 |
|
|
 |
Simply Counting
| English |
Japanese Character |
Japanese |
|
1
|
|
ichi
|
|
2
|
|
ni
|
|
3
|
|
san
|
|
4
|
|
chi
|
|
5
|
|
go
|
|
6
|
|
roku
|
|
7
|
|
shichi
|
|
8
|
|
hachi
|
|
9
|
|
ku
|
|
10
|
|
juu
|
Stance and posture
| dachi |
stance (see also `gamae'; in some karate styles, notably wado-ryu, the word `gamae' is used more-or-less wherever a shotokan practictioner would say `dachi') |
| kamae |
posture (subtly different from `stance', and tends to denote the position of the upper body. |
| hachi-dachi |
open-leg stance; heels shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forwards, arms relaxed, hands in fists |
| kokutsu-dachi |
back stance: legs about shoulder-width apart side-to-side, and two shoulder widths front-to-back. Most weight on back foot, back and front legs slightly bent. Front heel and big toe make a line with the back heel |
| mosubi-dachi |
informal attention stance: heels touching, feet make a `V' shape |
| kiba-dachi |
`horse riding' stance: feet two shoulder-widths apart and parallel, knees bent |
| neko-ashi-dachi |
cat stance (literally `cat foot stance') |
| yoi |
attention stance; rather informal way of saying `shizentai' |
| zenkutsu-dachi |
Front stance: legs about shoulder-width apart side-to-side, and two shoulder widths front-to-back. Front leg bent so that knee is aproximately over toes of front foot. |
Blocks and defences
| age uke |
rising block |
| gedan barai |
downward block (more accurately `low-level sweep') |
| juuji uke |
`X' block or cross block |
| soto uke |
outside forearm block. |
| shuto (uke) |
knife-hand block; also sometimes called (more in keeping with the Japanese) `sword hand block'. |
| uchi (chudan) uke |
inside forearm block. Often abbreviatef to `uchi uke', as distinct from `soto uke' -- outside block. |
| uke |
block (strictly, `reception'. The Japanse term reinforces the idea that the defender should receive (catch, absorb) the attack rather than intercept it with brute force, which is what `block' implies). The word `uke' may be accompanied by a word that denotes the direction or style of the block (e.g., `uchi uke' -- inside block) or the target area that is being defended (e.g., `jodan uke' -- high-level block). |
Hand and arm strikes
| Seikan tsuki |
straight punch |
| enpi |
elbow strike |
| gyaku tsuki |
`Reverse' denotes the reversal of leads of the arm and the leg, that is, the punch is delivered from the side of the body which is not leading. It does not denote the rotation of the wrist. Unlike oi tsuki, it is not technically incorrect to speak of delivery gyaku tsuki while standing still. |
| kizami |
jab |
| oi tsuki |
step or lunge punch. Technically you can't deliver oi tsuki while stationary; the term does not describe the way the punch is thrown using the arm, but the fact that you are in pursuit (oi) of your opponent. If you are standing still then you're probably doing choku tsuki if you're punching with the leading arm. |
| tsuki |
punch (perhaps a better translation of the word would be `thrust', but `punch' is a better translation of the action itself) |
| nukite uchi |
spear-hand strike (`nukite' means `penetration') |
| tettsui |
hammer fist strike, also called `mace hand' (mace as in a stick with a big weight on the end, not the tear gas spray) |
| uchi |
strike (other than a simple punch, which is `tsuki'); also used in `uchi ude uke' -- inside forearm block. |
| uraken uchi |
back-fist strike |
| ura tsuki |
uppercut; more accurately `back punch', but often translated `close-up punch' or the like |
Foot and leg strikes
| geri |
(sometimes pronounced `keri') kick |
| ashi barai |
foot sweep |
| mae geri |
front kick |
| mawashi geri |
roundhouse kick |
| mikazuki geri |
crescent kick, also called `hook kick' or `drop kick' (`mikazuki' is a new moon in Japanese) |
| ushiro geri |
back kick (that is, a kick behind you) |
| yoko (geri) kokomi |
