A-C D-F G-I J-L M-O P-R S-U V-Z

AKA  - Red. See also: SHIRO
ATE - Strike or Smash. See also: KITE, TSUKI, UCHI

  HIJI ATE - Elbow Strike.

BODY PARTS

ASHI - Leg. Leg movement.

Oi Ashi - Rear moving past the front foot. Full step.
Okuri ashi - Rear foot moving forward.
Sugi Ashi - Rear foot moving to the front foot.  Half step.
Yori Ashi - Front foot moving forward

EMPE - Elbow, See also:  HIJI
HAISHO - Back of the open hand.
HAITO - Inside of the open hand.
HARA - Belly. Lowever part of the abdomen, below the navel.
HIJI - Elbow. See also: EMPE
KEIKO - Joined fingertip.
KEN - Fist.

Hira Ken - Knuckle Strike - striking with the middle knuckles of the fingers.
Ura Ken  - Back Fist.

KOKEN - Wrist joint.
KOSHI - Ball of foot.
SEIRYU TO - Palm, Palm edge.
SHUTO - Outside edge, (pinky side) of hand.
SOKUTO - Outer edge of foot.
TEISHO - Palm heel.
TETSUI - Hammer fist.
UDE - Forearm

BUN KAI - Application of kata techniques.  See also:  URA KAI.

DACHI - Stance

Fudo Dachi - A wide stance, similar to Shiga Dachi, but where the upper body is at an angle to the legs.
Hachiji Dachi - Natural position, with the feet shoulder width apart with toes pointed outward.  The hands are in fists and in front of the body.  
Heiko Dachi - Natural position with the feet shoulder width apart with toes pointed forward. The hands are in fists,slightly in front of the body. 
Heisoku Dachi - A ready position in which the feet are together and arms are along the sides. Also used in preparation to bow.
Kiba Dachi - Horse stance.  The feet are wide apart with feet pointed straight forward.  See also:  NI FAN CHIN DACHI; SHIGA DACHI
Kokutsu Dachi - Back stance.  A wide stance in which the weight is shifted backward.  The back leg is bent more than the front leg.
Kosa Dachi - Cross-legged stance. Legs are crossed and knees are pressed together.
Musube Dachi - A ready position in which the heels are together and the toes are pointed outward at an angle. Hands are usually together in front of body.
Morohai Dachi - One-legged stance in which one foot rests alongside the other leg's knee. See also: SAGIASHI DACHI
Neko Ashi Dachi - Cat Stance. Ninety percent of weight is on the bent back leg with remainder of weight on the ball of the front bent leg.
Ni Fan Chin Dachi  - Straddle stance.  The feet are wide apart and pointed forward.  Slightly higher than KIBA DACHI; SHIGA DACHI
Okutsu Dachi - Back stance. The back leg is bent with the foot pointed away from the body, the front leg is exteneded with the heel pointed forward.
Sagiashi Dachi - One-legged stance where one foot is wrapped around the back of the other leg's knee.  See also: MOROHAI DACHI.
Sanchin Dachi - Hourglass stance.  One foot slightly in front of the other, toes pointed inwards, and the knees pulled in toward each other.
Shiga Dachi - Straddle stance.  The feet are wide apart and toes pointed outward.  See also: KIBA DACHI; NI FAN CHIN DACHI.
Zenkutsa Dachi - Forward stance. the lead leg is bent and the back leg is extended.
Han Zenkutsa Dachi - A shortened Zenkutsu Dachi with the feet closer together. Similar to a natural forward stance.

DAN - Black belt rank. The term is preceded by the number or degree of rank, so Shodan is First degree black belt and Yondan is fourth degree.

DIRECTIONS AND MOVEMENT

Age - Rising.
Barai - Sweeping
Chudan - Middle or chest level. See also: GEDAN, JODAN.
Gedan -  Lower chest or groin level. See also:  CHUDAN, JODAN.
Gyaku - Reverse - using the side of the body furthest from the opponent. See also: ORI.
Hidari- Left. See also: MIGI.
Jodan - Upper or head level. See also: CHUDAN, GEDAN.
Keagi - Snap. See also: KOKOMI.
Kokomi - Thrust. See also: KEAGI.
Mae - Front. See also: USHIRO, YOKO.
Mawashi - Round, Circular.
Migi - Right. See also: HIDARI.
Ori -.Forward. Using the side of the body closest to the opponent. See also: GYAKU
Soto - Outer. See also: UCHI. 
Tate - Vertical.
Tobi  -Jump.
Uchi - Inner. See also: SOTO.
Ushiro - Back. See also: MAE, YOKO.
Yoko - Side. See also: MAE, USHIRO.

DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA -  "Thank you very much". A formal thank-you said to one's instructor or partner at the end of a training session, practice or demonstration. A slightly less formal version is "Arigato Gozaimasu". See also: ONEGAI SHIMASU.

GERI - Kick

Fumikomi Geri - Stamping Kick.

Gyaku Mawashi - Geri-Reverse Roundhouse Kick. A roundhouse kick that travels in the opposite direction, and strikes with the heel.

Mae Ashi Geri -"Front Leg Kick" - A kick with the leading leg.

Mae Geri Keage - Front Snap Kick.

Mawashi Geri - Roundhouse Kick.

Mikazuki Geri - Crescent Kick - an arching kick that strikes with the side of the foot.

Nidan Geri - Double Kick.

Tobi Geri - Jumping or Flying Kick.

Ushiro Geri - Back Kick.

Yoko Geri Kokomi - Side Thrust Kick.

HAI- Yes. See also: IYE

HAJIME - Begin. Start.

HANGEKI - Counter an opponent with a decisive blow. Seen as the last resort on the continuum of use of force to defend one's self.

HEISOKU - Top of foot.

