Miscellaneous

About Karate

Karate is a martial art from Japan and literally means "empty hand" in Japanese. It's heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism as karate involves self-restraint and introspection (meditation). Shotokan karate was developed by Master Gichin Funakoshi in modern day Okinawa, and was introduced to the rest of Japan in 1922. It quickly gained popularity and the Japan Karate Association (JKA) was established in 1948 by Funakoshi's students.

During sessions we practice the standards of training and competition set by the JKA:
 

  • Kihon (fundamentals): Correct breathing, form, stances, movement, spirit and attitude.
  • Kumite (meeting of hands): Includes structured and free sparring. It is about overcoming fear and accepting the possibility of pain while showing respect for your opponent. To help realize one's strengths and weaknesses.
  • Kata (form): Choreographed sequence of forms based on kihon: "meditation in motion"/ "moving Zen". To demonstrate control and good form and to simulate the movement of a fight.

Karate Terminology

Japanese English                  
Numbers     Stances     Arm techniques     Blocks  
ichi one   zenkutsu dachi front stance   tsuki punch   age uke  rising block
ni two   hachiji dachi natural stance   oi zuki stepping punch   soto uke outside block
san three   kokutsu dachi back stance   gyaku zuki  reverse punch   gedan barai downward block
shi/yon/yo four   kiba dachi horse stance   kizami zuki  jab punch   uchi uke  inside block
go five   sochin dachi immovable stance   nukite  spear hand   shuto uke knife hand block
roku six   neko ashi dachi cat stance   ura ken backfist   kakiwake uke  two-handed separating block
shichi/nana seven   shizen tai ready stance   enpi    elbow strike      
hachi eight                  
kyu/ku nine                  
juu ten                  
                     
Leg Techniques     Sparring     Misc terms        
keri kick   jo dan head level   kiai fighting spirit/yell      
mae geri front snap kick   chuu dan middle/stomach level   kime decision focus      
mawashi geri roundhouse kick   ge dan lower level   rei bow      
yoko kekomi geri side thrust kick   gohon kumite five-step sparring   yoi get ready      
yoko keage geri side snap kick   sanbon kumite three-step sparring   yasume at ease/relax      
ushiro geri back kick   ippon kumite one-step sparring   mawatte turn      
      jiyuu kumite free sparring   hajime begin      
            seiza kneeling position      
            mokuso meditation