Vocabulary

General

Romaji	Kanji	Meaning	Notes	Pronunciation
Kata	方・型・形	Form/pattern, a way of doing something	See Kata	Listen here
Bunkai	分解	Analysis/disassembly, Application	Can refer to applications or analysing something for applications. See Bunkai	Listen here
Oyo	応用	Application		Listen here
Rei	礼	Bow		Listen here
Seiza	正座	Sitting (in seiza style)	See Seiza for a how to	Listen here
Kamae	構え	Guard	There are a number of different kamae, see Kamae for info	Listen here
Mokuso	黙想	Meditation	For tips see Meditation	Listen here
Zanshin	残心	Remaining mind/Being aware		Listen here
Mushin	無心	No mind/not thinking		Listen here

Directions

Romaji	Kanji	Meaning	Notes	Pronunciation
Hidari	ひだり	Left		Listen here
Migi	みぎ	Right		Listen here
Mae	まえ	Front		Listen here
Ushiro	うし	Back		Listen here
Ura	うら	Bottom/opposite/reverse side, 'out of sight'/'hidden'	The latter meanings may be of relevance when used with the term 'Omote'. See here for info.	Listen here
Omote	おもて	Front, Exterior, Surface	The 'Surface' meaning is generally used when this word is used with 'Ura'. See here for info.	Listen here
Yoko	よこ	Side/Sideways		Listen here
Naname	なな	Diagonal/Angled		Listen here
Ue	うえ	Up		Listen here
Shita	した	Down		Listen here
Naka	なか	Inside		Listen here
Soto	そと	Outside		Listen here

Phrases

Romaji	Kanji	Meaning	Notes	Pronunciation
Onegaishimasu	ねが	Please (give me/do something for me)	In the context of training this usually means "Please teach me"	Listen here
Arigatou Gozaimasu	ありがとうございます	Thank you	This is a reasonably polite way of saying thank you	Listen here
Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu	どうもありがとうございます	This is a more polite way of saying thank you		Listen here
Ki o tsuke	き	At attention	In other contexts it usually means "Be careful/Look out"	Listen here

Body Parts

Romaji	Japanese	Meaning	Notes	Pronunciation
Jodan	じょうだん	Upper Level, Face height (shoulders up)		Listen here
Chudan	ちゅうだん	Middle level, chest height (from belt to shoulders)		Listen here
Gedan	げだん	Lower level, area below the belt		Listen here
Ude	うで	Arm/Forearm		Listen here
Hiji	ひじ	Elbow		Listen here
Tekubi	てくび	Wrist	Literally "Hand neck"	Listen here
Te	て	Hand		Listen here
Ashi	あし	Leg/Foot		Listen here
Hiza	ひざ	Knee		Listen here
Ashikubi	あしくび	Ankle	Literally "Leg/foot neck"	Listen here
Kansetsu	かんせつ	Joint		Listen here
Kata	かた	Shoulder	It's a homonym of Kata (as in forms)	Listen here
Kubi	くび	Neck		Listen here
Atama	あたま	Head		Listen here
Hitai	ひたい	Forehead		Listen here
Kao	かお	Face		Listen here
Men	めん	Face		Listen here
Mimi	みみ	Ear		Listen here
Hana	はな	Nose		Listen here
Jinchuu	じんちゅう	Philtrum	The point just below the nose. Click for more info	Listen here
Me	め	Eyes		Listen here
Kuchi	くち	Mouth		Listen here
Ago	あご	Chin/Jaw		Listen here
Mune	むね	Chest		Listen here
Hara	はら	Abs/Stomach		Listen here
Kami	かみ	Hair		Listen here

Kata

Romaji	Japanese	Meaning	Notes
Gekisai Dai Ichi	げきさいだいいち	See here
Gekisai Dai Ni	げきさいだいに	See here
Saifa	サイファ	See here
Seiyunchin	セイユンチン	See here
Shisochin	シソウチン	See here	Pronounced "Shi-soo-chin" (long 'o' sound)
Sanseiru	サンセイル	See here
Seipai	十八手セイパイ	See here
Kururunfa	クルルンファ	See here
Seisan	セイサン	See here
Suparinpei	スーパーリンペイ	See here	Pronounced "suu-paa-rin-pee"
Sanchin	サンチン	See here
Tensho	テンショ	See here

