Friday, November 14, 2014

The Karate vocabulary

Many terms in karate stem from the Japanese culture.  

Some terms are exclusive to martial arts like kata, kumite. 

Others are seldom used in daily life like zemkuku achi, while words like rei appear routinely.



karate (kah-rah-tay):“empty hands”
dojo (doe-joe):school or training room
kata (kah-tah):practive form
kiai (key-eye):“spirit shout”, focus of energy
kumite (koo-mee-tay):sparring, fighting
gohon kumite (go-hone koo-mee-tay):five-step sparring
Shotokan (show-toe-kahn):“House of Shoto”
karateka (kah-rah-tay-kah):practitioner of karate
gi (gee)(g is hard as in gun):uniform, ie. karate-gi “karate uniform”
reigi (ray-gee):etiquette
kihon (key-hone):fundamentals
waza (wah-zah):technique(s)
tsuki(zuki) (zoo-key):punch
uchi (oo-chee):strike
uke (oo-kay):block
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
Intermediate Termsembusen (em-boo-sen):
floor pattern/ the lines of a kata
bunkai (boon-k’eye):application of kata techniques
ippon kumite (oo-pohn koo-mee-tay):one-step sparring
yakusoku kumite (yahk-so-koo koo-mee-tay):“promise”/premeditated sparring
gohon kumite (goe-hone koo-mee-tay):five-step sparring
jiyyu kumite (jee-you koo-mee-tay):free-style sparring
ashi-barai (ah-shee bah-rye):foot sweep
yori-ashi (yoh-ree ah-shee):sliding of the feet
jishin (jee-sheen):self-confidence
hombu dojo (home-boo doh-joe):central dojo (of an organization)
focus of powerkime (key-may):
maai (mah-eye):distance
kamae (kah-my):posture
tai-sabaki (tie sah-bah-kee):body shifting
shomen (show-men):“front” of the dojo
kami dana (kah-mee dah-nah):ceremonial altar at shomen
shinnen (sheen-nen):ryuha code, dojo creed
gashuku (gah-sh’koo):gathering of entire dojo for training
Shuri-te (shoo-ree tay):old name for the Shotokan style
Advanced Terms
shorin (show-reen):light/fast style karate
shorei (show-ray):solid/strong style karate
hiki (hee-kee):“to pull”
hikite (hee-k’tay):opposing (pulling back) hand
awase (ah-wah-say):“combined”
“the two” or bothryo (row) (roll the r):
kensai (ken-say):feint
nage (naw-gay):throw
kokyu (koe-k’yoo):deep breathing
kuzushi (koo-zoo-shee):loss of balance
Commands
narande (nah-ron-day):line up
keiretsu (kay-ret-sue):line up by rank
yoi (yo-ee):readiness
kio-tsuke (key-oh t’skeh):attention
seiza (say-zah):kneeling position
mokuso (mok’soo):deep breathing meditation
shomen ni (show-men nee):face front (of the dojo)
sensei ni (sen-say nee):face the instructor
sempai ni (sem-pie nee):face the senior student
otaigai ni (oh-tie-guy nee):face each other
bow, respectrei (ray):
za rei (zah ray):traditional kneeling bow
matte (mah-tay):wait
hajime (hah-jee-may):begin
yame (yah-may):stop
yasume (yah-soo-may):relax or rest
naore (nay-ore-ray):return to shizen-tai
age-te (ah-gay tay):raise hands (guard position)
kamae-te (kah-my tay):“guard up” or fighting posture
mawatte (mah-wah-tay):turn around
Expressions
onegai shimasu (oh-nay-guy shee-mahss):“I make a request” or “I welcome you to train with me”
(domo) arigatothank you
gozaimasu (doh-moe ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah’ee-mahss):thank you (very much)
hai (h’eye):yes/affirmation
osu (ouss):“I understand and will try to do my best.”
Major Concepts
zanshin (zahn-sheen):Continuing of mind and heart.“following through” a technique while maintaining awareness.
sen (sen):initiative
sen no sen:Seizing the initiative earlier. Attacking at the exact moment your opponent attacks.
go no sen:Seizing the initiative later. Let opponent attack first to open up targets for counter-attack.
sen sen no sen:Seizing the opponents “sen no sen”. Attacking before your opponent does.
sun-dome (soon-doe-meh):“Three centimeters”. Stopping a techniques just prior to contact.
ikken hissatsu (ee-ken he-sat-soo):“To kill with one blow”. Emphasizes a decisive technique.
karate ni sente nashi:“Karate does not include the first move.”
