East Coast Wado Karate Club
Martial Arts Club serving Sackville, Bedford and Hammonds Plains, NS
Wado Ryu Glossary
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Pronunciation Guide
A – as in father I – as in ink U – as in flute E – as in bed O – as in oatmeal |
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BUSHIDO – The Way of the warrior
CHINTO – Kata named after a Chinese sailor. Also a stance (see below).
CHUDAN – Middle or middle level. For example, a middle level punch is generally aimed at the solar plexus but can be anywhere below the shoulders and above the waist.
DACHI – From tachi meaning stance. See list of stances below.
DAN – One who has attained the Black belt ranking. Also known as yudansha.
DO – Way. Indicates a path to be followed in life as in Karatedo, the Way of the empty hand.
DOJO – Place for studying the Way.
EMPI – Elbow. Also known as hiji.
GAIWAN – Outside of the forearm. Used for blocking as in Sotouke.
GEDAN – Low or lower level. Generally means below the waist.
KERI – From keri meaning kick as in maegeri. See list of kicks below.
HAJIME – Begin
HIDARI – Left.
HIJI – Elbow. Also known as empi.
HIKITE – Pulling hand. Action taken by the non-striking hand to add power to a technique. May also be used to block or pull an opponent off balance.
HITSUI – Knee. Also known as hiza.
IPPON – One or one step
JODAN – Upper or upper level. Generally indicates the area above the shoulders.
KAMAE – From gamae meaning posture.
KATA – prearranged sequence of techniques making up the foundation of a particular style of karate.
KERI – Kick. See list of kicks below.
KI – This term does not translate easily. Ki is the same as the Chinese word chi which some believe is a bioelectric force that flows through the body along pathways called meridians in the same manner as the blood flows through the arteries and veins. Some believe it is your spirit or mental intention.
KIAI – Literally “spirit harmony.” This is the brief moment in executing waza that the body, mind and spirit are in perfect harmony often demonstrated by tensing the abdominal muscles forcing air over the vocal cords resulting in the “karate shout.”.
KIHON – Basic or standard.
KIOTSUKE – Attention. Command to stand in the attention stance, musubi dachi.
KOHAI – Junior. One who is less senior to another. Opposite of sempai.
KOSHI – Pelvic carriage. The pelvis and surrounding structures. Indicates the hip area.
KUMITE – Fighting as in ippon kumite (one-step fighting) or jiyu kumite (free fighting).
KUSHANKU – Kata named after a Chinese government official.
KUZUSHI – The unbalancing of an opponent either physically (as in a foot sweep), mentally (as in stepping on an opponent’s foot before punching to distract him), or spiritually (as in a fierce kiai just before an opponent attacks to “drain” his fighting spirit).
KYU – Indicates a student who is not ranked as a black belt (dan). Also known as mudansha.
MAAI – Combative engagement distance. Distance between opponents.
MAE – Front
MATTE – Stop. Command to stop.
MAWATTE – Turn around. Command to turn around.
MIGI – Right.
MOKUSO – Meditation. Command to meditate.
MUDANSHA – kyu ranks
MUSHIN – No mind. State of mind where there is no conscious thought.
NAIHANCHI – Kata whose name translated can mean “fighting on the dikes between rice paddies” or “inside fighting.”
NAIWAN – Inside of the forearm. Used for blocking as in Uchiuke.
NAOREI – Return to musubi dachi and rei.
NUKITE – Fingertip thrust strike as in ippon nukite (index finger thrust) or yonhan nukite (four finger thrust).
OBI – Belt. Used to indicate the rank of the wearer. Mudansha (kyu ranks) wear colored belts. Yudansha (dan ranks) wear black belts.
PINAN – “Peace and tranquillity.” Name of the group of 5 kata Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yondan, and Pinan Godan.
REI – Bow
RYU – Style or school of karate.
SEIKEN – Fist
SEIKEN ZUKI – Fist punch
SEIRETSU – Line up. Command to line up.
SEISAN – Literally “thirteen.” A kata practiced in Wado Ryu.
SEIZA – Kneeling posture. Command to kneel.
SEMPAI – Senior. One who is senior to another. Opposite of kohai.
SENSEI – Literally “one who has gone before.” Refers to the teacher of a class. Also used as a title for one who has attained Sandan rank (third degree black belt).
TACHI – stance. See list of stances below.
TACHI REI – Standing bow.
TAE UKE – Position of the arms where one arm is across the chest, palm down and parallel to the ground and the other arm is pulled back beside the chest palm up.
TAISABAKI – Body movement or shifting. Method of moving the body to a more advantageous position for a counter attack. Used in conjunction with ashisabaki (foot movement) and koshisabaki (hip movement).
TATE – Vertical as in tate zuki (vertical fist punch).
TOBI – Jump or leap.
TORRE – Attacker
TSUKI – Thrust or punch. See below.
TSUKURI – Creating an opening in your defense to draw the opponent into attacking this “weakness.” This allows you to respond with a specific counterattack.
UKE – Receiver, defender or block. See list of blocking techniques below.
URA – Back or reverse.
USHIRO – Backwards.
