JAPANESE TERMS AND TRANSLATIONS

 

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Te Waza

Tay warh za

Hand Techniques

Tsuki / Zuki

Zoo key

Punch

Uchi

Oow chee

Strike

Furiken

Fur rik ken

Swing punch

Haishu

Hi shoe

Back hand

Haito

Hi toe

Ridge hand

Harai te

Har rye tay

Sweeping hand

Hasami uchi

Hah sam mee oo chee

Scissors strike

Hitosashi (ipponken)

Hi toe sash she

Index finger one knuckle fist

Ipponken

Ip pon ken

One knuckle fist

Koken

Coe ken

Arched wrist

Nakadaka (ipponken)

Knack a dac ka

Middle finger one knuckle fist

Nukite

Nuh key tay

Spear hand

Seiken

Say ken

Normal / fore fist

Shuto

Shoo toe

Knife hand

Tate ken

Tar tay ken

Vertical fist

Teisho / shotei

Tay show / show tay

Palm heel

Tetsui

Tet sue ee

Bottom fist

Toho

Toe hoe

Tiger mouth hand

Uraken

Uh rack ken

Back fist

     

Ashi Waza

Ash she warh za

Foot and Leg Techniques

Ashi kubi

Ash she koo bee

Ankle

Chusoku

Chew sock oo

Sole of the foot

Josokutei

Joe sock oo tay

Ball of the Foot

Haisoku

Hi zock oo

Instep of the Foot

Hiza

Hee za

Knee

Kakato

Kack a toe

Heel (of the Foot)

Sokuto

Sock oo toe

Outside edge of the foot

Sune

Soo nay

Shin

Tsumasaki

Soo mar sack ee

Tips of the Toes

     

Keri Waza

Kerry warh za

Kicking Techniques

Fumikomi geri

Fum ree com ee geh ree

Stamping kick

Geri / kette

Ge ree / ket tay

Kick

Hiza geri

Hee za geh ree

Knee kick

Kansetsu geri

Can set soo geh ree

Joint kick

Kingeri

Kin geh ree

Groin kick

Maegeri

My geh ree

Front kick

Mawashi geri

Mar wash she geh ree

Roundhouse kick

Mikazuki geri

Mi car zoo key geh ree

Crescent kick

Nidan geri

Knee dan geh ree

Two level kick

Sokuto geri

Sock uh toe geh ree

Side edge kick(knife foot)

Tobi geri

Tow bee geh ree

Jumping kick

Ura mawashi geri

Uh rah mar wash she geh ree

Reverse side roundhouse kick

Ushiro geri

Ush she row geh ree

Back (behind) kick

Ushiro mawashi geri

Ush she row mar wash she geh ree

Rear (behind) roundhouse kick

     

Tsuki Waza

Zoo key warh za

Punching Technique

Age zuki

Are gay zoo key

Rising punch

Choku zuki

Chock koo zoo key

Straight punch

Furiken

Fur rik ken

Swing punch

Gyakuzuki

Guy yakoo zoo key

Reverse/opposite punch

Gyakuzuki no tsukkomi

Guy yakoo zoo key know zuck coe mee

Leaning forward reverse punch

Hasama zuki

Har sam ma zoo key

Scissors punch

Heiko zuki

Hi coe zoo key

Parallel punch

Junzuki

Jun zoo key

Step punch

Junzuki no tsukkomi

Jun zoo key know zuck coe mee

Leaning forward step punch

Kagi zuki

Kag gee zoo key

Hook punch

Mawashi zuki

Ma wash she zoo key

Roundhouse punch

Morote zuki

More row tay zoo key

Double punch

Nagashizuki

Nag gash shee zoo key

Evasion/flow punch

Renzuki

Ren zoo key

Alternate punching

Tate zuki

Tar tay zoo key

Vertical punch

Tobikomi zuki

Toe bee kom mee zoo key

flying forward punch

Urazuki

Uh rah zoo key

Back punch

Yamazuki

Yam mar zoo key

Mountain Punch

     

Ate Waza

Are-tay warh za

Elbow Techniques

Age empi

Are gay emm pee

Rising elbow

Mae empi

My emm pee

Front elbow

Mawashi empi

Mar wash she emm pee

Roundhouse elbow

Otoshi empi

Oh tosh shee emm pee

Dropping elbow

Tate empi

Tar tay emm pee

Vertical elbow

Ushiro empi

Ush she row emm pee

Rear elbow

Yoko empi

Yoh coe emm pee

Side elbow

     

