Glossary and Terminology

Guide to Japanese Pronunciation
Although the Karate terminology is in Japanese, it is very easy to pronouce if you follow a few simple rules:

In the case of vowels, that is the letters a, e, i, o, u, pronouce them in the following manner (this is the only way they are ever pronouced):

In the case of the double vowel "ei", its pronunciation has no equivalent in standard English, but is to be pronounced as the "ay" is pronounced in words like "nay" in the Yorkshire dialect

In the case of the letter "y", it is never pronounced like the letter "i" as it is often in English in words like "cry", but always pronounced like the "y" in the word "yes"

In the case of the letter "g", it can be pronounced like the letter "g" in "go" and also like the "ng" in the words "bring", "king" and "sing", but never pronounced like the "g" in the word "gentle". With the exception of the words "gedan", "geta" "go", "gohon" and "gyaku", the "g" will be pronounced like "ng".

The other letters in the Karate terminology are pronounced as they are in English.

Glossary of Japanese Words
The following is a table of Japanese words which are commonly used in martial arts, their phonetic pronunciation and the English meaning:

Japanese Word Phonetic Pronunciation English Meaning
Sensei Sen - sei Teacher
Sempai Sem - pai Senior Student
Dojo Do - jo Training Hall
Kiai Kee - ai Yell of Spirit
Hai Hi Yes
Gi Ghee Uniform
Seiza Say - zah Kneel or sit
Rei Ray Bow
Arigato Are - e - ga - toe Thank you
Yasume Ya - sue - may Relax or rest
Yame Ya - may Stop
Mukuso Muk - kuh - so Meditation
Karate Kar - rah - tey Empty Hand
Kumite Coom - i - tay Sparring
Kata Cat - ah Forms
Hidari Ha - dar - ree Left
Migi Mig - ee Right
Shomen-ni Sho - men - nee Front
Jodan Joe - dahn Face level
Chudan Chew - dahn Chest level
Gedan Gay - dahn Low level
Keage Kay - ah - geh Snap
Kekomi Keh - koh - me Thrust
Hajime Hah - ji - me Start
Mawate Ma - wa - teh Turn
Otagai-Ni O - teh - gai - nee Turn and bow
Counting:
ichi itch one
ni knee two
san san three
shi shee four
go goe five
roku rook - u six
shichi shee - see seven
hachi hach - ee eight
ku ku nine
ju ju ten
Stances - "dachi" (dah - chee) is added at the end of each stance:
Hachi ji Hah - chee - gee Open-leg (relax)
Heisoku Hay - so - koo Attention
Zenkutsu Zen - kut - sue Front
Kokutsu Koh - kut - sue Back
Kiba Key - bah Horse riding
Sanchin San - chin Hour glass
Shiko Shee - ko Horse riding (45 degrees)
Musubi Moo - sue - bee Attention (45 degrees)
Neko Ashi Nee - ko ash - ee Cat
Blocks - "uke" (U - key) is added at the end of each block:
Jodan Joe - dahn High Block
Chudan Chew - dahn Middle Block
Soto So - toe Outside to inside
Uchi Oo - chee Inside to outside
Shuto Shoe - toe Knife - hand
Gedan Barai (no uke) Geh - dahn bar - eye Low Block
Punches - "tsuki" (tsue - key) is added at the end of punch:
Oi Oh - ee Lunge
Gyaka Gya - koo Reverse
Yama Yah - mah U - punch
Strikes - "uchi" (U - chee) is added at the end of strike:
Shuto Shoe - toe Knife - hand
Tettsui Tet - Tsue Hammer Fist
Empi Em - pee Elbow
Uraken Er - rah - ken Back - fist
Kicks - "geri" (gary) is added at the end of kick:
Mae Mah - eh Front
Yoko Yoh - koh Side
Mawashi Mah - wah - she Round
Ushiro Oo - she - row Back
Mae - keage Mah - eh kay - ah - geh Front snap
Mae kekomi Mah - eh keh - koh - me Front thrust
Yoko keage Yoh - koh kay - ah - geh Side snap
Yoko kekomi Yoh - koh keh - koh - me Side thrust

