Terminology

Counting in Japanese

• ichi (it-chee) one
• ni (knee) two
• san (sahn) three
• chi (she) four
• go (go) five
• roku (roke) six
• shichi (Sit-chee) seven
• hachi (Hot-chee) eight
• ku (koo) nine
• ju (joo) ten

General Karate Terminology

• Dojo (doh-joh) Training Hall
• Gi (gee) Training Uniform   (Obi oh-bee) belt
• Hai (hah-ee) Yes
• Hajime (ha-jee-mae) begin
• Ibuki (ee-boo-key) breathing
• Karate-do (kara-tay-doe) way of the empty hand
• Karate-ka (kara-tay-ka) Karate student
• Kata (ka-ta) Prearranged form, set of movements and techniques
• Kiai (kee-ah-ee) Spirit shout
• Kihon (key-hone) Basics
• Kime (key-mae) focus at point of impact
• Kumite (kew-me-tae) Sparring
• Mawatte (ma-wa-tay) Turn
• Moichido (moe-eech-ee-doe) Once again
• Osu (oos) Formal salute or affirmation
• Rei (ray) Bow
• Seiza (say-za) Formal kneeling position
• Sensei (sen-say) Teacher
• Shotokan (show-toe-kan) Style of karate founded by Gichin Funakoshi
• tsuki(zuki) (zoo-key) Punch
• uchi (oo-chee) Strike
• uke (00-kay) Block
• Waza (wah-zah) Techniques
• Yame (ya-may) Stop
• Yoi (yo-ee) Ready
• dachi (dah-chee) Stance
• keri(geri) (gary) Kick
• do (doh) Way, ie. karate-do "the way of karate"
• budo (boo-doh) Martial way, the way of preventing violence
• maai (mah-eye): distance
• shomen (show-men): "front" of the dojo
• yasume (yah-soo-may): relax or rest
• matte (mah-tay): wait
• kamae-te (kah-my-tay): fighting posture
  
  
  

• Taikyoku Shodan (tie-key'oh-koo) (show-don):
• Taikyoku Nidan (tie-key'oh koo) (nee-don):
• Taikyoku Sandan (tie-key'oh-koo) (sawn-don):First Cause
• Heian (hay-on): Peaceful Mind
• Heian Shodan (show-don): first level of
• Heian Nidan (nee-don): second level of
• Heian Sandan (sawn-don): third level of
• Heian Yondan (yone-don): fourth level of
• Heian Godan (goe-don): fifth level of
• Tekki Shodan (tek-key) (show-don): Iron Horse
• Tekki Nidan (tek-key) (nee-don):
• Tekki Sandan (tek-key) (sawn-don):
• Bassai Dai (bah-s'eye)(die): "To Penetrate a Fortress"
• Kanku Dai (kan-koo)(die):"To View the Heavens"
• Jion (jee-ohn): Buddhist temple "Gentle Kindness"
• Empi (em-pee): "Flying Swallow"
• Hangetsu (hawn-geh-t'soo): "Half Moon"
• Chinte (cheen-tay): "Extraordinary Hands"
• Jitte (jee-tay): "Ten Hands"
• Jiin (jee-een): "Place of Mercy"
• Nijushiho (nee-joo-shee-hoe): Twenty-four Steps"
• Gankaku (gahn-kah-koo): "Crane on a Rock"
• Sochin (soe-cheen): "Grand Suppression"
• Gojushiho Sho (goe-joo-shee-hoe) (show): "Fifty-four Step" (minor)
• Gojushiho Dai (goe-joo-shee-hoe) (die): "Fifty-four Step" (major)
• Unsu (oon-soo): "Cloud Hands"
• Kanku Sho (kan-koo) (show)
• Meikyo (may-ee-k'yoe): "Bright Mirror"
• Wankan (wahn-kahn): "King's Crown
• Kakuyoku Shodan and Nidan
  Suishu
  Kashu
  Hachimon
  Senka
  Meikyo Nidan