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
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
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
ROMANJI
SOKE
KANCHO
FUKU KANCHO
SHIBUCHO
FUKU SHIBUCHO
DOJOCHO
DOJOCHO DAIRI
SHUSEKI SHIHAN
HANSHI *
KYOSHI *
RENSHI *
SHIHAN #
SHIDOSHI %
SHIDOIN %
SENSEI
DAI-SENPAI
SENPAI
KOHAI
YUDANSHA
MUDANSHA
SHOSHINSHA
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)
* 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 be addressed with the title or simply called "Sensei".
ROMANJI
GENERAL
JAPANESE KANJI
正座
気を付け
默想
治って
用意
始め
止め
はい
気合
SEIZA
KIOTSUKE
MOKUSOU
NAOTE
YOOI
HAJIME
YAME
HAI
KIAI
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
STANCE (DACHI)
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
ROMANJI
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
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
BLOCK (UKE)
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
ROMANJI
JODAN UKE
CHUDAN UKE
GEDAN BARAI
KAKE UKE
UCHI UKE
SOTO UKE
SHUTO UKE
HAITO UKE
MEANING
Upper Block
Middle Block
Lower Sweep
Hooking Block
Forearm Inside Block
Middle Outside Block
Knife Hand Block
Reverse Knife Hand Block
ATTRACK (TSUKI / UCHI / AGE)
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
ROMANJI
SEI KEN TSUKI
OI TSUKI
GYAKU TSUKI
JODAN TSUKI
CHUDAN TSUKI
GEDAN TSUKI
SHITA TSUKI
AGE TSUKI
MEANING
Fore Fist Punch
Lunge Punch / Front Hand Punch
Reverse Punch
Upper Punch
Middle Punch
Lower Punch
Under Punch
Ascending Punch
KICK (GERI)
JAPANESE KANJI
ROMANJI
MEANING
前蹴り
MAE GERI
Forward Kick or Front Kick
関節蹴り
KANSETSU GERI
Knee Joint Kick
下段蹴り/金的蹴り
GEDAN GERI / KINTEKI GERI
Under Kick / Groin Kick
裏廻蹴り
URA MAWASHI GERI
Inward Roundhouse Kick
廻蹴り
MAWASHI GERI
Roundhouse Kick
横蹴り / 足刀蹴り
YOKO GERI / SOKUTO GERI
Side Kick / Knife Foot Kick
膝蹴り
HIZA GERI
Knee Kick
足払い
ASHI BARAI
Foot Sweep