Terms used in the Dojo

There are many Japanese terms used in the dojo. The following are the most common terms you will hear while training. As you advance in rank, you are expected to learn and understand more and more of these terms. This information is also available as a pdf.

 
  JAPANESE EFFECTIVE TRANSLATION
 
 
  Goju-ryu Hard-soft style
  Karate-do Empty hand Way
     
  Formal Phrases
  
  Onegai shimasu Please do me the favor (of)
  Arigato gozaimasu Thank you
  Douzo Here/Please
  Shitsure shimasu Excuse me
  Mo ichi do/Mo i kai
 One more time
  Seiza Sitting on heels, sitting politely
  Mokuso Meditate
 
 
  Titles
  
  Kancho Head of School (Kimo Sensei)
  Sensei Teacher
  Yudansha Blackbelt level students
  Sempai Senior
  Kohai Junior
  Mon-te Other students/Followers
  --San Mr./Ms. --, polite form of address
     
 
Commands
  Shugo Formation/Make formation
  Kiotsuke Attention
  Rei Bow
  Yoi Formal position
  Arete Present hands/ready position
  Kamae ite Come to Kamae
  Hajime Begin
  Yame Stop
  Mawate/Mawashite Turn/Rotate
  Kakuji Free timing/By your own count
  Geritsu Stand up
  Suwate Sit down
     
   
     
  Fighting Terms  
  Kime Focus
  Ma-ai Range, engagement distance
  Kokyu Breath
  Kumite Fight, Contest
  Kiso/Yakuso Kumite Pre-arranged fight
  Ippon Kumite Single technique fight
  Ju Kumite Free fight
  Hara/Tanden Center/ Body's balance point
  Mune Chest
  Se Back
     
  Dojo Place of the Way
  Shomen Front of Dojo, symbolic for founder and teachers
  Kamidana Shrine
     
  Directions  
  Mae Front
  Ushiro Rear
  Migi Right
  Hidari Left
  Jodan Upper level/Head
  Chudan Middle level/Chest
  Gedan Lower level/Down
     
Numbers
Ichi 1
Ni 2
San 3
Shi/Yon 4
Go 5
Roku 6
Shichi/Nana 7
Hachi 8
Ku 9
Ju 10
Ju-ichi 11
Yon-ju-go 45
 
Karada
 Body
  Ashi Foot/leg
  Ude Arm
  Te Hand
  Kote Wrist
  Yubi Finger
  Ashiyubi Toe
  Kansetsu/Kubi Joint
  Atama Head
  Kubi Neck
  Kata Shoulder
  Hiji Elbow
  Koshi Lower Back
  O naka Stomach
  Hara/Tanden Center/ Body's balance point
  Mune Chest
  Se Back
  Mei Eye
  Mimi Ear
     
  Kihon Waza Basic Techniques
  Kamae Fighting/Combat position
  Kiai Spirit meeting/Spirit yell
  Meisuki Eye punch/keeping eye contact
     
  Dachi Stance
  Kihon/Sanchin Basic/Sanchin/Hourglass
  Neko ashi Cat Foot
  Zenkutsu Long or front
  Shiko Low / Straddle
  Shizentai Natural
  Rei Stance resembling character rei:
  Tsuru Crane/One foot
     
  Suki Thrust or Punch
  Seiken Power fist/Basic fist
  Shuto Knife edge/Chop
  Empi/hiji suki Elbow strike
  Hiraken Flat fist/2'nd knuckle fist
  Gyakuken Opposite fist/Undercut
  Kentsui Hammer fist
  Uraken Backfist/Snap
  Shote Palm strike
  Nuki te Knife hand/Fingertip strike
  Chukoken Middle knuckle fist
  Kekoken/Ipoken One knuckle/Foreknuckle fist
  Koken Wrist attack
     
  Keri/geri Kick
  Mae Front
  Ashi barai Foot sweep
  Fumikomi Stamp
  Kakuto Heel
  Uesokutei Ball of foot
  Tsumasaki Toe
  Sokuto Edge of the Foot
  Kosa geri Inside foot/cross
  Ushiro Back
  Hiku geri Pulling kick
  Hiza geri Knee kick
  Kin geri Groin kick
  Soto Side
  Mikazuki Inside crescent kick with sole of foot
  Mawashi Round (Roundhouse)
  Kekomi Pushing
  Keage Snap/Rising
  Ni-dan geri Two-level / Double kick
     
   
     
  Uke Defensive/responsive technique
  Hiki uke Pulling defense
  Kake uke Open/grabbing defense
  Ukesuki Block/punch
  Ura uke/kaku uke Back/hooking defense
  Ko uke Wrist defense
  Mawashi uke Turning/Rotating defense
  Juji uke Cross block
  Yama uke Mountain block
     
  General Techniques  
  Nage waza Throwing techniques
  Kansetsu waza Joint techniques
  Osu (to)Push
  Hiku (to)Pull
  Tobu (to)Jump, to fall
  Tsukamau (to)Grab
  Otosu (to) Get rid of a grab/to strip
  Tatsu (to) Strike
  Ukemi Passive/to receive/to roll
     
  Kata Form
  Koryu Classical
  Sanchin Three battles
  Saifa Break and tear
  Seiunchin Fight by pulling and controlling
  Shisochin Fighting in four directions
  Seipai 18 hands
  Sanseru 36 hands
  Sesan 13 hands
  Kurarunfa Hold in place and crush
  Suparinpe/Pichurin 108 hands
  Tensho Knock down/control with the palms
     
  Toitsu Fukyu Training (Standardization & Dissemination)
  Fukyu Dissemination
  Geki sai Attacking and smashing
  Geki ha Attacking and tearing
  Kaku ha A stork tearing (or rending)
     
   
     

 

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