Karate Terms

The following is a list of Japanese terms commonly used in karate training. Some of these terms are used at the Academy of Traditional Karate, though many more are included for reference. The typical pronunciations and English meanings are given, along with a kanji representation where available. These are not presented as the literal translations, but rather how the terms are generally used in karate training. They have been researched and compiled from a rich variety of sources across the web.

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Kazu (Numbers)

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Tachikata (Stances)

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Tachikata	tah-chee kah-tah	立方	Stances (lit. Standing Methods)
Tachi, -dachi	tah-chee, dah-chee	立ち	Stance
Fudo-dachi, Sochin-dachi, Sanchin-dachi	foo-doe dah-chee, san-chin dah-chee	不動立 三戦立	Immovable Stance, Hourglass Stance (lit. three-battles stance)
Genkaku-dachi Tsuri-ashi-dachi Sagi-ashi-dachi	ghen-kah-koo dah-chee tsoo-ree ah-she dah-chee sah-gee ah-she dah-chee	厳鶴立 鶴足立 鷺足立	Rigid Crane Stance Crane Leg Stance Heron Leg Stance
Heiko-dachi	hay-koh dah-chee	平行立	Parallel Stance
Heisoku-dachi	hay-sow-koo dah-chee	閉足立	Closed-foot Stance
Iaigoshi-dachi	ee-ai go-she dah-chee	居合腰立	Kneeling Stance
Ippon-ashi-dachi	ee-pohn ah-she-dah-chee	一本足立	One-leg Stance
Kamae	kah-mah-eh	構え	Fighting Posture, Take a Stance
Kiba-dachi Naihanchi-dachi	key-bah dah-chee nai-han-chee dah-chee	騎馬立	Horse Riding Stance
Kokutsu-dachi	koe-koo-tsu dah-chee	後屈立	Back-leg-bent Stance (lit. back-ducking Stance)
Kosa-dachi	koe-sah dah-chee	交差立	Cross-leg Stance
Kumite-dachi Moro-ashi-dachi Moto-dachi	koo-mih-tay dah-chee moh-row ah-she da-hchee moh-tow dah-chee	組手立	Fighting Stance
Musubi-dachi	moo-sue-be dah-chee	結立	Heels Together Stance (lit. tying-together Stance)
Naname Zenkutsu-dachi	nah-nah-may zen-koo-tsue dah-chee	斜め前屈立	Slanted Front-leg-bent Stance (lit. Diagonal Front-ducking Stance)
Nekoashi-dachi	neh-koh ah-she-dah-chee	貓足立	Cat Stance
Seisan-dachi	say-san dah-chee	十三立	Forward Stance
Seiza	say-zah	正座	Sit/Kneel Quietly
Shiko-dachi Jigotai-dachi	she-koe dah-chee jih-go-tie dah-chee	四股立	Wide Open-leg Stance
Shizentai-dachi	shih-zen-tie dah-chee	自然体立	Natural Stance
Soto-Hachiji-dachi	soh-toh-hah-chee-jee dah-chee	外八時立	Open Natural Stance (feet point outward (外) at same angle as character for eight, 八)
Zenkutsu-dachi	zen-koo-tsue dah-chee	前屈立	Front-leg-bent Stance (lit. Front-ducking Stance)

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Ukekata (Blocking Methods)

