Karate Glossary
Kata, translation of name, and thematic use (translation from multiple sources):
Anan – eclectic/unknown theme
Annanko – “peaceful south sunlight” – awareness
Aoinagi – “green willow tree” – resilience/persistence against overwhelming odds
Bassai – “to seize/capture/penetrate the enemy’s fortress” – impenetrability/penetration
Chinte – “rare hand”/”unusual hand” – the young woman’s way
Chinto – “by the strange water’s edge,” other translation “fighter to the east” – the mature woman’s way
Chintoshi – the elderly woman’s way
Chito- “the foolish sound of drums” – fear
Empi/Wanshu – “the swallow” – learn from nature
Gojushiho/Useishi – “54” – index kata
Hangetsu – “half moon” – irregular regularity
Jiin – “respect for mother”
Jion – “respect for father”
Jitte – “respect for karate”
Juroku – “16” – our demons/distortions
Kensei – “sword saint” – two paths (makoto/misogi) to enlightenment
Kosokun – “to view the sky” – finding our place in the universe, our moral compass
Kururunfa – “stay the waves”
Matsukaze/Wankuan – “pine tree wind/wind in the pines” – flexibility
Naihanchi – “internal divided conflict” – relationships
Nijushiho/Niseishi – “24” – living in the moment, the NOW
Nipaipo – “28”
Pinan – “peaceful, peaceful” – ways to achieve peace, discipline as a path to freedom
Rohai – “the crane” – community
Saifa – “smash and tear” – the ultimate limit
Sanchin – “three battles” – mind/body/spirit
Sanseiryu – “36” – the emissary
Seipai – “18 hands” – face the light/wobble
Seisan – “13,” “13 hands” – the lunar cycle, regular irregularity
Seiunchin – “young man bearing down” – the young man’s way
Shihohai – “reflection on four corners” – breaking out of our box
Sochin – “tranquil force”, “three generations” – the mature man’s way
Suparimpei/Peichurin – “108” -completion
Tenshin – “sky mind” – mapping the heavens
Unsu – “cloud hands” – Nakayama (outlast the hundred day storm) – dealing with the “storms” of life?
Wan-Do – “king’s way”
Sets and combinations with standard meanings:
alternating soto uke with chudan tsuki, shifting from front stance to the side (but embusen remaining front) on soto uke to heiko dachi(?) on chudan tsuki – “weapons and armor” – preparing for battle?
embusen – variation from the basic “I” shape conveys meaning. Facing can be future/past, outward/inward, for example.
henko – change
paired shuto uke on diagonals – “scouting moves” – looking for danger/threat
repetition of a technique three times – represents a thematic element
three low shuto uke, moving forward in neko ashi dachi – communication (historically high, middle, low representing different levels of communication)
Individual techniques with standard meanings:
empi uchi – elbow techniques can reference internal orientation, vs. tsuki representing external.
en uke – unmasking
washe uke – freedom