| There is
a convention that Japanese is the
international language of Karate.
All traditional clubs teach Karate
techniques in Japanese and
competitions, courses and grading
examinations are also in Japanese.
This has the added bonus that
wherever you train in the world the
instructors/students speak the same
language. Though daunting at
first, there are only a few key
words that the average Karateka need
to know which are listed below. The
translation sheet is a reference
point, a guide to key words... not a
Japanese dictionary.
DO NOT try to memorise the words,
but rather use them in your regular
training. Try not to think of a KIN
GERI as a 'groin kick', but attach
the label KIN GERI to a specific
kicking movement in the same way
that you would attach the label
MONDEO to a specific model of car.
As you come across these words
individually and in combinations you
will soon learn their meanings, and
it won't be long before ARUKU HIDARI
ZEN KUTSU DACHI CHUDAN ZUKI
galvinises you into action without
having to work out what each
solitary word means.
GENERAL
|
|
SENSEI |
TEACHER |
BARAI |
SWEEPING |
|
SEMPAI |
SENIOR |
RENRAKU |
COMBINATION |
|
DOJO |
TRAINING HALL |
WAZA |
WAY/TECHNIQUE |
|
REI |
BOW |
ARUKU |
FULL STEP |
|
... NI REI |
BOW TO... |
SURIKOMI |
HALF STEP |
|
SEIZA |
KNEEL |
ZANSHIN |
FOCUS |
|
KIRITSU |
STAND |
MOHKSO |
MEDITATION |
|
HADJIME |
START |
CHUSOKO |
BALL OF FOOT |
|
YAME |
STOP |
HAISOKU |
INSTEP |
|
YASME |
RELAX |
IPPON |
SINGLE (POINT) |
|
JODAN |
UPPER LEVEL |
NIHON |
DOUBLE (POINT) |
|
CHUDAN |
MID LEVEL |
JIYU |
FREESTYLE |
|
GEDAN |
LOWER LEVEL |
KUMITE |
FIGHTING |
|
MAWATTE |
TURN |
MAWASHI |
(A)ROUND |
|
MARUI |
ROUND THE BACK |
CHOKU |
DIRECT |
|
HIDARI |
LEFT |
SAKOTSU |
DESCENDING |
|
MIGI |
RIGHT |
KEAGE |
RISING |
|
GYAKU |
BACK/REVERSE |
KEKOME |
THRUSTING |
|
KIAI |
SHOUT |
FUMIKOMI |
STAMPING |
VOWELS
|
|
A |
ah |
E |
ay |
|
I |
ee |
O |
oh |
|
U |
oo |
|
|
DACHI - STANCE
|
|
YOI |
READY |
NEKO ASHI |
CAT FOOT |
|
MASUBI |
OPEN TOED |
KOKUTSU |
BACK LEANING |
|
ZENKUTSU |
FRONT LEANING |
KIBA |
STRADDLE |
|
HANMI GAMAE |
FIGHTING |
SHIKO |
SUMO |
|
UCHI HACHI |
IN AND OUT |
KAKA |
KNEELING |
|
SANSHIN |
HOUR GLASS |
OSAI |
PRESSING |
|
|
ZUKI - PUNCH
|
|
GYAKU |
REVERSE |
KIZAMI |
SNAP |
|
URA |
BACK |
SHITA |
CLOSE QUARTER |
|
TOBI KOMI |
JUMPING |
NAGASHI |
SIDE STEPPING |
|
|
GERI - KICK
|
|
KIN |
GROIN |
MAE |
FRONT |
|
YOKO |
SIDE |
HIZA |
KNEE |
|
MAWASHI |
ROUNDHOUSE |
KAKATO |
HEEL |
|
URA MAWASHI |
HOOK |
TOBI |
JUMPING/FLYING |
|
USHIRO |
BACK |
MIKAZUKI |
CRESCENT |
|
|
UCHI - STRIKE
|
|
SHUTO |
KNIFE HAND |
HAITO |
RIDGE HAND |
|
SEIKEN |
FOREFIST |
URAKEN |
BACK FIST |
|
NUKITE |
SPEAR HAND |
TEISHO |
PALM HEEL |
|
EMPI |
ELBOW |
TETTSUI |
HAMMERFIST |
|
|
UKE - BLOCK
|
|
SOTO |
OUTER |
SOTO HARAI |
OUTER SWEEP |
|
UCHI |
STRIKING |
UCHI HARAI |
STRIKING SWEEP |
|
HAISHU |
BACK HAND |
UDE BARAI |
FOREARM SWEEP |
|
TENSHO |
GRABBING |
KAKATO |
HEEL |
|
AGE |
RISING |
EMPI |
ELBOW |
|
|
NUMBERS
|
|
ICHI |
ONE |
ROKU |
SIX |
|
NI |
TWO |
SICHI |
SEVEN |
|
SAN |
THREE |
HACHI |
EIGHT |
|
CHI
or YON |
FOUR |
KU |
NINE |
|
GO |
FIVE |
JU |
TEN |
Domo
arigato, gosai masu - Thank you! |
