Basic Japanese Terminologies

Japanese Numbers Titles and Honorific
Suffixes
1
Ichi
Karate-Ka Karate Student -san Mr, Mrs, Ms
2
Ni
Kohai Junior (not used) -sama Superior honorific
3
San
Sempai Senior (never used for oneself) -chan For children, young women and friends
4
Shi
Sensei Teacher (never used for oneself) -kun For young men
5
Go
Shihan Master (never used for oneself)
6
Roku
7
Shichi
8
Hachi
9
Ku
10
Ju
Ranking System Dojo Instructions Start-End Salutations
Mudansha No Dan title holder Hajime Start Suki Attention
Haopkyu 8th Kyu Yame Stop Rei Bow
Nanakyu 7th Kyu Yasume Rest Naotte Relax
Rokkyu 6th Kyu Yoi Get Ready Seiza Formal seated position
Gokyu 5th Kyu Hai Yes Mokuso Meditation
Yonkyu 4th Kyu Iie No Mokuso Yame Stop meditation
Sankyu 3rd Kyu Kiai Shout Shomen Ni Rei Bow to front
Nikyu 2nd Kyu Seiretsu Line Up! Sensei Ni Rei Bow to Sensei
Ikkyu 1st Kyu Mawate Switch Otaga Ni Rei Bow to each other
Yudansha Dan Title Holder (Black Belt) Hantai Opposite Onegaishimasu Please do me the honour
Shodan 1st Dan Migi Right Arigato Gozaimashita Thank you
Nidan 2nd Dan Hidari Left
Sandan 3rd Dan Shomen Front General Terms
Yondan 4th Dan Ushiro Back Hikite Pulling Hand
Godan 5th Dan Tsuki Punching
Rokudan 6th Dan Uchi Striking
Shichidan 7th Dan Geri Kicking
Hachidan 8th Dan Uke Blocking
Kudan 9th Dan
Judan 10th Dan
Karate Terms and Concepts Geri (Kicking)
Wa Peace, Harmony Mae Geri Front Kick
Do The Way Yoko Geri Side Kick
Kai Association Ushiro Geri Back Kick
Ryu Style Mawashi Geri Roundhouse Kick
Karate Empty Hand (Tang Hand) Ushiro Mawashi Geri Reverse Roundhouse
Dojo Training Hall Migazuki Geri Crescent Kick(out to in)
Hombu Head Office Soto Migazuki Geri Crescent Kick (in to out)
Hara Centre Fumi Komi Stamping Kick
Kime Focus Hiza Geri Knee Strike
Maai Distancing Mae Tobi Geri Flying Front Kick
Oss Strong “Yes” Kesageri/Tobi Sokuto Flying Side Kick
Waza Technique Tobi Ushiro Mawashi Flying Spinning Mawashi
Taisabaki Hip Shifting Ushiro Geri Back Kick
Zanshin Remaining Spirit (Awareness) Jo/Chu/Ge Dan High/Middle/Low
Budo Way of War Keage Snap
Bushido Way of the Warrior Kekomi Thrust
Shuhari Maintain, adhere, improve
Go No Sen Defense then Attack Ido Kihon (Moving Basics)
Sen No Sen Block/Counter Simultaneously Jun Zuki Lunge Punch
Sen Strike Before Attack Kette Jun Zuki Front Kick Lunge Punch
Ikken Hissatsu One Deadly Strike Gedan Barai Uke Downward Block
Ki Energy Age (Jodan) Uke Rising Block
Kamae Guard Ready Position Jodan Uchi Uke High Uchi Uke
Chu Tanden Centre of Lower Abdomen Chudan Uchi Uke Middle Block (out to in)
Jo Tanden Centre of Head Jodan Soto Uke High Soto Uke
Ge Tanden Centre of Groin Chudan Soto Uke Middle Block (in to out)
Senchusen Centre Line of Body Gyaku Zuki Reverse Punch
Chikara Power Shuto Uke Knife Hand Block
Nage Waza Hip Throw Oi Zuki Forward Punch
Ashi Waza Leg Throw Tate Ken Zuki Vertical Fist Punch
Te Waza Head Throw
Sutemi Dropping Throw
Shime Waza Strangulation
Kansetsu Waza Dislocation
Traditional Shotokan Karate-do Technical Manual

Kam-Wing Pang (2002)