Rainhill Kase Ha Shotokan Karate Academy
Terminology
Karate has its own unique terminology, and even though it is taught all over the world, and in many different languages, it is still common in most dojos to give some commands including counting, in Japanese.
The following links are of Japanese words and their English translation together with an explanation of concepts that are commonly used and discussed during training sessions and students should familiarise themselves with these terms.
The lists are not exhaustive and should be viewed as a starting point in the students own effort to further their knowledge of karate. Further information is contained in the glossary.
Counting in Japanese
In most dojo's today, the language of the dojo will often include some Japanese. One of the most frequent times that Japanese will be spoken is when the Sensei or one of the senior students is counting out loud. Learning to count in Japanese is really quite simple, and since these commands are used often, and repeated over and over again, at least up to the number ten, you are bound to catch on quickly.
If you are ever asked to count during a class try to do so in Japanese, do so in a loud firm voice but don't shout. If you are counting to keep the rhythm, e.g. to standing punches, count before you punch, not during, or after your technique is finished.
In order to learn count up to ninety-nine all you really need to know are the Japanese terms for the numbers 1 to 10, after which it is just a matter of remembering to combine these numbers in a specific sequence to get the desired result.
The numbers from one to ten are pronounced as follows:
- ichi,
- ni,
- san,
- shi,
- go,
- roku,
- shichi,
- hachi,
- kyu,
- ju.
In most dojos the "count" during class will normally only go up to ten, at which point the count usually starts over again at the number one, with this pattern repeating it's self as often as maybe required.
Above ten the numbers are pronounced differently, e.g. 11 in Japanese is translated as "10 plus 1":
- ju ichi,
- ju ni,
- ju san,
- ju shi,
- ju go,
- ju roku,
- ju shichi,
- ju hachi,
- ju kyu.
Above the number twenty the numbers are again pronounced in a slightly different manner, e.g. 20 in Japanese translates as "2 - 10's" , 21 would be translated as "2 - 10's plus 1"
- ni ju,
- ni juichi,
- ni juni,
and so on - all the way up to the number 99.
"Training Karate is like trying to make fire with wet matches. After several tries you may get some sparks, and if you are patient, you will get a fire that lasts forever".
Back to top
Concepts
Balance:
- from the moment you start to move from one stance to another, or from one technique to another, you are essentially risking all that you have in the hope of achieving something better,
- this period of transition often lasts for less than a split second of time,
- without proper balance a successful out come in anything karate related is virtually impossible,
- balance is the sum of all movement added together.
Chinkuchi:
- the tension or stability of the joints in the body for a firm stance, a powerful punch, or a strong block,
- the joints of the body are momentarily locked for an instant and concentration is focused on the point of contact,
- the stance is made firm by locking the joints of the lower body and by gripping the floor with the feet,
- a rapid free-flowing movement is suddenly stopped for a very short instant, on striking or blocking, as power is transferred,
- the tension must be released immediately for the next movement.
Fudoshin:
- is the 'immovable mind',
- is a state of complete composure and fearlessness,
- is essential in the practice of Budo,
- is a peaceful state of total determination and unshakable will,
- is the state of a spirit that is determined to win, and that is filled with courage, endurance and determination to surmount every obstacle that comes in its way,
- is a feeling of invincibility, of a mind that cannot be disturbed by confusion, hesitation, doubt, or fear,
- this state of mind was the essence of the Samurai and is today the essence of martial arts.
KI:
- is energy,
- is an elegant and ancient way of describing excellent physical synergies and mental focus acting harmoniously,
- is an experience, a feeling, of physical energies, physical skill, psychological focus, and confidence, when breathing, muscles, joints and the whole body move and act in a synergic and harmonious way, thereby allowing us to achieve higher efficiency in terms of strength, power, speed and precision, so high, that the effects, feelings and experiences can turn out quite amazing,
- when cultivated with proper breathing techniques, you can increase your strength and power to more than it's normal level,
- those karateka with ki are able to focus their minds and exploit synergies in any movement or technique they perform, being able to flow in that state where body and mind encompass the situation and become mutually self-aware.
