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