Below is a basic glossary of terms and their definitions used in Kyokushin karate.
Below is a basic glossary of terms and their definitions used in Kyokushin karate.

General Concepts

Kanji — represents KyokuShinKai, where Kyoku means absolute, Shin means truth, Kai means organization, together translating as «Organization of Absolute Truth».

 

Kanku — one of the symbols of Kyokushin karate, taken from the kata of the same name, «Kanku.» In this kata, the hands are raised toward the sky and joined at the thumbs and index fingers. The points of the Kanku symbol represent the fingertips, the wide sections on the left and right represent the wrists, and the central circle symbolizes the depth and infinity of the sky. The circle behind the symbol represents continuity and circular motion.

Sosai — the founder of Kyokushin karate, Masutatsu Oyama (1923-1994; the first Kyokushin karate school was opened in Tokyo in 1954).

 

Shihan — a Kyokushin karate master holding 5th dan (black belt with 5 gold stripes) or above.

Sensei — teacher; a Kyokushin karate master holding 3rd or 4th dan (black belt with 3 or 4 gold stripes).

Sempai — senior student or instructor (typically a black belt holder).

Dojo — training hall.

Dan — master grade (black belt).

Kyu — student grade (from 10th to 1st).

Dogi — karate training uniform (often mistakenly called «kimono»).

Osu — a verbal form of greeting, agreement, and acknowledgment.

Technique

Kihon — basic technique (practiced without a partner).

Renraku — technical combinations.

Kata — formal exercise sequence.

Kumite — fighting (sparring).

Yakusoku kumite — pre-arranged sparring without a moving partner, one step at a time.

Sanbon kumite — pre-arranged sparring without a moving partner, three steps at a time.

Jiyu kumite — free sparring.

Nagare — soft breathing (gentle inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth).

Ibuki — power breathing (quick inhale through the nose and forceful exhale through the mouth using lung strength).

Nidan — double repetition.

Sanbon — triple repetition.

Commands

Seiza — kneel down.

Mokuso — close your eyes.

Mokuso yame — open your eyes.

Rei — bow.

Yoi — get ready.

Hajime — begin.

Yame — stop.

Mawatte — turn around.

Hantai — switch (e.g., stance).

Naore — return to the starting position.

Yasume — relax.

Counting

Ichi — one

Ni — two

San — three

Shi — four

Go — five

Roku — six

Shichi — seven

Hachi — eight

Ku — nine

Ju — ten

LEVELS

Jodan — upper level

Chudan — middle level

Gedan — lower level

DIRECTIONS

Age — upward

Oroshi — downward

Mae — forward

Yoko — to the side

Ushiro — backward

Mawashi — circular

Soto — outside to inside

Uchi — inside to outside

Hidari — left

Migi — right

Oi — same-side position

Gyaku — opposite-side position

Mae kosa — front cross-step

Ushiro kosa — rear cross-step

Kaiten — spin over the back

Ura — technique performed with a 360-degree rotation

Striking Surfaces of the Body

Hands:

Seiken — fist (front surface: the knuckles of the index and middle fingers).

Uraken — back of the fist.

Tettsui — bottom of the fist.

Shuto — outer edge of the palm.

Haito — inner edge of the palm.

Shotei — heel of the palm.

Koken — wrist.

Nukite — open hand with four extended fingers.

Hiji — elbow.

Legs:

Chusoku — ball of the foot

Sokuto — outer edge of the foot

Taisoku — inner arch of the foot

Haisoku — instep

Hiza — knee

Ashi — foot

Kakato — heel

Sune — shin

Stances

Yoi dachi — ready stance.

Fudo dachi — heels shoulder-width apart, toes turned outward.

Zenkutsu dachi — front leg bent, rear leg straight.

Uchi hachi dachi — heels shoulder-width apart, toes turned inward.

Musubi dachi — heels together, toes apart.

Kokutsu dachi — rear-weighted stance, front heel off the floor.

Nekoashi dachi — similar to kokutsu dachi but with a shorter distance between the feet.

Sanchin dachi — feet shoulder-width apart and slightly bent, one foot one step ahead of the other, both toes turned inward.

Kiba dachi — feet wider than shoulder-width, knees bent at 90 degrees.

Tsuri ashi dachi — single rear-leg stance.

