General Terms
| Command | Explanation |
| Aka (Red) | Competitor on the right of judge |
| Ashi | Foot, (or sometimes also leg) |
| Ashi Koti | Switch Sides, change feet |
| Atama | Head |
| Barai | Sweep |
| Bunkai | Analysis |
| Bushido | The way of the warrior |
| Chudan | Middle part of body |
| Dachi | Stance |
| Dojo | Place of Training |
| Embusen Line | The path a Kata follows from start to end |
| Empi | Elbow (also sometimes called Hiji) |
| Gawa | Side |
| Gedan | Lower Part of Body |
| Geri | Kick |
| Chu | Loyalty |
| Gi | Karate Uniform |
| Gi | Japanese term for integrity |
| Go no sen | To respond to an attack (after the opponet initiates) |
| Hai | Yes |
| Hajime | Start |
| Hantai | Other direction |
| Hidari | Left |
| Hikite | Retracting or Pulling hand (usually with fist facing down and on Obi) |
| Hiza | Knee |
| Ippon | 2 point (decisive) score in kumite competition |
| Irimi | Entering straight |
| Iyeh | No |
| Jin | Compassion |
| Jodan | Upper part of body |
| Kaki wake | Uke (block, in for example Heian Yondan) |
| Karate-do | The karate way |
| Ken | Fist |
| Kiai | Spirited Shout |
| Kime | Focus |
| Mae | Front |
| Matte | Wait |
| Mawa-te | Turn around |
| Migi | Right |
| Mokuso | Meditate |
| Mo Ichido | Once again (repeat) |
| Moto No Ichi | Original Position (return to orginal standing position) |
| Obi | Belt |
| Oss | Respect |
| Otagai Ni Rei | Bow to all – bow to each other |
| Rei | Bow |
| Rei | Japanese term for respect |
| Ren Geri | Consecutive kicking |
| Sabaki | Defensive move,ment – evasion / dodging |
| Sen no sen | Anticipate an attack, and take the intitative (defend first) |
| Sensei | Teacher |
| Sensei Ni Rei | Teacher we bow |
| Sensen no Sen | Anticipate an attack, before the attack |
| Seiretsu | Line up |
| Seiza | Kneeling sitting position |
| Shiro (white) | Competitor on left of judge |
| Shomen Ni Rei | Bow to the front – bow to seniors |
| Soku | Foot |
| Te | Hand |
| Uchi | Strike |
| Ude | Forearm |
| Waza | Technique |
| Waza-ari | 1/2 point score in kumite competition |
| Yoi | Ready |
| Yuki | Courage |
| Yamae | Stop |
| Yasumi | Relax |
| Zanchin | Mental Clarity, vigilance |
| Zenshin | Come forward (judge sensei invites student to the mat) |
| Zuki | Punch |
Numbers in Japanese
| Number | English | Japanese |
| 1 | One | Ichi |
| 2 | Two | Ni |
| 3 | Three | San |
| 4 | Four | Shi |
| 5 | Five | Go |
| 6 | Six | Roku |
| 7 | Seven | Shichi |
| 8 | Eight | Hachi |
| 9 | Nine | Ku |
| 10 | Ten | Jyu |
Stances (Dachi)
| Stance | Notes |
| Fudo Dachi | Rooted Stance |
| Haiji Dachi | Feet sholuder width, toes slighly inward |
| Han Zenkutsu Dachi | Half, (slightly higer) Zenkutsu Dachi |
| Heiko Dachi | Ready Position – feet shoulder width |
| Heisoku Dachi | Feet together |
| Kiba Dachi | Horse Stance – wide (2* shoulder width and with feet forward) |
| Kokutsu Dachi | Back Stance, rear leg bent, foot @ 45, front slight bend, majority of weight on rear – typically a defensive stance |
| Kosa Dachi | Cross stance, front foot & rear behind at 45 on toes |
| Masubi Dachi | Heels together feet to 45 degrees outwards |
| Neko Ashi Dachi | Cat Stance |
| Sanchin Dachi | Hourglass stance, taller stance with toes inward, front in line with back heel |
| Shiko Dachi | Horse Stance (feet with toes at 45 degrees outward) |
| Shizen-tai | Natural stance – see Heiko Dachi |
| Zenkutsu Dachi | Front Stance front leg bent, rear pushing with post weight on front – typically an attacking stance |
Strikes (Zuki – Sometimes Tzuki)
| Strike | Note |
| Choku Zuki | Straight Punch |
| Empi | Elbow strike |
| Gyaka Zuki | Reverse Punch |
| Kagi Zuke | Rounded (crescent) punch |
| Kizama Zuki | Jab |
| Nukite | Spear hand strike |
| Oi Zuki | Lunge Punch |
| Shuto | Knife hand (and be strike or block) |
| Tetsui | Hammer punch |
| Uraken | Back Fist |
| Ura Zuki | Upper cut |
Blocks (Uke)
| Block | Notes |
| Age Uke | Rising Block |
| Gedan Barai | Low Block |
| Haito Uchi | Reverse knife hand block |
| Juji Uke | X Block (both hands crossed) |
| Kake Wake | Similar to Uchi, with elbow tight, and splayed forearm |
| Morote Uke | Augmented block |
| Osae Uke | Rotation of bent arm, accross and in front of body, downwards (usually with hand open, accompanied by Nukite) |
| Shuto | Knife hand block |
| Soto Uke | Inwards block |
| Teisho | Pushing with palm of hand (usually forwards) |
| Uchi Uke | Outwards block |
Kicks (Geri)
| Kick | Notes |
| Ashi Barai | Sweeping kick |
| Fumakomi | Stamping kick |
| Hiza Geri | Knee strike |
| Keage | Snap kick |
| Kekomi | Thrusting kick |
| Mae Geri | Front kick |
| Mawashi Geri | Round kick |
| Mikazuki | Cresecent kick |
| Ushiro | Backwards kick |
Kata
| Kata | Translation |
| Heian Shodan | Peaceful Mind – First level |
| Heian Nidan | Peaceful Mind – Second level |
| Heian Sandan | Peaceful Mind – Third level |
| Heian Yondan | Peaceful Mind – Fourth level |
| Heian Godan | Peaceful Mind – Fifth level |
| Bassai Dai | Storming the fortress |
| Empi | Flight of the Swallow |
| Jion | Compassion |
| Kankuu Dai | Observe the emptiness |
| Jitte | Ten hands |
| Hangetsu | Half Moon |
| Tekki Nidan | Iron Horse first level |
| Tekki Sandan | Iron Horse second level |
| Nijuushiho | Twenty four steps |
| Gankuku | The bird on a rock |
| Sochin | Strength and control |
| Bassai Sho | Destroying the fortress |
| Kankuu Sho | Observing the sky |
| Unsu | Cloud hands |
| Gojuushisho | Fifty four steps |
| Meikyo | Bright mirror |
| Ji’in | Compassion and shadows |
| Chinte | Rare hands |
| Wankan | Kings crown |