The spread of karate from Okinawa, which is now part of Japan, has meant that the terms and signs come from the Japanese language. There are translations for the karate terms, but the knowledge of the names in the original language is a condition for training and exams. At the latest, if you want to learn from a trainer who comes from Japan, for example, the German names of the techniques will no longer help you.
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For some terms there are different spellings or names in the translation, but the sense of them is usually the same. No one can ask you to learn the entire Japanese language for the training. That would be wasted effort anyway, since you will only need a fraction of it. There are some basic terms that you should gradually internalize. Here is a small, categorical overview of the most important of them.
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General terms and greetings
A few terms that you should have heard before you start your first training. Otherwise, you can of course learn them on the spot.
| Karate | Way of the empty hand |
| Karateka | Karate fighter (from novice to master) |
| Do | The way (in martial arts usually denoting the path of life of the karateka) |
| Dojo | Training room, hall |
| Sensei | Trainer, master |
| Senpai | superior student (by experience) |
| Kohai | subordinate student |
| Kyū | Pupil grade |
| Dan | Master degree |
| Karategi, Gi | Karate suit (pants, jacket and belt) |
| Uwagi | Jacket |
| Zubon | Pants |
| Obi | Belt |
| Narande | form a row |
| Seiza | Kneeling (during greetings and farewells) |
| Shomen ni Rei | Salute to the ancestors |
| Sensei ni Rei | Salutation to the master |
| Otagi ni Rei | Greetings to each other |
| Mokuso | Meditation |
| Mokuso Yame | End mediation |
| Kiritsu | stand up |
Basic terms for training
You will need these designations for your daily training, as the sensei will use these and other karate terms to define the techniques. The numbers are necessary because the techniques are often repeated several times in the group, with the sensei counting aloud.
| Kihon | Basic school |
| Kata | Form, form running |
| Hajime | Start |
| Yame | End |
| Bunkai | Analysis of a Kata |
| Yoi | Prepare |
| Kamae | Fighting stance |
| Mawate | Turn |
| Kiai | Fighting cry |
| Jodan | Attack zone head and neck |
| Chudan | Attack zone neck to belt |
| Gedan | Attack zone belt to knee |
| Hikite | pulling back a fist to the hip |
| Kime | Tightening all muscles at the end point of the technique |
| Ichi | One |
| Ni | Two |
| San | Three |
| Shi | Four |
| Go | Five |
| Roku | Six |
| Shichi | Seven |
| Hachi | Eight |
| Kyu | Nine |
| Ju | Ten |
Terms for fighting techniques
These karate terms and techniques are needed very often. You should therefore also learn them in the first weeks of your training.
| Zuki | straight fist punch |
| Uke | Block |
| Age | Upward |
| Ushiro | backward |
| Soto | outside |
| Uchi | inside |
| Mae | to the front |
| Dachi | Stance, foot position |
| Zenkutsu-Dachi | Forward inclined stance |
| Kokutsu-dachi | Backward inclined stance |
| Kiba-Dachi | Riding stance |
| Oi-Zuki | equilateral fist strike with lunge (front leg and same arm) |
| Gyaku-Zuki | opposite fist punch with lunge |
| Kizami Zuki | Bouncing kick |
| Empi-Uchi | Elbow strike |
| Gedan-Barai | Low block |
| Age-Uke | Upward block |
| Uchi-Ude-Uke | Forearm block from inside to outside |
| Soto-Ude-Uke | Forearm block from outside to inside |
| Shuto-Uke | Hand edge block |
| Mae-geri | Forward kick |
| Yoko-Geri | Side kick |
| Mawashi geri | Half circle kick |
| Ushiro-geri | Backward kick |
Basic terms for practice fights
These terms are less interesting if you are a beginner. They become more important when you are approaching your first exam or want to participate in a competition.
| Bogu-Kumite | Full contact form with full protective equipment |
| Randori | playful practice fight |
| Gohon-Kumite | Five-step fight |
| Sanbon-Kumite | Three-step fight |
| Kihon-Ippon-Kumite | basic one-step fight |
| Jiyu-Ippon-Kumite | free one-step fight |
| Kime-Waza | decisive counter technique |
| Sun-Dome | Braking the movement before the hit |
| Shiai | Tournament |
| Shushin | Referee |
| Fukushin | Referee |
| Aka | red |
| Ao | blue |
| Shiro | white |
| Shiro no kachi | Victory for white |
| Ippon | Point |
| Wazaari | half point |
| Ai uchi | simultaneous attack |
| Atatta | too hard hit |
| Kiken | Abandonment |
| Shikkaku | Disqualification |
| Hikiwake | Draw |
| Moto no ichi | Back to the starting position |
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