Counting
ichi (eech-ee):one
ni (nee):two
san (sawn):three
chi (shee):four
go (goe):five
roku (row-koo):six
shichi (see-chee):seven
hachi (hah-chee):eight
ku (koo):nine
ju (joo):ten
ju-ichi (joo eech-ee):eleven
ni-ju (nee joo):twenty
ni-ju-ichi (nee joo eech-ee):twenty one
hyaku (h'yah-koo):one hundred
Directions and Facings
mae (my):front
yoko (also sokumen) (yoh-koh) (soh-koo-men):side
ushiro (oo-she-row):back
hidari (hee-dar-ree):left
migi (mee-gee) (hard g as in gun):right
gyaku (g’yah-koo):reverse form
naname (nah-nah-may):45 degree angle
jodan (joe-don):head level
chudan (chew-don):mid-level
gedan (gay-don):low level
tate (tah-tay):verticle
otoshi (oh-toe-shee):dropping
tobi (toe-bee):jumping or flying
zenshin (zen-sheen):forward
koshin (koe-sheen):rearward
ue (oo-eh):above
shita (shee-tah):below
soto (soh-toe):outside
uchi (oo-chee):inside
Ranking
go-souke (goe-sew-kay):master, reserved for the head of a style
renshi (wren-shee):one who has mastered oneself an expert instructor
hanshi (hawn-shee):master, honorary term for the highest black belt in an organization
shihan (she-hawn):master intructor (of an organization) or "teacher of teachers"
sensei (sen-say):intructor/teacher
shidoin (shee-doh-een):assistant instructor
sempai (sem-pie):senior student
kohai (koh-high):junior student (to oneself)/comrade
kyu (k’yoo):grade or class, used for ranks before black belt ranks, which are referred to as dan.
mudansha (moo-don-shaw):students without black-belt ranking
obi (oh-bee):belt, sash
dan (don):degree, level, or rank, used for black belt ranking.
yudansha (you-don-shaw):black belt holder (any rank)
shiro-obi (shee-row oh-bee):white belt
ki-obi (key oh-bee):yellow belt, 10th kyu
ao-obi (ah’oh oh-bee):blue belt, 9th and 8th kyu
midori-obi (mee-doe-ree oh-bee):green belt, 7th and 6th kyu
murasaki-obi (moo-rah-saw-kee oh-bee):purple belt, 5th and 4th kyu
cha-obi (chah oh-bee):brown belt; 3rd, 2nd, and 1st kyu
kuro-obi (koo-row oh-bee):black belt, all dan lavels
shodan (show-don):first black, student (sen)
nidan (nee-don):second black, disciple (go no sen)
sandan (sawn-don):third black, confirmed disciple
yondan (yone-don):fourth black, expert (sen no sen)
godan (goe-don):fifth black, spiritual expert
rokudan (row-koo-don):sixth black, spiritual expert
shichidan (shee-chee-don):seventh black, specialized expert
hachidan (hah-chee-don):eighth black
kudan (koo-don):ninth black
judan (joo-don):tenth black
Kata
shodan (show-don):first, eg. first level of
nidan (nee-don):second
sandan (sawn-don):third
yondan (yone-don):fourth
godan (goe-don):fifth
dai (die):greater, major
sho (show):lesser, minor
hasen kata (haw-sen):a series of kata, performed “in waves”
Taikyoku (tie-key’oh-koo):First Cause
Heian (hay-on):Peaceful Mind
Tekki (tek-key):Iron Knight or "Iron Horse"
Bassai (bah-s’eye):“To Penetrate a Fortress”
Kanku (kan-koo):“To View the Heavens”
Jion (jee-ohn):Buddhist temple name, translates to “Loving Grace” or “Gentle kindness”
Hangetsu (hawn-geh-t’soo):“Half Moon”
Empi (em-pee):“Flying Swallow”
Chinte (cheen-tay):“Unusual Hands” or “Extraordianry Hands”
Jitte (jee-tay):“Ten Hands” or “Technique Hands”
Jiin (jee-een):“Place of Mercy” or “In the Shadow of Kindness”
Nijushiho (nee-joo-shee-hoe):“Twenty-four Steps (or Directions)”
Gankaku (gahn-kah-koo):“Crane on a Rock”
Sochin (soe-cheen):“To Keep the Peace” or “Grand Suppression”
Gojushiho (goe-joo-shee-hoe):“Fifty-four Step (or Directions)”
Unsu (oon-soo):“Cloud Hands”
Meikyo (may-ee-k’yoe):“Bright Mirror” or “Clear Mirror”