Techniques

Arm Techniques

Romaji	Kanji	Meaning	Notes	Pronunciation
Uke		Receive	Often translated as "block" but this is not really in terms of meaning or use of the techniques
Tsuki	つ	Thrust/Punch	Often changes to "zuki" when attached to another word	Listen here
Uchi	う	Strike/hit/punch		Listen here
Seiken zuki	せいけんづ	Lit. Correct Fist Punch. Straight punch.		Listen here
Age zuki	あづ	Rising Punch, Uppercut		Listen here
Kagi zuki	かぎづ	Hook Punch	"Hook" as in the shape, like a fish hook.	Listen here
Mawashi zuki	まわづ	Hook punch (literally spinning/rotating Punch)	Seems to be less commonly said (in Japan) than Kagi zuki	Listen here
Yama zuki	やまづ	Mountain Punch	Arms are spread wide apart, one high, one low.	Listen here
Awase zuki	あづ	Lit. Joined Punch. U-Punch		Listen here
Heiko zuki	へいこうづ	Parallel Punch	Both arms punch straight out parallel to each other	Listen here
Hasami zuki	はさみづ	Scissors Punch		Listen here
Nagashi zuki	ながづ	Flowing punch		Listen here
Nakadaka ken (zuki)	なかだかけんづ	Middle Finger Knuckle Fist (Punch)	The second knuckle of the middle finger protrudes from the fist.	Listen here
Ko uchi	こうう	Wrist Strike	Striking using the back of a bent wrist. The wrist shape is known as Koken（甲拳）	Listen here
Kuma de	くまで	Bear hand	Hand shaped like a bear paw	Listen here
Washi de	鷲手	Eagle hand	Hand bent into a claw shape like an eagle's claws	Listen here
Enpi uchi	えんぴう	Elbow Strike		Listen here
Enpi zuki	えんぴづ	Elbow Thrust		Listen here
Kizami zuki	きざづ	Jab (Lit. Chopping Thrust/Punch)	Comes from "Kizamu" which means "to chop" something, like when you dice up an onion.	Listen here
Choku zuki/Jika zuki	ちょくづ	Straight Punch	Can also be read as Jika zuki (じかづき)	Listen here
Gyaku zuki	ぎゃくづ	Reverse Punch	Punching with the back ("reverse") hand	Listen here
Oi zuki	おづ	Lit. Pursuing Punch, Lunge Punch	Comes from the word "Ou" which means "to pursue".	Listen here
Ura ken (Uchi)	うらけんう	Backfist (Strike)	We normally just say "Ura ken"	Listen here
Ura zuki	うらづ	Back Punch (Short punch)	A short punch with the palm facing upwards	Listen here
Shuto (Uchi)	しゅとうう	Sword hand (strike)	Striking with the pinky finger side of the hand	Listen here
Shotei (Uchi)	しょうていう	Palm Heel (Strike)		Listen here
Haito (Uchi)	はいとうう	Ridge Blade (Strike)	Striking with the thumb side of the hand using the "ridge"	Listen here
Nukite (Zuki)	ぬきてづ	Spear Hand (Thrust)		Listen here
Hiji ate	ひじあ	Elbow Strike		Listen here
Tettsui (uchi)	てっついう	Iron Hammer (Strike) aka Hammer fist		Listen here
Hojo Oshi	ほうじょお	Augmented Push	Using one hand to reinforce the push of another	Listen here
Nihon zuki	にほんづ	Double Punch	A 1-2 combo of straight punches	Listen here
Sanbon zuki	さんぼんづ	Triple punch	A 1-2-3 punch combo of straight punches	Listen here
Jodan Uke		Upper Receive
Chudan Uke		Middle Receive
Gedan Uke		Lower Receive
Hiki Uke		Pulling Receive
Uchi Uke		Inner Receive
Shotei Uke		Palm Heel Receive
Koken Uke		Wrist-Fist Receive
Haishu Uke		Back-of-Hand Receive
Juu-ji Uke		"Character 10" Receive
Kosa Uke		Cross Receive
Otoshi Uke		Dropping Receive
Sukui Uke		Scooping Receive
Kake Uke		Hooking Receive
Ura Kake Uke		Reverse Hooking Receive
Hari Uke		Bow Receive
Morote Uke		Two Handed Receive
Kuri Uke		Scooping Receive
Mawashi Uke		Rotating Receive
Toraguchi		Tiger Mouth

