| Term | Meaning |
| Chudan | Middle area |
| Dan | "Level," referring to the rank of black belt and above. |
| Dojo | The place where karate is studied. |
| Gedan | Lower area |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Hidari | Left |
| Jodan | Upper area |
| Kamae | Combative posture or Ready Position |
| Kata | Formal exercises. Pre-arranged attack/defense routines. |
| Kihon | Basic techiniques. Kicks, blocks, punches and stances. |
| Kime | Focus |
| Kohai | A student of lower rank than oneself. |
| Kumite | Sparring, practiced with a partner. |
| Kyu | "Step," referring to ranks below black belt. |
| Migi | Right |
| Rei | Bow |
| Sempai | A student of higher rank than oneself. |
| Sensei | The chief instructor at a dojo. Also any person instructing a class. |
| Yame / Ipon | Stop |
| Yoi | Ready/ or at ease |
| Term | Meaning |
| Hachiji Dachi | Natural stance (feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly out) |
| Heiko Dachi | Parallel stance (feet shoulder width apart) |
| Heisoku Dachi | Closed foot stance (feet together) |
| Kiba Dachi | Horse riding stance |
| Kokutsu Dachi | Back leaning stance |
| Migi Heiko Dachi | Right foot forward Heiko Dachi |
| Musubi Dachi/Yoski | Formal attention stance (heels together, feet at an angle) |
| Naihanchi Dachi | Kiba Dachi with the heels out and toes in(Horse stance) |
| Naname Shiko Dachi | Diagonal straddle leg stance |
| Neko Ashi Dachi | Cat stance |
| Sanchin Dachi | Hourglass stance |
| Shiko Dachi | Straddle leg stance |
| Shizen Dachi | Short forward stance |
| Uchi Hachiji Dachi | Natural stance with heels out and toes in |
| Zenkutsu Dachi | Front stance, Forward stance |
| Term | Meaning |
| Agura-wo-kaku | Informal seating position |
| Ai | Harmony |
| Aikido | The Way of Harmony |
| Aite | Opponent in a contest |
| Aiuchi | Simultaneous Strike |
| Ananku | An Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kata, meaning Light From The South |
| Atemi | Body stikes |
| Ato-uchi | Delayed strike, feint |
| Bo | Wooden staff, traditionally as long as the wielder is tall |
| Bogu | Body armour |
| Budo | Martial way |
| Bugei | Martial arts |
| Bunkai | Applications of kata movements |
| Bushi | Warrior |
| Bushido | Way of the warrior |
| Chinto | An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata, meaning Fighting to the East |
| Do | Way or path |
| Eku | An Oar |
| Gi | Uniform |
| Goju-Ryu | Hard, Soft Way. An Okinawan style of Karate |
| Gojushiho | An Okinawan kata, meaning 54 steps |
| Heian | "Peace, tranquility. Funakoshi renamed the pinan kata "Heian |
| Hombu | Headquarters |
| Iaido | Way of the sword |
| Ippon kumite | One step sparring |
| Isshin Ryu | "One Heart School" An Okinawan style of karate |
| Jion | A Shorei Ryu kata |
| Judo | Gentle way |
| Jujutsu | Art of gentleness |
| Kama | Grass sickle (an Okinawan weapon) |
| Kanku Dai | "A Shotokan Kata, meaning "To view the sky" Developed from the Okinawan kata Kusanku |
| Kansetsu waza | Joint locking techniques |
| Karate | Open Hand, empty hand |
| Karate-do | The way of karate |
| Kareta-ka | Karate practitioner |
| Katana | The longer of the two swords worn by Samurai |
| Kendo | Way of the sword |
| Kiai | "Spirit meeting" A loud yell or shout/call for energy |
| Kobayashi Ryu | "Small Forest" An Okinawam form of Shorin Ryu karate |
| Kobudo | Ancient warrior art. Usually refers to weapons training |
| Kusanku | An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata, named after a Chinese Master |
| Kyusho | Vital point |
| Makiwara | Punching post |
| Mawatte | Turn around |
| Meijin | Expert |
| Mikazuke geri | Crescent kick |
| Mokuso | Quiet thought, meditation / Muga no kiochi (Mind of no mind) |
| Nunchaku | An Okinawan weapon. Two 1 foot lengths of wood hinged together by cord. Was probably developed from a horse bridle or a rice flail. |
| Obi | Belt |
| Okinawa | One of a group of island South East of Japan. Where karate was developed |
| Passai | An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata, meaning unknown |
| Pinan | A seies of 5 kata formulated by Itosu in 1903 |
| Sai | A steel pronged truncheon |
| Sanchin | The core Goju Ryu kata, which emphasises correct breathing |
| Seisan | An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata |
| Seiza | Kneeling position |
| Sensei-ni-rei | Bow to the teacher |
| Shihan | Master (can be 5th dan and above) |
| Shomen | Front of Dojo |
| Shomen-ni-rei | Bow to the front |
| Shorei Ryu | An Okinawan karate system which originated in Naha |
| Shorin Ryu | "The major style of Okinawan karate, meaning "Pine Forest" school |
| Shotokan | A style of Japanese Karate developed by Funakoshi |
| Shuri-te | An ancient Okinawan style of karate - the forerunner of Shorin Ryu |
| Tai sabaki | Body shifting/evasion |
| Tameshiwari | To test and to break |
| Teisho | Palm heel |
| Tonfa | An Okinawan weapon, similar to the sidearm used by Police |
| Ukemi | Breakfalling |
| Wado Ryu | Way of Peace School. A Japanese style of karate |
| Wakizashi | The shorter of two swords worn by the Samurai |
| Wanshu / Wansu | An Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata named after a Chinese Master |
| Waza | Technique(s) |
| Zanshin | Awareness |