Terms in Karate

 

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空手用語

 

Courtesy of the JKA of New York / New Jersey

 

 

Pronunciation   Numbers   Stances   Arm Attacks

 

Leg Attacks  Levels of Attacks  Blocks  Dojo Kun

 

Kata  Kumite  General Terms  Tournament Terms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

Pronunciation

 

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発音  All vowels are short and pronounced as follows:

 

     "a" as in "father"

     "i" as in "teen" except shorter

     "u" as in "boot" except shorter

     "e" as in "bet"

     "o" as in "boat" except shorter and without the off-glide

Longer vowel sounds are the same sounds as above, but given more time.

 

あゝ    "aa," a longer "a"

いゝ    "ii," a longer "i"

うゝ    "uu," a longer "u"

えゝ    "ei," a longer "e"

おゝ    "oh," a longer "o"

Except for the above, if you see two or more vowels in a row, they are each pronounced clearly without becoming a single diphthong. An apostrophe is used where a glottal stop occurs (like between the "n" and the second "a" when pronouncing "an apple").

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Consonants always take their "hard " sounds. So "gi" is pronounced with a hard "g" (i.e., not "ji"). "Ch" is always as in "cheese."

 

The hyphens don't mean anything but serve to distinguish separate syllables when it might be ambiguous, or to separate a word into two semantic parts. There shouldn't be a pause for hyphens.

 

Parentheses are used whenever a word might be omitted by some people, or if the translation could mean more than one thing. For example, "nukite," literally only means "spear hand," which is just the name of the "weapon" you form with your hand, but it is also often used to mean the attack, "spear-hand thrust." So "thrust" is in parentheses.

 

Quotation marks are used on the English side to distinguish between literal translations of the Japanese terms from their more figurative meanings (quotes indicate literal translation).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Numbers

 

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数字

 

  1  ichi

  2  ni

三  3  san

四  4  shi (yon)

五  5  go

六  6  roku

七  7  shichi (nana)

八  8  hachi

九  9  ku (kyuu) (Q)

十  10   juu

 

When counting for class, just pronounce the first syllable of bisyllabic numbers (i.e., ich, rok, shich, hach), for shorter, sharper counting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Stances

 

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立ち方

 

八字立ち                  hachiji-dachi (hachinoji-dachi) -- ready stance

前屈立ち                  zenkutsu-dachi -- front stance

後屈立ち                  koh-kutsu-dachi -- back stance

騎馬立ち                  kiba-dachi -- horse stance / saddle stance

猫足立ち                  neko-ashi-dachi -- cat stance

壮鎮立ち                  sochin-dachi / fudoh-dachi -- "immovable" stance

三戦立ち                  sanchin-dachi -- "hourglass" stance

半月立ち                  hangetsu-dachi -- "half moon" stance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arm Attacks

 

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手技

 

突 き                   tsuki -- punch

順突き                   oi-zuki -- lunge punch

逆突き                   gyaku-zuki -- reverse punch

刻突き                   kizami-zuki -- jab punch

抜き手                   nukite -- spear-hand (thrust)

裏 拳                   ura-ken -- back hand (strike)

猿 臂                   empi -- elbow (strike)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leg Attacks

 

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足技

 

蹴 り                   keri -- kick

前蹴り                   mae-geri -- front (snap) kick

廻蹴り                   mawashi-geri -- round house kick

蹴込み                   (yoko-geri) kekomi -- side thrust kick

蹴上げ                   (yoko-geri) keage -- side snap kick

後蹴り                   ushiro-geri -- back (thrust) kick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Levels of Attack

 

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標的

 

上段                    joh-dan    "upper level" / face

中段                    chuudan   "middle level" / stomach / solar plexus

下段                    gedan       "lower level" / groin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blocks: Uke Waza

 

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受技

 

挙げ受け   age-uke         rising block

腕 受け   ude-uke         "arm block", outside block

外 受け   soto-uke         outside block (see above)

内 受け   uchi-uke         inside block

下段払い   gedan barai    down block / "lower level sweep"

