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Japanese and English Terminology

In keeping with the traditional nature of our system, Japanese terms are used in practice. You are expected to recognize the instructions routinely given during class and to learn the Japanese and English names for all the techniques you are taught. The following are terms that should be familiar at the level of hachikyu (yellow belt); there are many others, but these represent the basis of karatedo training.

INSTRUCTIONS

Keoskite                  Attention
Rei                       Bow
Hajime                    Begin
Mawate                    Turn around
Yame                      Stop (immediately)
Tome                      Return to original location
Yoi                       Return to ready stance
Tachi zen                 Standing meditation
Zazen                     Seated meditation
Seiza                     Formal seated position (kneeling)
Agura                     Informal seated position (feet in front)

NUMBERING SYSTEM

1        ichi                  6        roku
2        ni                    7        shichi
3        san                   8        hachi
4        shi                   9        ku
5        go                    10       ju

GREETINGS AND RESPONSES

Onigashimasu                 Please teach me.
Gokorosan                    Thank you for doing what was 
                             expected.
Domo arrigato gozai-imasu    Thank you very much.
Osu (Oosss!)                 Let's train hard and persevere!
Hai                          Yes
Iie (ee yeh)                 No
Ohiyo gozai-imasu            Good morning.
Konnichi wa                  Good day.
Kon bon wa                   Good evening (after dark)

METHODS OF TRAINING

Kihon waza                   Basic techniques
Kata                         Formal exercises
Kumite                       Sparring
Kubudo                       Weapons training
Ippon kumite                 One-step sparring
Jiyu kumite                  Free sparring

TACHI WAZA (Theory and practice of standing)

Zenkutsu dachi               Front-leaning stance
Kokutsu dachi                Back-leaning stance
Kiba dachi                   Horse-riding stance
Neko ashi dachi              Cat stance
Heisoku dachi                Formal attention stance
Musubi dachi                 Informal attention stance
Yoi dachi                    Ready stance
Teiji dachi                  T stance
Reinoji dachi                L stance

UKE WAZA (Theory and practice of defense)

Age uke                      Rising block
Gedan barai                  Downward parry
Uchi uke                     Middle block (outside of forearm)
Soto uke                     Middle block (inside of forearm)
Shuto uke                    Knifehand block
Heiwan uke                   High forearm block
Osae uke                     Pressing block
Morote uke                   Supported block
Juji uke                     Cross block
Kakiwake uke                 Wedge block

TSUKI WAZA (Theory and practice of punching)

Seiken                       Fist
Hon tsuki                    Frontal punch
Gyaku tsuki                  Reverse punch
Oi tsuki                     Lunge punch
Nidan tsuki                  Double punch
Gedan tsuki                  Punch to lower target
Chudan tsuki                 Punch to middle target
Jodan tsuki                  Punch to upper target

GERI WAZA (Theory and practice of kicking)

Ashi                         Foot
Kekomi                       Thrusting kick
Keage                        Snapping kick
Mae geri                     Front kick
Yoko geri                    Side kick
Mawashi geri                 Roundhouse kick
Mikazuki geri                Cresant kick
Ushiro geri                  Back kick
Tobi geri                    Jumping kick
Kin geri                     Groin kick
Ago geri                     Chin kick

UCHI WAZA (Theory and practice of striking)

Shuto uchi                   Knifehand strike
Hiiji uchi or empi uchi      Elbow strike
Hiza uchi                    Knee strike
Nukite uchi                  Spearhead strike
Tettsui uchi                 Hammerfist strike
Uraken uchi                  Backfist strike

UKEMI WAZA (Theory and practice of falling)
KANSETSU WAZA (Theory and practice of joint techniques)
NAGE WAZA (Theory and practice of throwing techniques)

CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES

Budo                         Way of martial arts
Dojo                         Training gym (place of the Way)
Bushido                      Way of the samurai (bushi)
Gi                           Practice uniform
Taitaikyo                    Dojo etiquette
Kohai                        A student junior to oneself
Sempai                       Senior student
Yudansha                     Black belt
Sensei                       Teacher
Uke                          One who receives a technique
Tore                         One who executes a technique
Ai uchi                      Mutual killing
Ai nuke                      Mutual preservation
Bunkai                       Applications of kata techniques
Irimi                        To enter into an attack
Tenkan                       To turn and dissipate an attack
Tai sabaki                   To evade and counterattack
Kuzushi                      Balance, body alignment
Tanden or hara               Center of the body
Miai                         Distancing
Musubi                       Harmony
Gedan                        Low target (groin)
Chudan                       Middle target (solar plexus)
Jodan                        High target (lower part of face)
Ki                           Spirit, energy, life force, mind
Kiai                         Spirit-unifying shout
Kime                         Focus of power
Isshin                       One heart or mind
Zanshin                      Reflecting heart or mind
Mushin                       No heart or mind