettsui Uchi-hammer fist strike
Nukite Uchi-spear hand strike
Empi Uchi-elbow strike
Haito Uchi-ridge hand strike
Shuto Uchi-knife hand strike
Teisho Uchi-palm heel strike
Hiraken Uchi-four knuckle strike
Stances
Kiba Dachi-horse stance
Zenkutsu Dachi-front stance
Kokutsu Dachi-back stance
Nekoashi Dachi-short cat stance
Fudo Dachi-immoveable stance
Heisoku Dachi-attention stance
Yoi Dachi-ready stance
Numbers
Ichi-one
Ni-two
San-three
Shi-four, also known as Yo
Go-five
Roku-six
Shichi-seven, also known as Nana
Hachi-eight
Ku-nine
Ju-ten
 Advanced Karate Terminology

Aiki-indomitable spirit
Aiuchi no Heiho-strategy of simultaneous striking
Atemi Waza-striking techniques
Bushidamashi-warrior spirit or warrior strength
Bushido-way of the warrior
Chikara-physical power
Deshi-student
Do-way of, word used to replace jitsu to demilitarize the arts
Fudoshin-immovable or indomitable mind
Hakama-pants worn in kendo, kyudo, and aikido
Hara-stomach, or center
Haragei-state of mind that eliminates the harshness of reality; also known as intuitive
thought
Heiho-strategy
Hyoshi-timing
Iaijitsu-art of drawing the sword
Jeet Kune Do-way of the divine intercepting fist; martial art system founded by the late
Bruce Lee
Jigoro Kano-founder of Judo
Kama Bushi Kai-Divine warrior system; founded by Soke David Baize
Kama Bushi Do-way of the divine warrior; part of Kami Bushi Kai headed by Shihan
Dan McCaslin
Kai-system
Ki-inner power
Kiai-spirit shout.
Five Reasons to Kiai:
1) Startle opponent
2) Increase power
3) Psyche you up
4) Enable you to take a blow
5) Alert other people
Kihon-basics
Katsuri no Heiho-strategy of broken rhythm
Kime-focus
Kumite-sparring
Kyudo-way of the bow and arrow
Maai-distance
Maai no Heiho-strategy of combative distances
Morehei Ueshiba-founder of Aikido
Mushin-calm mind
Nagashi Tsuki-flowing punch
Nunanshin-mendable or flexible mind
Okinawan Te-Okinawan hand
Three cities of Okinawa-Naha, Shuri, and Tamari
Obi-belt
Ryu-school
Satori-spiritual enlightenment
Satsuna Clan- group of Japanese that conquered Okinawa and outlawed weapons in
1609
Shiwari-the break
Shorin Ryu & Shorei Ryu-styles studied by Master Funakoshi which formed the basis
for Shotokan
Shoto-Master Funakoshi’s pen name
Shotokan- means Pine waves system or House of Shoto, the style was founded by
Master Funakoshi in 1936
Shuri Te-style founded by Master Matsumura
Suki-punch; direct attack; moment of indecision
Tai Chi Chuan-supreme ultimate fist
Te-hand
Waza-conditioned response
Yojimbo-bodygaurd
Zanshin-aware mind
 Senior Advanced History & Terminology

Master Funakoshi’s Teachers

1) Azato
2) Itosu
3) Mastumura

Some of Funakoshi’s Major Students

1) Nishiyama (alive)
2) Nakayama (deceased)
3) Egami (deceased)
4) Mas Oyama (deceased)
5) Ohtsuka (deceased)

Four Major Japanese Styles and Founders

1) Shotokan Ryu-Gichin Funakoshi
2) Wado Ryu-Hironiri Ohtsuka
3) Goju Ryu-Chojun Miyagi
4) Shito Ryu-Kenwa Mibuni

Korean Styles
1) Tae Kwon Do
2) Tang Soo Do
3) Hapkido

Kyokushinkai Founder-Mas Oyama

Internal or Soft Chinese Styles

1) Tai Chi Chuan
2) Pa Kua
3) Hsing-I

External or Hard Chinese Styles

1) Hung Gar
2) Tiger Claw

Defensive Responses
1) Go no Sen-block-counter; counter occurs after the initial attack and before the 2nd
attack

2) Tai no Sen-stop technique prior to launch; as soon as you see movement.

3) Kake no Sen-respond to their thought

Three Levels of Teaching (Learning)
1) Shoden-Basics
2) Chuden-Intermediate—Advanced
3) Haiden-Secret techniques (very advanced techniques)

Three Levels of Ki or Chi

1) Individual
2) Group
3) Universe

Three Levels of Training

1) Gio-basic
2) Chugio-intermediate
3) Jitsu-very hard (hottest or coldest day of the year)

Hwrang-Do Warriors-Korean equivalent of the Japanese Samurai

Kado no heiho-strategy of cutting corners; take available opening and strike hoping to
create another better opening; adapted from Kendo

Mizu no Kokoro-mind like water; clear, calm mind like the surface of undisturbed
water.

Tsuki no Kokoro-mind like moon; being aware of everything around you like moonlight
falling evenly on all things in its range

Sutemi-sacrifice; concept of taking a blow to deliver a stronger, more effective blow

(example-taking a body shot in order to deliver a head shot)

Hoan Kosugi-man who designed the Shotokan tiger design and also urged Master
Funakoshi to write his book

Shotokan Ryu-founded in 1936 by Master Funakoshi

Kyo-opening in your opponents defense

Sasoi-a feint or fake (used to conceal you main technique)

Cheng Seng Feng-man thought to have expanded on Daruma’s teachings

Miyamoto Musashi-great Samurai warrior and artist who wrote the book entitled A
Book of Five Rings (Go Rin no Sho)

Isshin Ryu-Okinawan art that combined elements of Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu

Ying/Yang-circular symbol of white and black that represents opposites; also represents
harmony in the universe
Soden-secret document that is passed down from the Grand Master to his successor

Kihaku-spirit

Kokyu-breathing power