HOMBU - The main, or head dojo for a martial art or style. This is typically where the head or senior practitioner of a style trains and instructs. See also: DOJO

IYE - No. See also: HAI.

KAKATO - Heel of foot.

KARATEKA - Karate student. See also: YODANSHA

KATA - Forms. Formal sequences of technique meant to simulate a real defense against multiple attackers.

KIAI - Shout. Used to focus energy while performing a technique.

KIHON - Fundamental techniques.

KITE - Finger Strike. See also: ATE, UCHI.

NU KITE - Four finger, or "spear hand" strike.

KOHAI - Junior student. See also: SEMPAI, SENSEI.

KUMITE - Sparring, either formal or free-form.

KUSHIN- Control of an attack that utilizes body movement originating in the knees and keeping the back straight so as to maintain balance and strength.

KYU - Colored-belt ranking. The term is preceded by the number of the rank (for colored belts, the lower the number, the higher the rank). So, Jukyu is white belt, Kukyu is white-stripe, and Yonkyu is blue. The first three numbers (ikkyu to sankyu) are different grades of brown belt. See also: DAN, NUMBERS AND COUNTING.

MAWATTE - Turn Around.

NUMBERS AND COUNTING - See also: DAN, KYU, YODANSHA

Go - Five or Fifth

Hachi - Eight or Eighth

Ichi - One

Ju -Ten orTenth

Ku - Nine or Ninth

Nana - Seventh

Ni - Two or Second

Roku - Six or Sixth

San - Three or Third

Shi - Four

Shichi - Seven

Sho - First

Yon - Fourth

OBI - Belt. See also: GI.

ONEGAI SHIMASU - "Please help me". Said to one's instructor or partner at the beginning of a training session, practice or demonstration. See also: DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA.

RAKKA - To block in such a decisive manner that one's opponent is physically and psychologically defeated with one blow.

REI - Bow (the act, not the weapon)

Otagai Ni Rei - Bow toward others - to bow as a group, recognizing each other.

Sempai Ni Rai - Bow to the senior students See also: SEMPAI

Sensei Ni Rei - Bow to the Sensei See also: SENSEI

Shomen Ni Rei - "Bow to the Shomen" - bow to the front of the room or dojo shrine. See also: SHOMEN

RYUSUI- The ability to flow with your opponent's movement in a way that is controlling and which permits the defender to gain an advantage.

SEIZA - Kneel. To sit with the legs folded under the body.

SEMPAI - Senior student. See also: KOHAI, SEMPAI NI RAI, SENSEI.

SEN - Initiative.

Go No Sen - Allowing the attacker to move first and counter-attacking.

Sen No Sen - Attacking at the same moment as your attacker.

Sen Sen No Sen - Pre-emptively attacking by striking your opponent before they can complete their attack.

SENSEI - Elder or teacher See also: KOHAI, SEMPAI, SENSEI NI REI, SHIHAN

SHIHAN - Master instructor. See also: SENSEI

SHIRO - White. See also: AKA

SHOMEN - A small stand or shelf in a dojo that serves as a shrine or place to keep a photograph or reminders of a style's founders. See also: SHOMEN NI REI

TENSHIN - Avoiding your opponent's attack through body movement.

TSUKI - Punch. See also: ATE, UCHI.

Gyaku Tsuki - "Reverse Punch" - punching with the hand on the same side as the leg that is furthest from the opponent.

Ippon Tsuki - "Single point punch" - striking with one knuckle - typically to soft body targets.

Kizame Tsuki - Front lunge punch. Jab.

Nippon Tsuki - "Two point punch" - striking with the two long fingers - typically to the throat or eyes.

Ori Tsuki -  Lead hand punch.

UCHI - Strike. See also: ATE, KITE, TSUKI.

UKE - Block.

Age Uke - "Rising Block" - Upper level block.

Awase Uke - Joined hand block - blocking with the two hands, palms open, the back of the hands held against each other.

Gedan Barai Uke - "Low-level sweeping block" - Another name for Hara Uke. See also: HARA UKE.

Haishu Uke - Backhand block.

Hara Uke - "Belly block" - A low level sweeping forearm block. See also: GEDAN BARAI UKE.

Hiji Uke - Elbow block.
Juji Uke - X-Block. Two handed block with the forearms crossed. Hands are usually open.

Gedan Juji Uke - Low-level X block. Hands are usually closed.

Kakete Uke Nagashi - Hook and sweep block - a block where the attack is blocked with the edge of the hand, wherby the hand then hooks the attack against the bent wrist and sweeps it to the side.

Kakiwake Uke - Separating block. A two-handed block in which the arms start together and then separate apart.

Ko Uke - Wrist arch block - blocking with the top of the bent wrist.

Morote Uke - Reinforced block - a two-handed block in which the second arm braces the blocking arm.

Nagashi Uke - Sweeping block - the open hand meets the attach and moves it aside.

Osae Uke - Press block - the attack is pushed down by the open palm.

Seiryu To Uke - Palm block - blocking with the palm of the hand

Shuto Uke - Knife-hand block

Sukui Uke - Scooping block

Tekubi Kake Uke - Wrist hook block.

Uchi Uke - "Inside Block" - A middle level block starting on the inside and sweeping across the body.

Ude Uke - "Forearm Block" A (typically low level) block with the forearm. The arm moves in the opposite direction from Hara Uke.

Yoko Uchi Uke - "Side inside block" - A middle level block starting from the outside and moving across the body to the inside.

Ura Kai - Interpretation of Kata techniques. See also: BUN KAI

Waza - Technique

Yame - Stop.

Yodansha - Person having Black Belt (or Dan) ranking. See also: KARATEKA, NUMBERS and COUNTING

Yoi - "Ready". Command to go to a ready stance.

Zanshin - Awareness, concentration.