builtByNOF
Karate Dictionary

                                           RANK

                  KYU: Grade - A rank designation for under black belt.

                      DAN: Degree - A rank designation for first to tenth degree black belt.

                      YUDANSHA: Black belt holder - A title designating rank of first to tenth degree black belt.

                                                                                                                                                                        MUDANSHA: Kyu Grade - Colour Belt Grade              

                                                      POSITION

                      DESHI: Disciple or trainee - A student regardless of rank.

                      KOHAI: Junior - A beginning student.

                      SENPAI: Senior - A title given to brown belts if no black belts are present.

                  SENSEI: Teacher or instructor - A black belt qualified to teach.

                  SHIHAN: Master teacher - Instructor of very high rank, sixth degree or above.

                                               TITLE (Not all receive titles)

                      TASHI: Expert - A third or fourth degree black belt.

                      RENSHI: Polished expert - A fifth or sixth degree black belt.

                      KYOSHI: Expert instructor - A sixth or seventh degree black belt.

                      HANSHI: Master - A respected master of eighth to tenth degree black belt.

                                                      HONOURS

                      O'SENSEI: Great instructor - Highest master within a system.

                      KAICHO: Master of the house - Senior master of a system.

                      MEIJIN: Expert - One who has mastered an art beyond the boundaries of physical prowess.

                      MENKYO-KAIDEN: A certificate of full proficiency in a Japanese martial art.

                                                  ORDER OF RANKS

                      Beginner - white belt

                      Rokkyu, 6th kyu - yellow belt

                      Gokyu, 5th kyu - blue belt

                      Yonkyu, 4th kyu - purple belt

                      Sankyu, 3rd kyu - green belt (3rd)

                      Nikyu, 2nd kyu - brown belt (2nd)

                      Ikkyu, 1st kyu - brown belt (1st)

                      BLACK BELTS

                      Shodan, 1st degree

                      Nidan, 2nd degree

                      Sandan, 3rd degree

                      Yodan, 4th degree

                      Godan, 5th degree

                      Rokudan, 6th degree

                      Shichidan, 7th degree

                      Hachidan, 8th degree

                      Kudan, 9th degree

                      Judan, 10th degree

                                             WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

                      Chudan: Middle level

                      Chui: Warning

                      Deshi: Disciple, trainee

                      Dojo: Training hall; gymnasium

                      Gedan: Lower level

                      Hajime: Start

                      Jodan: Upper level

                      Kata: Fixed sequence of techniques practiced alone

                      Karate Gi: Karate uniform

                      Kiai: Method of shouting peculiar to Japanese martial arts

                      Kihon: Basic training

                      Kihon-Kumite: Basic prearranged sparring

                      Kime: Focusing concentration and power

                      Kumite: Sparring

                      Ma-ai: Distancing

                      Mawate: Turn around, or about face

                      Makiwara: Punching board

                      Osu: Form of greeting peculiar to karatekas in Japan

                      Seito: Pupil, student

                      Shiai: Contest

                      Shobu: Match

                      Shomen: Place for dignitaries

                      Yame: Stop

                      Yoi: Get ready

                                            JAPANESE NUMBERS (up to 10)

                      Ichi, 1

                      Ni, 2

                      San, 3

                      Shi, 4

                      Go, 5

                      Roku, 6

                      Shichi, 7

                      Hachi, 8

                      Ku (Kyu), 9

                      Ju (Jyu), 10

                                              TECHNIQUES & STANCES

                      DACHI: STANCE

                      Fudo-dachi: Rooted stance

                      Heisuko-dachi: Informal Attention stance

                      Jiyu-dachi: Free-fighting stance

                      Kiba-dachi: Straddle leg stance; aka "Horse stance"

                      Kokutsu-dachi: Back stance

                      Mae-dachi: Front stance

                      Niko Ashi-dachi: Cat stance

                      Sanchin-dachi: Hour-glass stance

                      Zenkutsu-dachi: Forward stance

                      TSUKI-WAZA: PUNCHING TECHNIQUES

                      Age-zuki: Rising punch

                      Awase-zuki: U punch

                      Choku-zuki: Straight punch

                      Gyaku-zuki: Reverse punch

                      Kagi-zuki: Hook punch

                      Kizami-zuki: Jab

                      Mawashi-zuki: Roundhouse punch

                      Oi-zuki: Lunge punch

                      Tate-zuki: Vertical fist punch

                      Teisho-zuki: Palm-heel punch

                      Ura-zuki: Close punch

                     KERI-WAZA: KICKING TECHNIQUES

                      Fumikomi: Stamping kick

                      Gyaku mawashi-geri: Reverse roundhouse kick

                      Mae-geri keage: Front snap kick

                      Mae-geri kekomi: Front thrust kick

                      Mae-tobi-geri: Jumping front kick

                      Mawashi-geri: Roundhouse kick

                      Mikazuki-geri: Crescent kick

                      Ushiro-geri keage: Back snap kick

                      Ushiro-geri kekomi: Back thrust kick

                      Yoko-geri keage: Side snap kick

                      Yoko-geri kekomi: Side thrust kick

                      Yoko-tobi-geri: Jumping side kick

                   UCHI-WAZA: STRIKING TECHNIQUES

                   Empi-uchi: Elbow strike

                       Mawashi empi-uchi: Roundhouse elbow strike

                       Otoshi empi-uchi: Downward elbow strike

                       Ushiro empi-uchi: Rear elbow strike

                       Yoko empi-uchi: Side elbow strike

                       Haishu-uchi: Back hand strike

                       Haito-uchi: Ridge hand strike

                       Koko-uchi: Tiger mouth hand strike

                       Shuto-uchi: Knife hand strike

 

 

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