side kick with `thrusting' action. Technically the word `keage' includes the symbol for `keru' (kick), so `yoko geri kokomi' would mean something like `side kick thrust kick'. |
| yoko (geri) keage |
side kick with `snapping' action. As with `yoko kokomi', the use of the additional word `geri' in this phrase is considered illiterate by pedants, but it's not unusual |
Anatomical and targetting
| ashi |
foot or lower leg |
| chudan |
mid-level (typically aimed at the solar plexus) |
| enpi |
elbow |
| gedan |
low level (anything below the belt) |
| hara |
see `tanden' |
| jodan |
upper level (typically aimed at the head) |
| haito |
`ridge hand'; the edge of the hand with the thumb |
| hidari |
left (as in left-hand). Normally used in descriptions of stances |
| migi |
right (as in right-hand). Normally used in descriptions of stances |
| seiken |
`forefist'. Since most hand strikes are with the forefist, the term is not used all that much |
| teisho |
`palm heel'; the palm of the hand when the fingers are drawn back |
| sokuto |
`knife foot'; foot position for side kicks. The term is also used in some clubs to mean the kick itself |
| shuto |
`knife hand'; also used as abbreviation for `shuto uke' -- knife hand block |
| tanden |
the power centre of the body. Breathe should be executed from your tanden (also refered to as dantien) |
| uraken |
`back fist'. Usually used in `uraken uchi' which is a blow delivered with the back of the fist rather than the knuckles and forefingers. |
Training methods and practical matters
| dan |
graduate. `Dan grades' are black-belt grades (there are 10 Dans) |
| dojo |
training hall (literally `place of the way'); a place for enlightment |
| gohon kumite |
five-step sparring |
| ippon kumite |
one-step sparring |
| jiyuu kumite |
free sparring |
| kata |
preset sequences of moves |
| kihon |
fundamentals (the practice of stances, blows, blocks, etc) |
| gi |
(also `dogi' or `do-gi' or `karate-gi') uniform |
| kime |
focus (literally `decision' or `committment') |
| kumite |
sparring |
| kyu |
student. `Kyu grades' are pre-black-belt grades |
| kyoshi |
"teaching master" |
| obi |
belt |
| sanbon kumite |
three-step sparring |
| sempai |
mentor, sponsor, or patron. A good sempai will not hesitate to give you individual help in your training in addition to the instruction you receive from your sensei. He or she will understand your difficulties and frustrations and assist you in solving any problems in your study of Karatedo. |
| sensei |
teacher (more deferential form of `kyoshi') . "One who has gone before" in Karatedo and in life. Your sensei is your mentor and he or she will guide you not only in Karatedo but in every day life. |
| shihan |
honorific term meaning `expert'; loosely translated as `master' |
| shodan |
first. When used in terms of grading or attainment it means the first black-belt grade. The term is also used generally to mean the first of a series, e.g., heian shodan -- the first shotokan kata. |
| shomen |
founder, or front. Literally `sho-men', `first head'. Now only used in ritualistic formulations like `shomen no rei' -- `we bow to the founder', which could also be translated as `we bow to the front'. |
Commands, greetings, etc
| hajime |
begin; usually used in the context of sparring. Since it tends to be yelled, it usually ends up pronounced `-jime'. |
| kiai |
yell ("meeting of the spirits") |
| kosa |
switch feet |
| mawatte |
turn around. Normally used to mean `face the opposite direction' |
| mokuso |
meditate; not usually in the zen sense, but rather in the `compose yourself' sense |
| osu! |
(usually mispronounced `oss' or `oos' ) Difficult to translate accurately, the term is often used to mean `yes' or `OK' . A more accurate translation might be `"Yes, I understand, I will do my best". This is way it must be said from your "heart" with lots of sprit! |
| rei |
bow |
| seiza |
sit down |
| yame |
stop (sometimes interpreted as `relax'; a better word for relax is `yasume') |
|
|
|
|
|
|