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Ukekata	oo-kay kah-tah	受方	Blocking Methods
Uke	oo-kay	受	Block
Chudan-soto-mawashi-uke	chew-dahn so-toe mah-wah-she oo-kay	中段外回し受	Middle Sideward Round Block
Chudan-yoko-uke	chew-dahn yoh-koh oo-kay	中段横受	Middle Sideward Block
Chudan-soto-uke	chew-dahn so-toe oo-kay	中段外受	Middle Outward Bock
Chudan-uchi-uke	chew-dahn oo-chee oo-kay	中段内受	Middle Inward Block
Gedan-barai Gedan-uke Hari-uke	geh-dahn bah-rye geh-dahn oo-kay hah-rae oo-kay	下段払い 下段受 払受	Lower Sweeping Block Lower Level Block Sweeping Block
Gedan-yoko-barai-uke	geh-dahn yoh-koh bah-rye oo-kay	下段横払受	Lower Sideward Sweeping Block
Haito-uke	hai-toh oo-kay	背刀受	Reverse Knife-hand Block
Hangetsu-barai-uke	hahn-geh-tsue bah-rye oo-kay	半月払受	Half-moon Sweeping Block
Hasami-uke	hah-sah-me oo-kay	鋏受	Scissor Block
Hazushi-uke	hah-zoo-she oo-kay	外受	Removing Block
Hiji-uke	he-jee oo-kay	肘受	Elbow Block
Jodan-uke Age-uke	joh-dahn oo-kay ah-gay oo-kay	上段受 上げ受	Upper Level Block Rising Block
Kosa-uke	koe-sah oo-kay	交差受	Cross Block
Magetori-barai-uke	mah-geh-toh-ree bah-rye oo-kay	髷取 払受	Rising Double Knife-hand Block (lit. Grabbing the Topknot Block)
Makite-uke	mah-key-teh oo-kay	巻手受	Winding Knife-hand Block
Morote-barai-uke	moh-row-teh bah-rye oo-kay	諸手払受	Augmented Lower Block
Morote-soe-uke	moh-row-teh so-eh oo-kay	諸手添受	Augmented Forearm Block, Wedge Block
Otoshi-uke	oh-toe-she oo-kay	落受	Dropping Block
Sagurite-uke	sah-gu-ree-teh oo-kay	探手受	Searching-hand Block
Sasae-uke	sah-sa-eh oo-kay	支受	Supported Forearm Block
Sayu-barai-uke	sah-yoo bah-rye oo-kay	左右払受	Double Sweeping Block (lit. Left-right Sweeping Block)
Shotei-uke	show-tay oo-kay	掌底受	Palm Heel Block
Shuto-uke	shoe-toe oo-kay	手刀受	Knife Hand Block
Torite-uke	toh-ree-teh oo-kay	捕手受	Grasping-hand Block
Wari-uke	wah-rhee oo-kay	割受	Split Block

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Semekata (Attacking Methods)

