Glossary of Japanese Terms

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Age Tsuki	Rising Punch
Age Uke	Rising Block (Upper Block)
Arigato Guzaimasu	Thank You.
Ashi Barai	Foot/Leg Sweep
Ate Waza	Smashing Technique
Bo	Staff
Bunkai	Application, explanation, or analysis of technique.
Chudan	Middle Area
Dachi	Stance
Dachi Waza	Stepping Technique
Dan	"Man" Rank. Black belt rank.
Do	"The Way" - a school of thought or direction in life.
Dojo	"Way Place" - Training hall or karate school.
Domo Arigato Guzaimasu	Thank You (formal).
Dozo	Please (implies an action, i.e. - please be seated).
Empi	Elbow
Fudo Dachi	Free Stance
Gedan	Lower Area
Gedan Barai	Downward Striking Block
Geri Waza	Kicking Technique
Gi	Karate Uniform
Go	Hard or the number Five
Goju Ryu Karate-do	The Way of Hard and Soft, Empty-Handed Technique
Gyaku	Reverse, also Back or Trailing
Gyuku Tsuki	Reverse Punch
Hachiji Dachi	Natural Stance
Hai	Yes
Haito	Ridge Hand
Han Zenkutsu Dachi	Half Front Stance
Haraiotoshi Uke	Downward Sweeping Block
Harai Sho Uke	Archer Palm Block
Heiko Dachi	Parallel Stance
Heisoku Dachi	Closed Foot Stance (formal attention stance)
Hidari	Left
Hiji	Elbow
Hajime	Start or Begin
Hanshi	Chief Grand Master Instructor
Himetsu	Secret or Hidden
Ibuki	Breathing with tension.
Ippon (Nippon, Sanbon...)	One Point (Two Points, Three...)
Ippon Kumite	One Point Sparring
Iie	No
Joge Uke	Middle-Lower Block
Ju	Soft or the number Ten
Jiyu Kumite	Freestyle Sparring
Jodan	Upper Area
Kakato	Heel
Kake Uke	Wrist Hook Block
Kakuto Uke	Crane Head Block
Kamae	Posture
Karate	Empty Hand
Karate-do	The Way of the Empty Hand
Kata	Form or Formal Exercise
Kiba Dachi	Horse (Riding) Stance
Kihon	Basic Techniques (i.e. - blocks, strikes, kicks)
Kihonido	Basic Techniques with Linear Movement
Kime	Focus
Kobu-do	The study of traditional weapons.
Kohai	Junior Student (lower rank)
Kokutsu Dachi	Back Stance
Kokyu Donto	Respiration
Kubi Uchi	Swinging Arm Strike
Kuchi Waza	Mouthing Technique
Kumite	Sparring or Fighting
Kun	School creed. Also, bo or staff.
Kyoshi	Grand Master Instructor
Kyu	"Boy" Rank. Beginner level rank.
Ma Te	"Listen" or "Attention here"
Migi	Right
Musubi Dachi	Knot Shaped Stance (informal attention stance)
Mo Ichi Do	"One More Time"
Mokuso	Meditation
Mushin	No Mind
Mushin no Shin	The Mind of No Mind
Neko Ashi Dachi	Cat Foot Stance
Noalte	Finish or formal closing.
No	Of
Obi	Belt
Onegai Shimasu	Asking for a favor (i.e. - Please teach me).
Osae Uke	Press Block
O-Sensei	The founder of a particular style of karate-do.
Rei	Bow, salutation.
Renshi	Senior Instructor
Ryu	Technique (refers to a style of karate-do).
Sagi Ashi Dachi	Heron Foot Stance
Seiza	Meditation Posture
Sempai	Senior Student (higher rank) or Assistant Instructor
Sensei	Guide, Instructor, Teacher, One Who Has Gone Before
Shiai	Contest or Tournament
Shigata Gai Ni	You're Welcome.
Shihan	Master Instructor
Surretsu	Line Up
Tanden	Lower Abdomen
Ta Te (Ken Tsuki)	Chinese Punch
Tae Kiyoko	Compass Points (a preparation for kata).
Te	Hand
Tsukete	Resume or Start Again
Tsuki Waza	Punching Technique
Uchi Waza	Striking Technique
Ude Uke	Forearm Block
Uke Waza	Blocking Technique
Ush	Yes (usually used only in karate).
Waza	Technique (refers to a group of techniques, such as "blocks").
Yakusoku Kumite	Prearranged Sparring
Yame	Stop
Yoi	Ready
Yoko Geri	Side Kick
Yoko Uke	Middle Block
Zanshin	Fighting Spirit
Zenkutsu Dachi	Front Bent Leg Stance

Notes on the Japanese Language:

The Japanese language has no sound for the letters L and V. Instead, R and B are often substituted when pronouncing non-Japanese words.
The English letters Q and X represent compound sounds - kw and ks, respectively. Since Japanese uses a totally different alphabet, Japanese words are translated phonetically, using certain pronunciation rules. Because is it a phonetic translation there is no need for Q or X, as they are broken down into their component sounds.
As a general rule, all Japanese words and syllables end in either a vowel or an N. Sometimes, however, the final vowel is not fully pronounced. Thus, "Ichi, Ni, San..." becomes "Ich, Ni, San..."

*Okay, so I really DIDN'T have anything for P. What can I say?