
Japanese Terms
Although most instruction at TKI Shotokan Karatre is in English,
We usually count in Japanese.
Here are some Japanese terms that you may hear during class.
hidari - Left
Migi - Right
Yasume - Rest an instruction to the students to relax normally following a long series of drills
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 empi  | 
 back fist elbow strike  | 
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  |