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Paul Fenech Sensei teaches a class in the Randwick Dojo

Glossary of Japanese terms

Since most of instructions you will be given when learning karate are in Japanese, it is essential that students become familiar with the following words.

Tip for parents: you can help your kids practice these words at home so they are prepared for class!

Basic terminology

dojo
the training room/gym
dojo kun
a mantra of martial arts ethics
gi
the karate jacket and trousers
hajime
"begin"
kata
the practice of karate forms
kihon
basic exercises
kumite
sparring
mokkuso
"close your eyes"
oos
a shout of respect and understanding
otagai-ni
how you greet fellow students
rei
bow
seiza
the kneeling position
sempai
a senior karate student
sensei
your teacher or master
shomen
the front of dojo
yame
"stop what you’re doing"
yoi
the ready position
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Counting

ichi
one
ni
two
san
three
shi
four
go
five
rokku
six
sichi
seven
hachi
eight
ku
nine
ju
ten
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Technique

age-uke
rising (upwards) block
chudan
chest area
gedan-barai
downward block
gyaku-tsuki
reverse punch
jodan
face area
kamae-te
ready hands
keage
snap kick
kekomi
thrust kick
kiai
a shout to express energy
kiba dachi
straddle (horse-riding) leg stance
kokutsu dachi
back stance
mae-geri
front kick
mawashi-geri
roundhouse kick
mawatte
"turn around"
oi-tsuki
lunge punch
shuto-uke
knife hand block
soto ude-uke
block from outside inwards
uchi ude-uke
block from inside outwards
yoko geri keage
side snap kick
yoko geri kekomi
side thrust kick
zenkutsu dachi
forward stance
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Names of kata

Heian
peaceful mind
Tekki
horse riding
Bassai
to penetrate a fortress
Kanku
to look at the sky
Jion
Jion-ji is a famous Buddhist temple
Empi
flying swallow
Hangetsu
half-moon
Gankaku
crane on a rock
Jitte
ten hands
Chinte
chinese hands
Ji’’in
temple grounds
Sochin
immovable in the face of danger
Meikyo
polished mirror
Wankan
king’s crown
Nijushiho
twenty four steps
Gojushiho
fifty four steps
Unsu
hands in the cloud
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