Call Sensei Peter Calver on:

07801 088188

Shotokan Karate Terminology

These pages provide information that will be useful for any student trying to grasp the Japanese terminology of Karate. The terms have been divided into separate topics to make navigation of these  easier, click on the tabs below and the directory of terms underneath will change to that topic.

BLOCKS
PUNCHES
KICKS
STANCES
STRIKES

STANCES

FUDO DACHI
Rooted Stance. Now also referred to as SOCHIN DACHI but they are two separate stances.
GANKAKU DACHI
Crane Stance, as used in the kata GANKAKU.
HACHIJI DACHI
Open Leg Stance. The feet are positioned about one shoulder width apart and pointed outwards at 45 degrees. It actually translates to ‘Figure Eight Stance’ and the true full name for this stance should be ‘Soto Hachiji Dachi’, and when the feet are angled in at 45 degrees the name is ‘Uchi Hachiji Dachi’.
HANGETSU DACHI
Half-Moon Stance.
HEIKO DACHI
Parallel stance.
HEISOKU DACHI
An informal attention stance.
KIBA DACHI
Straddle Stance. Also known as HORSE RIDING STANCE.
KOKUTSU DACHI
Back Stance.
KOSA DACHI
Cross Stance or as it is more commonly called Crossed-feet Stance.
MUSUBI DACHI
Informal attention stance, Heels placed together but with each foot turned out at 45 degrees.
NAIHANCHI DACHI
Kiba Dachi, but with the feet turned in. Funakoshi changed the name Naihanchi to Tekki.
NANAME SHIKO DACHI
Diagonal Straddle Leg Stance.
NEKO-ASHI DACHI
Cats Foot Stance.
RENOJI DACHI
L Stance.
SAGI ASHI DACHI
Heron Leg Stance.
SANCHIN DACHI
Hour-glass Stance.
SHIKO DACHI
Square Stance, or Four Thigh Stance also sometimes called SUMO STANCE.
SHIZEN DACHI
Natural Stance.
SOCHIN DACHI
Diagonal Straddle Leg stance. Immovable Stance. Also now referred to as FUDO DACHI but they are two different stances. In Fudo Dachi the weight is further forwards.
TACHI
Standing or Stance. To stand up would be Tachiagaru. In some older works you may also see Zenkutsu Tachi etc. instead of Dachi.
TEIJI DACHI
A Stance with the feet in a ‘T-shape’.
TSURU ASHI DACHI
Crane Leg Stance.
UCHI-HACHIJI DACHI
Inverted open leg stance, or Inverted Figure Eight Stance. The feet are shoulder width apart but with the feet facing inwards.
ZENKUTSU DACHI
Forward Stance. The actual translation means Front Knee Bent Stance.

If you have any questions whatsoever about C.E.S.K.A. and the classes available,
please call us on 07801 088188 or email us.

Shihan Peter Calver 6th Dan
Chief Instructor of CESKA
Mob: 07801 088188
info@ceska.co.uk

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