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Semekata	seh-meh kah-tah	攻方	Attacking Methods
Seiken-waza	say-ken-wah-zah	正拳技	Fist Techniques
Tsuki, -zuki	tsoo-key, zoo-key	突	Punch (lit. Thrust)
Age-zuki	ah-gay-zoo-key	上げ突	Rising Punch
Chudan-zuki	choo-dahn zoo-key	中段突	Middle Level Punch
Gedan-zuki	gey-dahn zoo-key	下段突	Lower Level Punch
Gyaku-zuki	gya-koo zoo-key	逆突	Reverse Punch
Hiraken-zuki	He-rah-ken zoo-key	四本拳突	Flat Fore Knuckle Punch
Ippon-ken	ee-pohn-ken	一本拳	One Knuckle Fist
Jodan-zuki	joe-dahn zoo-key	上段突	Upper Level Punch
Kaku-zuki	kah-koo zoo-key	角突	Square Punch
Kakushi-zuki	kah-koo-shee zoo-key	隠し突	Hidden Fist Punch
Morote-zuki Awase-zuki	moh-row-tay zoo-key Ah-wah-say zoo-key	諸手突 合突	Augmented Punch
Naka-daka Ippon-ken	nah-kah-dah-kah-ee-pohn-ken	一本拳中高	Middle One Knuckle Fist
Oi-zuki	oy-zoo-key	追突	Lunge Punch, Chasing Punch
Sayu-zuki	sah-yoo zoo-key	左右突	Double Side Punch
Seiken-zuki	say-ken zoo-key	正拳突	Proper Fist, Straight Fist, (Front 2 Knuckle Punch)
Tomoe-zuki	toh-mo-eh zoo-key	巴突	Circular Block and Punch
Wari-uke-zuki	wah-ree oo-kay zoo-key	割受突	Split-block Punch
Yubi-waza	yoo-bee wah-zah	指技	Finger Techniques
Morote-nuki-zuki	moh-row-tay new-key zoo-key	諸手貫突	Double Spear-hand Thrust
Nukite-zuki	new-key-tay zoo-key	貫手突	Spear-hand Thrust
Shi-zuki Toride-zuki	she zoo-key toh-ree-day zoo-key	鶏口突 鳥手突	Chicken Beak Thrust Bird Hand Strike
Uchi-waza	oo-chee wah-zah	打ち技	Striking Techniques
Haito-uchi	hi-tow oo-chee	背刀 打	Reverse Knife-hand Strike
Kentsui-uchi Tettsui-uchi	ken-tsu-ee oo-chee, te-tzoo-ee oo-chee	拳槌打 鉄槌打	Hammer-fist Strike Iron Hammer Strike
Kumade-uchi	koo-mah-day	熊手打	Bear Hand (Tiger Claw)
Kyobu-morote-shuto-uchi	key-oh-boo moh-row-tay shoo-tow oo-chee	胸部諸手手刀打	Double Knife-hand Strike (to the chest area)
Kyobu-shuto-uchi	key-oh-boo shoo-tow oo-chee	胸部手刀打	Knife-hand Strike (to the chest area)
Kyobu-soete-shuto-uchi	key-oh-boo soh-eh-tay shoo-tow oo-chee	胸部添手手刀打	Augmented Knife-hand Strike (to the chest area)
Oya-yubi Ippon-ken	oiyah-yoo-bee ee-pohn ken	親指一本拳	Thumb Fist (Thumb Knuckle)
Shuto-uchi	shoo-tow oo-chee	手刀打	Knife-hand Strike
Uraken-uchi	oo-ra-ken oo-chee	裏拳打	Backfist Strike
Ate-waza	ah-tay wah-zah	当技	Smashing Techniques
Hiji-ate Empi Uchi	hee-jee-ah-tay em-pee oo-chee	肘当 猿臂打	Elbow Smash Elbow Strike
Hiza-ate	hee-zah-ah-tay	膝当	Knee Smash
Sasae-hiji-ate	sah-sa-eh hee-jee ah-tay	支肘当	Supported Elbow Smash
Shotei-ate Teisho	show-tay-ah-tay tay-show	掌底当 底掌	Palm Heal Smash
Tate-hiji-ate	tah-tay hee-jee ah-tay	縦肘当	Upward Elbow Smash
Ushiro-hiji-ate	oo-shee-row hee-jee ah-tay	後肘当	Backward Elbow Smash
Yoko-hiji-ate	yoh-koh hee-jee ah-tay	横肘当	Side Elbow Smash

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Kerikata (Kicking Methods)

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Keri, -geri	keh-ree, geh-ree	蹴	Kick
Ashi-barai	ah-she bah-rye	足払	Leg Sweep
Fukubu-geri	foo-koo-boo geh-ree	腹蹴	Abdomen Kick
Hiza-geri	hee-zah geh-ree	膝蹴	Knee Kick
Keri-age, Keage	keh-ree-ah-gay, key-ah-gay	蹴上	Snap Kick, Rising Kick
Keri-komi, Kekomi	keh-ree-koh-mee, key-ko-mee	蹴込	Thrust Kick
Kinteki-geri	keen-teh-key geh-ree	金的蹴	Groin Kick (lit. Gold-like Kick!)
Kyobu-geri	key-oh-boo geh-ree	胸部蹴	Chest Area Kick
Mae-geri	my-geh-ree	前蹴	Front Kick
Mae-geri-kakato	my-geh-ree kah-kah-toe	前蹴踵	Front Kick with the Heel
Mawashi-geri	mah-wah-she-geh-ree	廻蹴	Round-house Kick with Top of Foot
Mikazuki-geri	mee-kah-zoo-key geh-ree	三日月蹴	Crescent Kick (lit. Three Days Moon Kick)
Nidan-geri Maetobi-geri	nee-dahn geh-ree my-toh-bee geh-ree	二段蹴 前飛蹴	Flying Front Kick, Two-level Kick Flying Front Kick
Tsumasaki-geri	tsoo-mah-sah-key-geh-ree	爪先蹴	Toe Kick
Ushiro-geri	oo-she-row-geh-ree	後蹴	Back Kick
Ura mawashi-geri	oo-rah mah-wah-she geh-ree	裏廻蹴	Back Roundhouse Kick
Yoko-geri Sokuto-geri	yoh-koh-geh-ree soh-koo-tow geh-ree	横蹴 足刀蹴	Side Kick Foot-edge Kick

