Our karate family invites you to join us to develop the highest level of technical and philosophy in Shotokan karate. Also we welcome dojos, clubs, and other organizations to learn about our unique methods of teaching karate for all ages and abilities to our family.  Please see the individual or organizational benefits for your membership. Thank you.  

 

“The right decision will affect rest of your life” 

Cyrus Madani, 8th Dan 

IMA Chief Instructor 

44 years of karate experience  

 

 Japanese Term


  • Karate Dictionary 


Uke(oo-kay): Block
Age-uke (ah-geh-oo-kay): Upper block (Raising)
Shuto-uke (shoe-toe oo-kay): Knife-hand block
Uchi-uke (oo-chee oo-kay): Inside center block
Gedan-barai (Geh-dahn bah-rye): Down block
Soto-uke (so-toh oo-kay): Outside center block
Chudan-uke (Chew-dahn oo-kay): Middle level block
Jodan-uke (joe-dahn oo-kay): Upper level block
Gedan-uke (geh-dahn oo-kay): Lower level block
Hiza-uke (he-zah oo-kay): Knee block
Juji-uke (jew-gee oo-kay): X-block
Morote-uke (moe-row-the oo-kay): Augmented block
Nagashi-uke (nah-gah-she oo-kay) Sweeping block
Sashite-uke (sah-she-tay oo-kay): Rising hand block
Shuto-uke (shoe-toe oo-kay): Knife-hand block
Teishi-uke (tay-sho oo-kay): Palm-heel block

Zuki (zoo-key): Punch
Age-zuki (ah-geh zoo-key): Rising punch
Awase-zuki (ah-wah-say zoo-key): U-punch
Choku-zuki (cho-koo zoo-key): Straight punch
Chudan-zuki (chew-dahn zoo-key): Middle area punch
Gyaku-zuki (gya-koo zoo-key): Reverse punch
Jodan-zuki (joe-dahn zoo-key): face level punch
Morote-zuki (moe-row-the- zoo-key): Double "U" punch
Oi-zuki (oh-ee zoo-key): Lunge punch
Tate-zuki (tah-the zoo-key): Vertical punch
Teisho-zuki (tay-show zoo-key): Palm-heel punch
Ura-zuki (oo-rah zoo-key): Close punch

Geri (geh-rhee): Kick
Ashi-Barai (ah-she bah-rye): Foot sweep
Fumikomi (foo-me-koh-me): Stamping kick
Keage (key-ah-geh): Snap kick
Kekomi (kay-koh-me): Thrust kick
Mae-geri (mah-eh geh-rhee): Front kick
Mae-geri-kaege (mah-eh geh-rhee kay-ah-geh): Front snap kick
Mae-geri-kakomi (mah-eh geh-rhee kay-koh-me): Front thrust kick
Mae-tobi-geri (mah-eh toe-be geh-rhee): Jumping front kick
Mawashi-geri (mah-wha-she geh-rhee): Round kick
Ushiro-geri (oo-she row geh-rhee): Back kick
Yoko-geri-kaegi (yoh-koh geh-rhee key-ah-geh): Side snap kick
Yoko-geri-kekomi (yoh-koh geh-rhee key-ah-geh): Side thrust kick

Uchi (oo-chee): Strike
Empi-uchi (en-pee oo-chee): Elbow strike
Haishu-uchi (hi-shoo oo-chee): Back hand strike
Haito-uchi (hi-toe oo-chee): Ridge-hand strike
Ippon-ken (eep-pone ken): One-knuckle fist
Nukite (noo-key-teh): Spear hand
Kentsui-uchi (ken-tsue-ee oo-chee): Hammer fist strike
Shuto-uchi (shoe-toe oo-chee): Knife hand strike
Teisho-uchi (tay-sho oo-chee): Palm hand strike
Uraken-uchi (oo-rah-ken oo-chee): Back fist strike