Kiai:
- to unite the spirit or internal energies,
- the idea is to coordinate all of the entire being’s energy into the execution of the techniques,
- frequently done by forcing the air out of the diaphragm while executing a punch or kick,
- the forced exhale is what produces the loud shout one normally associates with a kiai,
- when done properly, a kiai unites one’s internal energies with the physical energy produced by the contraction of the muscle making the techniques incredibly powerful,
- to practice with kiai, imagine all of the energy of the entire being is being unified and projected outward as the technique is executed,
- there should be a feeling of intense focus,
- it helps to add the loud shout to some of the punches, kicks, or strikes in the kata.
Kime:
- is power and focus,
- is the instantaneous tensing at the correct moment during a technique,
- is the spirit and strength you show during kihon, kumite and kata; it is the sum of all your efforts,
- is a mental state in which your thinking is concentrated entirely on your opponent and their intersection with your technique at a specific moment and place in time,
- is expressed in the kiai which helps concentrate the maximum force at the moment of impact, coordinating the entire body to deliver a technique that detonates with Ki energy at the moment of impact,
- is reflected in the karateka's face and eyes which show the correct mental state, the truly empty mind focused on its one task, for producing maximum quickness and minimum reaction time,
- is expressed in kata by a synchronization of movement such that all moving parts of the body freeze simultaneously,
- no amount of strength, no amount of speed, and no amount of kiai can ever make up for a lack of kime,
- in your training you must believe in what you are doing, and that belief must have a definitive beginning and ending, an ending that you will find you can only reach by putting all of your other thoughts aside and focusing for as long as it takes to achieve your goal,
- without kime your karate has no value.
Kokyu:
- is breathing correctly,
- the body's oxygen supply is most important, especially during strenuous training sessions when more air is required,
- breathing comes from the tanden because one breathes naturally from the abdomen, pushing the belly out as one breathes in and gently pulling the stomach in as one breathes out,
- do not not visualize breathing as a nose, mouth, or throat technique but as a lower stomach technique,
- think "three part breathing" - inhale lower stomach, lungs, and then finally chest; then exhale in reverse order,
- kata practice is the ideal way to practice breathing:
- the idea is to coordinate breathing from the diaphragm with the execution of techniques which helps to control one’s respiration rate and may be used to augment power,
- to breathe from the diaphragm when inhaling, the lower belly (and not the chest) should expand first as air is brought into the lungs,
- to breathe from the diaphragm when exhaling, the lower belly should pull inwards to force the air out of the lungs,
- to practice coordinating breathing with the execution of techniques,
- inhale through the nose during the defensive blocking techniques,
- the offensive moves should be executed while breathing out through the mouth,
- the exhales should be short, focused, bursts of air done with the teeth together,
- this is sometimes described as “spitting” out the air.
- the breath may be a burst or normal expulsion of air,
- breathing is part of generating kime.
Mushin:
- is the essence of Zen and Japanese martial arts,
- literally means the "mind without mind", and it is commonly called "the state of no-mindedness",
- it is a state of mind where the mind is not fixed on or occupied by any thought or emotion,
- is produced by the absence of the ego or limited self,
- is it a mind fully present, aware and free,
- "Mu" or "emptiness" in Mushin refers to an empty mind in the sense that distractions, preoccupations, fears, worries, are absent and are no more an issue for the mind, whether in combat or daily life,
- is achieved when a person's mind is free from anger, fear, or the ego during combat or everyday life.
Muchimi:
- the level of contact made with the opponent and how that contact is maintained,
- the progressive and fluid acceleration of technique, e.g. like a wave crashing on the beach,
- energy/pressure is gradually built up inside the body and then released into the strike
- this 'whip-like' power is very different to that produced by muscular contraction alone, relying more on the potential of stretching muscles and their associated elastic quality.
Posture:
- always centre your torso over your hips when you move to create a strong vertical centre,
- the hips should be considered the steering wheel of your body,
- poor posture equates to poor everything else.
