top of page

Terminology

Counting

1 - Ichi

2 - Ni

3 - San

4 - Shi

5 - Go

6 - Roku

7 - Shichi

8 - Hachi

9 - Ku

10 - Ju

11 - Ju ichi

12 - Ju ni

13 - Ju san

14 - Ju shi

15 - Ju go

16 - Ju roku

17 - Ju shichi

18 - Ju hachi

19 - Ju ku

20 - Ni 

Common Terms

Japanese

  • Ko Ryu Uchina-di

  • Kenpo Jutsu

  • Karate (car-ra-tay)

  • Sensei (sen-say)

  • Senpai (sem-pie)

  • Kohai (koe-hi)

  • Dojo (doe-joe)

  • Obi (oh-bee)

  • Gi (gee)

English meaning

  • Old style Okinawan Hand

  • (Fujian Quanfa) Art

  • Empty hand

  • Instructor / Teacher

  • Assistant Instructor / Teacher

  • Junior, one being mentored

  • Training hall

  • Belt

  • Uniform

Reishiki (ray-she-key) - Etiquette and meanings

  • Kiyosuke (key-o-ski) - Come to Attention

  • Otsukare samma deshita (ots-kara summer desh-ta) - Your time has been well spent, said to fellow students when bowing at the end of class.

  • Seiza (say-za) - Kneel down (formal posture).

  • Mokuso (mock-so) - Close eyes, meditate.

  • Yame (yar-may) - End, finish, stop.

  • Shomen ni (show-men-nee) - Face towards the front.

  • Rei (ray) - Bow, show courtesy.

  • Sensei ni (sensay nee) - Courtesy to the Instructor/Teacher.

  • Otagai ni (o-toe-gar-nee) - Courtesy to each other.

  • Keritsu (care-rit-sue) - Stand up.

  • Onegaishimasu (ona-gashi-mas) - Said when entering the Dojo, to the Instructor at the start of class and to fellow students before and after training.

  • Domo arigato gozaimashita (domo_ah-ree-ga-toe-go-zar-ee-mush-ta) - Formal Thank you / Courtesy to the Instructor/Teacher when bowing out at the end of class.

Prepare for Training

  • Junbi undo (joon-be oondo) - Warm up exercises.

  • Hai (short, sharp Hi) - Yes.

  • Seri undo (sare-ree oondo) - Cool down exercises.

  • Antai gouwa - Opposite direction.

  • Moichido (moe-itchy-doe) - One more time.

Kihon Waza (key-hon wah-zah) - Basic Techniques

Tsuki waza (tskey wah-zah) - Punching techniques.

Jodan (joe-dan) - Upper level.

Chudan (chew-dan) - Middle level.

Gedan (gay-dan) - Lower level.

Kiai (key-i) - Shout with Spirit.

Receiving Techniques

  • Shiho uke waza (she-hoe oo-kay wah-zah - 4 directional receiving techniques.

  • Hidari (he-dar-ree) - Left.

  • Migi (mi-gee) - Right.

  • Jodan uke (joe-dan oo-kay) - Rising block.

  • Gedan barai uke (gay-dan baa-rah-ee oo-kay) - Downward block.

  • Uchi uke (oo-chee oo-kay) - Inside block.

  • Soto uke (so-toh oo-kay) - Outside block.

  • Kake uke (kar-kay oo-kay) - Seizing block.

  • Shuto uke (shoe-toe oo-kay) - Sword-hand block.

Drills

  • Haishu waza (hi-shoe wah-zah) - Combination strikes.

  • Ashisabaki  - Foot movement.

  • Kaishu waza (ki-shoe wah-zah) - Techniques with open hand.

  • Keri waza (care-ree wah-zah) - Kicking techniques.

  • Kamae waza (car-my-ee wah-zah) - Defensive postures, stances.

  • Ne waza (nay wah-zah) - Ground techniques.

  • Futari geiko (foo-tar-ree gay-koe) - Partner drill from solo exercise.

  • Tegumi (tay-goo-me) - 2 person exercise.

  • Kata (carta) - Fixed pattern.

  • ​Kumite (koo-mit-tay) - Free fighting.

  • Taisabaki (ty-sar-barky) - Body movement.

Geri (gairy) - Kicks

Dachi (dutchee) - Stances

  • Mae geri (my-ee gairy) - Front kick.

  • Mikazuki geri - Crescent kick.

  • Mawashi geri (ma-wash gairy) - Round house  (turning kick).

  • Yoko geri (yoe-koe gairy) - Side kick.

  • Musubi dachi (moo-soo-bee dutchee) - Informal attention.

  • Kamae ite (ka-my it-tay) - Assume ready, first stance.

  • Hatchi monji dachi (hutchee monjee dutchee) - Figure 8 stance.

  • Shiko duchi (shee-ko dutchee) - Sumo stance.

  • Zenkutsu dachi (zen-coot-soo dutchee) - Forward stance.

  • Gyaku zenkutsu dachi (gee-ar-koo zen-coot-soo dutchee) - Reverse forward stance.

  • Neko ashi dachi (necko ashy dutchee) - Cat leg (foot) stance.

  • Tsuru ashi dachi or Ippon ashi dachi (tsooroo ashy dutchee) - Crane leg stance or one leg stance.

  • Koza dachi (koe-za dutchee) - Crossed leg stance.

bottom of page