| Japanese | Pronouce | Literal | Common use | Kanji |
| WHITE BELT ↓ | ||||
| shiro | shear-roe | white | white | 白 |
| chōchō | cho-cho | butterfly | butterfly | 蝶々 |
| Dojo | doe-joe | Way Place | Karate school | 道場 |
| Gi | gee | uniform | uniform | 着 |
| Hai | hi | yes | yes | はい |
| Hebi | heb-bee | snake | snake | 蛇 |
| Kamaete | ka-may-e-tay | posture | low block ready | 構え手 |
| Karate | ka-raw-tay | empty hand | japanese self-defense | 空手 |
| Kiai | key-eye | spirit shout | yell | 気合 |
| Obi | oh-bee | sash | belt | 帯 |
| Onaka | oh-na-ka | stomach | stomach | お腹 |
| Otearai | oh-tay-rye | restroom | restroom | 御手洗い |
| Rei | ray | respect | bow | 礼 |
| Sensei | sen-say | one born before | teacher | 先生 |
| Shizuka | she-zoo-ka | quiet | quiet | 静か |
| Te | tay | hand | hand | 手 |
| Tomodachi | toe-moe-da-chi | friend | friend | 友達 |
| tora | tor-rah | tiger | tiger | 虎 |
| YELLOW BELT ↓ | ||||
| kiiro | key-ear-row | yellow | yellow | 黄色 |
| ashi | awe-she | foot/leg | foot/legs | 足 |
| domo | doe-moe | thanks | thanks | どうも |
| Heian | hey-on | peace | peace | 平安 |
| Kata | kah-tah | form | imaginary fight | 型 |
| kiba dachi | key-bah-dach | horse stance | knees bent stance | 騎馬立 |
| koshi | koe-she | hips | hips | 腰 |
| kubi | ku-bee | neck | neck | 首 |
| mizu | me-zoo | water | water | 水 |
| shiri | shear-ree | rear portion | butt | 尻 |
| shodan | show-dawn | beginning level | 1st kata or Heain 1 | 初段 |
| gyaku zuki | gya-koo zoo-key | reverse thrust | reverse punch | 逆突 |
| Yame | yah-may | quit | stop | 辞めます |
| Hajime | hah-jee-may | beginning | start | はじめ |
| yoko | yoh-koh | side | sideways | 横 |
| mae | my-eh | front | front | 前 |
| yuka | you-ka | floor | floor | 床 |
| Tenjou | ten-joe | sky, heaven | ceiling | 天井 |
| ORANGE BELT ↓ | ||||
| orenji | or-ren-gee | orange | orange | オレンジ |
| atama | ah-tah-mah | head | head | 頭 |
| Funakoshi | foo-na-koo-she | Funakoshi | Founder of shotokan (1868-1957) | 船越 義珍 |
| hidari | hee-dah-ree | left | left | 左 |
| hikite | hee-key-tay | pull hand | reaction arm | 引手 |
| hiza | hee-za | knee | knee | 膝 |
| tora no me | tore-rah no-may | tiger’s eye | eye of the tiger | 虎の目 |
| Kumite | kuw-me-tay | grappling hands | sparring | 組手 |
| migi | mee-gee | right | right | 右 |
| shuto | shoe-tow | knife hand | open hand block | 手刀 |
| tatami | ta-tom-mee | fold, pile | mat | 畳 |
| tetsui | tet-tue-eee | iron hammer | hammer fist | 鉄槌 |
| tobi | toe-bee | flying | jump | 飛 |
| kihon | key-hon | fundamentals | basics | 基本 |
| Tatsu | Tot-tsue | dragon | dragon | 竜 |
| ken | ken | fist | fist | 拳 |
| senpai | sen-pie | earlier colleague | senior student | 先輩 |
| kudasai | ku-da-sigh | please | please | ください |
| BLUE BELT ↓ | ||||
| ao(i) | owl | blue | blue | 青 |
| dachi/tachi | dah-chee | stand | stance | 立ち |
| geri/keri | geh-ree | kick | kick | 蹴 |
| kokyu | koh-Q | breathing | breathing | 呼吸 |
| konnichiwa | coe knee chi wa | hello | hello (mid-day) | こんにちわ |
