sabaki
shifting
sage uchi
a downward strike
sagi ashi dachi
"heron foot" one-legged or propped stance, also referred to as gankaku dachi or tsuru ashi dachi.
sagurite no kamae
"searching hands" (or shadow-hand) fighting posture or ready position
arresting a technique 2.5 cm/1 in. from the target, just before making contact
searching-hand (or shadow-hand) block
saho
left direction (side)
sai
an Okinawan three-pronged metal weapon that is shaped like the Greek letter ‘psi’ with the middle being much longer.
saijutsu
sai art
sakatsuchi
"to hammer upside down" throw
sakeru
to avoid
sakotsu
collar bone, clavicle
Sakugawa No Kon
ancient bo kata ("Sakugawa's bo kata")
sammai
concentration; absorption
sampai
a formal bow to a zen master, involves a seated bow until the forehead touches the floor, with the hands on the side facing palm up
samurai
one who serves
san
three
sanbon
three-step or point
sanbon kumite
three-step sparring; sparring match where the objective is to gain three points
sanbon shobu
three-point match, used in tournaments.
sanbon tsuki (zuki)
triple punch combination
Sanchin
"3 conflicts", kata, which emphasizes correct breathing
sanchin dachi
hour-glass ("pigeon-toed") stance
sandan
3rd Dan Black Belt
sandan kumite
three step, three level sparring
sando tsuki (zuki)
triple punch
sanju
thirty
sankaku
triangle
sankaku jime
triangular lock
sankaku tenshin
triangular movements
sankaku tobi
triangular jump
sankyo kote hinerisankajo
wrist twist in
sankyu
3rd kyu (often green belt) rank
sanren tsuki (zuki)
three consecutive punches
santo kin
triceps
sasae hiji ate
supported elbow smash
sasae tsurikomi ashi
lifting-pulling propping foot/ankle throw
sasae uke
supported forearm block
sashite
raising of the hand either to strike, grab, or block
sashite uke
rising hand block
sasoi
to lure; to draw someone or something closer to oneself
sayu barai uke
double lower side block
sayu tsuki (zuki)
double side punch
seienchin
"Walk Far To Conquer" kata
seigyo
control
seiho
an exercise that helps blood flow in the muscle tissue
seika tanden
a vital point used for resuscitation, located about 10 cm below the navel. considered to the source for ki generation and concentration
seiken
regular fist or fore-fist
seiken choku tsuki (zuki)
fore-fist straight punch
seiken tsuki (zuki)
fore-fist or straight (middle) thrust punch
seiken ude uke
forearm block
seiken waza
fist technique
seiki
genitals
seiryuto
"ox jaw hand" or bull strike. A hand technique delivered with the base of the shuto (knife hand).
seiryuto tsuki (zuki)
"ox jaw hand" punch
seiryuto uchi
ox jaw strike - edge of the hand near the wrist, most often employed against the collar bone
seiryuto uke
ox-jaw block
seishin
spirit or soul
seito
regular student. See deshi and uchi deshi
seiza
"correct" or formal sitting posture, on one’s knees, between the heels
seiza ho
moving into formal sitting position
semekata
attacking technique
sempai
senior (instructor), one's senior, the opposite of kohai,any student who takes a class or any black belt senior to the speaker; also, senpai
sen
initiative; to anticipate an attack
sen no sen
simultaneous initiative; to launch an attack at the same time as one's opponent
sen sen no sen
attacking before the opponent attacks; pre-emptive attack
senaka
back, spine
senpai
a senior student; also, sempai
senryaku
strategy
sensei
teacher, instructor, elder
senshin
concentration; undivided attention; singleness of purpose
sesan dachi
side facing straddle stance
setsuzoku
a connection between one's centre of mass (Hara) and the outer limits of the movement, or between one's own centre of mass and that of one's partner
shakkatsu denko
lumbar region, left and right sides of the ninth thoracic vertebrae; see ushiro denko
shakumyaku
a vital point on the wrist
shi te
"death hand" (a front defensive hand)
shi zuki
beak thrust
shiai
a match or a contest (tournament or competition event)
shiai geiko
tournament practice; the training sessions held before and leading up to a competition
shiaijo
tournament area; the area where matches are held in a tournament
shibari
from shibaru, to tie
shichi
seven; also, nana
shichidan
shidachi
the person performing a technique in a kata, the defender
shiden
historical tradition
shidoin
a formal title meaning, approximately, " assistant instructor"
shihan
master teacher or instructor
shihan dai
designated representative(s) of a shihan
shiho bunkai
application of the kata with attacks from all (four) directions
shiho wari
breaking boards on four sides to test power
shihon
four-finger
shihon nukite
four-finger spear hand strike
shihon zuki
four-finger thrust
shikaku