WADO RYU – “Way of Peace style” or “Way of Harmony style.” Emblem is the Kanji character Wa (peace or harmony) surrounded by the wings of a dove (also a peace symbol).
WAZA – technique. For example, keriwaza are kicking techniques
YAME – Stop. Command to return to ready position.
YOI – Prepare. Command to move to ready position.
YUDANSHA – black belts
ZANSHIN – State of mind where one is fully aware and alert.
ZAREI – Kneeling bow
ZUKI – From tsuki meaning punch or thrust. See list of punches below.
Basic Terminology
Below is an unsorted list of some terminology used in our classes. This is in no way a complete list, nor is it finished. Please let me know if you have any others we should add.
Class Terminology
SHUGO – Line up
SEIZA – Kneel (Formal sitting position)
MOKUSO — Meditation. Command to Meditate.
REI — Bow
SHOMEN-NI – Face the Front
SENSEI-NI — Face the Sensei
SEMPAI-NI — Face the Senior Students who are instructing
OTAGAI-NI — Face the front, symbolizing faceing your fellow students
KIRITSU — Stand up from seiza
KIYOTSUKE – Stand at attention, Toes apart, heels together. (Musubi Dachi)
MAWATTE — Command to turn
MAWARI — Turn
TORI — Attacker
UKE — Defender
YAME (or MATTE)— Stop
HAJIME — Start or Begin
Basics Terminology
BUNKAI — Kata Applications
DACHI (or TACHI) — Stance
KERI — Kick
HIKITE — Pulling Hand. Action taken by the non-striking hand to add power to a technique. May also be used to pull an opponent off balance.
KATA — Forms. Prearranged sequence of techniques making up the foundation of a particular style of Karate.
KIHON — Basic or Standard.
KUMITE — Sparring, Fighting as in ippon kumite (one step fighting) or jiyu kumite (free fighting).
UKE — Block
UCHI — Strike
UKE — Block
UKEMI — Falling (Break falls)
ZUKI — Punch
Positional Terminology
KAMAE — From gamae, meaning posture.
MAE — Front
USHIRO — Back
YOKO — Side
HIDARI — Left
MIGI – Right
JODAN — Upper or High Generally indicated the area above the shoulders.
CHUDAN — Middle or middle level. For Example, a middle level punch is generally aimed at the solar plexus, but can be anywhere below the shoulders and above the waist.
GEDAN — Low or Lower level. Generally meaning below the waist.
GYAKU — Reverse
MAWASHI — Round or spinning
TOBI — Jumping
SOTO — Outer
UCHI — Inner
SHIME — Contracting
MAAI — Combative engagement distance. The distance between opponents.
Class Terminology
SHUGO – Line up
SEIZA – Kneel (Formal sitting position)
MOKUSO — Meditation. Command to Meditate.
REI — Bow
SHOMEN-NI – Face the Front
SENSEI-NI — Face the Sensei
SEMPAI-NI — Face the Senior Students who are instructing
OTAGAI-NI — Face the front, symbolizing faceing your fellow students
KIRITSU — Stand up from seiza
KIYOTSUKE – Stand at attention, Toes apart, heels together. (Musubi Dachi)
MAWATTE — Command to turn
MAWARI — Turn
TORI — Attacker
UKE — Defender
YAME (or MATTE)— Stop
HAJIME — Start or Begin
Basics Terminology
BUNKAI — Kata Applications
DACHI (or TACHI) — Stance
KERI — Kick
HIKITE — Pulling Hand. Action taken by the non-striking hand to add power to a technique. May also be used to pull an opponent off balance.
KATA — Forms. Prearranged sequence of techniques making up the foundation of a particular style of Karate.
KIHON — Basic or Standard.
KUMITE — Sparring, Fighting as in ippon kumite (one step fighting) or jiyu kumite (free fighting).
UKE — Block
UCHI — Strike
UKE — Block
UKEMI — Falling (Break falls)
ZUKI — Punch
Positional Terminology
KAMAE — From gamae, meaning posture.
MAE — Front
USHIRO — Back
YOKO — Side
HIDARI — Left
MIGI – Right
JODAN — Upper or High Generally indicated the area above the shoulders.
CHUDAN — Middle or middle level. For Example, a middle level punch is generally aimed at the solar plexus, but can be anywhere below the shoulders and above the waist.
GEDAN — Low or Lower level. Generally meaning below the waist.
GYAKU — Reverse
MAWASHI — Round or spinning
TOBI — Jumping
SOTO — Outer
UCHI — Inner
SHIME — Contracting
MAAI — Combative engagement distance. The distance between opponents.
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Body Terminology
EMPI — Elbow, Also known as hiji. HITSUI (or HIZA) — Knee. HEITO — Edge of Hand, thumb side (ridge hand) GAIWAN — Outside of the forearm; used for blocking Sotouke. SHUTO — Edge of hand, pinky finger side (knife edge) TEISHO — Palm HAISHU — Backhand URAKAN — Back Fist TETTSUI — Hammer Fist IPPON — Pointing finger knuckle, also meaning one or one step. NAKATAKA-IPPON – Middle finger knuckle NUKITE — Piercing Hand (Spear Hand) |
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Stances