| uraken | oo-ra-ken | backside fist | back fist | 裏拳 |
| oi zuki | oy-zoo-key | chase, follow | stepping punch | 追突 |
| sayanara | sign ya nara | goodbye | good bye | さよなら |
| shihan | she-hawn | expert/master | master (teacher of teachers) | 師範 |
| Seiza | say-zah | kneel | Samurai position | 正座 |
| Shotokan | show toe con | house of shoto (whistling pines) | name Funakoshi’s style | 松涛館 |
| uke | eww-kay | receive | block | 受 |
| yoi | yoi and double yoi | preperation | get ready | 用意 |
| nukite | new-key-tay | penetration hand | spear | 貫手 |
| yoko geri | yoh-ko gary | side kick | side kick | 横 蹴 |
| mae geri | my-ehh gary | front kick | front kick | 前蹴 |
| ichi-ban | itchy bon | #1 | first place | 一番 |
| tatte | tot tay | stand up | r | 立て |
| GREEN BELT ↓ | ||||
| midori | me-door-re | green | green | 緑 |
| age uke | ah-gay oo-kay | rising block | rising block | 上げ受け |
| arigato gozimasu | air-re-got-toe go-zie-maus | thank thank you | thank you very much | ありがと ございます |
| ju-ichi – ni ju | jew itch – knee-jew | #11-#20 | counting 11-20 | 十 一 and 二十 |
| do | doe | path | the way | 道 |
| hara | har-rah | belly | energy field in abdomen | 腹 |
| kokotsu dachi | koe-koo-tsu dah-chee | back bend stance | back stance | 後屈立 |
| enkei | N-key | round shape | cartwheel | 円形 |
| mawashi geri | mah-wah-she gary | turn kick | roundhouse kick | 回し蹴り |
| mawatte | mah-wah-tay | spin or around | turn | 回まわって |
| mokuso | moh-koo-soh | silent thinking | focus / clear mind | 黙想 |
| musubi dachi | moo-sue-be dah-chee | knot | v-bow | 結び立 |
| nage | naw-gay | cast or throw | throw | 投 |
| Otagai | oh-ta-guy | mutual | face each other show respect | お互い |
| shomen | show-men | front of the head | front of the room | 正面 |
| uchi | eww-chee | hit | strike | 打 |
| zenkutsu dachi | zen-koo-tsue | Front bend Stance | front stance | 前足 |
| shizen tai | shih-zen-tie | natural stance | focus/ready position | 自然 |
| PURPLE BELT ↓ | ||||
| murasaki | mur-ra-sa-key | purple | purple | 紫 |
| bu | boo | war/military | martial | 武 |
| bushido | boo-she-doe | warrior way (samurai) | way of the warrior | 武士道 |
| jodan | joe-dawn | upper level/degree/stage | high level | 上段 |
| chudan | chew-dawn | middle | middle level | 中段 |
| gedan | gay-dawn | lower column | lower level | 下段 |
| ashi barai | ahh-she-ba-righ | tripping | sweep | 足払 |
| go no sen | go-no-sen | after the prior | block and counter | 後の先 |
| sen no sen | sen-no-sne | prior to prior | timing (be faster) | 先 の 先 |
| sen sen no sen | sen-sen-no-sen | prior to prior to prior | take initiative | 先 先 の 先 |
| keage | kay-ah-gay | rising | snap [kick] | 蹴上 |
| kekmoi | kay-ko-mee | riser | thrust [kick] | 蹴込 |
| Ryu Kyu | rue-Q | chain of Okinawan islands | where karate grew up | 琉球諸島 |
| tegumi | tay-goo-me | hands crossing/engaged | wrestling/grappling | 手組 |
| ushiro geri | ewe-she-row | back kick | back kick | 後蹴 |
| zanshin | zawn-shin | remaining mind | total awareness | 残心 |
| mushin | moo-shin | no mind | no fear | 無心 |
