These are the Shotokan karate terms that we use most often in our lessons.
General Terminology
| Jodan | Upper-level (head) |
| Chudan | Mid-level (chest) |
| Gedan | Lower-level (groin) |
| Zuki | Punch |
| Uke | Block |
| Geri | Kick |
| Mawatte | Turn around |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Yame | Stop |
| Yoi | Ready |
| Dojo | Classroom |
| Gi | Uniform |
| Sensei | Teacher |
| Kihon | Basics |
| Kumite | Sparring |
Japanese Numbers
| Ichi | One |
| Ni | Two |
| San | Three |
| Shi (or Yon) | Four |
| Go | Five |
| Roku | Six |
| Shichi | Seven |
| Hachi | Eight |
| Ku | Nine |
| Ju | Ten |
Stances
| Hachiji-dachi | Ready stance (feet turned slightly inward) |
| Zenkutsu-dachi | Front stance |
| Kokutsu-dachi | Back stance |
| Kiba-dachi | Horse-riding stance |
Punches or strikes
| Oi-zuki | Lunging punch |
| Choku-zuki | Straight punch |
| Gyaku-zuki | Reverse punch |
| Kizami-zuki | Jab punch |
| Nukite | Knife-hand strike |
| Empi | Elbow strike |
| Uraken | Back-fist strike |
| Tetsui | Hammer-fist strike |
| Teisho | Side palm heel strike |
Blocks
| Gedan-barai | Downward block |
| Age-uke | Upper rising block |
| Soto-uke | Inward mid-level block |
| Uchi-uke | Outward mid-level block |
| Shuto-uke | Knife-hand block |
| Morote-uke | Augmented outward block |
| Juji-uke | X block |
| Uchi-ude-uke | Inside forearm block |
Kicks
| Mae-geri | Forward snap or thrust kick |
| Mawashi-geri | Roundhouse kick |
| Keage | Snap kick |
| Kekomi | Thrust kick |
| Ushiro-geri | Rear thrust kick |
| Ushiro-mawashi-geri | Reverse roundhouse kick |
| Tobi-geri | Jumping kick |
| Ashi-barai | Foot sweep |