Uchi Waza

Oo chee warh za

Striking Technique

Empi uchi

Emm pee ooh chee

Elbow strike

Haishu uchi

Hiy shoe ooh chee

Back of hand strike

Haito uchi

Hiy toe ooh chee

Ridge hand strike

Hasami uchi

Hass sam mee ooh chee

Scissors strike

Koken uchi

Coe ken ooh chee

Arched wrist strike

Mawashi shuto uchi

Mar wash she shoe toe ooh chee

Roundhouse knife hand strike

Otoshi shuto uchi

Oh tosh shee shoe toe ooh chee

Dropping knife hand strike

Otoshi uraken uchi

Oh tosh shee uh rack ken ooh chee

Dropping back fist strike

Shotei uchi

Show tay ooh chee

Palm heel strike

Shuto uchi

Shoe toe ooh chee

Knife hand strike

Tetsui uchi

Tet sue ee ooh chee

Bottom fist strike

Uraken uchi

Uh rack ken ooh chee

Back of fist strike

Yoko shuto uchi

Yoh coe shoe toe ooh chee

Sideways knife hand strike

     

Reishiki

Ray shik key

Etiquette

Seiza

Say zar

Kneel / kneeling position

Shomen ni rei

Show men knee ray

Bow to the front

Sensei ni rei

Sen say knee ray

Bow to the instructors

Otagai ni rei

Oh tag guy knee ray

Bow to the seniors and students assembled

Kiritsu

Kee ritz

Stand / Stand up

     

Uke Waza

Oo kay warh za

Defence Techniques

Age uke

Are gay ooh kay

Rising defence

Gedan barai

Gay dan bar rye

Lower level defence

Haishu uke

Hiy shoe ooh kay

Back of hand defence

Hiji uke

Hid jee ooh kay

Elbow defence

Jodan uke

Joe dan ooh kay

Upper level defence

Juji uke

Jew jee ooh kay

Crossed arms defence

Kake uke

Car kay ooh kay

Grabbing hand defence

Kosa uke

Coe za ooh kay

Gedan barai and soto uke to the front

Manji gamae

Man jee gam miy

Gedan barai and soto uke sideways on

Morote uke

More row tay ooh kay

Augmented defence

Shuto uke

Shoe toe ooh kay

Knife hand defence

Soto uke (gaiwan uke)

Sow toe ooh kay

Outward forearm defence

Sukui uke

Suck koo ee ooh kay

Scooping defence

Tenohara uke

Ten know har rah ooh kay

Sweeping hand defence

Uchi uke (naiwan uke)

Ooh chee ooh kay

Inside forearm defence

     

Kazu

Car zoo

Numbers

Ichi

It chee

One

Ni

Knee

Two

San

San

Three

Shi / Yon

Shee / yon

Four

Go

Goe

Five

Roku

Rook

Six

Shichi / Nana

Shit chee / nana

Seven

Hachi

Hat chee

Eight

Kyu

Queue

Nine

Ju

Jew

Ten

Ipponme

Ip pon may

First of a series

Nihonme

Knee hon may

Second of a series

Sanbonme

San bon may

Third of a series

Yonhome

Yoh hon may

Fourth of a series

Gohonme

Go hon may

Fifth of a series

Ropponme

Rop pon may

Sixth of a series

Nanahonme

Nana hon may

Seventh of a series

Hachonme

Hatch on may

Eigth of a series

Kyuhonme

Queue hon may

Ninth of a series

Juhonme

Jew hon may

Tenth of a series

     

Taisabaki

Tie sab back key

Body Management

Ayumi ashi

Are you mee ash shee

One step forwards or backwards

Chidori ashi

Shid door ree ash shee

Sideways stepping

Choyaku

Choh yack koo

Jumping

Inasu

In nass sue

Simultaneous defence and attack

Irimi

Irim mee

Entering movement into the opponent

Kaiten

Kai ten

Turning the body

Kagami

Kag gam mee

Ducking

Mawatte

Mar war tay

Turning about 180°

Nagasu

Nag gas sue

“To float” - Body movement with evasion

Nijiri ashi

Nij jiree ash shee

Floating movement as in kihon gumite

Noru

Noh roo

Blending with an opponents attack

Okuri ashi

Owe curry ash shee

Sliding step

Renzuki

Ren zoo key

Alternate punching

Surikomi

Sure kom mee

Two steps

Taiju no ido

Tie jew know ee doh

Weight shifting

Tengi

Ten gee

Change technique

Teni

Ten ee

Change position

Tentai

Ten tie

Change body shape or form

Tsugi ashi

Sug gee ash shee

Make up step i.e. back foot to the front foot

Zenshinshite

Zen shin shit tay

Moving forward

     