Leg Techniques

Romaji	Kanji	Meaning	Notes
Maegeri	まえげ	Front kick
Kingeri	きんげ	Groin kick
Mawashigeri	まわげ	Spinning/rotating kick (Roundhouse kick)
Ura Mawashigeri	うらまわげ	Reverse spinning/rotating kick (Reverse roundhouse kick)
Ushirogeri	うしげ	Backward kick
Ushiro Mawashigeri	うしまわげ	Backward spinning/rotating kick (Spinning Backward kick)
Fumikomi	ふこ	Stomp
Hizageri	ひざげ	Lit. Knee kick	In Japanese you don't say "knee" you say "knee kick"
Tobi Hizageri	とひざげ	Jumping knee/Flying knee kick	May involve pulling the targets head down
Kansetsu Geri	かんせつげ	Joint kick	Kick aimed at the knee

Stances

Romaji	Japanese	Meaning	Notes
Musubi Dachi	むすだ
Heikou Dachi	へいこうだ
Sanchin Dachi	さんちんだ
Heikou Sanchin Dachi	へいこうさんちんだ		Often just called Sanchin Dachi
Han Zenkutsu Dachi	はんぜんくつだ
Zenkutsu Dachi	ぜんくつだ
Shikodachi	しこだ
Hachi Dachi	はちだ
Neko Ashi Dachi	ねこあしだ	Cat Foot Stance
Sagi Ashi Dachi	さぎあしだ	Heron Stance
Re no Ji Dachi	じだ
Bensoku Dachi	ベンそくだ
Kou Kutsu Dachi	こうくつだ

Okinawan

Most of these words are sourced from the Japanese edition of Morio Higaonna's History Of Karate.

