Kyokushin

Kyokushin

by | Nov 24, 2015 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kyokushin Mean? Kyokushin ky·o·ku·shin \ˈkē-ō-ˈkü-ˈshin\ noun Definition: This is another form of karate that was founded by Masutatsu Oyama in 1964. It is a form of full contact, stand-up karate and has approximately 12 million practitioners worldwide. View...
Karate

Karate

by | Nov 16, 2015 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Karate Mean? Karate ka·ra·te \kə-ˈrä-tē\ noun Definition: Its literal meaning is “empty hand”, and it is a martial art originally developed in Okinawa’s Ryukyu Islands. It is known as a striking art where practitioners use knees, kicks, punches, and elbows;...
Kata

Kata

by | Nov 11, 2015 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kata Mean? Kata ka·ta \ˈkȯ-ˈtä\ noun Definition: A sequence of movements that represent different defensive and offensive moves. Kata postures are based on idealized combat applications and should be practiced regularly by all students. View More Karate...
Kamae-Te

Kamae-Te

by | Nov 5, 2015 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kamae-Te Mean? Kamae-Te ka·mae·te \ˈkȯ-ˈmā\ˈtā\ noun Definition: This should not be confused with the word kamae, which means posture. Kamae-te is an instruction given by a sensei to his students. For example, a sensei looking to get students to assume a...
Kihon

Kihon

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kihon Mean? Kihon ki·hon \ˈkē-ˈhȯŋ\ noun Definition: Refers to the foundations of Japanese martial arts, such as karate. It means “fundamentals” or “basics” in Japanese. Practitioners must master kihon in order to reach an advanced level, and it also helps...
Kiai

Kiai

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kiai Mean? Kiai ki·ai \ˈkē-ˈī\ noun Definition: A battle cry used by martial artists either before, during, or after performing a technique. It can also be a word used to describe fighting spirit. There are mental imagery techniques that ask students to...
Kamae

Kamae

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kamae Mean? Kamae ka·mae \ˈkȯ-ˈmā\ noun Definition: This word refers to posture in karate. It is differentiated from tachi, which means stance. While tachi refers to the body’s position from the waist down, kamae refers to the entire body’s posture and is...
Kiba-Dachi

Kiba-Dachi

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kiba-Dachi Mean? Kiba-Dachi ki·ba·da·chi \ˈkē-bə-dä-chē\ noun Definition: This is occasionally called a straddle stance and involves keeping both feet wide and parallel, with a person’s weight kept low and central. The back should be straight and the feet...
Kendo

Kendo

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kendo Mean? Kendo ken·do \ˈken-(ˌ)dō\ noun Definition: This is known as “the way of the sword” and involves the use of bamboo swords and protective armor. It has had a major influence on modern karate despite the fact that few karateka ever practice it. View...
Kime

Kime

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kime Mean? Kime ki·me \ˈkē-mā\ noun Definition: This word has a different meaning depending on the martial art. In karate, it means power and/or focus. It comes from the Japanese verb kimeru, which means “to decide”. View More Karate Glossary Terms:...
Kumite

Kumite

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Blog, Karate Glossary, Karate Glossary "K"

What Does Kumite Mean? Kumite ku·mi·te \ˈkü-ˈmē-ˈtā\ verb Definition: Karate sparring; its literal meaning is “meeting of the hands”. It is practiced as self-defense training and as a sport in its own right. There are kickboxing and full-contact forms of kumite...