General Karate Terminology

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  • Rei  (ray)- Bow 
  • Seiza  (say-za)- Kneel Down
  • Mokuso  (mokuso)- Meditation
  • Mokuso Yame (mokuso yah-may) - Stop Meditation
  • Karate (Kah-rah-tay) - Empty Hand
  • Dojo (doe-joe) - Training Place
  • Shihan (shee-hahn) - Master
  • Sensei (sen-say) - Teacher
  • Sempai  (sen-pie) - Senior (Higher belt)
  • Dohai (doh-high) - Equal (Same belt)
  • Kohai (koh-high) - Junior (Lower belt)
  • Obi (oh-bee) - Belt
  • Keiotsuke  - Attention
  • Hajime (ha-jihm-aye) - Begin
  • Yame (yah-may) - Stop
  • Karate-Ka (kah-rah-tay kah) - Karate student
  • Karate-Gi (kah-rah-tay ghee) - Karate uniform
  • Otagi Ni (Oat-a-gah nee) - Bow to each other
  • Rei (ray) - Bow
  • Oss - A word showing respect
  • Mawatte (mah-waht-tay) - Turn around
  • Kata (kah-tah)- Form (an arranged pattern of attack and defense techniques against multiple imaginary opponents)

Counting

At PSKC, we count in Japanese during training.  All of our students are expected to learn how to count from 1 - 10 in Japanese during their training. 

  • Ichi (ee-chi) - One
  • Ni (nee)- Two
  • San (sahn)- Three
  • Shi (she) - Four
  • Go  (goh) - Five
  • Roku  (row-ku) - Six
  • Shichi (she-chee) - Seven
  • Hachi (ha-chee) - Eight
  • Kyu (k-you) - Nine
  • Jyu (j-you) - Ten

Degrees

  • Shodan (show-dawn)- First degree
  • Nidan (knee-dawn) - Second degree
  • Sandan (sahn-dawn) - Third degree
  • Yondan (yawn-dawn) - Fourth Degree
  • Godan (goh-dawn) - Fifth Degree

Katas

  • TAIKYO KYU - First Cause
  • HEIAN SHODAN - Peaceful Mind First Level
  • HEIAN NIDAN - Peaceful Mind Second Level
  • HEIAN SANDAN - Peaceful Mind Third Level
  • HEIAN YONDAN - Peaceful Mind Fourth Level
  • HEIAN GODAN - Peaceful Mind Fifth Level
    • From Heian Ante meaning peace and calmness, taken from the city of Heian
  • TEKKI SHODAN - Horse Riding First Level
  • TEKKI NIDAN - Horse Riding Second Level
  • TEKKI SANDAN - Horse Riding Third Level
  • BASSAI DAI - To penetrate a fortress Major*
  • BASSAI SHO - To penetrate a fortress Minor*
  • KANKU DAI - Viewing the Sky Major*
  • KANKU SHO - Viewing the Sky Minor*
  • HANGESTSU - Half Moon**
  • EMPI - Flying Swallow
  • GANKAKU - Crane on a Rock
  • JITTE - Ten Hands (sometimes spelt JUTTE)
  • JI-ON - From the temple of Jion
  • JI-IN - Temple grounds
  • CHINTE - Strange Hands
  • MEIKYO - Polished Mirror
  • NIJUSHIHO - Twenty Four Steps
  • SOCHIN - Immovable in the face of danger
  • WANKAN - A proper name, King's Crown.
  • UNSU - Hands in the cloud
  • GOJUSHIHO SHO - Fifty Four Steps Minor*
  • GOJUSHIHO DAI - Fifty Four Steps Major*