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Japanese is the language which is internationally used in traditional Karate classes.
A complete knowledge of Japanese is definitely NOT necessary as, in the UK, teaching/correction is typically still done in English. That said, Japanese terminology is still generally used to name techniques and when giving some commands, so a basic knowledge of Japanese is always useful. Typically, Japanese is used to only a small extent in beginners’ classes, but is used more frequently in advanced classes, thus giving students a good timescale to pick up the terminology naturally, over a period of time.
Just as travelling to a country and being surrounded by the language is a good way to learn it, it is good practice for students to get used to using Japanese terminology in class, as they soon become more fluid in it with very little extra effort.
Because Japanese is used internationally in Karate classes, a major advantage of learning the basics is that a student can then train or compete anywhere in the world and not feel too out of their depth!
Below is a list of some of the Japanese terminology which is commonly used in Samurai Karate Cornwall’s classes. It is important that students are not overwhelmed by this list; it is included on this site merely as a reference, not with an expectation that students should immediately try to learn it all!:
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At the start of classes
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Seiza
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Kneel
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Mokuso
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Meditate
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Mokuso Yame
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Stop Meditating
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Sensei ni Rei
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Bow to Sensei
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Kiritsu
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Stand Up
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Rei
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Bow
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After warm-ups, under the instruction of the instructor (Sensei) or most senior student, the class typically goes through the same ritual of kneeling down, meditating (mokuso), performing a kneeling bow, standing back up, and performing a standing bow. This is called “Reishiki” (the kneeling bow ceremony).
The purpose of the short period of “meditation” (which typically only lasts for a minute or so, and is performed silently... not with an “ohhhm!” or similar sound as seen in some Kung Fu movies!) is to clear our mind so we can be fully focused on what will take place in the class. There is absolutely no religious meaning attached to mokuso.
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For children, the short period of meditation is ideal for focusing them and getting them to perform to their maximum potential during classes. For adults, it is an ideal way to relax and let the troubles of the day disappear... you may have had a bad day at work, or an argument with somebody; this is the time to forget about it and start afresh.
When performing mediation (mokuso), breathing should be controlled... in through the nose, and out through the mouth.
The “bow to Sensei” command may seem subservient to some, however it should be noted that whilst the students are bowing to their Sensei, the Sensei is also bowing back to the students; a sign of mutual respect. That said, it is considered impolite for a student to either bow less low than his/her Sensei, or to raise his/her head from bowing before Sensei.
Whilst bowing, students and Sensei say the word “Oss” which is a greeting or acknowledgement (generally considered to be a shortened version of the greeting “Ohayo gozaimsu”).
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Stances
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During classes, students may be asked to stand in any one of a number of different stances (dachi). The names of the most commonly used stances are listed below:
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Heisoku Dachi
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Formal Closed Foot Stance (i.e. heels and toes together, hands by side of body)
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Musubi Dachi
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Formal Open Foot Stance (i.e. heels together, toes pointing out at 45 degrees, hands by side of body)
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Heiko Dachi
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Feet Apart (Hip Width), Feet Parallel
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Hachiji Dachi
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Feet Apart (Hip Width), toes pointing out at 45 degrees..
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Yoi
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Ready Position (Parallel Stance), hands out in front of body.
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Uchi-Hachiji Dachi (Niafanchi Dachi)
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Feet Apart (Shoulder Width), toes pointing IN at 45 degrees.
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Zenkutsu Dachi
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Forward-Stance (“Standard Stance)
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Moto Dachi
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Similar to Zenkutsu Dachi, but shorter, and front knee only partially bent.
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Neko Ashi Dachi
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Cat Foot Stance
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Ukiashi Dachi
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Similar to Neko Ashi Dachi, but more upright, and with a loose-floating front foot.
