- Karate: Empty Hands
- Do: Way
- Karate Do: The Way of Empty Hands
- Karateka: Practitioner of Karate
- Shotokan: “House of Shoto”; “Pine Sea”; pen name of Funakoshi.
- Dojo: School or training room
- Sensei: Teacher
- Sempai: Senior students
- Renshi: Entry Level Master
- Shihan: Master Instructor
- Kyu: Rank (Lower colored belts)
- Dan: Rank (Upper black belts)
- Gi: Uniform
- Obi: Belt
- Hai: Yes
- Iie: No
- Osu: “I understand and will try my best.”
- Kiai: Spirit shout/focus of spiritual energy
- Dozo: Please
- Domo Arigato Gozaimashita: “Thank:you very much”
- Onegai Shimasu: Said to one’s partner when initiating practice.
- Kime: Focus
- Kihon: Fundamentals/Basics
- Kata: Practice form
- Embusen: Floor pattern/lines of a kata
- Bunkai: Application (interpretation) of kata techniques
- Rei: Bow
- Seiretsu: Line up by rank
- Seiza: Meditation position:kneeling
- Mokuso: Meditate/Gather Your Thoughts
- Shomen ni: Face towards the front
- Sensei ni: Face towards the teacher
- Yoi: Ready
- Hajime: Begin
- Yame: Stop
- Mawatte: Turn around
- Mae: Front
- Yoko: Side
- Ushiro: Back
- Mawashi: Round
- Jodan: Head high level
- Chudan: Mid:high level
- Gedan: Low level; Down
- Migi: Right
- Hidari: Left
- Gyaku: Reverse
- Age: Rising
- Uchi: Inner
- Soto: Outer
- Ichi: One
- Ni: Two
- San: Three
- Shi: Four
- Go: Five
- Roku: Six
- Shichi: Seven
- Hachi: Eight
- Ku: Nine
- Ju: Ten
Descriptions of Techniques
- Waza: Technique
- Dachi: Stance
- Tsuki (Zuki): Punch
- Uchi: Strike
- Uke: Block
- Geri: Kick
- Heisoku dachi: Feet Together Stance
- Zenkutsu dachi: Front Stance
- Kokutsu dachi: Back Stance
- Musubi dachi: Formal Attention Stance (feet in a ‘V”)
- Hachiji dachi: Open:legged Stance (Yoi)
- Kiba Dachi – Horse Stance
- Kokutsu Dachi – Back Stance
- Sochin Dachi – Rooted Stance
- Neko Ashi Dachi – Cat Stance
- Kame: Fighting Stance
- Age uke: Rising block
- Gedan barai: Down block
- Soto ude uke: Outside forearm block
- Uchi ude uke: Inside forearm block
- Shuto uke: Knife:hand block
- Morote uke: Augmented block
- Osai uke : Pressing block
- Juji uke: X block
- Heivan uke: square side block
- Theisho: Palm Heel Strike
- Heito: Ridge Hand
- Mae gri: Front kick
- Mawashi geri: Roundhouse kick
- Yoko geri keage: Side snap kick
- Yoko geri kekomi: Side thrust kick
- Ushiro geri: Back thrust kick
- Kin Geri: groin kick
- Kensutsu Geri:
- Ashi Geri: Shin Kick
- Ashi Barai: tapping kick
- Ura Mawashi Geri: Back Roundhouse kick
- Ushiro Udi Mawashi Geri: Spinning reverse roundhouse kick
- Kakato Geri: Axe Kick
- Hiza Geri: Knee strike
- Fumikomi geri: Stomping kick
- Kumite: Sparring/fighting
- Ippon kumite: One:step sparring
- Sanbon kumite: Three:step sparring
- Gohon kumite: Five:step sparring
- Yakusoku kumite: “Promise” premeditated sparring
- Jiyyu kumite: Free sparring