TERMINOLOGY:

Karate uses a unique terminology. Students and instructors alike should learn as many terms as possible. This is because it is the UNIVERSAL “language” used in most clubs and associations around the world. A broad knowledge of those terms allows you to understand the commands in any dojo you train at.

Here is a list of many of the terms used:

001	Bassai Sho	A senior Shotokan kata
002	Bokken	Wooden sword, used by the legendary Miyamoto Musashi
003	Bunkai	Break down of techniques (from a kata)
004	Chinte	A senior Shotokan kata
005	Chudan Uke (also Ude Uke)	Middle block
006	Dan	Senior grade (black belt)
007	Deshi	Student
008	Empi Uchi	Elbow strike
009	Embussen	Kata line or pattern
010	Fumi Komi	Stomping kick
011	Gankaku	A very senior (and difficult) Shotokan kata
012	Gedan Barai	Downward block
013	Gedan Shotei Uchi	Downward open hand strike
014	Gedan Tsuki	Low punch
015	Gekisai Ichi	A junior Goju kata
016	Geri (or Keri)	Kick
017	Gi (abbreviation of Dogi)	Uniform for the Okinawan or Japanese martial arts
018	Gohon Kumite	5 step sparring with no retaliation
019	Goju Kai (and Goju Ryu)	Japanese karate style – literally ‘hard-soft’
020	Gojushiho Dai	A very senior Shotokan kata
021	Gojushiho Sho	A very senior Shotokan kata
022	Haishu Uchi	Back hand strike
023	Haiwan Uchi	Back of arm (forearm) strike
024	Haiwan Uke	Back of arm (forearm) block
025	Hanshi	A senior instructor (professor) of 8th to 10th Dan
026	Hebi Uchi	Snake strike
027	Heian Godan	A junior Shotokan kata, also known as Pinan Godan
028	Heian Nidan	A junior Shotokan kata, also known as Pinan Shodan
029	Heian Sandan	A junior Shotokan kata, also known as Pinan Sandan
030	Heian Shodan	A junior Shotokan kata, also known as Pinan Nidan
031	Heian Yondan	A junior Shotokan kata, also known as Pinan Yondan
032	Herabasami Uchi (also Tora)	Tiger mouth strike
033	Hikite	Pull back action of the opposite arm when punching
034	Hiza Geri	Knee strike
035	Honne	Honest technique
036	Ikken Hissatsu	To ‘kill’ with a single blow, a decisive strike
037	Ippon Kumite	1 step sparring
038	Jion	A senior Shotokan kata – one of the three “J’s”
039	Jiyu Kumite	Free sparring
040	Jodan Haiwan Ude Uke	High back of arm block
041	Ju Jutsu (also Jiu Jutsu)	A Japanese grappling art
042	Jutte	A senior Shotokan kata – one of the three “J’s”
043	Kaesho Kumite	Reaction sparring
044	Kanku Dai	A senior Shotokan kata, known as the “roof” kata
045	Karateka	Karate person or practitioner
046	Kata	Pattern, a set of karate techniques in order
047	Katana	A metal blade sword
048	Kiba Dachi	Horse stance
049	Kihon (also Kihon Kata)	Basic (also Taikyoku Shodan)
050	Kime	Focus
051	Kobudo	The art of weapons
052	Koken Uchi	Wrist strike
053	Kokutsu Dachi	Back stance
054	Kuchi	Mouth
055	Kuwa	Hoe, used as a kobudo weapon in Okinawa
056	Kyokushinkai	A style of karate created by Mas Oyama
057	Kyoshi	A senior instructor (doctor) of 6th to 8th Dan
058	Ma-ai	Distancing
059	Mae Geri	Front kick
060	Makiwara	A striking post or board
061	Manji Uke	Lower level arm block combined with upper level arm block
062	Meijin	Wizard or maestro
063	Morote Uke	Reinforced arm position, often a block
064	Naihanchi (also Tekki)	A mid-level Shotokan kata utilising horse stances
065	Nami Gaeshi	Returning wave kick
066	Neko Ashi Dachi	Cat stance
067	Nunchaku	An Okinawan weapon of two sticks joined by a cord
068	Nusumi Ashi	Crossing stance
069	Okan (Wankan)	A senior  Shotokan kata
070	Osu (also Oss)	An acknowledgement, often misused or over-used
071	Otagi Ni Rei	Bow to each other
072	Otoshi	Downward
073	Otoshi Empi Uchi	Downward elbow strike
074	Otoshi Shotei Uchi	Downward open-hand strike
075	Oyo	Bunkai from kata used in “test” sparring
076	Rei	Formal bow
077	Renshi	A senior instructor of 4th to 6th Dan
078	Sai	An Okinawan metal trident weapon, often used in pairs
079	Sanbon Kumite	3 step sparring, with retaliation
080	Sanshin	A fundamental Goju kata meaning “three battles.”
081	Seiryuto Uchi	Edge of wrist strike, using the bony protrusion
082	Seiunchin	A senior Goju kata
083	Sensei	Teacher, literally “one who has gone before”
084	Shiko Dachi	Open stance like kiba dachi but with toes turned outward
085	Shita Tsuki (also Ura Tsuki)	Uppercut punch
086	Shito Ryu	Japanese karate style – founded by Kenwa Mabuni
087	Shotei Uke	Open hand block
088	Shotei Uchi	Open hand strike
089	Shotokan	Japanese karate style – founded by Gichin Funakoshi
090	Shuto Furi Wake	Edge of hand block
091	Shuto Furo Uchi	Edge of hand strike
092	Shuto Uchi	Knife hand strike
093	Shuto Uke	Knife hand block
094	Taikyoku Shodan	A basic Shotokan kata (also Kihon Kata)
095	Tai Sabaki	Body and hip rotation
096	Tatemae	False technique
097	Tate Shuto Uchi	Vertical knife strike
098	Tate Tsuki	Vertical fist punch
099	Te	Hand, the former Okinawan art before it became karate
100	Tekki (also Naihanchi)	A mid-level Shotokan kata utilising horse stances
101	Tekubi Uke	Back of wrist block
102	Tensho	An intermediate Goju kata, often paired with Sanchin kata
103	Tensho Uke	Grasping block
104	Tettsui Uchi	Hammer fist
105	T’ien Shan P’ai	A Chinese style of kung fu
106	Tonfa	An Okinawan wooden handle weapon, often used in pairs
107	Tora Uchi (also Herabasami)	Tiger mouth strike
108	Tsuki	Punch, also zuki
109	Ude Uke	Arm block
110	Ura Tsuki (also Shita Tsuki)	Upside down punch
111	Uraken Uchi	Back fist strike
112	Ushiro Empi Uchi	Backwards elbow strike
113	Wado Ryu	A Japanese style of karate
114	Wankan (Okan)	A senior Shotokan kata
115	Washide and Washite	Eagle claw strike, using finger tips like eagle talons
116	Waza	Technique
117	Yoko Empi Uchi	Side elbow strike
118	Yonhan Nukite	Four-finger strike
119	Yori Ashi	Sliding stance
120	Zanshin	Awareness

And there are many, many MORE! But this is a good representation of the knowledge that you should begin to accumulate.

Here is a nice but very basic visual:

The terminology in the graphic above is the bare basics of what you should know as a serious karateka.

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