Terminology

Basic terms

KarateEmpty hand
KaratekaPractitioner of karate
GiKarate suit
ObiBelt
DojoTraining place
DoWay or path
RyuSchool

Replies

OnegaiasimasuPlease teach me
Arigato gosaimashitaThank you for the training (Just finished)
Hai (Sensei)Yes (Teacher)
IieNo

Numbers

IchiOne
NiTwo
SanThree
ShiFour
GoFive
RokuSix
ShichiSeven
HachiEight
KuNine
JuTen
Ju ichiEleven
Ju niTwelve
Ni juTwenty

Grades

SokeFounder (Shosaku Ueno)
KyoshiMaster
ShihanBranch leader
RenshiSenior instructor
SenseiTeacher (must be Dan grade)
SempaiSenior (Relative to you)
DanDegree (of black belt)
KyuStudent grade

Training forms

Jumbi UndoWarm up exercises
KihonBasics (Standing still)
Zenshin KotaiForwards and Backwards
Yakusoku KumitePair work
Goshin JitsuSelf defence
Tanken SabakiKnife defences (form)
(Jiyu) KumiteFree fighting
KataPreset sequence (form)
Sieibi UndoCool down exercises

Commands

ShugoLine up
YoiReady stance
KirritsuStand to attention
SeizaKneel
Shomen ni mokusoMeditate to front
Ryshin KunRecite rules
Shizukani meoaketeStop meditation
Shomen reiBow to front, to Soke, to Dojo
Sensei ni reiBow to teacher
Shihan ni reiBow to chief instructor
Otagai ni reiBow to each other
ReiBow
HajimeBegin
YameFinish
NaoteBack to position
UkuriPiece by piece
MawatteTurn
RenshuPractice
KyukeiRest
KamaeteGet ready
HidariLeft
MigiRight
ShinkokyuRelax heart/mind breathing

Basics (Kihons)

Chudan zukiMiddle punch
ShomengeriFront kick
Shuto uchiSide hand strike
YokogeriSide kick
KukanzukiTurning (reverse) punch
MawashigeriRoundhouse kick
Gohon zukiFive punches
UshirogeriBack kick
Ushiro mawashigeriBack hook kick
Lasen shuto uchiReverse side hand strike
Neko ashi dachiBack cat stance
Shizen Dachi Jodan Renzoku MawashigeriDouble roundhouse kick from kick boxing stance

Zenshin Kotai

Oi zukiLunge punch
Yoko zukiSide punch
Shuto ukeSide hand block
Jodan ukeUpper block
Chudan ukeMiddle block
GyakuzukiReverse punch
Gedan baraiLower level block (Sweeping)
Empi ateElbow strike
ShomengeriFront kick
YokogeriSide kick
MawashigeriRoundhouse kick
UshirogeriBack kick
Lasen shuto uchiReverse side hand strike

Stances

Yoi (dachi)Ready stance
Shiko ashi (dachi)Horse stance
Zenkutsu dachiFront stance
Neko ashi dachiCat stance
Hanmi dachiOpen side stance

Heights

GedanLower
ChudanMid-section
JodanUpper

Concepts

KiaiSpirit cry
ZanshinAwareness (reflective heart/mind)
KimeFocus
MaaiDistancing

Ryushin Kun

As part of the dojo etiquete we remind ourselves of the principles of our trainingby reciting at the beginning of each training session

Japanese
(Phonetic)
English
Mokuso ni yori, hansei o wasu rezu
(Mock so nee your ree, han-say, oh woz oo rez oo)
While meditating reflect on yourself
Reigi ni yori, kansha o wasu rezu
(Raygee nee your ree, can sha, oh woz oo rez oo)
Be polite, well mannered, and grateful
Shisei ya kotobawa, tsuneni mohan to naru bashi
(Shee-say-yah, cot-o-bah-wah, tsue nay nee, mo han, toe na roo besh)
Set an example by good posture and good speech

At the end of the training session

Shoshin o wasurezu, kyodo seishin o, takameru beshi
(Show shin, oh woz oo rez oo, kee yoo doh, sen-shin-oh, tack a merroo besh )
Develop your heart and mind as well as your body, and be kind to beginners and those who haven’t trained
Shinkon o sosogi, jinkaku kansei ni tsumeru beshi
(Shin con-oh-so-soggy, jin cack coo can say-nee, tsue merroo besh)
Practice karate with heart, mind, and spirit, and try to perfect your personality
Renshu ni yori, fukutsu na seishin to, kyojin na shintai o tsukuru beshi
(Ren-shoe-nee your ree, foo cou tsue nah say shin toe, kee-yoh-jin nah shin tie oh, tsue koo roo besh)
Practice with unyielding spirit, and with your heart, mind and body acting together
Gen yori mo, karada o motte, shinri o kiwameru beshi
(Gen-your ree-moe, ca rah dah oh mottay, shin-ri-oh key wah merroo besh)
Karate is learnt by doing, not talking

Bowing On

The following is a list of commands you could expect to hear at the beginning and end of the session

“Kirritsu” (Krittz)Stand to attention
“Seiza” (Say-za)Kneel
“Shomen mokuso” (Show-man mock-so)Meditate to front
“Shizukani meoakeitei” (Shes-oo-car-nee mayo-ark-a-tay)Stop meditation
“Shomen rei” (Show-men ree)Bow to front, to Soke, to Dojo
“Yame” (Yah-may)Finish
“Sensei ni rei” (Sen-say-ni ree)Bow to teacher
“Shizukani meoakeitei” (Shes-oo-car-nee mayo-ark-a-tay)Stop meditation

Either student reply when bowing on

“Onegaisimasu” (On egg guy ass imas)Please teach me

Or student reply when bowing off

“Arigato gozaimashita” (Ari gat oh goz eye im ashta)Thank you for the training

Final sequence

“Otagai ni rei” (Ott ag an ni ree)Bow to each other
“Yame” (Ya-may)Finish
“Kirritsu” (Krittz)Stand to attention

Once standing, bow to the front, all bow to Sensei, and then all bow to each other.