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Kata (Forms)

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Kata	kah-tah	型 or 形	Form
Matsubayashi-ryu Kata (Shotokan-ryu Kata)	maht-soo-by-ashi roo kah-tah (show-toh-kahn roo kah-tah)	松林流型 松涛館型	Pine Forest Style Form (Shotokan Style Form)
Fujikata/Fukyukata Dai Ichi	foo-jee-kah-tah die-eech	普及型第一	First Basic (common) Form
Fujikata/Fukyukata Dai Ni	foo-jee-kah-tah die-nee	普及型第二	Second Basic (common) Form
Pinan Shodan (Heian Shodan*)	pee-nahn sho-dahn	平安初段	First Peace Form (*Heian is mainland Japanese Shotokan pronunciation. Pinan is Okinawan)
Pinan Nidan (Heian Nidan)	pee-nahn nee-dahn	平安二段	Second Peace Form
Pinan Sandan (Heian Sandan)	pee-nahn san-dahn	平安三段	Second Peace Form
Pinan Yondan (Heian Yondan)	pee-nahn yon-dahn	平安四段	Fourth Peace Form
Pinan Godan (Heian Godan)	pee-nahn go-dahn	平安五段	Fifth Peace Form
Niahanchi Shodan (Tekki Shodan)	nai-han-chee  sho-dahn tek-key sho-dahn	內步進初段 鉄騎初段	First Inner-stepping Form (First Iron Horse Form)
Niahanchi Nidan (Tekki Nidan)	nai-han-chee  nee-dahn tek-key nee-dahn	內步進二段 鉄騎二段	Second Inner-stepping Form (Second Iron Horse Form)
Niahanchi Sandan (Tekki Sandan)	nai-han-chee  san-dahn tek-key san-dahn	內步進三段 鉄騎三段	Third Inner-stepping Form (Third Iron Horse Form)
Ananku	ahn-ahn-koo	安南空	Name of a visting monk from China Light from the South Peace from the South
Rohai (Meikyo)	row-high	鷺牌 明鏡	White Heron or Bird on a Rock (Bright Mirror)
Wankan (Matsukaze)	whan-kahn	王冠 松風	Kings Crown Pine Tree Wind
Wanshu, Wangshu (Empi/Enpi)	whan-shoo	腕秀, 汪楫 燕飛	Excellent Wrist, Wang’s Series (Flying Swallow)
Passai (Bassai)	pah-sigh	拔塞, 拔砦	To Storm a Fortress
Gojushiho	go-jew-shi-hoe	五十四步	54 Steps
Chinto (Gankaku)	chin-toe	鎭東 岩鶴	Fighter to the East (Crane on a Rock)
Kusanku, Kushanku (Kanku-dai)	koo-san-koo	公相君 觀空大	Name of a visting monk from China (Gazing Heavenward)
Goju-ryu Kata	goh-joo roo	剛柔流型	Hard/Soft Style Form
Gekisai	gek-ee-sigh	撃砕	Attack and Destroy
Saifa	sigh-fah	砕破	Smash and Tear
Sanchin	san-chin	三戦	Three Battles
Tensho	ten-sho	転掌	Revolving Hands
Seiunchin	say-oon-chin	制引戦	Pull into Battle
Shisochin	she-so-chin	四向鎮	Fight in Four Directions
Sanseiru	san-say-roo	三十六手	36 Hands
Seipai	say-pie	十八手	18 Hands
Kururunfa	koo-roo-roon-fa	久留頓破	Holding on and Striking Suddenly
Seisan	say-san	十三手	13 Hands
Suparinpei	soo-par-en-pay	壱百零八	108 Hands
Shotokan Kata	show-toh-kahn roo kah-tah	松涛館型	Shotokan Style Form (other than those listed above in Matsubayashi ryu)
Dai Nihon Tenno Kata	die-nee-hohn ten-noh kah-tah	大日本天の形	Great Heavenly Japanese Karate Form
Taikyoku	tie-kyo-koo	太極	Great Pole
Ji’in	jee-in	慈陰	Inverted Mercy
Jion	jee-on	慈恩	Mercy
Jitte	jee-tay	十手	Ten Hands
Hangetsu	hahn-get-soo	半月	Half Moon
Nijushiho	nee-joo-she-hoe	二十四歩	24 Steps
Chinte	chin-tay	珍手	Rare Hand or Unusual Hand
Sochin	so-chin	壯鎭	Tranquil Force or Preserve the Peace
Unsu	oon-soo	雲手	Cloud Hands

