WADO-RYU: Glossary
Arigato-Go-Zi-Mash-Ta (ah-ree-gah-toe-go-zee-mas-tah) Thank You for teaching us.
Atemi (ah-tim-ee) Striking (hand or foot)
Bunkai (boon-ki) Application of techniques.
Bushido (boo-she-doe) Warriors way
Dachi (da-chee) Stance
Dan (dan) High Degree, level, or grade (like college grades or black belt 1)
Do (doe) From the Chinese "Tao" meaning way or path. (to describe a path one uses to seek or achieve spiritual enlightenment)
Dojo (doe-joe) The practice area where you study Karate at your school, but can also be used to indicate any area where you work to discipline the mind and body.
Domo-Arigato (doe-moe--ah-ree-gah-toe) Thank You very much
Empi (em-pee) Any technique using the elbow.
Gamen (gah-men) Perseverance, endurance or suffering
Gedan (gay-dan) Low (Generally means groin area)
Geri (gerry) Kick
Hai (hi) Yes
Hajime (ha-ja-may) Begin, start
Hakama (haa-ka-mah) Pleated, skirt like pants worn by classical Japanese Martial artisits
Hidari (he-dah-ree) Left
Hikite (ha-kite) The position of the back hand during formal techniques.
Hiza (hee-zah) Any technique using the knee.
Ippon (ip-pon) Generally means one: (Ippon kumite kata)
Ja-Mata (ja-mah-ta) See you later
Jodan (joe-dan) High. (Means neck and above)
Kaihi (ki-hi) Dues (payment for lessons)
Kamae (kaa-may) The ready position of the hands while standing in zenkutsu-dachi.
Karate (kaa-raa-tae) Empty hand
Kata (kaa-ta) The pre-arranged series of blocks, strikes, punches and sometimes kicking movements that are performed while moving.
Keagi (key-ah-gee) Term used to describe the "snap" of a hand or kicking technique
Kekome (key-ko-me) Term used to describe a thrust, or thrusting movement of a technique
Kiai (key-eye) The yell that is made in executing some karate techniques.
Kihon (key-hone) Basic
Kime (key-me) Focus ; mental, physical or spiritual
Kiotsuke (key-ot-skey) Attention
Kirittsu (key-rit-sue) To stand up
Kohai (co-hi) Junior
Kokoro (ko-ko-ro) Spirit
Kumite (koo-ma-tay) Freestyle fighting or sparring between two students.
Kuzushi (koo-zoo-she) The unbalancing of an opponent either physically (as in a foot sweep), mentally (as in stepping on an opponents foot to distract them), spiritually (as in fierce kiai just before an opponents attack to drain his fighting spirit)
Kyu ((key-u) A student who is under black belt. Lower like elementary level.
Kyukei (cue-key) Break, short rest
Maai (mah-i) Distancing
Mae (may) Front
Maewatte (may-wah-tae) Turn
Maru (mah-rue) Circle
Matte (mah-tay) Stop or wait
Me (my) Eye
Metsuke (my-skey) Eye contact
Migi (me-gee) Right
Mokuso (moe-koo-so) Meditation
Mudansha (moo-dan-shah) Martial arts term used to define all students under the rank of black belt (yudansha)
Mushin (moo-shin) (mind-no-mind) Term used to describe the state of pure consciousness unburdened by thought
Naorei (now-ray) Command to move from heiko-dachi to musubi-dachi
Nukite (nu-ka-tay) A strike using the finger tips
Obi (o-bee) Belt
Okuden (o-koo-den) Hidden teachings
Oniega-Shi-Mash-Ta (o-knee-gah-she-mas-tah) Please teach us.
Pinan (pee-non) Harmonious, or flowing movement
Rei (ray) Bow. (As a greeting and show of respect)
Renmei (rin-me) League, union, or alliance
Ryu (rue) School or style
Seiretsu (say-ret-sue) Line-up
Seiza (say-zah) Kneeling position. (used for formal bows at the beginning and end of class)
Sempai (sim-pie) Senior
Sensei (sin-say) The Chief Instructor
Sumimasen (sue-me-mah-sin) Pardon me, Excuse me
Tachi-rei (taa-chee-ray) A bow done while standing.
Taisubaki (tie-sue-ba-key) A natural balanced movement from one position to another to avoid an opponents attack.
Tatami (tah-tah-me) Floor mats, traditionally made of bundled straw
Torre (tor-re) Attacker
Tsukuri (t'sue-koo-ree) Creating an opening in your defence to draw an opponent into attacking the weakness, thus allowing you to respond with a specific technique.
Uke (oo-key) Block or defender
Wado-Ryu (wa-doe-rue) The word literally translated means Way Of Peace & Harmony. The emblem, with the doves wings surrounding a clenched fist, symbolizes that peace has strength.
Waza (wah-zah) Techniques (punches,kicks,blocks,etc.)
Yame (yah-may) Recover or return
Yoi (yo-ee) Command to move from musubi-dachi to heiko dachi.
Yudan (yoo-dan) Black Belt student
Yudansha (yoo-dan-shah) A black belt who is a member of a larger group of Yudan
Zanshin (zan-shin) This word is the most important idea you will try to learn in karate, it means keeness of mind or mental alertness at all times.
Anatomy
Chudan (middle) Mid area of the body from the waist to the shoulders
Gedan (low) Lower area of the body from the hips down
Jodan (high) Upper area of the body from the neck up
Ashi Foot
Ashi kubi Ankle
Ashi Sokuto Outer edge (knife edge) of the foot
Ashi josokutei Ball of foot
Hiiru heel
Me eye
Koshi hips
Seiken fist
Te hand
Nodo throat
Hiza knee
Onaka stomach
Empi (or hiji) elbow
Mimi ear
Ude arm
Shinzo heart
Japanese numbers 1 - 20
Ichi (ee - chee) One
Ni (knee) Two
San (sahn) Three
Shi (she) Four
Go (go) Five
Roku (row-que) Six
Shichi (she-chee) Seven
Hachi (hah-chee) Eight
Ku (koo) Nine
Ju (joo) Ten
Ju - Ichi Eleven
Ju - Ni Twelve
Ju - San Thirteen
Ju - Shi or Ju - Yon Fourteen
Ju - Go Fifteen
Ju - Roku Sixteen
Ju - Shichi or Ju - nana Seventeen
Ju - Hachi Eighteen
Ju - Ku Nineteen
Ni - Ju Twenty