SAEI REI TU

Line Up.

SAGETA EMPI UCHI

Lowered Elbow Strike.  Today we normally say Otoshi Empi.

SAGI

Heron.

SAGI ASHI DACHI

Heron Leg Stance. A one Leg Stance where the sole of the raised foot is placed against the inside of the supporting legs knee.

SAHO

Etiquette.

SAKOTSU

Collar Bone.

SAN (1)

Three.

SAN (2)

Friend. When used as Friend it is the equivalent of Mr.

SANBON KUMITE

Three Step Sparring.  Usually carried out as, first attack being Oi Tsuki Jodan, the second being Oi Tsuki Chudan and the third being Mai Geri. The defender steps back blocking Age Uke, then Soto Ude Uke, then Gedan Bari the defender then counters and Kiais.

SANBON TSUKI

A series of three punches, generally the first is OI TSUKI JODAN, followed by a slight pause then, CHUDAN GYAKU TSUKI, immediately followed by CHUDAN TSUKI, but it can be performed with three punches to the same target.

SANCHIN DACHI

Hour-glass Stance. So named from the shape that the legs form.  Moving in to this stance can also be used as a block by trapping your attackers foot as it kicks up towards your groin.

SANKAKU

Triangular. It translates as 'three angles', 'San' being 'three'. Shikaku means square or 'four angles'.

SANKAKU TOBI

Triangular Jump.  In olden times this was said to be a secret jump where if you were fighting on a mountain path you could jump around your attacker landing back on the path.  Today it is still a Triangular jump but the angles are achieved by grasping your attacker as you jump out and then using him to pull on to bring you back behind him.  This technique is used in the Kata Meikyo.

SAN NEN GOROSHI

Three Year Kill. A 'secret' technique in karate where it is said that the person dies from the result of the technique 3 years after it was performed.

SAN REN TSUKI

Three Consecutive Punches.  Delivered from the standing position.

SASAE

Prop or Propping.

SASHI ASHI-DACHI

Stepping across / extending the foot.  As seen in the Kata Tekki Shodan.

SASHITE

Raising of the hand, or extending the hand, either to strike, grab, or block.

SAYU

Left and Right.

SAYU IPPON KEN

Left and Right One Knuckle Punch.  This is used in the Kata Chinte.

SEBONE

Backbone, Spine.

SEI

Tranquillity or Inactivity.

SEIDON

The area above and below the eye's.

SEIKEN

Fore Fist or Normal Fist. 'Sei' dictates that it is 'normal' or 'regular'. This is the basic fist where the fingers are rolled tightly in to the palm and the thumb presses on top.  You strike with the two largest knuckles.

SEIKEN TSUKI

Fore Fist Punch or Normal Fist Punch.

SEIRYUTO

Ox Jaw. The area at the base of the Shuto.

SEIRYUTO UKE

Ox Jaw Block. A hand technique delivered with the base of the SHUTO (Knife hand).

SEKAKU

Accuracy.

SEIZA

A proper sitting position.  Sitting on one's knees.  Sitting this way requires acclimatisation, but provides both a stable base and greater ease of movement than sitting cross-legged. It is used for the formal opening and closing of the class.

SEMPAI

A senior student.

SENAKA

The Back.

SEN NO SEN

To counter attack or attack at the precise moment your opponent attacks you.

SENPU

Gust Of Wind, from the jumping kick in the Kata Unsu.

SEN SEN NO SEN

Attacking before the opponent attacks.  A Pre-emptive attack.

SENSEI

Teacher.  It is usually considered proper to address the instructor during practice as 'Sensei' rather than by his/her name.  If the instructor is a permanent instructor for one's Dojo or for an organisation, it is proper to address him/her as 'Sensei' off the mat as well.

SENSEI NI REI

Teacher, We Bow. Carried out in the kneeling position at the start and finish of a lesson.

SEOI

Shoulder.

SEOI NAGE

Shoulder Throw.  This can be shown as one of the applications for the turn in Heian Shodan after the last of the set of three age ukes.

SHIDOIN

Formally recognised Instructor who has not yet been recognised as a SENSEI.  Assistant Instructor.

SHIHAN

A formal title meaning, approximately, master instructor.  A teacher of teachers.  One who teaches third Dans and above.  Generally a 5th Dan or above.

SHIHON NUKITE

Four Finger Strike.  This in a real situation is delivered as a killing blow to the throat. In practice it is aimed to the solarplexus.

SHIKO DACHI

Square Stance, or Four Thigh Stance also sometimes called SUMO STANCE.  Similar to Kiba Dachi but with the feet turned out. This stance is strange in that it does not appear in a single Shotokan Kata.

SHIMPI TOTE

Mysterious Karate.

SHIN

Core, Center. Also see Shinzo.

SHIN-GI-TAI

The study of karate and karate technique must be a focused effort of heart, body and mind/spirit.  The unification of these three elements is essential for development in all traditional ways.

SHINKEI

Nerves.

SHINTAI

Body, another expression for body.

SHINZO

Heart.  When this is used with other words the 'zo' is left off, and it is said as 'shin'.

SHIRI

Buttocks.

SHIRYOKU

Eyesight.

SHITA

Tongue.

SHITTSUI

Knee Hammer.

SHIZEN DACHI

Natural Stance. A term used to describe any natural stance.

SHIZEN KUMITE

Natural Fighting/freestyle.

SHIZEN TAI

Natural Position. The body remains relaxed but alert, in the sense that potential for movement is present. To say Natural by itself would be 'Shizen no'.

SHO (1)

Major or Greater.

SHO (2)

Palm, as in hand.