Wankan (wahn-kahn):“King’s Crown”
Dachi Waza : Stances
shizen-tai (she-zen-tie):natural stance/posture
hachiji dachi (hah-chee-jee dah-ch):open-legged stance (yoi)
heisoku dachi (high-soh-koo dah-ch):feet together stance
seiza (say-zah):kneeling posture
musubi dachi (moo-soo-bee dah-ch):attention/bowing stance
zenkutsu dachi (zen-koot-soo dah-ch):front stance
kokutsu dachi (koe-koot-soo dah-ch):back stance
kiba dachi (key-bah dah-ch):straddle/horse stance
fudo dachi (foo-doe dah-ch):rooted stance (fighting stance)
hanmi dachi (hahn-mee dah-ch):half facing stance
kosa dachi (koh-saw dah-ch):cross-legged stance
neko-ashi dachi (nek-o ah-shee dah-ch):cat-leg stance
renoji dachi (ren-o-jee dah-ch):L-stance
hangetsu dachi (hawn-get-soo dah-ch):wide hourglass stance
sanchin dachi (sawn-cheen dah-ch):hourglass stance
sochin dachi (soh-cheen dah-ch):diagonal straddle stance
tsuru dachi (t’soo-roo dah-ch):crane stance (Gankaku)
sagi ashi dachi (sah-gee ah-shee dah-ch):crane stance (Jitte)
shiko dachi (shee-koe dah-ch):square stance
Uke Waza : Blocking Techniques
age uke (ah-gay oo-kay):rising block
gedan barai (gay-don bah-rye):down block
uchi (ude) uke (oo-chee oo-day oo-kay):inside (forearm) block
soto (ude) uke (soh-toe oo-day oo-kay):outside (forearm) block
shuto uke (shoo-toe oo-kay):knife-hand block
gyaku uke (g’yah-koo oo-kay):reverse-form block
nagashi uke (nah-gah-shee oo-kay):sweeping block
haiwan nagashi uke (high-wahn nah-gah-shee oo-kay):sweeping back forearm block
osae uke (oh-sigh oo-kay):pressing block
morote uke (moh-roh-tay oo-kay):augmented block
kosa uke (koh-sah oo-kay):crossing block
empi uke (or hiji uke) (em-pee oo-kay) (hee-jee):elbow block
tate shuto uke (tah-tay shoo-toe oo-kay):verticle knife-hand block
juji uke (joo-jee oo-kay):X-block
te nagashi uke (tay nah-gah-shee oo-kay):sweeping hand block
kakiwake uke (kah-kee-wah-kay oo-kay):reverse wedge block
haishu uke (high-shoo oo-kay):back-hand block
manji uke (man-jee oo-kay):half-swastica block
sukui uke (soo-koo-ee oo-kay):scooping block
otoshi uke (oh-toe-shee oo-kay):dropping block
tsukami uke (soo-kah-mee oo-kay):grasping block
teisho awase uke (tay-show ah-wah-say oo-kay):combined palm-heel block
teisho morote uke (tay-show moh-roh-tay oo-kay):double palm-heel block
haishu awase uke (high-shoo ah-wah-say oo-kay):combined back-hand block
sokumen awase uke (soh-koo-men ah-wah-say oo-kay):side combined block
kake uke (kah-kay oo-kay):hooking block
tekubi kake uke (tay-koo-bee kah-kay oo-kay):hooking wrist block
mawashi kake uke (mah-wah-shee kah-kay oo-kay):circular hook block
hineri uke (hee-ney-ree oo-kay):twisting block
seiryuto uke (say-ree’oo-toe oo-kay):ox-jaw hand block
kieto uke (kigh-toe oo-kay):chicken-head wrist block
suri uke (sir-ee oo-kay):sliding block
hiji suri uke (hee-jee sir-ee oo-kay):sliding elbow block
shuto kakiwake uke (shoo-toe kah-kee-wah-kay oo-kay):knife-hand wedge block
haito kakiwake uke (high-toe kah-keh-wah-kay oo-kay):ridge-hand wedge block
koko uke (koh-koh oo-kay):tiger-mouth block
yama uke (yah-mah oo-kay):mountain block
ryowan uchi uke (row-wahn oo-chee oo-kay):double inside block
hasami uke (hah-sah-mee oo-kay):scissor block
Tournament Terms
aka (ah-kah):red
shiro (shee-row):white
sanbon shobu (sawn-bone show-boo):three point match
otegai ni rei (oh-tee-guy nee ray):bow to each other
hajime (hah-jee-may):begin the match
yame (yah-may):stop
hantei (hawn-tay):decision
(aka/shiro) no kachi (no kah-ch):(red/white) winner
