When pronouncing Japanese and Okinawan words, remember that each syllable is stressed equally when saying multi-syllable words (i.e., ka-ra-te, not kar-ate). All syllables of a word are pronounced with equal emphasis.
There is no “R” sound in Japanese or Okinawan . If the letter R is used in a word, it is pronounced closer to an “L”, or like a rolled “R”.
A word does not change in the plural as it does in English. For example, “kata” may mean one kata or many kata. It would be incorrect to say, “katas”.
Stances
| Stance - Dachi |
| English | Japanese/Okinawan |
| toe outward (Seiuchin) | Soto hachiji |
| toe inward (Naihanchin) | Uchi hachiji |
| straddle, or "horse" | Kiba |
| short front (Seisan) | Sho zenkutsu |
| Parallel | Heiko |
| hourglass | Sanchin |
| formal (feet together) | Musubi |
| crossed-leg | Kosa |
| crane | Tsuru Ashi |
| cat | Nekoashi |
| "T" stance | Teiji |
Kicking Techniques
| Kick - Geri |
| English | Japanese/Okinawan |
| Stomp Kick | Fumikomi geri |
| Front Snap Kick | Mae geri keage |
| Front Thrust Kick | Mae geri kekomi |
| Flying Front Kick | Mae tobi geri |
| Side Snap Kick | Yoko geri keage |
| Side Thrust Kick | Yoko geri kekomi |
| Back Kick | Ushiro geri |
| Roundhouse Kick | Mawashi geri |
| Crescent Kick | Mikazuki geri |
| Double Jump Kick | Nihon tobi geri |
Punching & Striking Techniques
| Punches - Tzuki | Strikes - Uchi |
| English | Japanese/Okinawan | English | Japanese/Okinawan |
| Rising Punch | Age tzuki | Elbow Strike | Empi uchi |
| Reverse Punch | Gyaku tzuki | Downward Strike | Gedan uchi |
| Straight Punch | Seiken tzuki | Ridge-hand Strike | Ha-ito uchi |
| Lunge Punch | Oi tzuki | Strike with Knee | Hittsui uchi |
| Side Punch | Tate tzuki | One Finger Spearhand | Ippon nukite |
| | Two Finger Spear | Nihon nukite |
| | Front Elbow Strike | Mae empi uchi |
| | Uppercut Strike | Seiken jodan uchi |
| | Palm-Heel Strike | Shotei |
| | Hammer Fist Strike | Tettsui uchi |
| | Backfist Strike | Uraken uchi |
| | Backfist to Solar Plexus | Uraken chudan |
| | Lower Backfist Strike | Uraken gedan barai |
| | Inverted Backfist Strike | Uraken shomen uchi |
| | Rear Elbow Strike | Ushiro empi uchi |
| | Side Elbow Strike | Yoko empi uchi |
Blocking Techniques: Block - Uke
| Block - Uke |
| English | Japanese/Okinawan |
| Rising Block | Age uke |
| Downward Block | Gedan uke |
| Knife Hand Block | Shuto uke |
| Crescent Block | Mikazuki uke |
| Union Block | Soe uke |
| X-Block | Juji uke |
| Inside/Outside Block | |
| Outside/Inside Block | |
| Palm Heel Block | Shotei uke |
General Terms
| Japanese/Okinawan | English |
| Bunkai | Study of techniques and applications |
| Dan | Blackbelt Grade |
| Hombu Dojo | The central dojo of an organization |
| Ippon | One point |
| Jodan | Upper area |
| Kamae (kah-mai) | Posturing or distancing |
| Ki | Mind, Spirit, Energy |
| Ki-ai | A shout focusing all of one's energy into a single movement |
| Kihon | Fundamental or basic |
| Kime | Focus |
| Kuzushi | Breaking Balance |
| Kyu | Grade- Rank below blackbelt |
| Kyusho | Attack of vital points |
| Makiwara | Punching board |
| Mudanshu | One who does not hold a blackbelt rank |
| Nihon | Two point |
| Obi | Belt |
| Sensei | One who has gone before, teacher |
| Shiai | Contest or Match |
| Sinban | Refree |
| Soke | Founder, head of family |
| Tai sabaki | Body movement |
| Tori | Partner Performing a technique |
| Uke | Partner receiving a technique |
| Waza | Technique |
| Yudansha | One who is a blackbelt |
| |
Expressions
| Japanese/Okinawan | English |
| Aswatti | sit |
| Domo arigato gazaimasu | Thank you very much |
| Hai | yes |
| Hajime (ha-jee-may) | begin |
| Kiai | Shout of spirit or energy |
| Keotsuke (kee-oh-tskay) | Attention |
| Ohayo Gozaimasu | Good Morning |
| Kombanwa | Good Evening |
| Konnichiwa | Good Afternoon |
| Matte | Wait |
| Ohayo | Hello |
| Oyasumi Nasai | Good Night |
| Tachi rei | Standing bow |
| Tameshi waza | Breaking Technique |
| Yamae | Stop |
| |
| Mawashi | Round |
| Mikazuki | Crescent |
| Nukite | Spearhand |
| Seiken | Fist |
| Tobi | Jump |
| Tzuki | Punch |
| Uchi | Strike |
| Uke (oo-kay) | Block |
| |
| Dachi | stance |
| Empi | Elbow |
| Geri (Geddy) | Kick |
| Kakato | Heel of foot |
| Keage | Snapping |
| Kekomi | Thrusting |
| Koshi | Ball of the foot or hips |
Directions
| Japanese/Okinawan | English |
| Age | Rising |
| Chudan | Middle Area |
| Gedan | Lower Area |
| Jodan | Upper Area |
| Mae | Front |
| Ushiro | Back |
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