SHODAN

A first level black belt.

SHOFU

Side of neck.

SHOMEN

Front. Also the designated front of a Dojo.

SHOMAN-NI-REI

SHOSHIN O WASUREZU

Bow to the front.

(In training) Do not forget the spirit and humility of a beginner.

SHOTOKAN

A style of Karate. The name is derived from the pen name that Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of modern day Karate, and a well known calligrapher, used as a pen name when writing his verse. The name is made up of Shoto, meaning waving pines, (as his verse was often inspired while walking among the gently waving pines on the hills near his house), and Kan meaning House or School. When he started his first school of Karate it became known as Shoto's Kan, eventually changing to Shotokan. The original Shotokan which was a wooden building with a floor area a little larger than a badminton court was destroyed in the early hours of the morning on the 10th March 1945, during an American B29 air raid. During that same raid and the fire that followed it, nearly 100,000 people were killed and 40 square miles of Tokyo destroyed.

SHUBO

Stick Arm.

SHUKO

Back Of The Hand. In Karate we use Haishu.

SHUTO

Knife Hand.

SHUTO UCHI

Knife hand strike.

SHUTO UKE

Knife-hand Block.

SHUTSUI

Hammer Hand.

SHUWAN

Palm Side of Forearm. This is also seen as SHOWAN.

SOBI

The area on the inside of the lower part of the leg. approximately at the base of the calf.

SOCHIN

Immovable in the face of danger. A black belt kata mainly performed in Sochin Dachi.

SOCHIN DACHI

Diagonal Straddle Leg stance or Immovable Stance. Also now referred to as FUDO DACHI but they were two different stances. In Sochin Dachi the weight is evenly distributed over both legs.

SODA

The area between the shoulder blades.

SODE

Sleeve and Sodeguchi is Cuff.

SOERU

Attach or To Attach.

SOESHO

Palm On or Palm Assisted.

SOESHO KAESHI UDE

Palm Assisted Counter Fore-arm. An advanced block/release from the Kata Tekki Sandan.

SOETE

Hand On or Hand Assisted.

SOETE KAKE DORI

Hand Assisted Hooking Pull. As seen in the Kata Kanku Sho.

SOETE KOSHI KAMAE

Hand On or Hand Assisted Hip Posture, as used in the Kata Gankaku after the Tate Empi Uchi, or at the start of Empi.

SOETE MAE EMPI UCHI

Hand On or Hand Assisted Front Elbow Strike. As seen in the Kata Tekki Nidan.

SOETE SOKUMEN UKE

Hand Assisted Side Block. As seen in the Kata Tekki Nidan.

SOKKO

Top Of The Foot.

SOKUDO

Speed.

SOKUMEN

Side or Flank.

SOKUMEN AWASE UKE

Side Combined Block.

SOKUMEN EMPI UCHI

Side combined elbow strike. Where you pull your opponent on to the strike. As seen in the Kata Tekki Shodan.

SOKUMEN MOROTE TSUKI

Side Double Punch. Used in the Kata Bassai Sho.

SOKUMEN SOETE GEDAN UCHI UDE UKE

Side Hand Assisted Lower Level Inside Fore-arm Block.

SOKUTEI

Sole of Foot.

SOKUTEI-MAWASHI UKE

Sole (Foot) Circular Block.

SOKUTEI-OSAE UKE

Sole (Foot) Pressing Block.

SOKUTO

Edge of foot. The striking area in a Side Thrust Kick.

SOKUTO GERI

Edge of foot Kick. Also called ashi Gatana.

SOKUTO KAKE UKE

Hooking Foot Block. Using the edge of the foot.

SOKUTO-OSAE UKE

Foot Edge Pressing Block.

SONO MAMA

As Before, As It Is.

SONU

Area between the throat and top of the breastbone or sternum.

SORASHI

Feint.

SOSOKU GERI

A double kick in which both feet extend simultaneously, either to the front or side.

SOTO

Outside, Outer or Exterior.

SOTOJAKUZAWA

The outer part of the forearm where the pulse can be felt.

SOTO UDE UKE

Outside Forearm Block or sometimes said as Lower Wrist Block.

SOTO UKE

Outside Block, normally a shortened version of Soto Ude Uke.

SOWAN

Both Arms.

SOWAN UCHI UKE

Both Arm Inside Block, As seen in the Kata JI-ON. SOWAN is an alternative for RYO WAN.

SUASHI

Bare Foot.

SUBERKOMI

Sliding In.

SUHADA

Bare Skin.

SUIGETSU

Solar-plexus.

SUIHEI

SUIHEI BO DORI

Horizontal or Level.

Horizontal Bo Grasp. This technique is used in the Kata Bassai Sho.

SUJI

Muscle Fibre.

SUKI

Opening.

SUKUI

Scooping or to Scoop-up.

SUKUI UKE

Scooping Block.

SUMI

Corner.

SUNDOME

No Contact, Arresting A technique.

SUNE

Shin.

SUNE UKE

Shin Block. When used right correctly against a roundhouse kick there is no reason why this block should not break your attackers leg.

SURI

Sliding, as in Hiji Suri Uke or Elbow Sliding Block but is also used to describe when you slide your feet along the floor, Suri Ashi.

SURI ZENKUTSU DACHI

Sliding Front Stance, as seen at the end of the Kata Jitte.

SUTEMI WAZA

'Last Chance' Technique. If in real life you have to use this technique it means everything has gone seriously wrong, and its your last chance to take out your attacker. I would suggest that you go for either the eye's or windpipe.

SUWARI WAZA

Techniques from a sitting position.