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Kokutsu Dachi
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Looking Back Stance
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Sanshin Dachi
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Hourglass (Inward Tension) Stance
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Shiko Dachi
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Sumo Stance (feet pointing out at 45 degrees)
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Kiba Dachi
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Horse Stance (feet parallel)
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Kosa Dachi
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Hooked Leg Stance (both legs bent, one knee tucked-in behind the other)
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Sagi Ashi Dachi
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Heron Foot Stance (supporting leg straight, the foot of the other leg either resting beside, behind or in front of the knee of the supporting leg)
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Renoji Dachi
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Stance resembling the letter “L”.
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Shizen Dachi
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Natural Stance
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Hand / Arm Strikes
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Zuki / Tsuki
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Punch
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Uchi
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Strike
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To the left is some of the basic general terminology which students will encounter in respect to hand and arm strikes. By combining this terminology with more descriptive, more detailed descriptions of hand / arm techniques can be used, such as those in the following table:
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Jodan Zuki
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Head-Level Punch
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Chudan Zuki
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Mid-Level Punch
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Gedan Zuki
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Low-Level Punch
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Age Zuki
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Rising Punch
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Choku Zuki
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Straight Punch
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Gyaku Zuki
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Opposite Punch (e.g. left leg forwards but punching with the right hand, or vice versa)
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Oi Zuki
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Stepping Punch
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Heiko Zuki
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Parallel Punch
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Kagi Zuki
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Hook Punch
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Kizami Zuki
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Snap / Jab Punch
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Maeken Zuki
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Front Hand Punch
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Mawashi Zuki
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Roundhouse Punch
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Nakadaka Ippon Ken Zuki
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Middle Finger Knuckle Punch
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Nihon Zuki
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Double Punch
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Ura Zuki
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Upper Cut Punch
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Empi Uchi
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Elbow Strike
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Haishu Uchi
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Backhand Strike
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Haito Uchi
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Ridge Hand Strike
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Kote Uchi
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Forearm Strike
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Ko Uchi
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Bent Wrist Strike
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Nukite Uchi
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Spearhand Strike
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Shotei Uchi
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Palm Heel Strike
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Shuto Uchi
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Knife Hand Strike (the Karate chop!)
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Tettsui Uchi
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Hammerfist Strike
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Ura Ken Uchi
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Backfist Strike
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Foot / Leg Strikes
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Kicking strikes (plus some other striking techniques carried out with parts of the leg such as the knee) are called “Geri”. By combining this word with more descriptive terminology, more detailed descriptions of leg striking techniques can be used, such as those in the following table:
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Mae Geri
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Front Kick
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Yoko Geri
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Side Kick
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Mawashi Geri
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Roundhouse Kick
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Ushiro Geri
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Back Kick
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Ura Mawashi Geri
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Back / Reverse Roundhouse Kick
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Ura Yoko Geri
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Spinning Side Kick
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Mikazuki Geri
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Crescent Kick
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Kakato Geri
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Axe Kick
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Hiza Geri
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Knee Strike
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Ashi Barai
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Foot Sweet
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Kin Geri
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Groin Kick
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Fumikomi Geri
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Heel Stamp Kick
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Tobi Geri
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Jumping Kick
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Some styles of Karate have both Keage (snap) and Kekomi (thrust) variations of some kicks such as side kick and front kick. In the style of Shukokai Karate as taught by Sensei Kimura, “front kick” tends to be somewhere between the keage and kekomi front kick used in most other styles of Karate.
Different kicks are performed with different parts of the foot, such as:
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Haisoku
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Instep (as used for roundhouse kick)
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Hiza
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Knee (as used for knee strikes)
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Josokutei
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Ball of the foot (as used for front kick)
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Kakato
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Heel of the foot (as used in back kick and heal stamp kick)
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Sokuto
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Edge / Blade of the foot (as used in side kick)
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Blocks
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Blocks (or “uke” as they are known in Japanese) are defensive techniques used to stop/deflect an attacking technique, thus preventing or reducing injury. Blocks can be performed with the hands, arms, legs or feet. Examples of common blocks include:
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Age Uke
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Rising Block
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Soto Uke
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A block from the inside (centre) of the body, towards the outside of the body.
