Okinawan Karate Terminology

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Okinawan Karate Terminology
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A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N
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Katas - People - Styles - Techniques - Weaponry

Karate Stances - Tachi Waza - 立ち技

Name	Kanji	Notes
Chikai Nekoashi Dachi	近い猫足立ち	Very short Cat Stance
Heiko Dachi	併行立ち	Parallel Stance
Heisoku Dachi	閉足立ち	Feet Together Stance
Hiza Dachi	膝立ち	Knee Stance (Kneeling Stance)
Kiba Dachi	騎馬立ち	Horse Riding Stance
Kosa Dachi	交叉立ち	Crossed Stance
Musubi Dachi	結び立ち	Closed foot stance
Nagai Nekoashi Dachi	長い猫足立ち	Longer Cat Stance
Nekoashi Dachi	猫足立ち	Cat-foot Stance
Sanchin Dachi	三戦立ち	Three Battles Stance (Sunadokei Dachi 砂時計立ち)
Shiko Dachi	四股立ち	Square Stance
Shizen Dachi	自然立ち	Natural stance (small front stance)
Tsuru Dachi	鶴立ち	Crane leg stance
Zenkutsu Dachi	前屈立ち	Forward leaning stance

Karate Blocks - Uke Waza - 受け技

Name	Kanji	Notes
Chudan Uke	中段受け	Mid-Level block, blocking with the outside of the wrist
Gedan Uke	下段受け	Low-level block
Haishu Uke	背手受け	Upside down Ridgehand block
Hiji Uke	肘受け	Elbow Block
Jodan Uke	上段受け	High Level Block
Juji Uke	十字受け	X shaped block
Kakie Uke	掛け受け	Hooking Block
Kawasu Uke	交す受け	Parry Block
Keito Uke	鶏頭受け	Top of the hand block
Kiku Uke	掬受け	Scooping Block (From Seiyonchin)
Koken Uke	孤拳受け	Top of the wrist block
Kusabi Uke	楔受け	Wedge Block
Otoshi Uke	落し受け	Dropping Block
Shotei Uke	掌底受け	Palm Block
Shuto Uke	手刀受け	Knife Hand Block
Soto Uke	外受け	Outside Block (Starting from outside going in)
Toraguchi Uke	虎口受け	Tiger Mouth Block (aka Mawashi Uke or Enkei Uke)
Tsukamu Uke	掴む受け	Catching Block
Ura Uke	裏受け	Top of the hand, upside down block

Karate Strikes - Ōda Waza - 殴打技

Name	Kanji	Notes
Awase Tsuki	合せ突き	Front U style punch without leaning
Boshiken Uchi	拇指拳打ち	Open hand strike using the thumb knuckle
Choku Tsuki	直突き	Straight Punch
Dokuyubi Uchi	毒指打ち	Poison finger strike
Enpi Uchi	猿臂打ち	Monkey Elbow - Typically a side elbow strike
Gyaku Tsuki	逆突き	Reverse Punch (hand is opposite of front leg)
Haito Uchi	背刀打ち	Ridgehand strike
Hiji Uchi	肘打ち	Elbow Strike
Houmeken Uchi	鳳眼拳打ち	Phoenix Eye Strike (first knuckle strike)
Jun Tsuki	順突き	Straight punch from side of body
Kisami Tsuki	刻み突き	Front Jab punch
Kote Uchi	小手打ち	Wrist Strike (Wrist Bash)
Oi Tsuki	追い突き	Chasing Thrust (Punch)
Riken Uchi	理拳打ち	Backhand strike going from left to right
Tekubi Uchi	手首打ち	Back of the wrist strike (going sideways)
Uraken Uchi	裏拳打ち	Backhand Strike - Top to Bottom

Karate Kicks - Keri Waza - 蹴り技

Name	Kanji	Notes
Fumikomi Geri	踏み込み蹴り	Stamping kick / Stomping kick / Skip kick
Furi Geri	振蹴り	Swinging kick, usually 360°, in Suparinpe
Hiza Geri	膝蹴り	Knee strike (Knee kick)
Kaiten Ushiro Geri	回転後ろ蹴り	Spinning Back Kick
Kake Geri	掛け蹴り	Hook Kick
Kakuto Geri	踵蹴り	Heel Kick (mule kick)
Kin Geri	金蹴り	Top of the foot groin kick
Kocho Geri	蝴蝶蹴り	Butterfly Kick (splits in the air)
Kogan Geri	睾丸蹴り	Shin kick
Kotai Geri	交体蹴り	Across the Body Kick
Mae Geri	前蹴り	Forward Kick - Keage/Kekomi
Mawashi Geri	回り蹴り	Around Kick (to kick in a semi-circular fasion)
Muchi Geri	鞭蹴り	Whipping Kick
Nami Gaeshi Geri	波返し蹴り	Returning Wave Kick - Found in Naihanchi/Tekki
Ono Geri	斧蹴り	Axe Kick
Osae Geri	押え蹴り	Pushing kick
Oyubi Geri	大指蹴り	Big Toe Kick
Sokuto Geri	足刀蹴り	Foot Edge Kick
Sune Geri	脛蹴り	Full Shin Kick
Tobi Geri	飛び蹴り	Jumping Kick
Tobi Yoko Geri	跳び横蹴り	Jumping Side Kick
Ushiro Geri	後ろ蹴り	Back Kick (Kicking Backwards, behind)
Wangetsu Geri	彎月蹴り	Crescent Kick (Crescent moon kick)
Yoko Geri	横蹴り	Side kick - keage/kekomi

Karate Technical Terms - 技術用語

Name	Kanji	Notes
Bunkai	分解	Analysis of move by move / to disassemble
Embusen	演武線	The lines that kata follow (directions)
Hirate	開手	Open Hand (used with blocking, Hirate Jodan Uke)
Hocho	歩調	Cadence
Hojo Kumite	補助組手	Supplimental Kumite drills created by Tamaki Juei Hanshi
Kamae	構え	Posture
Keage	蹴上げ	Snapping style movement (example Mae Geri Keage)
Kekomi	蹴込	Thrusting style movement (example Mae Geri Kekomi)
Kiten	基点	Beginning and ending point(s) of a kata
Kunren	訓練	Drills/Exercises/Training
Naore	直れ	Return to a neutral stance (yoi/shizen tai/Musubi Dachi)
Okugi	奥義	Hidden technique (from kata)
Oyo	応用	Application (How to apply something)
Renraku Waza	連絡技	Combinations or drills that contain contact.
Renzoku Waza	連続技	A group of continuously repeated techniques
Suwari Waza	座り技	Techniques performed from a seated position
Tai Sabaki	体捌き	Body movement / Repositioning
Tenketsu	點穴	Pressure Point
Tuite	取手	Taking Hand (To take someone's hand), Handle
Ugoki	動き	Movement/Motion - Method of movement
Yoi	用意	Ready Position, not really a set stance or kamae