TERMINOLOGY

NIHONGO SHIRANAI KA

During class, you may notice that there are many strange words being shouted at you. Don't worry, you don't need to learn the whole Japanese language to understand. Just most of it.

COUNTING

Number Japanese Pronunciation

1 ichi eech

2 ni nee

3 san sahn

4 shi shee

5 go goh

6 roku rohk

7 shichi sheech

8 hachi hahch

9 kyuu kyoo

10 juu joo

Kanji

GENERAL

Kihon (kee-hohn) - basic techniques
Kata (kah-tah) - pre arranged forms consisting of techniques
Kumite (koo-mee-teh) - sparring
Osu (ohss) - used to mean almost anything; an affirmative, an agreement, a greeting, etc.
Kime (kee-meh) - focus
Kiai (kee-aee) - spirit yell to focus and strenghten techniques; a "coming together of decision/spirit/energy"
Johdan (joh-dahn) - upper level i.e. face, chin, head
Chuudan (choo-dahn) - mid-level i.e. chest, stomach
Gedan (geh-dahn) - low-level i.e. groin, knees, shins
Dojo kun (doh-joh koon) - the five precepts of shotokan karate

COMMANDS

Yoi (yoy) - get ready (into ready stance)
Hajime (hah-jee-meh) - begin
Yame (yah-meh) - stop
Yasume (yah-su-meh) - relax
Mawatte (mah-wah-teh) - turn around (in stance)
Rei (ray) - bow
Shomen ni rei (shoh-men nee ray) - bow to the front (of the dojo)
Sensei ni rei (sen-say nee ray) - bow to instructor
Otaigai ni rei (oh-tai-gai nee ray) - bow to each other (partner)
Seiza (say-zah) - sit (in Japanese formal sitting position)
Mokusoh (mohk-soh) - meditate

STANCES

Zenkutsu dachi (zen-koo-tsoo dah-chee) - front stance
Kokutsu dachi (koh-koo-tsoo dah-chee) - back stance
Kiba dachi (kee-bah dah-chee) - side stance (horseriding/straddle stance)
Hachiji dachi (hah-chee-jee dah-chee) - ready stance (yoi position)

BLOCKS

Age uke (ah-geh oo-keh) - rising block
Gedan barai (geh-dahn bah-raee) - downward block
Soto uke (soh-toh oo-keh) - outside forearm block
Uchi uke (oo-chee oo-keh) - inside forearm block
Shuto uke (shoo-toh oo-keh) - knifehand block

ARM TECHNIQUES

Oi zuki (oy zoo-kee) - stepping punch
Gyaku zuki (gyah-koo zoo-kee) - reverse punch
Kizami zuki (kee-zah-mee zoo-kee) - jab
Sanbon zuki (sahn-bohn zoo-kee) - triple punch
Nukite (noo-kee-teh) - spearhand strike
Empi uchi (em-pee oo-chee) - elbow strike
Uraken (oo-rah-ken) - backfist strike
Tettsui (tet-soo-ee) - hammerfist strike

LEG TECHNIQUES

Mae geri (maee geh-ree) - front snap kick
Yoko geri keage (yoh-koh geh-ree keh-ah-geh) - side snap kick
Yoko geri kekomi (yoh-koh geh-ree keh-koh-mee) - side thrust kick
Kizami geri (kee-zah-mee geh-ree) - front leg snap kick
Mawashi geri (mah-wah-shee geh-ree) - roundhouse kick
Ushiro geri (oo-shee-roh geh-ree) - back thrust kick
Nidan geri (nee-dahn geh-ree) - double kick
Hiza geri (hee-zah geh-ree) - knee strike