| embusen | em-boo-sen | Military performance line | invisible line (spot kata begins) | 演武線 |
| BROWN BELT ↓ | ||||
| chairo | cha ear row | brown | brown | 茶色 |
| budo | boo doe | Martial way | martial way | 武道 |
| bugei | boo gay | Martial performance | martial arts | 武芸 |
| bujutsu | boo jit sue | Martial technique/method | martial science | 武術 |
| ikken hissatsu | eek en he sause tsue | one fist certain death | kill with one blow | 一拳必殺 |
| Itosu | ee toe sue | Funakoshi’s teacher | Shuri-te master | 糸洲 安恒 |
| kanji | con G | Han | logographic characters | 漢字 |
| kime | key may | decision or commitment | focus/tense at right moment of move | 決め |
| kuzushi | ku zoo she | destroy or demolish | unbalance | 崩し |
| oyo | oh yo | apply (extracted kata techiques) | application of bunkai | 応用 |
| pinan | pee non | peaceful | Okinawan peace or safe | 平安 |
| tokui | toe-kuWEE | pride or triumph (your best) | free kata | 得意 |
| tai sabaki | tie sa ba key | body movment | defensive movement | 体捌き |
| tamashii | tama shee | soul | indomitable spirit | 魂 |
| waza | waa zaa | skill | technique | 技 |
| bunkai | Boon-kai | analysis/disassembly | break it down | 分解 |
| dan | dawn | level | degree | 段 |
| kyu | Q | step | grade or level | 級 |
| BLACK BELT ↓ | ||||
| Hansei | hawn-say | self-reflection | recognize mistake, grow from it | 反省 |
| Maai | my-eh | interval | distance | 間合い |
| Goshin | go-shin | protect/guard (go) yourself (shin) | self-defense | 護身 |
| Yudansha | you-don-sha | have, possess rank person | blackbelt | 有段者 |
| Tode or To-te | toe-day or toe-tay | China Hand | Chinese + Okinawan martial arts | 唐手 |
| Osu | Oss | o (push) su (persevere) | catch-all: thanks, I understand, good luck | 押忍 |
| Naihanchi | nie-hawn-she | internal divided conflict | Okinawan name for Tekki | 鉄騎 |
| Keiko | kay-koe | practice/training/study | practice/training | 稽古 |
| Dozo | doe-zoe | here you go or go ahead | polite | どぞ |
| Dai/Sho | die-show | Greater/Large (major) Lessor/small (minor) | Suffix: Kata (A) and kata (B) | 大 and 小 |
| Hanshi | hawn-she | Master | Okinawan name for master | 範師 |
| Shorin | shore-in | small forrest | circular, fast okinawan karate | 少林 |
| Shorei | shore-ray | style of inspiration (Shoreiji Temple) | strong and powerful okinawan karate | 昭霊 |
| Tatsumaki | tot-tsue-ma-key | rolling/whirling dragon | tornado | 竜巻 |
| Shuhari | shue-har-rhee | obidence-divergance-tanscendence | stages of mastery | 守破離 |
| Rei-Gi | Ray-gee | Etiquette | Manners | 礼儀 |
| Shugyō | shoe-gee-yo | way of mastery | intensity | 修行 or 修業 |
| Shin/Kokoro | heart, mind, soul | metatphysical heart | heart | 心 |
| Daruma | dar roo ma | Bodhidharma (Indian Monk) | Buddhist Monk who spread Zen | 禪 (zen) |
| Tang | tang | hand in chinese | Chinese hand | 唐 |
| Japan | japan | Nippon (Nihon) | Japan | 日本 |
| Ryu | ryu | school, system, flow | style | 流 |
| Kobudo | koe boo doe | old martial way of Okinawa | weapons | 沖縄古武道 |