猿臂受け   empi-uke       elbow block

手刀受け   shuto-uke       knife-hand block

流し受け   nagashi-uke    "flushing block" / deflecting block

掻き分け   kakiwake-uke  two-handed "separating" block

諸手受け   morote-uke      double forearm block

十字受け   juuji-uke          two-handed "cross" block,

               (heian godan)

背腕受け   haiwan-uke      (two-handed) "back arm" block,

                (heian nidan)

背手受け   haisyu-uke      (two-handed) "back knife-hand" block,

                (heian yondan)

縦手刀受け  tate-shuto-uke  half knife-hand block,

                (chinte)

押さえ受け  osae-uke         dropping palm block,

                (nijyuu-shi-ho)

落とし受け  otoshi-uke       dropping forearm block

開掌開け受け kaisyo-ake-uke       open palm rising block,

                (kanku-dai)

開掌十字受け kaisyo-yuuji-uke       open-palm x block,

                (heian godan)

手刀下段払い syuto-gedan-barai    knife-hand down block

 

 

 

 

Kata: Image, Form

 

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Translations are approximate transliterations of the Chinese characters used to "spell" the kata names.

kata;  image(s), form(s)

 

平安初段  heian shodan -- "stable and secure / stable peace, first level"

平安二段  heian nidan -- ditto, "second level"

平安三段  heian sandan -- ditto, "third level"

平安四段  heian yondan -- you get the idea

平安五段  heian godan

鉄騎初段  tekki shodan -- "iron horseman," "first level"

鉄騎二段  tekki nidan

鉄騎三段  tekki sandan

抜塞・大  bassai dai -- "destroying a fortress: A

抜塞・小  bassai sho [shoh] -- "destroying a fortress:B

燕飛    empi -- "flight of the swallow"

慈恩    jion -- "compassion and favor." Buddhist term

               and the chinese temple.

観空・大  kankuu dai -- "observing the sky/emptiness:A

観空・小  kankuu sho [shoh] -- "observing the sky/emptiness:B

十手    jutte / jitte -- "ten hands" or Òshape of Òcloss handsÓ

半月    hangetsu -- "half moon"

二十四歩  nijuushiho -- "twenty-four steps"

岩鶴    gankaku -- "boulder crane" (the bird on a rock)

壮鎮    sochin [soh-chin] -- "strength and control"

雲手    unsu [unsuu] -- "cloud hands"

五十四歩大 gojuushiho (dai) -- "fifty-four steps:A

五十四歩小 gojuushiho sho [shoh] -- "fifty-four steps:B

明鏡    meikyo [meikyoh] -- "bright mirror"

慈陰    ji'in -- "compassion and shadow."

         Related to jion, shadow of jion kata.

珍手    chinte -- "rare hands"

王冠    wankan -- "king's crown"

 

(*) Kata with "lesser" or "greater" attached ("sho" or "dai") don't really mean "lesser" or "greater" in any sense. It's just a way of distinguishing two different kata as A or B.

 

 

 

 

Kumite

 

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組手

 

組手     kumite -- sparring

基本五本組手 (kihon) gohon kumite -- (basic) five-step sparring

基本三本組手 (kihon) sanbon kumite -- (basic) three-step sparring

基本一本組手 (kihon) ippon kumite -- (basic) one-step sparring

自由一本組手 jiyuu ippon kumite -- semi-free one-step sparring

自由組手   (jiyuu) kumite -- free sparring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Terms

 

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一般用語

 

基本   kihon       basic(s) / foundation, fundamental technics

気合い  ki-ai        "spirit focus" / a focusing yell: to meet your spirit

          to hear (to become) one: mental and physical

極め   kime       "concentration" / focus: very end, up to the limit

礼    rei           bow / to see each otherÕs (manner of correct form),

          to respect, to show your correct form (surface and mind)

用意   yoh-i       "get ready" / often a command to stand in

          hachinoji-dachi, be-ready with total reluxation

止め   yame       stop, stop performance (no action)

