Martial Arts Glossary
Glossary of commonly used terms in the Japanese martial arts.
Glossaries
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ashi-Hikkake | Ashi-hikkake (足引っ掛け / 足引掛)Ashi-hikkake is a classical foot-trapping and leg-hooking sweeping technique in Shotokan Karate and traditional Japanese Budo, translating directly to "leg hook" or "foot hooking." Executed by hooking the foot or lower leg around an opponent's ankle or calf to disrupt their root and balance (Kuzushi), this close-quarters technique allows a martial artist to trip, destabilize, or unbalance an adversary to facilitate an immediate takedown or follow-up strike.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 33 Synonyms -
Leg hook, foot trapping, ash-hikkake, leg hooking sweep, foot snagging technique. |
| Ashi-Kake | Ashi-kake (足掛け / 足掛)Ashi-kake is a classical foot-hooking, leg-trapping, and tripping technique in Shotokan Karate and traditional Japanese Budo. Executed by placing or hooking the foot or lower leg around an opponent's leg to break their center of gravity (Kuzushi), this close-quarters technique enables a practitioner to unbalance, entangle, or sweep an adversary to execute a immediate takedown or set up a decisive follow-up strike.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 26 Synonyms -
Leg hook, foot trip, leg trapping, ashi kake, leg latching sweep. |
| Ashi-Waza | Ashi-Waza (足技)Ashi-Waza is a major technical classification in Shotokan Karate and traditional Japanese Budo translating to "foot and leg techniques." Encompassing all offensive, defensive, and footwork-based applications performed with the feet and legs, Ashi-Waza includes kicks (Geri-waza), foot sweeps (Ashi-barai), leg hooks (Ashi-kake / Ashi-hikkake), stance shifts (Unsoku / Tai Sabaki), and balance-disrupting takedowns (Kuzushi-waza).
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 17 Synonyms -
Foot techniques, leg techniques, footwork and kicking methods, ashi waza, leg sweeps and kicks. |
| Ashibarai | Ashi-barai (足払い)Ashi-barai (frequently written as Ashibarai) is the quintessential foot sweep technique in Shotokan Karate and modern Budo. Executed by sweeping the arch or sole of the foot in a swift, curving arc against an opponent's ankle or lower leg, Ashi-barai is designed to clip or brush away their base of support right as weight is being transferred, disrupting their balance (Kuzushi) and felling them to the tatami or opening them up for an immediate follow-up strike.
Author - Sensei Miller
Hits - 38 Synonyms -
Foot sweep, foot sweeping, leg sweep, ashibarai, de-ashi-barai, sweeping leg technique. |