Stance:
- your stance is the platform upon which everything else is built,
- Shotokan is noted for it’s long low stances which, when practiced correctly, are very effective at creating a low centre of gravity, promoting good stability, and fostering strong muscular development,
- do not be tempted to rise up and down when moving and turning, keep your stances low and maintain the same height when stepping, turning or changing stance,
- maintaining the same height helps to develop good technique and disguises any forward motion, e.g. an attack,
- landing in a poor stance, however momentarily, will create a level of instability that will prevent you from making any effective defensive or offensive movements, while at the same time you will be leaving yourself open to a successfully attack or counter attack from your opponent,
- freestyle stance is only shorter than the normal front stance by the length of your own foot.
Zanshin:
- is the state when the mind is fully vigilant and aware of its surroundings,
- is when the mind remains still without being attached to anything and is totally present during every moment and action in the here and now,
- every action and every thought in the here and now must be right and harmonious: this is zanshin,
- every action is important: eating, getting dressed, washing, going to the bathroom, putting things away, interacting with other people: all of these actions are important and should be done with zanshin.
"There is no substitute for a kind word".
Back to top
General Terms
- dojo - training hall
- dojo kun - training hall rules
- gi - karate uniform
- hiki Te - withdrawing hand
- karate do - empty handed way
- karateka - practitioner of karate
- kata - formal exercises
- kihon - basic techniques
- kohai - junior student
- kumite - sparring
- obi - belt
- sempai - senior student
- sensei - teacher
- shihan - master
- tai sabaki - body shifting
- yori ashi - foot shifting
- zanshin - awareness
"Pay attention to small details".
Back to top
Training Instructions
- hajime - start/begin
- hidari - left
- kamae Te - move to ready position
- kiai - shout
- kokyu - breath
- mawatte - turn
- migi - right
- mokuso - meditation whilst sitting in seiza - silencing ones thoughts
- naote - relax
- oss - greeting/acknowledgment/understanding of a command
- rei - bow
- seiza - kneel
- yame - stop/finish
- yoi - ready
"There is no such thing as empty.".
Back to top
Uke - Blocks
- age uke - rising block
- chudan teisho yoko uke - middle side palm heel block
- chudan uchi otoshi - middle falling block
- chudan uchi uke - inside outward block
- chudan tate shuto uchi uke - middle level vertical inside outward sword hand block
- gedan gassho uke - lower double palm heel block
- gedan barai - downward block (lower level sweep)
- hasami uke - scissors block
- jodan age uke - upper rising block
- jodan shuto juji uke - upper open hand X block
- jodan yoko uchi barai - upper side sweeping block
- kake uke - hooking block
- kakewake-uke - wedge block (separating block)
- kosa uke (uchi-uke or gedan-uke) - crossing block (inside block & down block)
- maki otoshi uke - rolling dropping block
- manji uke manji - symbol block (swirling block, vortex block)
- morote chudan uchi uke - augmented middle inside outward block
- morote gedan uchi uke - augmented lower inside outward block
- morote uke - double-hand block (augmented block)
- nagashi uke - flowing block
- ni jodan uke - double rising block
- osae uke - pressing block
- oshi uke - pushing block
- shuto uke - knife-hand block (sword-hand block)
- soto uke - outside block
- sukui uke - scooping block
- tate shuto uke - vertical knife-hand block
- uchi uke - inside block
"It is not what hits the bell that makes the sound, the bell makes the sound".
Back to top
Geri - Kicks
- ashi barai - foot sweep
- chudan mika tsuki geri - middle crescent kick
- fumakomi - stomp kick
- hiza geri - knee strike
- jodan mae geri keage - upper front snapping kick
- kage geri - hook kick
- kin geri - groin kick
- mae geri keage - front snapping kick
- mawashi geri - roundhouse kick
- mikatsuki geri - crescent (moon) kick
- nami gaeshi (nami ashi geri) - returning wave (wave-leg kick)
- ni mae geri - double front kick
- tobi geri - jump kick
- ura mawashi geri - reverse roundhouse kick
- ura mikatsuki geri - reverse (inside) crescent kick
- ushiro geri - back kick
- ushiro ura-mawashi-geri - spinning back reverse roundhouse kick
- yoko geri keage - side snap kick
- yoko geri kekomi - side thrust kick
"It is not what you eat that makes you healthy, it is what you digest".
