Australia IOGKF
Australia Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate Federation
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Karate Terminology & Vital Points
Inside your Dojo, your Sensei will use various Japanese terminology referring to techniques, terms and vital points used in traditional Karate. Although they are explained in English also, this page helps as a guide for you to improve your knowledge and vocabulary.
Terminology Introduction
A real traditional emphasis.
In all of our classes, our Dojo instructor use the correct Japanese names and terms for a majority of the techniques. We run traditional Okinawan Dojo's and as such we observed traditional Okinawan practices by using the correct terms and etiquette. Your instructor and senior members of you club will assist you in developing your terminology knowledge.
Arriving or Leaving the Dojo
What to say and when.
Arriving at the Dojo, you should bow as you enter the door and in a loud and clear voice say:
Onegaishimasu - Please teach me.
When leaving the Dojo at the end of class or for the day, you should bow once again and say:
Arigato Gozaimashita - Thank you very much.
OR
Sayonara - Goodbye.
Class opening ceremony
Performed at the beginning of every class.
Shugo Line up (phonetically ‘shho-go’)
Ki o tsukeStand to attention (phonetically ‘kee-ut-skay’)
Seiza Kneel (phonetically ‘say-zah’)
Mokuso Meditate (phonetically ‘mok-so’)
Mokuso yame Finish meditating
Shomen ni Face the front of the dojo (phonetically ‘sho-men nee’)
Rei Bow (phonetically ‘ray’)
Sensei ni Face your teacher
Rei Bow and say aloud Onegaishimasu meaning please teach me (phonetically ‘on-ee-guy-shim-ass’)
Shomen ni Face the front of the dojo
Kiritsu Stand up (phonetically ‘kee-ree-tsoo’)
Class closing ceremony
Performed at the conclusion of each class.
Shugo Line up
Ki o tsuke Stand to attention
Seiza Kneel
Mokuso Meditate
Mokuso yame Finish meditating
Shomen ni Face the front of the dojo
Rei Bow
Sensei ni Face your teacher
Rei Bow and say aloud Arigato Gozaimashita meaning thank you (phonetically ‘ary-gato goz-aye-mahsh-tah’)
Otagai ni Face your partner
Rei Bow and say aloud Arigato Gozaimashita
Shomen ni Face the front of the dojo
Kiritsu Stand up and bow.
When leaving the dojo at the end of a lesson, it is not necessary to wait and leave the dojo in order of rank. But if you do meet at the exit, it is just a matter of courtesy to allow the senior to go first.
Japanese Grammar: You will sometimes hear people say ‘arigato gozaimashita’ (with a ‘tah’ at the end) or ‘arigato gozaimasu’ (without the ‘tah’). It is just a case of thanking someone in the future or past tense. ‘Arigato gozaimashita’ is used at the end of the lesson to thank the Sensei for the lesson just given. ‘Arigato gozaimasu’ would be used at the start of the lesson to thank the Sensei for the lesson they are about to give.
Numbers
How we count in Japanese
Ichi One
Ni Two
San Three
Shi Four
Go Five
Roku Six
Shichi Seven
Hachi Eight
Ku Nine
Ju Ten
Blocking technique names
Blocking techniques are know as 'Uke Waza'
Jodan Age uke Head level rising block.
Chudan Yoko uke Middle level side block.
Gedan harai Lower level sweep block.
Hiki uke Pulling/grasping block.
Ko uke Wrist block
Shotei barai Palm heel sweep
Shotei uke Palm heel block
Uchi uke Forearm block (block from outside moving inward to the centre line of the body)
Sukui uke Scooping block
Tora guchi Tiger mouth block
Punches & Striking technique names
Punching techniques are known as 'Tsuki Waza' & strikes 'Uchi Waza'
Jodan tsuki Punch to the face
Chudan tsuki Punch to the chest
Gedan tsuki Punch to the groin
Age tsuki Rising punch (upper cut)
Furi tsuki Circular punch (hook)
Gyaku tsuki Reverse punch
Kizami Tsuki Jab Punch
Oi tsuki Lunge punch
Seiken Tsuki Forefist punch (standard punch)
Ura tsuki Close range punch
Uraken uchi Back fist strike
Hijiate Elbow strike
Haito uchi Ridge hand strike
Heiken uchi Fore knuckle fist strike
Koken Wrist strike
Nukite uchi Spear hand strike
Shuto uchi Knife-edge hand strike
Sokuto uchi Knife-edge foot strike
Teisho uchi Palm heel strike (sometimes called shotei uchi)
Tetsui uchi Hammer fist strike
Kicking technique names
Kicking techniques are known as 'Geri Waza'
Mae geri Front kick
Mawashi geri Roundhouse kick
Yoko geri Side kick
Ushiro geri Back kick
Hiza geri Knee kick
Kansetsu geri Stamping kick, joint kick
Fumikomi geri Heel Kick
Mae ashi geri Front leg kick
Tobi geri Jumping kick
Ashi Barai Foot sweep
Training equipment & Partner drills
Training equipment is know as Hojo Undo & partner drills as Kumite.
Chi ishi Lever weighted stone
Ishi sashi Stone padlocks
Kongo ken Iron ring
Makiwara Striking board
Nigiri game Gripping jars
Tan Barbells
Kumite sparring
Ippon kumite one step sparring (block and counter)
San dan gi Basic three step sparring
Randori kumite Slow and soft free style sparring with emphasis on technique
Yakusoku kumite Prearranged sparring
Bunkai Applications for the Kata
Kakie Close quarters push hands exercise
Iri kumi Ju Soft, fast but controlled continuous free style sparring
Iri kumi Go Full contact sparring
General terms
Everyday words you hear in class
Gi Uniform
Obi Belt
Budo Martial Way; Martial arts
Chudan Middle level
Dan Level
Do Way; Path
Dojo Training place
Dojo kun Dojo rules
Gasshuku Special karate training camp
Gedan Lower level
Go Hard, unyielding
Goju-Ryu Karate Do Hard/Soft style, empty handed way
Hai Yes
Hajime Begin
Heishugata ‘Closed Fist’ kata (Sanchin and Tensho)
Hidari Left
Honbu dojo Head dojo of an organisation
Jodan Upper level
Ju Soft, flexible
Junbi undo Warm up exercises
Kaishugata ‘Open fist’ kata (Gekisai, Saifa, etc.)
Kamae Combative posture
Kata Forms
Keage Snap action
Kenkon The symbol of the IOGKF – Literally ‘Heaven and Earth’
Kiai Energy shout
Kihon Basics
Kime Focus point
Mawatte Turn around
Migi Right
Muchimi Heavy, sticky action
Semete Attacking partner
Sensei Teacher or one who has gone before
Senpai Senior student
Shihan Master or professor
Shime Sanchin testing
Suri ashi Sliding step
Tai sabaki Moving the body to avoid contact
Tanden The body´s power centre
Te Hand
Ude Forearm
Ude tanren Forearm conditioning
Zanshin Awareness
Vital Points Chart
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