Tachi Kata

Tat chee cat tah

Stances

Aihanmi

Eye han mee

To be in same stance as your opponent

Gyaku dachi

Guy yack koo dat chee

Reverse / opposite Gyaku dachi stance

Gyaku hanmi

Guy yack koo han mee

To be in the opposite stance as your opponent

Gyaku neko ashi dachi

Guy yack koo neck coe ash shee

Reverse cat stance

Hanmi gamae

Han mee gam miy

Half viewing stance – Fighting stance

Heiko dachi

Hi coed at chee

Parallel foot position stance

Heisoku dachi

Hay zock koo dat chee

Feet together stance

Hidari gamae

Hid dar ree gam miy

Left stance

Junzuki dachi

Jun zoo key dat chee

Level punch stance

Kamae / Gamae

Cam miy / Gam miy

Posture or stance

Kokutsu dachi

Coe cut sue dtach chee

Back bent stances

Kosa dachi

Coe zah dat chee

Crossed leg stance

Mahanmi neko ashi

Mar han mee neck coe ash shee

Side viewing cat’s foot / leg stance

Moto dachi

Mow toe dat chee

Shorter junzuki stance with weight central

Musubi dachi

Muss sue bee dat chee

Open toe stance feet at 30o

Naihanchi dachi

Niy han chee dat chee

stance used throughout nai hanchi kata

Neko ashi dachi shomen

Neck coe ash shee dat chee show men

front viewing cat’s foot / leg stance

No tsukkomi dachi

Know suck coe mee

Leaning forward stance (with forward thrust)

Sae Omori dachi

Say ohh more reed dat chee

Even weight stances

Sagiashi dachi

Sag gee ash shee dat chee

One legged stance

Shiko dachi

She coe dat chee

Sumo stance, feet at 30o

Shizentai dachi

Shiz zen tie dat chee

Natural body stance

Tate seishan dachi

Tar tay say shan dat chee

Vertical / long seishan stance

Shizen hontai dachi (yoi)

Shiz zen hon tie dat chee

Ready stance

Yoko seishan dachi

Yoh coe say shan dat chee

Side seishan stance

Zenkutsu dachi

Zen cut sue dat chee

Front bent stances

     

Yonin

Yon nin

Others

Ashi barai

Ash she bar rye

Leg sweep

Atemi waza

At tem mee war zah

Striking vital points

Chakugan

Chack koo gan

Correct focus of attention

Chudan

Chew dan

Middle area of the body

Chusin

Chew sin

Centre line of the body

Dojo

Doh joe

The wayplace

Gedan

Gay dan

Lower area of the body

Han

Han

Half

Hanmi

Han mee

Halfway

Henka waza

Hen kah war zah

Variation techniques

Hidari

Hid dar ree

Left

Hikite

Hick key tay

Pulling hand

Hyoshi

He yosh shee

Rhythm / timing

Idori

Id door ree

Wado principles applied in a kneeling position

Ji yu kumite

Jee you koo mit tay

Free fighting

Jodan

Joe dan

Upper level of the body

Junbi

Jun bee

Preparation exercises such as in a warm up

Kaeshi waza

Kiy shee war zah

Counter techniques

Kamiza

Cam miz zah

The focal point within a dojo the shrine

Kansetsu waza

Can set sue war zah

Joint techniques

Karate do

Kara tay doh

Empty hand way

A person who trains in

   

Karate ka

Kara tay kah

the empty hand way

Kata

Cat tah

Self defense moves in set geometric patters

Kiai

Key eye

Energy meeting / extend ki

Kihon gumite

Key hon goo mit tay

Basic sparring

Kihon tsuki geri

Key hon suck key geh ree

Basic punching and kicking

Kime

Kim may

Focus

Kote gaeshi

Coe tay guy shee

Outward wrist turn

Kyukei

Queue kay

Rest / rest period

Maai

My ee

Combative distancing

Migi

Mig gee

Right

Mitchaku suru

Mit chack koo - su roo

Contact between two bodies

Mushin

Moo shin

Empty mind

Nage waza

Nar gay war zah

Throwing techniques

Naore

Now ray

Attention stance i.e. musubi dachi

Ohyo gumite

Oy yoh goo mee tay

Semi free sparring

Pinan

Pin ann

“Peaceful mind”

Renraku waza (Renzoku)

Ren rack koo war zah

Combination techniques

Sanbon gumite

San bon goo mee tay

3 step sparring

Sempai

Sem pie

Senior - up to 3rd Dan

Shime waza

Shim may war zah

Strangle techniques

Shinken-shira-ha-dori

Shin ken-shi rah-hah- door ree

Wado principles applied against sword attacks

Shitei kata

Shit tay cat tah

Compulsory kata in competitions

Sono bade ippon toru

Son know bad day ip pon tor roo

Remain stationary one attack

Tamashiwaza

Tam mash shee war zah

Breaking techniques

Tanto dori

Tan toe door ree

Wado principles applied against knife attacks

Tokui kata

Tock koo ee cat tah

Free choice kata in competitions

Torimi

Tor rim mee

Taking the attacks

Tsuri kubi ashi

Ash she koo bee ash she

Pulling ankle forward

Ude

Ooh day

Fore arm

Uke

Ooh kay

The receiver of the counter attack

Ukemi

You kem mee

Break falls

Wado kai

Wad doh kiy

The way of peace and harmony association

Wado ryu

Wad doh ree you

The way of peace and harmony school

Zanshin

Zan shin

“Leave mind” - awareness