| Term | Kanji | Description |
| Sai | 釵 | A type of trident popular in Asia, middle prong is longest. aka Tekpi |
| Saifa | 砕破 | Kata: Smash and Tear |
| Sanchin | 三戦 | Kata: Three Battles |
| Sanseiru | 三十六 | Kata: Thirty Six. Several versions exist. |
| Sanshinkan | 三司官 | Top three royal advisors of the Ryukyu Kingdom |
| Sanzan | 三山 | Three Kingdoms of Okinawa, Nanzan 南山, Chuzan 中山, Hokuzan 北山 |
| Sapposhi | 冊封使 | Chinese special envoys that would visit Okinawa for tribute. |
| Seisan | 十三 | Kata: Thirteen: Sometimes seen as 十三手 |
| Seiyonchin | 刺引戦 | Kata: Pull into Battle. Ch. 随運勁. Fujian: 青鷹戦 |
| Senshin | 先心 | Enlightened Mind (one of the 5 sprits of budo) |
| Shikina-en | 識名園 | Shuri Royal Gardens - UNESCO Site |
| Shiko Dachi | 四股立ち | Square Stance (Four Point Stance) |
| Shimabuku Tatsuo | 島袋龍夫 | Founder of Isshinryu Karate (1908-1975) |
| Shinzato Jinan | 新里仁安 | Gojuryu prodigy, died in WW2 (1900-1945) |
| Shisochin | 四向戦 | Kata: Fighting in Four Directions |
| Shizen Dachi | 自然立ち | Natural Stance (Short front Stance) |
| Shoshin | 初心 | Beginners Mind (one of the 5 Spirits of Budo) |
| Shotei Uchi | 掌底打ち | Palm Strike |
| Shotei Uke | ζεΊεγ | Palm Block |
| Shotokan ryu | 松濤館流 | House of Shoto Style - Founded by Funakoshi Gichin in 1938 |
| Shuri Te | 首里手 | System attributed to Matsumura Sokon, practiced in Shuri. |
| Shuto Uke | 手刀受け | Hand Blade/Edge Block (Knife Hand / Sword Hand Block) |
| Sochin | 向戰 | Kata: Direction of Battle |
| Sokuto Geri | 足刀蹴り | Edge of the Foot Kick (typically downward angle) |
| Sote Uchi | 槍手打ち | Spearhand Strike |
| Soto Uke | 外受け | Outside Block |
| Sukunaihayashi ryu | 少林流 | Small Forest (Sukunaihayashi) style - Attributed to Kyan Chotoku |
| Sunadokei Dachi | 砂時計立ち | Hourglass Stance - AKA Sanchin Dachi (三戦立ち) |
| Sune Geri | 脛蹴り | Shin Kick |
| Supainpe | 壱百零八 | Kata: One Hundred and Eight |
