Terminology

Basic Terms

Stances

Punches

Kicks

Strikes

Blocks

Basic Terms

Tsuki (Zuki) Punch
Tachi (Dachi) Stance
Uke Block
Uchi Strike
Keri (Geri) Kick
Gedan Lower level
Chudan Chest or stomach level
Jodan Face level
Mae Front
Yoko Side
Ushiro Back

Stances

Zenkutsu-Dachi Front Stance bend the front leg, keep the back leg straight, shift the center of gravity towards the front, try to keep the feet parallel, shoulder width apart
Kokutsu-Dachi Back Stance bend the back leg, almost straighten the front leg, shift the center of gravity onto the back leg, keep the feet at 90 degrees
Kiba-Dachi Horse Stance keep the feet parallel (or slightly toes in) at twice shoulder width, bend the knees, keep the back vertical
Jiyu-Kumite Fighting Stance a short, springy version of Front Stance
Shizen-tai Natural Stance place the feet shiulder width apart, hold the hands at the side
Heiko-Dachi Parallel Stance a variation of the Natural Stance where the feet are placed parallel to one another
Musubi-Dachi Informal Attention Stance a variation of the Natural Stance where the heels touch but the feet are spread at 90 degrees
Heisoku-Dachi Feet together Stance a variation of the Natural Stance where the feet touch and are placed parallel
Hachinoji-Dachi Figure 8 Stance a variation of the Natural Stance where the feet are pointed out

Punches

Oi-Zuki Lunge Punch take a step forward, punch with the same arm as the leading foot
Gyaku-Zuki Reverse Punch use the arm opposite to the leading foot
Sanbon-Zuki Triple Punch take one step then strike three targets: face then stomach-stomach
Kizami-Zuki Jabbing Punch strike with the same arm as the leading foot; do not take a step

Kicks

Mae-Geri-Keage Front Snap Kick bring the knee quickly up to the chest, snap the leg out, strike target with the ball of the foot
Mae-Geri-Kekomi Front Thrust Kick bring the knee quickly up to the chest, thrust the leg out in a forceful manner, strike target with the ball of the heel of the foot
Yoko-Geri-Keage Side Snap Kick bring the knee quickly up pointing to the target (on the side), snap the leg out, strike the target with the outer edge of the foot
Yoko-Geri-Kekomi Side thrust Kick bring the knee pointing forward, extend the leg powerfully to the side, strike the target with the outer edge of the foot
Mawashi-Geri Roundhouse Kick lift the bent leg to the horizontal behind the body, then pivot to bring the leg to the front and snap it out towards target
Kizami-Geri Jabbing Kick kick with the leading foot, keeping the back leg in place, do not shift the body backwards
Ren-Geri Double Kick kick twice as in Mae-Geri with a step in between, note that ech kick may have a different intended target
Ushiro-Geri Back Kick bring the knee up to the chest pointing forward, thrust the leg powerfully to the back, strike the target with the heel
Mikazuki-Geri Crescent Kick as in Front Kick except the foot sweeps up along an arc and strikes sideways with the instep or the edge of the foot

Strikes

Tate-Nukite Spear Hand Thrust strike with the ends of the fingers aligned in a vertical line
Shito-Uchi Knife Hand Strike strike with the edge of the hand, fingers are held straight and tight together
Uraken-Uchi Back Fist Strike strike with the back of the fist
Empi-Uchi Elbow Strike strike with elbow, used for close in fighting

Blocks

Age-Uke Rising Face Block the block rises from in front of the body, the arm ends up one fist's width away from the forehead slightly above the elbow level
Soto-Uke Outside Chest Block the block sweeps in from the side, the arm ends up bent 90 degrees with the fist level with the shoulder
Uchi-Uke Inside Chest Block the block sweeps across the body, the arm ends up bent 90 degrees with the fist level with the shoulder
Shito-Uke Knife Hand Block block with the edge of the hand, keeping fingers straight and the thumb tucked in
Gedan-Barai Downward Sweep the fist starts at the ear level, crosses the body and ends up one fist's width above the knee
Harai-Uke Sweeping Block the block sweeps in from the side, ends up one fist's width from the leading knee