Basic terms
Karate | Empty hand |
Karateka | Practitioner of karate |
Gi | Karate suit |
Obi | Belt |
Dojo | Training place |
Do | Way or path |
Ryu | School |
Replies
Onegaiasimasu | Please teach me |
Arigato gosaimashita | Thank you for the training (Just finished) |
Hai (Sensei) | Yes (Teacher) |
Iie | No |
Numbers
Ichi | One |
Ni | Two |
San | Three |
Shi | Four |
Go | Five |
Roku | Six |
Shichi | Seven |
Hachi | Eight |
Ku | Nine |
Ju | Ten |
Ju ichi | Eleven |
Ju ni | Twelve |
Ni ju | Twenty |
Grades
Soke | Founder (Shosaku Ueno) |
Kyoshi | Master |
Shihan | Branch leader |
Renshi | Senior instructor |
Sensei | Teacher (must be Dan grade) |
Sempai | Senior (Relative to you) |
Dan | Degree (of black belt) |
Kyu | Student grade |
Training forms
Jumbi Undo | Warm up exercises |
Kihon | Basics (Standing still) |
Zenshin Kotai | Forwards and Backwards |
Yakusoku Kumite | Pair work |
Goshin Jitsu | Self defence |
Tanken Sabaki | Knife defences (form) |
(Jiyu) Kumite | Free fighting |
Kata | Preset sequence (form) |
Sieibi Undo | Cool down exercises |
Commands
Shugo | Line up |
Yoi | Ready stance |
Kirritsu | Stand to attention |
Seiza | Kneel |
Shomen ni mokuso | Meditate to front |
Ryshin Kun | Recite rules |
Shizukani meoakete | Stop meditation |
Shomen rei | Bow to front, to Soke, to Dojo |
Sensei ni rei | Bow to teacher |
Shihan ni rei | Bow to chief instructor |
Otagai ni rei | Bow to each other |
Rei | Bow |
Hajime | Begin |
Yame | Finish |
Naote | Back to position |
Ukuri | Piece by piece |
Mawatte | Turn |
Renshu | Practice |
Kyukei | Rest |
Kamaete | Get ready |
Hidari | Left |
Migi | Right |
Shinkokyu | Relax heart/mind breathing |
Basics (Kihons)
Chudan zuki | Middle punch |
Shomengeri | Front kick |
Shuto uchi | Side hand strike |
Yokogeri | Side kick |
Kukanzuki | Turning (reverse) punch |
Mawashigeri | Roundhouse kick |
Gohon zuki | Five punches |
Ushirogeri | Back kick |
Ushiro mawashigeri | Back hook kick |
Lasen shuto uchi | Reverse side hand strike |
Neko ashi dachi | Back cat stance |
Shizen Dachi Jodan Renzoku Mawashigeri | Double roundhouse kick from kick boxing stance |
Zenshin Kotai
Oi zuki | Lunge punch |
Yoko zuki | Side punch |
Shuto uke | Side hand block |
Jodan uke | Upper block |
Chudan uke | Middle block |
Gyakuzuki | Reverse punch |
Gedan barai | Lower level block (Sweeping) |
Empi ate | Elbow strike |
Shomengeri | Front kick |
Yokogeri | Side kick |
Mawashigeri | Roundhouse kick |
Ushirogeri | Back kick |
Lasen shuto uchi | Reverse side hand strike |
Stances
Yoi (dachi) | Ready stance |
Shiko ashi (dachi) | Horse stance |
Zenkutsu dachi | Front stance |
Neko ashi dachi | Cat stance |
Hanmi dachi | Open side stance |
Heights
Gedan | Lower |
Chudan | Mid-section |
Jodan | Upper |
Concepts
Kiai | Spirit cry |
Zanshin | Awareness (reflective heart/mind) |
Kime | Focus |
Maai | Distancing |
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 |