Dachi (dah-chee): Stance
Fudo-dachi (foo-dough dah-chee) Rooted stance
Hachiji-dachi (hah-chee-gee dah-chee): Open leg stance
Hangetsu-dachi (hahn-geh-tsue dah-chee): Half-moon stance
Heiko-dachi (hay-koh dah-chee): Parallel stance
Kamae (kah-may): Sparring posture
Kiba-dachi (key-bah dah-chee): Side stance (horse stance)
Kokutsu-dachi (koe-koo-tsu dah-chee): Back stance
Kosa-dachi (koe-sah dah-chee): Crossed legged stance
Neko-ashi-dachi (neh-koh ah-she-dah-chee): Cat stance
Sanchin-dachi (san-chin dah-chee): Hour-glass stance
Shizentai (she-zen dah-chee): Natural position
Sochin-dachi (so-chin dah-chee): Diagonal straddle-leg stance
Teiji-dachi (the-gee dah-chee): T stance
Zenkutsu-dachi (zen-koo-tsue dah-chee): Front stance

Numbers 
Ichi (ih-chee): One
Ni (nee): Two
San (sahn): Three
Shi (she): Four
Go (go): Five
Roku (roo-koo): Six
Shichi (Shih-chee): Seven
Hachi (Hah-chee): Eight
Ku (koo): Nine
Ju (joo): Ten

General Terms: 
Budo (boo-doh): Martial way
Bunkai (bun-kye): Applications
Chudan (chew-dahn): Chest area
Dan (dahn): Black belt rank
Do (doh): Way/path
Dojo (doh-joh): Training area
Domo Arigato
Gozai-mashita (doh-moh ah-ree-gah-toe
go-zye-mah-she-tah) Thank you very much (past)
Gasshuku (gas-shoe-koo) Summer camp
Gedan (geh-dahn): Lower body area
Gi (ghee): Uniform
Gohan-kumite (goh-hon koo-mih-tay): Five step sparring
Hai (hi): Yes
Hajime (hah-zhim-ay): Begin
Hidari (he-dah-rhee): Left
Hombu-Dojo (hohm-boo doh-joh): Dojo headquarter
Ippon kumite (eep-pohn koo-me-teh): One step sparring
Jiyu ippon (jye-oo ih-pon): Free one step sparring
Jiyu-kumite (gee-you koo-me-teh): Free sparring
Jodan (joh-dahn): Face area
Kamae (kah-may): Sparring posture
Karate (kah-rah-teh): Empty hand
KarateKa (kah-rah-teh-kah): Karate student
Kata (kah-tah): Form
Ki (key): Mind, Spirit, Energy
Kiai (key-aye): Focusing shout
Kihon (key-hohn): Basic technique
Kihon kumite (key-hone koo-me-teh): Basic sparring
Kime (key-may): Focus of power
Kumite (koo-me-teh): Sparring
Kyu (kyoo): White/Brown belt Rank
Mae (may): Front
Makiwara (mah-key-wha-rha): Punching board
Mawate-te (mah-wha-tay): Turn around
Migi (me-ghee): Right
Ohiyo Gozaimasu (oh-ha-yoh go-zye-mah-soo): Good morning
Onegai-shimasu (oh-nih-guy-she-mah-soo): Please teach me
Osu (oh-soo): Greeting
Oyasumi nasai (oh-yah-soo-me nah-sigh): Good night
Rei (rey): Bow
Sanbon kumite (san-bohn koo-me-teh): Three step sparring
Seiza (sigh-zah): Sitting position
Sempai (sehm-pye): Senior student
Sensei (sehn-seh-ee): Instructor
Shizen-tai (she-zen tah-ee): Natural position
Tai sabaki (tye sah-bah-key): Body movement
Waza (wah-zah): Technique
Yame (yah-may): Stop
Yoi (yoy): Ready
Zanshin (zahn-shin): Following through technique



 

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