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Uchi Uke
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A block from the outside of the body, towards the inside (centre) of body.
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Gedan Barai
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A sweeping low level block from the inside (centre) of the body towards the outside of the body.
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Gedan Uchi Barai
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A sweeping low level block from the outside of the body towards the inside (centre) of the body.
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Shuto Uke
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Knife-Hand Block
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Sukui Uke
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Scooping Block
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Ura Uke
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Back-of-Hand Block
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Morote Uke
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Double Forearm (Reinforced) Block
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Juji Uke
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Cross (or “x”) Block
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Shotei Uke
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Palm Heel Block
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Otoshi Uke
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Dropping Forearm Block
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Kake Uke
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Open Hand Hooking Block
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Empi Uke
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Elbow Block
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Hiza Uke
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Knee Block
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Some styles of Karate use the opposite definitions for Soto Uke and Uchi Uke, as they believe that soto (outside) and uchi (inside) refer to the part of the arm that is being used to block, rather than the direction that the arm is taking. This, however, takes little account of the fact that the inside of your arm (when your arm is hanging naturally beside your body) becomes the “outside” of your arm when making a block (since the forearm is twisted when blocking so that the knuckles are facing away from you), and vice versa. There seems to be little convention amongst different styles of Karate (and even within clubs of the same style) on the correct useage of the words “soto” and “uchi” in reference to blocks; fortunately, the most important thing is for a student to be able to block properly!
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Other Useful Terminology
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Ashi o kaete
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Change legs (stance)
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Ashi Tanden
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Leg conditioning
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Atemi
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The art of striking vital points
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Budo
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The martial way or path
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Bushi
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Martial warrior
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Bushido
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The way of the warrior (code of conduct)
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Bunkai
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Applications of kata
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Chudan
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Middle area
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Dan
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A level of competence in the martial arts, above the basic. A Dan grade must be awarded to a karate practitioner before he or she may wear a black belt. In a reputable school, Dan Grades.Black Belts are only awarded when the student has reached a good level of competence, although there is a modern and irresponsible tendency for some martial art schools to award black belts based upon “time served”. The first level of black belt (Shodan) could be seen as graduation from primary school level, with each subsequent black belt being equivalent to graduation from middle school, high school, bachelor degree, masters degree and doctorate level! The black belt is thus seen not so much as an end, but rather as a beginning, a doorway to advanced learning: the individual now "knows how to walk" and may thus begin the "journey."
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Dojo
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Martial arts training place
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Gasshuku
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Martial arts training camp
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Gedan
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Lower area
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Gi
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Karate uniform
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Go
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Hard / Rigid
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Gyaku
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Reverse
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Hara
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Central point of body
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Hajime
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Start / Begin
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Hai
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Yes
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Hidari
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Right
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Honbu Dojo
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Main dojo
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Iie
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No
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Ju
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Soft / Flexible
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Junbi Undo
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Warm-up exercises
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Kamaete
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On-guard
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Kame
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Fighting stance
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Karate
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Empty hand
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Karate-do
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The way of Karate
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Karateka
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A person who practises Karate
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Kata
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A series of pre-determined techniques
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Ki
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Spirit / Energy
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Kiai
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A shout to focus spirit and energy
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Kihon
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Basic techniques
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Kime
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Focus
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Kohai
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Junior Student
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Kyu
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A junior grade in the martial arts. Kyu-level practitioners are, by the Japanese, considered to be “mudansha” (that is, “initiates”, not even students; “mu” literally means “nothing”).
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Mawatte
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Turn around
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Menkyo Kaiden
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Licence of Total Transmission. It is a certificate granted by a school meaning that the recipient has learned everything that the school can teach, and is therefore licensed to pass on all aspects of their training.
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Migi
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Right
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Obi
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Belt
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Ryu
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