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Commands & Phrases

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Arigato Gozaimasu	ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mas	ありがとうございます	Thank You Very Much
Do Itashimas’te	doh-ee-tash-ee-ma-she-tay	どういたしまして	You’re Welcome
Hajime	hah-jee-may	始め	Begin
Karate ni Sente Nashi	kah-rah-tay nee sen-tay nah-she	空手に先手なし	There is no first attack in karate.
Kawate	kah-wah-tay	川手	On Guard
Ki o tsuke	key-oat-skay	気を付け	Attention! Stand up straight!
Matte	mah-tay	待って	Wait
Mawatte	mah-wah-tay	回って	Turn Around
Mokuso	moh-koo-soh	黙想	Quiet Meditation
Mouichido	moh-eech-ee-do	もう一度	Once More, Again
Onegai Shimasu	oh-neh-guy-she-mas	お願いします	Please (Teach Me)
Otagai ni	oh-tah-gah-ee nee	お互いに	Toward Each Other
Otagai ni Rei	oh-tah-gah-ee nee ray	お互いに礼	Bow to Each Other
Otagai ni Taishi	oh-tah-gah-ee nee ta(i)-sh(e)	お互いに対し	Face Each Other
Rei	ray	礼	Bow with Respect
Sensei ni Rey	sen-say nee ray	先生に礼	Bow to the Teacher
Sensei ni Taishi	sen-say nee ta(i)-sh(e)	先生に対し	Face the Teacher
Shomen ni Rei	shoh-men ni ray	正面に礼	Bow to the Front
Shomen ni Taishi	shoh-men nee ta(i)-sh(e)	正面に対し	Face the Front
Shugo	shoo-go	集合	Line Up, Gather together
Yame	yah-may	止め	Stop
Yoi	yoy	用意	Ready, Attention

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Parts of the Body

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Ago	ah-goh	顎	Chin, Jaw
Ashi	ah-she	足	Foot and/or Leg
Atama	ah-tah-mah	頭	Head
Hana	hah-nah	鼻	Nose
haisoku	hai-sow-koo	背足	Reverse Foot (Instep)
Hiji, Empi	hee-jee, em-pee	肘, 猿臂	Elbow
Hiza	he-zah	膝	Knee
Kakato	kah-kah-toe	踵	Heel
Karada/shin-, -mi	kah-rah-dah/ shin-, -mi	体, 身	Body, prefix/suffix for Body
Ken	ken	拳	Fist
Koshi Josokutei zenzoku	koh-shee joh-soh-koo-tay zen-zoh-koo	中足 上足底 前足	Middle Foot (Ball of Foot) Raised Sole Ball of Foot
Koshi	koh-she	腰	Hips
Kubi	koo-bee	首	Neck
Me	meh	目	Eye
Mune	moo-neh	胸	Chest
Nodo	noh-doe	咽, 喉	Throat
Shinkei	shin-keh	神経	Nerve
Soku	soh-koo	足	Foot
Sokutei	soh-koo-tay	足底	Sole of the Foot
Sokuto	soh-koo-toe	足刀	Foot Blade, Foot Edge
Suigetsu	soo-ee-geh-tsoo	水月	Solar Plexus (lit. Water Moon)
Sune	su-nay	脛	Shin
Te	tay	手	Hand
Tekubi	tay-koo-bee	手首	Wrist
Ude	oo-day	腕	Forearm
Wanto	wahn-tow	腕刀	Sword Arm (Side of forearm)
Yubi	yoo-bee	指	Finger