More terms??…
Goju-ryu Hard-soft style
Karate-do Empty hand Way
Formal Phrases
Onegai shimasu Please do me the favor (of)
Arigato gozaimasu Thank you
Douzo Here/Please
Shitsure shimasu Excuse me
Mo ichi do/Mo i kai One more time
Seiza Sitting on heels, sitting politely
Mokuso Meditate
Titles
Kancho Head of School (Kimo Sensei)
Sensei Teacher
Yudansha Black belt level students
Sempai Senior
Kohai Junior
Mon-te Other students/Followers
San Mr./Ms. --, polite form of address
Commands
Shugo Formation/Make formation
Kiotsuke Attention
Rei Bow
Yoi Formal position
Arete Present hands/ready position
Kamae ite Come to Kamae
Hajime Begin
Yame Stop
Mawate/Mawashite Turn/Rotate
Kakuji Free timing/By your own count
Geritsu Stand up
Suwate Sit down
Fighting Terms
Kime Focus
Ma-ai Range, engagement distance
Kokyu Breath
Kumite Fight, Contest
Kiso/Yakuso Kumite Pre-arranged fight
Ippon Kumite Single technique fight
Ju Kumite Free fight
Hara/Tanden Center/ Body's balance point
Mune Chest
Se Back
Dojo Place of the Way
Shomen Front of Dojo, symbolic for founder and teachers
Kamidana Shrine
Directions
Mae Front
Ushiro Rear
Migi Right
Hidari Left
Jodan Upper level/Head
Chudan Middle level/Chest
Gedan Lower level/Down
Karada Body
Ashi Foot/leg
Ude Arm
Te Hand
Kote Wrist
Yubi Finger
Ashiyubi Toe
Kansetsu/Kubi Joint
Atama Head
Kubi Neck
Kata Shoulder
Hiji Elbow
Koshi Lower Back
O naka Stomach
Hara/Tanden Center/ Body's balance point
Mune Chest
Se Back
Mei Eye
Mimi Ear
Kihon Waza Basic Techniques
Kamae Fighting/Combat position
Kiai Spirit meeting/Spirit yell
Meisuki Eye punch/keeping eye contact
Dachi Stance
Kihon/Sanchin Basic/Sanchin/Hourglass
Neko ashi Cat Foot
Zenkutsu Long or front
Shiko Low / Straddle
Shizentai Natural
Rei Stance resembling character rei:
Tsuru Crane/One foot
Suki Thrust or Punch
Seiken Power fist/Basic fist
Shuto Knife edge/Chop
Empi/hiji suki Elbow strike
Hiraken Flat fist/2'nd knuckle fist
Gyakuken Opposite fist/Undercut
Kentsui Hammer fist
Uraken Backfist/Snap
Shote Palm strike
Nuki te Knife hand/Fingertip strike
Chukoken Middle knuckle fist
Kekoken/Ipoken One knuckle/Foreknuckle fist
Koken Wrist attack
Keri/geri Kick
Mae Front
Ashi barai Foot sweep
Fumikomi Stamp
Kakuto Heel
Uesokutei Ball of foot
Tsumasaki Toe
Sokuto Edge of the Foot
Kosa geri Inside foot/cross
Ushiro Back
Hiku geri Pulling kick
Hiza geri Knee kick
Kin geri Groin kick
Soto Side
Mikazuki Inside crescent kick with sole of foot
Mawashi Round (Roundhouse)
Kekomi Pushing
Keage Snap/Rising
Ni-dan geri Two-level / Double kick
Uke Defensive/responsive technique
Hiki uke Pulling defense
Kake uke Open/grabbing defense
Ukesuki Block/punch
Ura uke/kaku uke Back/hooking defense
Ko uke Wrist defense
Mawashi uke Turning/Rotating defense
Juji uke Cross block
Yama uke Mountain block
General Techniques
Nage waza Throwing techniques
Kansetsu waza Joint techniques
Osu (to)Push
Hiku (to)Pull
Tobu (to)Jump, to fall
Tsukamau (to)Grab
Otosu (to) Get rid of a grab/to strip
Tatsu (to) Strike
Ukemi Passive/to receive/to roll
Kata Form
Koryu Classical
Sanchin Three battles
Saifa Break and smash
Seiunchin Fight by pulling and controlling
Shisochin Fighting in four directions
Seipai 18 hands
Sanseru 36 hands
Sesan 13 hands
Kurarunfa Hold in place and crush
Suparinpe/Pichurin 108 hands
Tensho Knock down/control with the palms
Toitsu Fukyu Training (Standardization & Dissemination)
Fukyu Dissemination
Geki sai Attacking and tear