This is a basic glossary of terms found in Kyokushin Karate, with definition and audio Pronunciation.
- How to read Japanese in English alphabet (rōmaji): English vowels a=ah, i=ee, u=oo, e=eh and o=oh
- A macron or a line over a vowel indicates that it is pronounced for twice the length of the vowel without a macron or a line. Sometimes an “h” is added instead. However, these sounds are just approximations and there are some exceptions
- Click images for full size
Copyright notice. Some images/animations below are from Smartdojo
Stances – Tachi Gata
[sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tachi-gata.wav”]Tachi denotes the configuration of the lower body; tachi gata are forms of stances.
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Ready Stance | Yōi dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Yōi_Dachi.mp3″] |
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Immovable or rooted stance |
Fudō dachi
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[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/fudodachi.mp3″] |
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Front bent stance | Zenkutsu dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/zenkutsudachi.mp3″] |
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Inner eight stance | Uchi hachi dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/uchi-hachi-dachi.wav”] |
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Open foot (connected) stance | Musubi Dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Musubi_Dachi.mp3″] |
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Back Stance | – kōkutsu-dachi
– Also known as |
[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/kokutsudachi.mp3″] [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Hanmi_no_nekoashi_dachi.mp3″] |
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Three battles stance | Sanchin Dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/sanchin-dachi.wav”] |
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Horse riding stance | Kiba-dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/kibadachi.mp3″] |
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Cat stance | Nekoashi-dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/nekoashidachi.mp3″] |
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Crane stance | Tsuri Ashi Dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Tsuri_Ashi_Dachi.mp3″] |
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One foot forward stance | Moro Ashi Dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Moro_Ashi_Dachi.mp3″] |
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Parallel stance | Heisoku dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/heisoku_dachi.mp3″] |
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Crossed leg stance | Kake ashi dachi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Kake_ashi_dachi.mp3″] |
Blocks – Uke
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Middle outside block | Chūdan Soto uke | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Chūdan-Soto-uke.mp3″] |
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Middle inside block | Chūdan uchi uke | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Chudan-uchi-uke.mp3″] |
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Upper block |
Jōdan uke
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[sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/joudan-uke.wav”] |
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Low sweep block | Gedan-barai | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/gedan_barai.mp3″] |
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Roundhouse block | Mawashi uke | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/mawashi-uke.mp3″] |
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Middle inside block with both hands | Morote chudan uchi uke | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Morete-chudan-uchi-uke.mp3″] |
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Roundhouse block with knife-hand | Shuto mawashi uke | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/shuto_mawashi_uke.mp3″] |
Punches & Strikes – Tsuki & Uchi
[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Tsuki-Uchi.mp3″]In karatedō, tsuki is usually translated as “punch,” but this is not correct. A better rendering would be “thrust.” Tsuki is differentiated from uchi 打ち (strike), in that the fist in tsuki moves along the same direction as the arm, while the hand in uchi moves circularly around the elbow or shoulder. The useful comparison is with kendō, in which tsuki has a very specific definition: a thrusting attack to the throat with the tip of the shinai, rather than a cut with the “edge”, uchi.
- Note that in a compound word, where tsuki does not come first, its pronunciation and writing changes slightly due to rendaku, and it is spelled and pronounced as “zuki“.