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Miscellaneous Terms

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Ashi Sabaki	ah-shi-sa-bak-ee	足さばき	Footwork
Atemi	ah-teh-me	当身	Strike (Often to distract)
Barai	bah-rye	払い	Sweep
Bunkai	boon-kai	分解	Analysis (lit. picking apart)
Bushido Budo	boo-she-doh boo-doh	武士道 武道	The Way of the Warrior Martial Arts
Dai Ichi	die-eech	第一	The First
Deshi	deh-she	弟子	Student, Pupil
Dojo	doe-joe	道場	Place to Learn the Way
Gi	ghee	着	Karate Uniform
Goshin Jutsu	go-shin ju-tsoo	護身術	Self Defense Techniques
Hai	hi	はい	Yes
Hidari	hee-dah-ree	左	Left
Iie	ee-yay	いいえ	No
Jiyu Kumite	jee-yu koo-meh-tay	自由組手	Freestyle Sparring
Kamiza	kah-me-zah	上座	Seat of Honor, Shrine
Karateka	kah-rah-tay-kah	空手家	Karate Student
Kiai	key-eye	気合	Spirit Yell
Kihon	key-hon	基本	Basics
Kokyu Ho	koh-kyu how	呼吸法	Breathing Methods
Koudansha	cow-dan-shah	高段者	A High Level Black Belt
Kumite	koo-meh-tay	組手	Sparring
Makiwara	mah-key-wah-rah	巻藁	Striking Board
Migi	mee-gee	右	Right
Mudansha	moo-dan-shah	無段者	One Who is not a Black Belt
Obi	oh-bee	帯	Karate Belt
Shiai	she-eye	試合	Sparring Match
Tai Sabaki	tie-sa-bak-ee	体捌き	Defensive Body Movement
Tameshi Wari	tah-meh-she wah-rhee	試割り	Breaking (Boards, Bricks, etc.)
Te Sabaki	tay-sa-bak-ee	手さばき	Handwork
Uke	ooh-kay	受け	Person who “receives” a technique
Waza	wah-zah	技	Technique
Yakusoku Kumite	yah-k(oo)-soh-koo koo-meh-tay	約束組手	Pre-arranged Sparring
Yuudansha	you-dan-shah	有段者	One Who is a Black Belt

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Tournament Terms

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Shiai	shee-eye	試合	Tournament
Aiuchi	eye-oo-chee	相打ち	Simultaneous strike
Aka	ah-kah	赤	Red
Hansoku Chui	han-so-koo choo-ee	反則注意	Foul Warning (Point awarded to opponent)
Ippon	ee-pon	一本	One Point
Jogai	joe-guy	除外	Out of the Ring (Exclusion)
Moto no Ichi	moh-toh no eech	元の位	Starting Position
Mubobi	moo-bow-bee	無防備	Failing to Defend Yourself
(aka/shiro) no Kachi	no kach	の勝ち	(Red/White) Wins!
Sanbon Kumite	sahn-bon koo-meh-tay	三本組手	Three-point Sparring Match
Shikkaku	she-kah-koo	失格	Disqualification
Shiro	she-row	白	White
Torimasen	toh-ree-mah-sen	取りません	No Point
Waza-ari	wah-zah-ah-ree	技あり	Half Point