Back to top
Tsuki - Punches
- age tsuki - rising punch
- choku tsuki - straight punch
- chudan choku tsuki - middle straight punch
- chudan gyaku tsuki - middle reverse punch
- chudan mawashi tsuki - middle round house punch
- chudan oi tsuki - middle lunge punch
- chudan uraken - middle back fist
- chudan yoko tsuki - middle side punch
- gyaku tsuki - reverse punch
- hasami-tsuki - scissors punch
- hira nukite (shihon-nukite) - flat spear-hand (four finger spear-hand)
- ippon ken - one-knuckle fist
- ippon nukite - one-finger spear-hand
- jodan kensei - upper palm feint
- jodan oi tsuki - upper lunge punch
- kagi tsuki - hook punch
- kisami tsuki - jab punch
- mawashi tsuki - roundhouse punch
- morote shita tsuki - augmented upper inverted punch
- morote tsuki - double-hand punch
- nakadaka-ippon-ken - middle finger one-knuckle fist
- nihon-nukite - two finger spear-hand
- oi tsuki - stepping punch (lunge punch)
- ren tsuki - two punch combination
- sanbon tsuki - three punch combination
- tate nukite (shihon nukite) - vertical spear-hand (four finger spear-hand)
- tate tsuki - vertical punch
- tetsui - hammer fist
- uke tsuki - blocking punch
- uraken - back fist
- ura tsuki - inverted punch
"It is not what you earn that makes you wealthy, it is what you save".
Back to top
Uchi - Strikes
- chudan hiza geri - middle knee strike
- chudan mae empi uchi - middle forward elbow strike
- chudan nakadaka ippon ken - middle one knuckle strike
- chudan nukite tsuki - middle spear hand strike
- empi uchi - elbow strike
- empi uchi (empi ate) - elbow strike (elbow smash)
- haito uchi - ridge hand strike (sword ridge strike)
- ippon ken - one knuckle strike
- jodan soto uke - upper forearm strike
- jodan tate mawashi uchi - upper vertical roundhouse strike
- kentsui uchi - hammer-fist strike
- nukite tsuki - spear hand strike
- shuto - knife hand
- shuto gedan barai - lower sword hand strike
- shuto uchi - sword-hand strike
- shuto tsuki - sword hand strike
- teisho - palm-heel
- tetsui tsuki - hammer fist strike
- uraken-uchi - back fist strike
"It is not what you know that makes you smart, it is what you teach".
Back to top
Dachi - Stances
- ashi dachi - leg stance
- fudo dachi (sochin-dachi) - immoveable stance (strength & calm stance)
- hachiji-dachi - stance (shape of 8 stance)
- hangetsu-dachi - half-moon stance (hourglass stance)
- heiko dachi - parallel stance
- heisoku dachi - feet together stance (closed feet stance)
- hidari ashi dachi - left legged stance
- hiza dachi - one knee stance
- kiba dachi - straddle stance (horse stance/horse riding stance)
- kokutsu dachi - back stance
- kosa dachi - cross stance
- musubi dachi - attention stance (united stance)
- nekoashi dachi - cat stance (cat-leg stance)
- renoji dachi - L-stance (shape of re stance)
- sanchin dachi - hourglass stance (3 wars stance)
- shiko dachi - open leg stance (square stance)
- teinoji dachi - T-stance (shape of tei stance)
- uchi hachiji dachi - inward natural stance
- zenkutsu dachi - front stance
"It is not how often you train that makes you better, it is how well you train".
Back to top
Parts of the body
- ashi - foot
- atama - head, top of head
- chusoku - ball of foot
- haishu - back of hand
- haisoku - instep
- hiji - elbow
- hirate - fist
- hiza - knee
- kakato - heel
- kin - groin
- koken - wrist
- kote - forearm
- shotei - palm heel
- sokuto - foot blade
- te - hand
- teisoku - foot arch
"The mind like the body, requires a regular workout in order to stay fit."
Back to top
Target Areas
- jodan - upper (face) area
- chudan - middle (body) area
- gedan - lower (groin) area
"There is no substitute for effort".
Back to top
© Rainhill Shotokan Karate Academy. All Rights Reserved.