Many terms used in karate stem from Japanese culture. While many are names (e.g. Heian, Gankaku), others are exclusive to martial arts (e.g. kata, kumite). Many terms are seldom used in daily life, such as zenkutsu dachi, while others appear routinely, such as rei. The Japanese form is often retained in schools outside Japan to preserve the Okinawan culture.

Ranks

Rank is used in karate to indicate experience, expertise, and to a lesser degree, seniority. As with many martial arts, Shotokan uses a system of coloured belts to indicate rank. Most Shotokan schools use the kyū / dan system but have added other belt colours. The order of colours varies widely from school to school, but kyu belts are denoted with colours that in some schools become darker as a student approaches shodan. Dan level belts are invariably black, with some schools using stripes to denote various ranks of black belt.

Kihon

Kihon is the practice of basic techniques in Shotokan Karate. It includes stances, footwork, blocks, punches, kicks, various displacements and their combinations. Those are referred to as “waza”, techniques.

  • stances: dachi waza
  • punches: tsuki waza / te waza
  • kicks: geri waza
  • blocks: uke waza
  • sweeping: ashi waza

Kata

Kata is often described as a set sequence of karate moves organised into a pre-arranged fight against imaginary opponents. The kata consists of kicks, punches, sweeps, strikes and blocks. Body movement in various kata includes stepping, twisting, turning, dropping to the ground, and jumping.

Kumite

Kumite, or sparring , is the practical application of kihon and kata to real opponents.