Japanese Terms

Although most instruction at JKA Boston is in English, we usually count in Japanese. Here are some Japanese terms that you may hear during class.

Counting

Japanese Pronunciation English
ichi eech one
ni nee two
san sahn three
shi shee four
go goh five
roku rohk six
shichi seech seven
hachi hahtch eight
ku koo nine
ju joo ten

Commands

Japanese Pronunciation
seiza kneel
moku-so meditate
rei bow
shomen ni rei bow to the front
Sensei ni rei bow to Sensei
yo-oi ready
kamae take position
mawatte turn
hajime begin
yame end (recover)

Stances

Japanese English
heisoku-dachi attention stance
hachiji-dachi ready position
kiba-dachi horse stance
zenkutsu-dachi front stance
kokutsu-dachi back stance
sochin-dachi rooted stance
sanchin-dachi hourglass stance
nekoashi-dachi cat stance
hangetsu-dachi half moon stance

Punches and Hand Techniques

Japanese English
oi-zuki step-in punch
kizami-zuki jab
gyaku-zuki reverse punch
nukite spear-hand thrust
kagi-suki hook punch
uraken back fist

Blocks

Japanese English
age-uke rising block
soto-uke outside block
uchi-uke inside block
shuto-uke knife-hand block
gedan-barai down block
juji-uke x-block

Kicks

Japanese English
mae-geri front kick
yoko-geri side kick
keagi snap kick
kekomi thrust kick
mawashi-geri roundhouse kick
ushiro-geri back kick
mae-ashi front leg

Kata Numbers

Kata Family Pronunciation English
Heian Shodan 1
  Nidan 2
  Sandan 3
  Yondan 4
  Godan 5
Tekki Shodan 1
  Nidan 2
  Sandan 3

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