KARATE TITLES & TERMS
Karate is a martial art that originated in Japan, and it incorporates a variety of Japanese titles and terms during training. Understanding these terms can help practitioners better grasp the discipline and culture of Karate. Here are some commonly used terms:
TITLES & RANKS
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JAPANESE KANJI
宗家
館長
副館長
支部長
副支部長
道場長
道場代理
首席師範 / 最高師範
範士 *
教士 *
錬士 *
師範 #
指導師 %
指導員 %
先生
大先輩
先輩
後輩
有段者
無段者
初心者
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ROMAJI
SOKE
KANCHO
FUKU KANCHO
SHIBUCHO
FUKU SHIBUCHO
DOJOCHO
DOJOCHO DAIRI
SHUSEKI SHIHAN / SAIKO SHIHAN
HANSHI *
KYOSHI *
RENSHI *
SHIHAN #
SHIDOSHI %
SHIDOIN %
SENSEI
DAI-SENPAI
SENPAI
KOHAI
YUDANSHA
MUDANSHA
SHOSHINSHA
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MEANING
Head of the Family / Grand Master
Chief Director
Deputy Chief Director
Divison / Branch Director
Deputy Divison/Branch Director
Dojo Director
Deputy Dojo Director
Chief Instructor (the Head Shihan)
Expert Instructor (with 8th Dan or above)
Advanced Instructor (with 7th Dan)
Experienced Instructor (with 6th Dan)
Superior Instructor (with 5th Dan or above)
Senior Instructor (with 4th Dan)
Instructor (with 3rd Dan)
Teacher (General speaking)
The only Big Brother/Sister of a club
usually is the 1 Kyu) The person who's senior (or higher rank) to yourself
The person who's junior (or lower rank) to yourself
Black Belt Member (Shodan or above)
Non Black Belt Member (Color Belt Member)
Beginner (Kids Class Member)
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* Usually, we don't address these titles in front of him/her.
#* Any sensei above 5th Dan can be addressed as "Shihan". % 3rd Dan and 4th Dan can address with the title or simply called "Sensei". |
GENERAL
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JAPANESE KANJI
正座
気を付け
默想
治って
用意
始め
止め
はい
気合
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ROMAJI
SEIZA
KIOTSUKE
MOKUSOU
NAOTE
YOOI
HAJIME
YAME
HAI
KIAI
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MEANING
Japanese sitting position
Pay attention
Close eyes and focus
Back to original position
Get Ready
Start
Stop
Means "Yes", "Okay"
Combine the technique with breathing
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STANCE (DACHI)
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JAPANESE KANJI
閉足立ち
結び立ち
平行立ち
外八立ち
内八立ち
四股立ち
三戦立ち
前屈立ち
半前屈立ち
猫足立ち
弁足立ち
後屈立ち
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ROMAJI
HEISOKU DACHI
MUSUBI DACHI
HEIKO DACHI
SOTO HACHI DACHI
UCHI HACHI DACHI
SHIKO DACHI
SANCHIN DACHI
ZENKUTSU DACHI
HAN ZENKUTSU DACHI
NEKO ASHI DACHI
BENSOKU DACHI
KOKUTSU DACHI
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MEANING
Close Feet Stance
Open Feet Stance
Parallel Stance
Outside Character Eight Stance
Inside Character Eight Stance
Straddle Stance
Three-battles Stance
Forward Stance
Half Forward Stance
Cat Stance
Bent leg Stance
Back Ducking Stance
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BLOCK (UKE)
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JAPANESE KANJI
上段受け
中段受け
下段払い
掛け受け
内受け
外受け
手刀受け
背刀受け
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ROMAJI
JODAN UKE
CHUDAN UKE
GEDAN BARAI
KAKE UKE
UCHI UKE
SOTO UKE
SHUTO UKE
HAITO UKE
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MEANING
Upper Block
Middle Block
Lower Sweep
Hooking Block
Forearm Inside Block
Middle Outside Block
Knife Hand Block
Reverse Knife Hand Block
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ATTRACK (TSUKI / UCHI / AGE)
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JAPANESE KANJI
正拳突き
追突き
逆突き
上段突き
中段突き
下段突き
下突き
揚突き
四本拳突き
左右突き
振り打ち
手刀打ち
背刀打ち
鉄槌打ち
裏拳打ち
貫手
鶏口突 / 鳥手突
掌底当て打ち
肘当て / 猿臂打ち
横肘当て
支肘当て
後肘当て
一本拳
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ROMAJI
SEI KEN TSUKI
OI TSUKI
GYAKU TSUKI
JODAN TSUKI
CHUDAN TSUKI
GEDAN TSUKI
SHITA TSUKI
AGE TSUKI
HIRAKEN TSUKI
SAYU TSUKI
FURI UCHI
SHUTO UCHI
HAITO UCHI
SHOTEI ATE
URAKEN UCHI
NUKITE
SHI ZUKI / TORIDE ZUKI
TETTSUI UCHI
HIJI ATE / EMPI UCHI
YOKO HIJI ATE
SASAE HIJI ATE
USHIRO HIJI ATE
IPPON KEN
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MEANING
Fore Fist Punch
Lunge Punch / Front Hand Punch
Reverse Punch
Upper Punch
Middle Punch
Lower Punch
Under Punch
Ascending Punch
Flat Fore Knuckle Punch
Double Side Punch
Back Fist Swing Strike
Knife Hand Strike
Reverse Knife Hand Strike
Hammer Firt Strike
Back Fist Swinging Strike
Spear-hand Thrust
Chicken Beak Thrust / Bird Hand Strike
Bottom Palm Strike
Elbow Smash / Elbow Strike
Side Elbow Smash
Supported Elbow Smash
Backward Elbow Smash
One Point Fist Punch
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KICK (GERI)
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JAPANESE KANJI
下段蹴り / 金的蹴り
前蹴り
前蹴り踵
関節蹴り
廻蹴り
裏廻蹴り
横蹴り / 足刀蹴り
膝蹴り
足払い
前飛蹴り
二段蹴り
後蹴り
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ROMAJI
GEDAN GERI / KINTEKI GERI
MAE GERI
MAE GERI KAKATO
KANSETSU GERI
MAWASHI GERI
URA MAWASHI GERI
YOKO GERI / SOKUTO GERI
HIZA GERI
ASHI BARAI
MAETOBI GERI
NIDAN GERI
USHIRO GERI
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MEANING
Under Kick / Groin Kick
Forward Kick or Front Kick
Forward Kick with heel
Knee Joint Kick
Roundhouse Kick
Inward Roundhouse Kick
Side Kick / Knife Foot Kick
Knee Kick
Foot Sweep
Flying Front Kick
Two-level Kick
Back Kick
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