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JAPANESE OKINAWAN VOCABULARY
When pronouncing Japanese and Okinawan words, remember that each
syllable is stressed equally when saying multi-syllable words (i.e.,
ka-ra-te, not kar-ate). All syllables of a word are pronounced
with equal emphasis.
There is no "R" sound in Japanese or Okinawan . If the
letter R is used in a word, it is pronounced closer to an "L",
or like a rolled "R".
A word does not change in the plural as it does in English. For
example, "kata" may mean one kata or many kata. It would
be incorrect to say, "katas".
|
STANCES |
|
Stance - Dachi |
|
English
|
Japanese/Okinawan
|
| Parallel |
Heiko |
| straddle, or "horse" |
Kiba |
| crossed-leg |
Kosa |
| formal (feet together) |
Musubi |
| cat |
Nekoashi |
| hourglass |
Sanchin |
| toe outward (Seiuchin) |
Soto hachiji |
| short front (Seisan) |
Sho zenkutsu |
| "T" stance |
Teiji |
| crane |
Tsuru Ashi |
| toe inward (Naihanchin) |
Uchi hachiji |
|
KICKING TECHNIQUES |
| Kick
- Geri |
| English |
Japanese/Okinawan
|
| Stomp Kick |
Fumikomi geri |
| Front Snap Kick |
Mae geri keage |
| Front Thrust Kick |
Mae geri kekomi |
| Flying Front Kick |
Mae tobi geri |
| Side Snap Kick |
Yoko geri keage |
| Side Thrust Kick |
Yoko geri kekomi |
| Back Kick |
Ushiro geri |
Roundhouse
Kick |
Mawashi geri |
| Crescent Kick |
Mikazuki geri |
| Double Jump Kick |
Nihon tobi geri |
|
PUNCHING & STRIKING
TECHNIQUES |
|
Punches - Tzuki |
Strikes - Uchi |
|
English |
Japanese/Okin |
English |
Japanese/Okin |
| Rising Punch |
Age tzuki |
Elbow Strike |
Empi uchi |
| Reverse Punch |
Gyaku tzuki |
Downward Strike |
Gedan uchi |
| Straight Punch |
Seiken tzuki |
Ridge-hand Strike |
Ha-ito uchi |
| Lunge Punch |
Oi tzuki |
Strike with Knee |
Hittsui uchi |
| Side Punch |
Tate tzuki |
One Finger Spearhand |
Ippon nukite |
| |
|
Two Finger Spear |
Nihon nukite |
| |
|
Front Elbow Strike |
Mae empi uchi |
| |
|
Uppercut Strike |
Seiken jodan uchi |
| |
|
Palm-Heel Strike |
Shotei |
| |
|
Hammer Fist Strike |
Tettsui uchi |
| |
|
Backfist Strike |
Uraken uchi |
| |
|
Backfist to Solar Plexus |
Uraken chudan |
| |
|
Lower Backfist Strike |
Uraken gedan barai |
| |
|
Inverted Backfist Strike |
Uraken shomen uchi |
| |
|
Rear Elbow Strike |
Ushiro empi uchi |
| |
|
Side Elbow Strike |
Yoko empi uchi |
|
BLOCKING TECHNIQUES |
|
Block - Uke |
|
English |
Japanese/Okinawan
|
| Rising Block |
Age uke |
| Downward Block |
Gedan uke |
| Knife Hand Block |
Shuto uke |
| Crescent Block |
Mikazuki uke |
| Union Block |
Soe uke |
| X-Block |
Juji uke |
| Inside/Outside Block |
|
| Outside/Inside Block |
|
| Palm Heel Block |
Shotei uke |
|
GENERAL TERMS |
|
Japanese/Okinawan
|
English |
| Bunkai |
Study of techniques and applications |
| Dan |
Blackbelt Grade |
| Hombu Dojo |
The central dojo of an organization |
| Ippon |
One point |
| Jodan |
Upper area |
| Kamae (kah-mai) |
Posturing or distancing |
| Ki |
Mind, Spirit, Energy |
| Ki-ai |
A shout focusing all of one's energy into
a single movement |
| Kihon |
Fundamental or basic |
| Kime |
Focus |
| Kuzushi |
Breaking Balance |
| Kyu |
Grade- Rank below blackbelt |
| Kyusho |
Attack of vital points |
| Makiwara |
Punching board |
| Mudanshu |
One who does not hold a blackbelt rank |
| Nihon |
Two point |
| Obi |
Belt |
| Sensei |
One who has gone before, teacher |
| Shiai |
Contest or Match |
| Sinban |
Refree |
| Soke |
Founder, head of family |
| Tai sabaki |
Body movement |
| Tori |
Partner Performing a technique |
| Uke |
Partner receiving a technique |
| Waza |
Technique |
| Yudansha |
One who is a blackbelt |
|
EXPRESSIONS |
|
Japanese/Okinawan |
English |
| Aswatti |
sit |
| Domo arigato gazaimasu |
Thank you very much |
| Dozo |
Pleas |
| Hai |
yes |
| Hajime (ha-jee-may |
begin |
| Karate |
Empty hand |
| Kiai |
Shout of spirit or energy |
| Keotsuke (kee-oh-tskay) |
Attention |
| Ohayo Gozaimasu |
Good Morning |
| Kombanwa |
Good Evening |
| Konnichiwa |
Good Afternoon |
| Matte |
Wait |
| Ohayo |
Hello |
| Oyasumi Nasai |
Good Night |
| Tachi rei |
Standing bow |
| Tameshi waza |
Breaking Technique |
| Yamae |
Stop |
|
|
| Mawashi |
Round |
| Mikazuki |
Crescent |
| Nukite |
Spearhand |
| Seiken |
Fist |
| Tobi |
Jump |
| Tzuki |
Punch |
| Uchi |
Strike |
| Uke (oo-kay) |
Block |
| |
| Dachi |
stance |
| Empi |
Elbow |
| Geri (Geddy) |
Kick |
| Kakato |
Heel of foot |
| Keage |
Snapping |
| Kekomi |
Thrusting |
| Koshi |
Ball of the foot or hips |
|
DIRECTIONS |
| Age |
Rising |
| Chudan |
Middle Area |
| Gedan |
Lower Area |
| Jodan |
Upper Area |
| Mae |
Front |
| Ushiro |
Back |
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