休め   yasume    rest, relax (with big breathing) / 休んで yasun-de

廻れ   maware /  廻って mawa-tte   turn

並んで  narande    line up / usually follow from left: senior

始め   hajime       begin, start

黙想   mokusoh    " meditation" / contemplation

           (to think of no thinking state)

道場   dojo [doh-joh]   "place to learn the way (of Karate, or Life)Ó

道場訓  dojo kun       dojo desiderata

正座   seiza         "proper sitting" / kneeling

師範   shihan        "master teacher" / above 6th dan

師範代  shihan-dai  vice-shihan

先生   sensei       teacher (the person who has lived and

          experienced before you, so to guide you)

先輩   sempai      senior student (the student who started to learn before you)

          (this term may not be used to the person who becomes

          the teacher, may call sensei, instead is more respectful)

後輩   koh-hai      junior student, follower

衣・着  gi              uniform

    kyu           levels below black belt, counting down from

          8th kyu to 1st kyu

    dan           steps showing mastery of the art, starting

          from 1st dan

押忍   osu           acknowledgement / Used as a salutation

          between practitioners.

                                  One says: short-cut of Onegai-shimasu

                                             ÒThank you for teachingÓ,

                                             or Ohayo-gozaimasu ÒGood MorningÓ

 

    

 

Tournament Terms

 

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競技用語

 

組手試合    kumite-shiai     sparing match

集合      syuu-goh         come closer (for the judges)

副審集合    fuku-shin syuu-goh   corner judges come closer

 

礼       rei                    bow

正面に礼    shoumen-ni-rei  bow to front

お互いに礼   o-tagai-ni-rei     bow to each other (to respect)

並んで     narande           line up / usually follow from left, senior student

用意      yoh-i                "get ready" / often a command to stand

               in hachinoji-dachi

勝負一本    shoubu-ipponn  ready to match / for the point

始め      hajime             begin, start

止め      yame              stop

一本      ippon              one point

技あり     waza-ari          half point

反則      hansoku          penalty (lost of match)

警告      kei-koku          warning /1st of 3(3 as hansoku)

注意      cyuui              caution / 2of 3 (3 as hansoku)

場外      jo-gai              outside of field

失格      shikkaku         out of qualufication

中へ      naka-e            return to the in field (return to the line)

元の位置へ   motono-ichi-(e)   return to the line

続けて始め   tsuzukete-hajime   (continue) begin, start

あとしばらく  ato-shibaraku   30 seconds left

それまで    soremade         that it, finish match

弱い      yowai               (technic) weak, technic incorrect (form or focus)

間合い     ma-ai               distance (between opponent is far)

赤・早い    aka-hayai        red (contestant is), faster

白受けている  shiro-ukete-iru  white, blocked

赤抜けている  aka-nukete-iru   red, off terget

白当たっている shiro-atatte-iru   white, contact (hit)

判定      hantei               judgement (decision)

赤の勝ち    aka-no-kachi      red, winner

残心      zanshin             awareness (preparation for sudden attack)

 

 

 

 

Dojo Kun

 

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道場訓

 

一つ、人格完成に努むること       hitotsu, jinkaku kansei ni tsutomurukoto.

Seek perfection of character.

 

一つ、誠の道を守ること         hitotsu, makoto no michi wo mamorukoto.

Be faithful.

 

一つ、努力の精神を養うこと       hitotsu, doryoku no seishin wo yashinaukoto.

 Endeavor.

 

一つ、礼儀を重んずること        hitotsu, reigi wo omonzurukoto.

Respect others.

 

一つ、血気の勇を戒しむること      hitotsu, kekki no yuu wo imashimurukoto.

 Refrain from violent behavior.

 

 

The language is archaic Japanese and doesn't do too well under direct translation. In the United States, these are generally translated as shown above right column.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2008 JKA of NYNJ                                                                                  mail to

 

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Sources:

 

Courtesy of the Yale Shotokan Karate Club.  and JKA of New York / New Jersey

Karate-do: My Way of Life, Gichin Funakoshi.

"Karate -- Yesterday and Today," Dynamic Karate, Masatoshi Nakayama.