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Ranks & Titles

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Kyu	kyew	級	Ranks below Black Belt
Mukyu	moo-kyew	無級	No Level (Red Belt)
Jukyu	joo-kyew	十級	Tenth Level (White Belt)
Kukyu	koo-kyew	九級	Ninth Level (Orange Belt)
Hachikyu	hach-kyew	八級	Eigth Level (Gold Belt)
Nanakyu	nah-nah-kyew	七級	Seventh Level (Purple Belt)
Rokyu	roh-kyew	六級	Sixth Level (Green/White Stripe Belt)
Gokyu	go-kyew	五級	Fifth Level (Green Belt)
Yonkyu	yohn-kyew	四級	Fourth Level (Blue Belt)
Sankyu	san-kyew	三級	Third Level (Brown Belt)
Nikyu	nee-kyew	二級	Second Level (Brown/1 Black Tip Belt)
Ikkyu	eek-kyew	一級	First Level (Brown/2 Black Tip Belt)
Dan	dahn	段	Ranks of Black Belt
Shodan-So	show-dahn so	初段補	Probationary Jr. Black Belt
Shodan-Ho	show-dahn hoe	初段補	Probationary First Degree Black Belt
Shodan	show-dahn	初段	First Degree Black Belt
Nidan	nee-dahn	二段	Second Degree Black Belt
Sandan	san-dahn	三段	Third Degree Black Belt
Yondan	yohn-dahn	四段	Fourth Degree Black Belt
Godan	go-dahn	五段	Fifth Degree Black Belt
Rokudan	rohk-oo-dahn	六段	Sixth Degree Black Belt
Nanadan	nah-nah-dahn	七段	Seventh Degree Black Belt
Hachidan	ha-chee-dahn	八段	Eighth Degree Black Belt
Kudan	koo-dahn	九段	Ninth Degree Black Belt
Judan	joo-dahn	十段	Tenth Degree Black Belt
Joshu-Shoban	joh-shoo show-bahn	助手初版	Junior First Degree Black Belt
Shidokan Kyoiku Shogo	she-doh-kahn key-oh-ee-kuh show-go	士道館教育称号	Shidokan Teaching Titles
Shidoin	she-doyn	指導員	Assistant Instructor
Sempai, Senpai	sehm-pie	先輩	Senior Student
Sensei	sehn-say	先生	Teacher
Renshi	rehn-she	錬士	Senior Teacher
Shihan	she-han	師範	Teacher of Teachers
Kyoshi	kyoh-she	教士	Expert Teacher
Hanshi	hahn-she	範士	Master Teacher
Sonohoka Shogo	sohn-o-hoe-ka show-go	称号	Other Titles
Shidoshi	she-doh-she	指導師	Dojo Manager

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Martial Arts Styles

Japanese	Phonetic	Kanji	English
Ryu	roo	流	Style or School
Aikido	eye-key-doh	合気道	The way of harmony, a Japanese martial art
Goju-ryu	goh-joo roo	剛柔流	Hard/Soft Style from Naha-te Okinawan karate
Iaido	eye-ay-doh	居合道	The Japanese art of drawing the sword
Isshin-ryu	ish-in roo	一心流	“The One Heart Way” style from the strengths of Shorin-ryu & Goju-ryu Okinawan karate
Judo	joo-doh	柔道	The gentle way, a Japanese martial art
Ju-jutsu, Ju-jitsu	joo-jut-soo	柔術	The gentle art, self defence
Karate-do	kah-rah-tay-doh	空手道	The Way of the Empty Hand
Kempo, Kenpo	kem-poh, ken-poh	拳法	Fist principles, an Okinawan karate style
Kendo	ken-doh	剣道	The way of the sword, a Japanese martial art
Kobudo	koh-boo-doh	古武道	Old martial way. A weapons martial art
Kung-fu	kung-foo	功夫	Chinese martial arts
Matsubayashi-ryu	maht-soo-by-ashi roo	松林流	Pine Forest Style of Okinawan Shorin-ryu karate
Naha-te	nah-hah-tay	那覇手	One of the two main original Okinawan karate styles
Shiatsu	she-ah-tsoo	指圧	Meridian Massage
Shito-ryu	she-toh roo	糸東流	Combination of Naha-te & Shuri-te Okinawan karate
Shorin-ryu	show-rin roo	小林流	Little Forest Style from Shuri-te Okinawan Karate
Shotokan	show-toh-kahn	松涛館	Sports Style of Japanese Karate (Pine Waves House)
Shuri-ryu	shur-ee ryu	首里流	Okinawan/american style of karate
Shuri-te	shur-ee tay	首里手	One of the two main original Okinawan karate styles
Taekwon-do	tay-kwon-doh	テコンドー	Korean Martial Art with an emphasis on kicks
Uechi-ryu	ee-chee roo	上地流	Way of Uechi, a Kung fu flavored Okinawan karate style
Wado-ryu	wah-doh roo	和道流	A Japanase style of Karate

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