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Forefist double strike | Seiken morote zuki | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Seiken-morote-tsuki.mp3″] |
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Forefist (straight) punch | Seiken zuki | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/seiken-zuki.wav”] |
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Forefist strike to the chin | Seiken ago uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/seiken-ago-uchi.wav”] |
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Vertical punch | Tate zuki | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tate-zuki.wav”] |
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Low punch | Shita zuki | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/shita-zuki.wav”] |
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Lunge punch | Jun zuki | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/jun-zuki.mp3″] |
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Descending hammerfist strike to face | Tettsui oroshi ganmen uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tettsui-oroshi-ganmen-uchi.wav”] |
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Hammerfist strike to temple |
Tettsui komekami |
[sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tettsui-komekami.wav”] |
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Hammerfist strike to the spleen | Tettsui Hizo Uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Tettsui-Hizo-Uchi.mp3″] |
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Front sideways hammerfist strike | Tettsui mae yoko uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tettsui-mae-yoko-uchi.wav”] |
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Side hammerfist strike | Tettsui yoko uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tettsui-yoko-uchi.wav”] |
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Two-finger spear hand | Nihon nukite | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/nihon-nukite.wav”] |
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Front backfist strike | Uraken shōmen uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Uraken-shōmen-uchi.mp3″] |
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Descending backfist strike | Uraken oroshi ganmen uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Uraken_Oroshi_Uchi.mp3″] |
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Backfist strike to spleen | Uraken hizō uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Uraken-Hizo-Uchi.mp3″] |
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Roundhouse backfist strike | Uraken mawashi uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/uraken-mawashi-uchi.wav”] |
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Lateral backfist strike to face | Uraken sayū ganmen uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/uraken-sayuu-ganmen-uchi.wav”] |
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Palm heel thrust | Shōtei zuki | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/shōtei-zuki.mp3″] |
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elbow strike | hiji ate | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/hiji-ate.mp3″] |
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Sword hand strike | Shutō uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/shutou-uchi.wav”] |
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Rising elbow strike | Age hiji ate | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/age-hiji-ate.wav”] |
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Backwards elbow strike | Ushiro hiji ate | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ushiro-hiji-ate.wav”] |
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Descending elbow strike | Hiji oroshi uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/hiji-oroshi-uchi.wav”] |
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Flat fist punch (also leopard fist) | Hiraken zuki | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/hiraken-zuki.wav”] |
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Strike with back of hand | Haishu uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/haishu-uchi.wav”] |
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Forefist rising punch to face | Seiken jodan age zuki | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/正拳上段揚げ突き.mp3″] |
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Four-finger spear-hand | Yonhon nukite | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Yonhon_Nukite.mp3″] |
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Middle knuckle fist | Nakadaka ken | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/nakadaka-ken.wav”] |
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One fist thumb | Oyayubi Ipponken | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Oyayubi_Ipponken.mp3″] |
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Ridgehand strike | Haitō uchi | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Haitō_uchi.mp3″] |
Kicks – Keri
*Please note that in a compound word, where keri does not come first, its pronunciation and writing changes slightly, becoming geri. Eg. “Keri” = “Kick” but “Mawashi-geri” = “Round Kick”
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Knee kick | hiza geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/hiza-geri.wav”] |
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Groin kick | Kin geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/kingeri.wav”] |
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Front kick | Mae geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/mae-geri.wav”] |
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Foot sword joint kick | Sokutō kansetsu geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Sokutō_Kansetsu_Geri.mp3″] |
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Rising side kick | Sokutō yoko keage | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/yoko-keage.wav”] |
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Front rising high kick | Mae keage | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/mae-keage.wav”] |
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Inside roundhouse stretch kick | Uchi mawashi keage | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Uchi_mawashi_keage.mp3″] |
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Outside roundhouse stretch kick | Soto mawashi keage | [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Soto_mawashi_keage.mp3″] |
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Lower level roundhouse kick | Gedan mawashi geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/gedan-mawashi-geri.wav”] |
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High roundhouse kick | Jōdan mawashi geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/joudan-mawashi-geri.wav”] |
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Back kick | Ushiro geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ushiro-geri.wav”] |
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Upper level inside instep kick | Jōdan uchi haisoku geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/joudan-uchi-haisoku-geri.wav”] |
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Flying side kick | Tobi yoko geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/tobi-yoko-geri.wav”] |
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Jumping front kick | Tobi mae geri | [sc_embed_player fileurl fileurl=”http://the-martial-way.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/tobi-mae-geri.wav”] |