Romaji	Okinawan	Japanese	Meaning	Notes
Enpi	えんぴ		Elbow, Monkey arm	Okinawan term, comes from China. Regular Japanese people may not know the "Elbow" meaning
Chinkuchi	チンクチ		Refers to an instantaneous, but momentary, contraction of muscles just as a punch makes contact.	https://www.karatebyjesse.com/chinkuchi-another-exotic-okinawan-karate-word/
Gamaku	ガマク		Gamaku is an Okinawan term, Uchinaguchi or hogan dialect, that refers to the musculature the surrounds the waist and connects the torso to the pelvis.
Tuudii	トゥーディー	唐手（からて、とぅで）	Karate, but this can refer more to older ways of doing Karate
Ti	ティ	手（て）	Hand, but also it can refer to martial arts, or techniques, or indigenous Okinawan martial arts that came before Karate.
Bu	ブ	武（ぶ）	Martial arts
Sokashidi	ソカシディ	昔手（むかして）	Literally "Old Hand". Perhaps old martial arts?
Kakushidi	カクシディ	陰手（かくして）	Literally "Hidden Hand". Not sure what this means.
Uradi	ウラディ	裏手（うらて）	Literally "Back Hand" or "Hidden Hand"
Kumidi	クミディ	組手（くみて）	Fighting/Sparring
Ukidi	ウキディ	受手（うけて）	Literally "Receiving Hand"
Chichudi	チチュディ	突手（つきて）	Literally "Thrusting Hand"
Nuchidi	ヌチディ	抜手、貫手（ぬきて）	Spear Hand, a karate technique.
Ugawandi	ウガワンディー	拝手	Literally "Worshipping Hand". Might refer to the Chinese martial arts fist and palm salute
Irikumi	イリクミ	入組（自由組手）	Free fighting/hard sparring
Kakiee	カキエー	靠基（カキー・組手の一種）	Kakie
Kakidii	カキディー	掛手（かけて）	Literally "Bridging Hand", this is when your arm crosses with another person's arm, like in Kakie
Tiijikun	ティージクン	拳（こぶし、けん）	Fist
Yagii	ヤギー	矢声（気合い）	Kiai
Tanmee	タンメー	翁（老人に対する敬称）	An honorific title for an elderly man
Chinkuchi Iriree	チンクチイリレー	関節を固めなさい	Lock your joints / Put a lock on a joint (said as an instruction)	Could refer to a joint lock or stabalising your joints
Chinkuchi Kakiti	チンクチカキティ	関節を固めて極める	To do a joint lock (I think)
Kushi Iriree	タシイリレー	腰を入れなさい	Engage your hips (said as an instruction)
Chiru Nu Chan Chan	チルヌチャンチャン	腱の弾み（を表現する）	Expressing the spring or bounce of your tendons	Required for explosive power or snappiness thats not all muscle power
Chiru Nu Chan Chan Soo Nen	チルヌチャンチャンソーネン	腱の弾みがない	Lacking spring or bounce in your tendons
Umaa Chan Makassee	ウマーチャンマカッセー	ここは弾みでしなさい	Use springiness/bounciness here (said as an instruction)
Mii Nu Shin	ミーヌシン	目の芯	Literally the "Core of the eye". Likely referring to focus and intensity in the gaze.
Mii Nu Shin Nu Neen	ミーヌシンヌネーン	目の芯がない	Literally the "There isn't a core of the eye". Likely referring to a lack of focus and intensity in the gaze.
Churasan	チュラサン	美しい、綺麗	Beautiful, lovely
Shimeejurasan	シメージュラサン	まとまった美しさ	Literally "organised"/coherent beauty". Probably means something like like "Well-balanced beauty".
Muchimi Saanisee	ムチミサーニセー	糯のよう粘りで〜しなさい	Do it while sticking like mochi (instruction)
Muchiteen	ムチッテェーン	しなやかで粘りのある動き	Supple, sticky momement
Ippeechibesan	イッペーチーベサン	非常に速い	Extremely fast
Iichi Fukee	イーチフケー	息を吐きなさい	instruction to Exhale
Chigeeneen	チゲーネーン	気力がない、元気がない	Lacking energy/vitality
Tusee	トゥセー	倒したり…	Falling down/Collapsing
Kurubasee	クルバセー	投げたり…	Throwing (like throwing a person or item)
Fukee	フケー	吹きなさい	instruction to blow out
Iichi	イーチ	息	Breath
Feeku	フェーク	速く	Do something quickly
Kiin	キーン	蹴る	To kick
Chichun	チチュン	突く	To punch or thrust
Ukiin	ウキーン	受ける	To receive/block
Ucchun	ウッチュン	打つ	To hit
Nigiin	ニギーン	握る	To take/grasp
Chujuuku	チュジューク	強く	Do something strongly
Ipee	イペー	非常	Emergency/extreme
Kicchimaani	キッチマーニ	踏ってごらん	Try to kick
Chichimaani	チチマーニ	突いてごらん	Try to punch/thrust
Chikee	チケー	突きなさい	An instruction to punch/thrust
Muchimi	ムチミ	粘りのある動きの様子	Movement that has stickiness (like mochi)
Chan	チャン	（筋肉と腱の弾みを意味する）	Meaning to have bounciness/springiness in your muscles and tendons
Du	ドゥ	体	Body
Kukuru	ククル	心	Heart
Kubi	クビ	首	Neck
Chiburu	チブル	頭	Head
Chira	チラ	顔	Face
Chinshi	チンシ	膝	Knee
Muni	ムニ	胸	Chest
Niku	ニク	筋肉	Muscle
Chiru	チル	腱	Tendons
Nii	ニー	根、木の根っこ	Root, Roots of a tree
Kunda	クンダ	足の筋肉	Leg muscles
Kubikaji	クビカジ	首筋	Nape/back of the neck
Mumu	ムム	腰	Waist/Hips
Tanden	タンデン	丹田	Tanden, your centre of gravity. Located about 2 fingers widths below your navel.
Machiwara	マチワラ	巻藁	Makiwara, a striking post. Traditionally wrapped in straw rope. See Hojo undo
Sagimachiwara	サギマチワラ	提げ巻藁	A hanging makiwara.
Dakimachiwara	ダキマチワラ	竹巻藁	Literally "bamboo makiwara"
Chiishii	チーシー	錘石	Chiishii, a training tool. See Hojo undo
Ishizaashi	イシザーシ	石錘	Stone pad locks, a training tool. See Hojo undo. Also know as Ishi Sashi.
Muchi Ishi	ムチイシ	持石	A stone for carrying, for strength training.
Sashi Ishi	サシイシ	差し石	A large stone with a wooden rod through the centre so it can be grapsed on both sides. A training tool, see Hojo undo.