KARATE TERMINOLOGYtop

Below you will see Japanese/ English terminology as used in the Dojo. It's a bit difficult to spell because the Japanese language (like most Oriental languages) is written in characters, not letters. However,this is about as close as we'll get. To try and help, I've also written a lot of the words phonetically, so you say it as you see it. This isn't intended to teach Japanese, but it's worth knowing that, as in many languages, some words are shortened, some letters aren't even pronounced e.g. many times the"u"'s and "i"'s are missed out altogether.

COUNTING PARTS OF BODY BLOCKS

COUNTING

Japanese Pronunciation English Japanese Pronunciation English
Ichi
Ich
One
Roku
Rok
Six
Ni
Nee
Two
Sichi
Sich
Seven
San
San
Three
Hachi
Hach
Eight
Shi
Shee
Four
Ku
Koo
Nine
Go
Goe
Five
Ju
Joo
Ten

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DOJO TERMS

Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Hajame
Hajamay
Start
Shugo
Shoogoe
Line up
Yamae
Yamay
Stop
Yoi
Yoy
Ready
Kiritsu
Kirits
Stand
Onegai shi masu
Onagyshimas
Please teach me.
Seiza
Seeza
Kneel
Otegai ni rei
Otagy ni ree
Bow to classmates
Mawate
Mawatay
Turn 180 degs
Tai Sabaki
Tie Sabaki
Body evasion.
Ki O Tsuki
KeeOskee
Attention
Sempai
Sempie
Junior instructor
Mokuso
Mokso
Meditation
Sensei
Sensay
Teacher
Rei
Ray
Bow
Sensei ni rei
Sensay ni ray
Bow to teacher

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PARTS OF BODY

Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Ashi
Ashi
Leg or Foot
Ude'
Ooday
Forearm
Empi
Empi
Elbow
Haisoku
Highsokoo
Instep
Hiato
Hightoe
Ridge hand
Hara
Hara
Stomach
Kachikake
Kachikakay
Chin
Kasokutai
Kasokootay
Upper foot
Kasumi
Kas'mi
Temple
Hichu
Hichoo
Throat
Hiza
Heeza
Knee
Jinchu
Jinchoo
Top lip
Josokutei
Josokootay
Ball of Foot
Kakato
Kakatoe
Heel
Keichu
Kaychoo
Neck
Kinteki
Kinteki
Groin
Koshi
Kosh
Hips
Kote'
Kotay
Wrist
Naiwan
Nywon
Inner arm
Seiken
Seeken
Forefist
Shomon
Shomon
Head
Sokuto
Sokutoe
Foot edge
Suigetsu
Sooigets
Solar plexus
Te
Tay
Hand

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BLOCKS

Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Jodan uke
Joedan uki
Upper block
Gedan barai
Gaydan bareye
Lower arm sweep
Chudan uke
Choodan uki
Middle block
Hiki uke
Hiki uki
Pulling block
Gedan uke
Gaydan uki
Lower block
Kakato uke
Kakato uki
Wrist block
Ko uke
Ko uki
Wrist block
Kosa uke
Kosa uki
Cross block
Mawashi uke
Mawashee uki
Roundhouse blck
Morote uke
Morotay uki
Doublehand block
Soto uke
Soetoe uki
Inner block
Shotei uke
Shotay uki
Palm heel block
Shuto uke
Shtoe uki
Openhand block
Tora guchi
Tora guch
Tigermouth block
Uchi uke
Oochi uki
Outer block
Haisho uke
Haysho uki
Backhand block

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PUNCHES/STRIKES

Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Jodan zuki
Jodanskee
Upper punch
Choku zuki
Chokskee
Straight punch
Chudan zuki
Choodanskee
Middle punch
Empi uchi
Empeeoochi
Elbow strike
Gedan zuki
Gaydanskee
Lower punch
Ippon ken
Ipponken
One knuckle first
Awaze zuki
Awazaskee
"Uppercut" punch
Kizami zuki
Kizamaskee
Leadinghand jab
Age zuki
Agaskee
Rising punch
Morote zuki
Morotayskee
Double punch
Furi zuki
Furaskee
Roundhousepunch
Nukite
Nukitay
Finger strike
Oi zuki
Oyskee
Leadinghandpunch
Shotei uchi
Shoteioochi
Palm-heel strike
Gyaka zuki
Gyakaskee
Reverse punch
Tetsui uchi
Tetsooweeoochi
Hammerfist strike
Ura zuki
Ooraskee
Close-in punch
Uraken uchi
Urakenoochi
Backfist strike
Jun zuki
Junskee
Lunge punch
Shuto uchi
Shtoeoochi
Hand edge "chop"

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KICKS

Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Ashi barai
Asheebareye
Foot sweep
Ashi fumi
Ashifumi
Foot stamp
Hiza geri
Heezageri
Knee kick
Kakato fumikomi
Kakato fumikomi
Heel stamp
Kansetsu geri
Kansets geri
Joint kick
Kekoni geri
Kekonigeri
Thrust kick
Keagi geri
Keyagigeri
Snap kick
Mikazuki geri
Mikazukgeri
Crescent kick
Mae geri
Mygeri
Front kick
Mawashi geri
Mawashgeri
Roundhouse kick
Ushiro geri
Ooshirogeri
Back kick
Ushiro mawashi
Ooshiromawashi
Hook kick
Tobi geri
Tobygeri
Jumping kick
Yoko geri
Yokogeri
Side kick

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STANCES

Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Musubi dachi
Musoobidach
"Attention" stance
Shiko dachi
Sheekodach
Straddle stance
Heisoku dachi
Haysokoodach
Feet together
Zenkutsu dachi
Zenkutsdach
Forward stance
Uchihachiji dachi
Uchiacheejidach
Pigeon toed
Kokutsu dachi
Kokutsdach
Back stance
Hachiji dachi
Hacheejidach
Toes out, Heels in
Neko ashi dachi
Neekoashidach
Cat stance
Heiko dachi
Haykodach
Parallel Stance
Sanchin dachi
Sanchindach
Hourglass stance

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DIRECTIONS

Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Japanese
Pronunciation
English
Jodan
Joedan
Upper
Migi
Migi
Right
Chudan
Choodan
Middle
Hidari
Hidari
Left
Gedan
Gaydan
Lower
Naname
Nanamay
Diagonal
Age
Agi
Rising
Otoshi
Otosh
Downward
Mae
My
Front/Forward
Shomen
Shomen
Front
Ushiro
Ooshiro
Back/Behind
Yoko
Yoko
Side

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