Dojo Vocabulary and Terminology (Japanese)
| GENERAL RYUKYU KEMPO DOJO VOCABULARY AND TERMINOLOGY | ||
| Budo: Way of combat | Kihon: Fundamentals/Basics | |
| Bunkai: Application (interpretation) of kata techniques | Kime: Focus | |
| Bushido: Way of the Warrior | Kohai: Junior | |
| Dachi: Stance | Kumite: Sparring/fighting | |
| Do: Way | Kyu: Rank | |
| Dojo: School or training room | Maai: Distance | |
| Domo Arigato Gozaimashita: “Thank-you very much” | Maki te: Rolling Hand | |
| Dozo: Please | Obi: Belt | |
| Do itashi mashite: You’re welcome | O negai Shi masu: “Show me the way”, or “I welcome you to train with me” Said when Black belt enters dojo. They reply the same. There are many meanings; One is asking to be taught, etc. the “O” signifies respect |
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| Embusen: Floor pattern/lines of a kata | ||
| Geri: Kick Please note: The verb “to kick” in Japanese is keru. The noun form is keri. The names for kicks end up as geri, because some Japanese sounds change when they are combined with other words or syllables, as in mae geri…. front kick |
Osu: “I understand and will try my best.” Also used to show respect, enthusiasm in acknowledgement. Do not use outside of the dojo |
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| Gi: Uniform | Rei: Bow | |
| Gohon kumite: Five-step sparring | Renshi: Entry Level Master Teacher of teachers | |
| Hai: Yes | Sempai: Senior | |
| Iie: No | Sensei: Teacher | |
| Ippon kumite: One-step sparring | Shihan: Head Instructor | |
| Jiyyu kumite: Free sparring | Tai-sabaki: Body shifting | |
| Kamae: Posture | Tsuki (Zuki): Punch | |
| Karate Do: The Way of Karate | Uchi: Strike | |
| Karate: Empty Hands | Uke: Block | |
| Karateka: Practitioner of Karate | Waza: Technique | |
| Kata: Practice form | Yakusoku kumite: “Promise” premeditated sparring | |
| Kiai: Spirit shout/focus of spiritual energy | Yori-ashi: Sliding the feet | |
| Zanshin: Poise and control | ||
| CONCEPTS | ||
| Zanshin: Awareness; Continuing mind/heart – connotes “following through” a technique while maintaining awareness | ||
| Sen: Initiative | ||
| Sen no sen: Seizing the initiative earlier; attacking at the same moment your opponent attacks. | ||
| Go no sen: Seizing the initiative later; Allowing your opponent to attack first so as to open up target for counter-attacks. | ||
| Sen sen no sen: Seizing the opponent’s sen no sen; Attacking before your opponent attacks-a preemptive attack. | ||
| Ikken Hissatsu: “To kill with one blow” | ||
| COMMANDS | DIRECTIONS | |
| Age-te: Hands up (cover position) | Yoko: Side | |
| Hajime: Begin | Mae: Front | |
| Kiotsuke: Attention | Ushiro: Back | |
| Mawatte: Turn around | Tate: Vertical | |
| O taigai ni: Face towards each other | Mawashi: Round | |
| Rei: Bow | Migi: Right | |
| Seiretsu: Line up by rank | Hidari: Left | |
| Seiza: Meditation position-kneeling | Tobi: Jump | |
| Sensei ni: Face towards the teacher | Gyaku: Reverse | |
| Shomen ni: Face towards the front | Age: Rising | |
| Yame: Stop | Uchi: Inner | |
| Yasume: Relax (or ready position) | Soto: Outer | |
| Yoi: Ready | Sokumen: Side | |
| DACHI WAZA (STANCES) | UKE WAZA (BLOCKS) | |
| Kamae:Posture (Yoi) | Age uke: Rising block | |
| Zenkutsu dachi: Front Stance | Gedan uke: Down block | |
| Kokutsu dachi: Back Stance | Soto ude uke: Outside forearm block | |
| Kiba dachi: Straddle Stance | Uchi ude uke: Inside forearm block | |
| Fudo dachi: Fighting Stance | Shuto uke: Knife block | |
| Hachiji dachi: Open-legged Stance (Yoi) | Juji uke: X block | |
| Shizen-tai dachi: Natural Stance | Kosa uke: Cross block | |
| Neko-ashi dachi:Cat Stance | Empi uke (or Hiji uke): Elbow block | |
| Migi Ashi Orishiku: Right Leg Kneeling | ||
| Hidari Ashi Orishiku: Left Leg Kneeling | ||
| GERI WAZA (KICKS) | TSUKI WAZA (PUNCHES) | |
| Mae geri kekomi: Front thrust kick | Oi tsuki: Lunge punch | |
| Yoko geri kekomi: Side thrust kick | Gyaku tsuki: Reverse punch | |
| Mawashi geri: Round kick | Kizami tsuki: Jab | |
| Ushiro geri: Back thrust kick | Choku tsuki: Straight punch | |
| Fumikomi geri: Stomping kick | Kagi tsuki: Hook punch | |
| Oi-gyaku tsuki: Lunging reverse punch | ||
| UCHI WAZA (STRIKES) | Ren tsuki: Double punch | |
| Tettsui Hammer-fist strike | San tsuki: Triple punch | |
| Uraken Uchi: Backfist Strike | Age tsuki: Rising punch | |
| Hiraken Uchi: Foreknuckle Strike | ||
| Teisho Uchi: Palm Heel Strike | ||
| Shuto Uchi: Knife Hand Strike | ||
| Empi Uchi: Elbow Strike | ||
| Hiza Age Ate: Rising Knee Strike | ||
| BODY PARTS | ||
| Ashi: Leg | Kata: Shoulder | |
| Ashikubi: Ankle | Ken: Fist | |
| Atama: Head | Koshi: Ball of the foot | |
| Chudan: Mid-level | Naiwan: Back of Arm | |
| Empi (also Hiji): Elbow | Sokuto: Outer edge (knife) of the foot | |
| Ensho: Back of the heel | Te: Hand | |
| Gedan: Lower level | Teisho: Palm heel | |
| Heisoku: Top (instep) of the foot | Teisoku: Bottom of the foot | |
| Hiza (also Hitsui): Knee | Tekubi: Wrist | |
| Jiku Ashi: Pivot leg | Tsumasaki: Toe tips | |
| Jodan: Head level | Ude: Forearm | |
| Kaishu: Open hand | Wan: Arm | |
| Kakato: Heel of the foot | ||
| COUNTING | COLORS | |
| Ichi: One | Shiro: White | |
| Ni: Two | Ki: Yellow | |
| San: Three | Aoi: Blue | |
| Shi: Four | Midori: Green | |
| Go: Five | Murasaki: Purple | |
| Roku: Six | Cha: Brown | |
| Shichi: Seven | Kuro: Black | |
| Hachi: Eight | Aka: Red | |
| Ku: Nine | ||
| Ju: Ten | ||
| NiJu: Twenty | ||
| NiJu-Go: Twenty-five | ||
| Hyaku: One Hundred | ||
| Ippon: First | ||
| Yon: Fourth | ||
| Gohon: Fifth |