waza-ari (wah-zah-a-ree):half point
ippon (ee-pon):full point
jogai (joe-guy):out of bounds
ai-uch (eye-ooch):clash, same time techniques
chui (choo-ee):warning
hansoku (hawn-soh-koo):disqualify
Tsuki Waza : Punching Techniques
oi zuki (oh-ee zoo-key):lunge punch
gyaku zuki (g’yah-koo zoo-key):reverse punch
choku zuki (choe-koo zoo-key):straight punch
morote zuki (moh-roh-tay zoo-key):parallel punch
kizami zuki (key-zah-mee zoo-key):jab
ura zuki (oo-rah zoo-key):close punch
kage zuki (kah-gay zoo-key):hook punch
oi-gyaku zuki (oh-ee g’yah-koo zoo-key):lunging reverse punch
ren zuki (or nidan zuki) (wren zoo-key) (nee-don):double punch
san zuki (sawn zoo-key):triple punch
heiko ura zuki (high-koh oo-rah zoo-kee):parallel close punch
hasami zuki (hah-sah-mee zoo-kee):scissor punch
otoshi zuki (oh-toe-shee zoo-kee):dropping punch
ippon ken zuki (ee-pone ken zoo-kee):single-point fist punch
awase zuki (ah-wah-say zoo-kee):U-punch
yama zuki (yah-mah zoo-kee):mountain punch
tate zuki (tah-tay zoo-kee):verticle punch
mawashi zuki (mah-wah-shee zoo-kee):circular punch
nagashi zuki (nah-gah-shee zoo-kee):flowing punch
teisho zuki (tay-show zoo-kee):palm heel punch
yumi zuki (yoo-mee zoo-kee):“bow” punch
Keri Waza : Kicking Techniques
mae geri keage (my gary key-ah-gay):front snap kick
yoko geri keage (yoh-koh gary key-ah-gay):side snap kick
ushiro geri (oo-shee-row gary):back kick
mawashi geri (mah-wah-shee gary):round kick
mae geri kekomi (my gary keh-koe-mee):front thrust kick
yoko geri kekomi (yoh-koh gary keh-koe-mee):side thrust kick
uchi mikazuki geri (oo-chee mee-kah-zoo-key gary):inside crescent kick
soto mikazuki geri (soh-toe mee-kah-zoo-key gary):outside crescent kick
kage geri (kah-gay gary):hook kick
gyaku mawashi geri (g’yah-koo mah-wah-shee gary):reverse round kick
fumikomi geri (foo-mee-koh-mee gary):stomping kick
nami-ashi geri (nah-mee-ah-shee gary):returning wave kick
tobi geri (toe-bee gary):jumping or flying kick
nidan geri (nee-don gary):double kick
ono geri (oh-no gary):axe kick
fumikiri geri (foo-mee-kee-ree gary):cutting kick
kansetsu geri (kahn-seh-t’soo gary):kick to the knee
kesa geri (kay-sah gary):“across” or diagonal kick
kesa mawashi geri (kay-sah mah-wah-shee gary):diagonal round kick
Uchi Waza : Striking Techniques
tettsui uchi (tet-soo-ee oo-chee):hammer-fist strike
uraken uchi (oo-rah-ken oo-chee):back-fist/knuckle strike
hiraken uchi (here-rah-ken oo-chee):flat fist/fore-knuckle strike
uchi shuto uchi (oo-chee shoo-toe oo-chee):inside knife-hand strike
soto shuto uchi (soe-toe shoo-toe oo-chee):outside knife-hand strike
haito uchi (high-toe oo-chee):ridge-hand strike
uchi haito uchi (oo-chee high-toe oo-chee):inside ridge-hand strike
shihon nukite (shee-hone new-kee-tay):four point spear
nippon nukite (nee-hone new-kee-tay):two point spear/fork
ippon nukite (ee-pone new-kee-tay):single-point spear
tiesho uchi (tay-show oo-chee):palm heel strike
kumade (koo-mah-day):bear claw/hand
koko uchi (koe-koe oo-chee):tiger-mouth strike
haishu uchi (high-shoo oo-chee):back-hand strike
sieryuto uchi (say-re’oo-toe oo-chee):ox-jaw hand strike
washide (wah-shee-day):eagle-beak strike
hasami uchi (hah-sah-mee oo-chee):scissor strike
wanto (wahn-toe):sword arm strike
keito uchi (kay-toe oo-chee):chicken-head strike
otoshi uchi (oh-toe-hee oo-chee):dropping strike
furioroshi uchi (foo-ree-oh-row-she oo-chee):downward swinging strike
kansetsu uchi (kahn-seh-t’soo oo-chee):strike to a joint

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