position relative to one's partner where it is difficult for them to (continue to) attack, and from which it is relatively easy to control their balance and movement
shiken
test; examination
shiko dachi
square or straddle leg stance - deep strengthening stance, two hip widths wide, with the toes pointing out to 45 degrees, weight distributed 50/50
shime waza
choking or strangling techniques; strangleholds or neck holds
shimei
an attack that, if uncontrolled, would have a lethal result
shimoseki
the lower part of a dojo, where the beginners and junior students sit or stand
shimoza
the lower ranked area of the dojo, on the opposite side from the shrine
shin gi tai
mind-technique-body
shin gi tai ichinyo
oneness of mind-technique-body
shin zen bi
truth, honesty and beauty
shinai
practice sword made of split bamboo
shindo
vibration
shinjitsu
reality
shinken
real sword; real fist; earnest
shinken shobu
"duel with live swords", the attitude of treating the practice session as though it were a life-or-death duel with live swords
shinto
concussion, shock, impact
shisei
posture
shita ago
a vital point on the lower jaw
shita tsuki (zuki)
lower punch; a strike to the lower abdomen
shizen
natural, nature
shizen no kamae
natural position - a ready position in an upright, comfortable, and natural attitude
shizen dachi no kamae
natural combative posture
shizen kumite
natural kumite
shizen tai
natural stance or position
shizen tai dachi
natural stance
sho
palm
sho tekubi
hand (and) wrist
shobu
sparring match
shodai
first generation; founder
shomen (choku) tsuki (zuki)
front (straight) punch
shomen ni rei
front
shomen uchi
an empty hand overhead strike to the front of the head with the blade of the hand
shomon
bow to the front
Shorei ryu
early Karate school developed around Naha
Shorin
"Pine forest" (Sino-Japanese pronunciation) of Shaolin
Shorin Ryu
the major style of Okinawan karate, developed from Shuri and Tomari, meaning "Pine Forest" school
shoshin
the spirit of the beginner
shoshinsha
a novice, a beginner
shotei
shotei ate
palm heel (smashing) strike
shotei oshi
palm heel push
shotei shita uke
palm heel lower block; a downward block with the palm of the hand
shotei sotogawa uke
palm heel outside block; a block with the palm of the hand from the outside
shotei uchi
palm heel strike
shotei uke
palm heel block
shoto
short sword
Shotokan
a style of Japanese Karate developed by Gichin Funakoshi, meaning "Pine Waves"
shu wan
palm arm
shuchu ryoku
concentration of power
shugo
line up
shuko
vital points located on the back of the hand, especially between the thumb and index finger and middle and ring fingers
shuri-te
"Shuri fist"; one of the three major early Okinawan styles, originating in shuri, the foundation of today’s Shorin Ryu style
shuto
"sword-hand" or "knife-edge" hand (little-finger side of palm)
shuto gedan barai
low knife hand block
shuto mawashi uchi
roundhouse sword hand strike
shuto soto mawashi
knife hand strike, outside inward
shuto uchi
knife-hand strike
shuto uchi mawashi
knife-hand strike, inside outward
shuto uke
knife-hand block
shuto waza
knife-hand technique
sochin dachi
diagonal straddle leg "immovable" stance, also known as fudo dachi
soda
vital point between shoulder blades
soin
vital point - just below the heads of the fourth fifth toes (metatarsals); also, kusagakure
sokko
instep of the foot
sokumen uke
side block
sokutei mawashi uke
crescent kick block with the sole of the foot
sokutei osae uke
pressing sole block
sokuto geri
foot-edge kick
sokuto keage
snap kick with foot edge
sokuto osae uke
pressing block with foot edge
sotai renshu
training with a partner
soto
exterior, external; outer; outside; outside-inward
soto gedan barai
outside downward sweeping block
soto hachiji shizentai dachi
open-leg natural stance
soto mawashi uke
roundhouse block, outside inward
soto ude uke
outside middle block (outside inward with bottom of wrist or forearm), formerly known as uchi yoko te
soto uke
block from outside inward with bottom of wrist or inside of forearm, also known as soto ude uke
soto yoko te
Same as uchi ude uke. This name was used before the advent of sport karate. Used to describe one of the techniques in bogyo roku kyodo.
sotojakuzawa
vital point - wrist edge above pulse
sotoshakutaku
vital point - back surface of the wrist, space between ends of radius and ulna
sukashi waza
techniques performed without allowing the attacker to complete a grab or to initiate a strike
sukui
scooping
sukui nage
scooping throw
sukui te
Same as sukui uke. This name was used before the advent of sport karate. Used to describe one of the techniques in bogyo roku kyodo.
sukui uke
scooping block, formerly known as sukui te
sun
unit of measure, about 2.5 cm/1 in.