Moro ashi dachi — feet parallel and shoulder-width apart, one foot one foot-length ahead of the other.

Heisoku dachi — feet together.

Kake ashi dachi — crossed stance with one foot stepping behind or in front;

Kamae-te dachi (kumite dachi) — fighting stance.

Blocks

Jodan uke — upper block.

Soto uke — forearm block from outside to inside.

Uchi uke — forearm block from inside to outside.

Gedan barai — downward sweep.

Mae-Mawashi-Uke — front circular block.

Shuto-Mawashi-Uke — circular block in Shuto position.

Morote uchi uke — inside-to-outside forearm block reinforced by the second hand.

Uchi uke gedan barai — double forearm block.

Hand Strikes

Seiken tsuki — straight punch with the fist

Enkei gyaku tsuki — punch with rotation after a circular block

Tate tsuki — vertical fist punch

Age tsuki — uppercut to the chin

Shita tsuki — hook punch upward to the body

Oroshi tsuki — downward hook punch

Morote tsuki — double punch forward

Yama tsuki — double punch at different levels

Jun tsuki — punch to the side

Shotei uchi — heel-of-palm strike

Yohon nukite — four-finger strike to the throat and solar plexus

Nihon nukite — two-finger strike to the eyes

Hiraken tsuki — strike with the half-clenched knuckles

Hiraken mawashi uchi — circular strike with the half-clenched knuckles to the head

Ryutoken — knuckle strike in «dragon head» position

Toho tsuki — «hook hand» strike to the throat

Ago uchi — snapping strike to the chin

Tettsui oroshi uchi — hammer-fist strike downward

Tettsui kokami uchi — hammer-fist strike to the temple from the side

Tettsui hizo uchi — hammer-fist strike to the ribs from the side

Tettsui yoko uchi — backhand hammer-fist strike to the side

Uraken shomen ganmen uchi — back-fist strike forward

Uraken sayu uchi — back-fist strike to the right and left

Uraken hizo uchi — back-fist strike to the ribs from the side

Uraken mawashi uchi — circular back-fist strike to the head

Shuto sakotsu uchi — knife-hand strike downward to the collarbone

Shuto uchikomi — straight knife-hand strike

Shuto ganmen uchi — knife-hand strike to the side of the head or neck

Shuto hizo uchi — knife-hand strike to the ribs from the side

Shuto yoko uchi — backhand knife-hand strike to the side

Shuto jodan uchi uchi — backhand knife-hand strike forward

Mawashi uchi — circular hook strike

Oyayubi ipponken — circular punch with the thumb-extended one-knuckle fist

Haito uchi — circular strike with the inner edge of the palm

Morote haito uchi — circular strike with both inner edges of the palms

Haishu uchi — backhand strike

Koken uchi — wrist strike

Keiko uchi — fingertip strike to the eye, fingers gathered in a pinch

Mawashi hiji ate — circular elbow strike

Mae hiji ate — forward elbow strike

Age hiji ate — rising elbow strike

Oroshi hiji ate — downward elbow strike

Ushiro hiji ate — rear elbow strike reinforced by the second hand

Kicks

Hiza geri — knee strike

Mawashi hiza geri — circular knee strike

Kin geri — groin kick

Mae geri — front kick

Mae kakato geri — front heel kick

Mae keage — front snap kick

Soto mawashi keage — outward snap kick

Uchi mawashi keage — inward snap kick

Yoko keage — side snap kick

Yoko geri — side kick with the edge of the foot

Kansetsu geri — side kick to the knee joint

Mawashi geri — roundhouse kick

Ushiro geri — back kick

Uchi haisoku geri — diagonal forward kick

Oroshi soto kakato geri — downward strike after an outward circular lift

Oroshi uchi kakato geri — downward strike after an inward circular lift

Kake geri (ura mawashi geri) — reverse roundhouse kick

Ushiro mawashi geri — spinning reverse roundhouse kick (360-degree rotation)

Mae tobi geri — jumping front kick

Nidan tobi geri — double jumping kick at different levels

Yoko tobi geri — jumping side kick

Mawashi tobi geri — jumping roundhouse kick

Ushiro tobi geri — jumping back kick

Ushiro mawashi tobi geri — jumping spinning reverse roundhouse kick

Do mawashi kaiten geri — spinning falling kick