Terminology for Kyokushin Karate

General Terminology

• Character: The combination of traits which form the individual nature of a person, including moral quality, integrity, and the development of personal potential. In karatedo, character progresses through the development of the physical, mental, and spiritual.
• Dogi: Karate Uniform
• Dojo: Place of practice
• Extreme Limit: Pertains to the spirit of technique; the sixth sense
• Gi: Karate jacket and pants
• Hombo: Headquarters
• Karatedo:
• Karateka: Student of karate
• Ki: Inner energy
• Kiai: Concentrated shout displaying a "joining of inner energy". Usually used in one of the following contexts: 1) To show spirit, 2) To help take a punch, 3) To help give a punch, 4) To give an element of surprise.
• Kohai: Advanced student who assists in instruction. Typically an advanced Brown Belt.
• Mental: The thought process (thinking, learning, reasoning).
• Obi: Belt
• Osu: Greeting, Term of Respect, and commonly used to indicate "yes, I understand"
• Physical: Development of endurance and musculature.
• Sempai: Senior. Sempai are essentially senior Kohi and are usually either shodan or nidan. They have learned and are relatively proficient with many of karate's physical movements. Having a firm understanding of karate's underlying philosophies, the title of Sempai signifies the ending of preliminary training and the beginning of advanced karate. It necessitates not only a dedication of one's own development, but dedication to that of the junior Kohai.
• Sensei: Instructor. Title indicates "those who have experienced it before". Sensei are instructors of the art should also "live the art". Sensei are usually sandan or above.
• Shihan: Senior Instructor. Shihans have demonstrated life-long interest in and commitment to the art of karate. Shihans are expected to live the art and be originators and sources of development for karatedo. Shihans are godan and above.
• Sosai: Means president. Title adopted by Mas Oyama in the mid 1980's.
• Spiritual: One's ongoing involvement in seeking meaning and purpose in human existence. It includes a deep appreciation for the depth and expanse of life and natural forces that exist in the universe.
• Ryu: School
• Tsuru: Crane

Training Class Terminology

• Hai: Yes
• Hajime: Start;Go
• Ibuki: Forced Tension (Yang) Breathing
• Kamaete: On Guard; Take Position
• Kata: Forms
• Kihon: Basics
• Kime: Focus
• Kumite: Sparring
• Ippon Kumite: One Step Sparring
• Nihon Kumite: Two Step Sparring
• Sanpon Kumite: Three Step Sparring
• Jiyu Kumite: Free Sparring
• Jis: Sen Kumite: Full Contact; No Holds Barred
• Mi-ai: The distance between opponents
• Mawatte: Turn Around
• Mokuso: Meditation. Practice often begins or ends with a brief period of meditation. The purpose of meditation is to clear one's mind. Perhaps more importantly, meditation is an opportunity to become aware of conditioned patterns of thought and behavior so that such patterns can be modified, eliminated or more efficiently put to use.
• Naore: Return To Start
• Osu: I Understand; Term Of Respect And Acknowledgment
• Rei: Bow
• Seiza: Kneeling Position
• Tsuki: Punch
• Uchi: Strike
• Yame: Stop, Finish
• Yasume: Rest; At Ease
• Yoi: Ready

 Directions

• Mea: Front
• Ushiro: Back
• Migi: Right
• Hidari: Left
• Naname: Diagonally
• Shomen: Front
• Sayu: Side

 Body Weapons

• Hands and Arms
• Empi: Elbow
• Haisho: Backhand
• Haito: Inner knife hand
• Hiji: Elbow
• Hiraken: Flat fist
• Hitosashiyubi: Forefinger
• Ippon-Ken: Knuckle fist
• Ippon Nukite: Single finger spearhand
• Keiko: Chicken beak hand
• Kobushi: Fist
• Koken: Wrist top
• Kote: Forearm
• Nakayubi: Middle finger
• Nihon-Ken: Two knuckle fist
• Nihon-Nukite: Two finger spearhand
• Nukite: Spearhand
• Seiken: Forefist
• Shotei: Palm heel
• Shuto: Knifehand
• Tettsui: Bottom fist
• Toho: Sword peak hand
• Uraken: Backfist
• Legs and Feet
• Chusoku: Ball of foot
• Haisoku: Instep
• Hiza: Knee
• Kakato: Heel
• Sokuto: Foot edge
• Sune: Shin
• Teisoku: Arch of foot

 Anatomy

• Jodan: Upper level, Neck and Above
• Chudan: Middle level, Chest and Torso
• Gedan: Lower level, Groin and Below 
• Head & Neck
  • Ago: Chin
  • Hana: Nose
  • Atama: Head
  • Kao: Face
  • Gammen: Face
  • Kubi: Neck
  • Kuchi: Mouth
  • Me: Eye(S)
  • Mimi: Ear(S)
  • Nodo: Throat
• Torso
  • Hara: Stomach,Abdomen
  • Hizo: Spleen
  • Kata: Shoulder
  • Kintama: Testicles, Groin
  • Koshi: Hips
  • Mizo-Ochi: Solar Plexus
  • Mune: Chest
  • Rokkostu: Rib(S)
  • Sakostu: Clavicle
  • Senaka: Back
  • Shinzo: Heart
  • Sokei: Groin
• Arms
  • Hiji: Elbow
  • Kansetsu: Joint(Any)
  • Kobushi: Fist
  • Kote: Forearm(Topside)
  • Te: Hand
  • Tekubi: Wrist
  • Ude: Arm
  • Yubi: Finger(S)
• Legs
  • Ashi: Foot,Leg
  • Ashikubi: Ankle
  • Ashiyubi: Toe(S)
  • Futo-Mom: Thigh(S)
  • Hiza: Knees
  • Kahanshin: Lower Body
  • Kansetsu: Joint(Any)
  • Sune: Shin(S)
  • Tsumasaki: Tips Of The Toes

 Japanese Numbers 1-100

Kanji & Kyokushin Symbols