Helpful Japanese Shotokan Hints

HOW TO TIE YOUR BELT









COUNTING

Ichi = one
Ni = two
San = three
Shi = four
Go = five
Ruko = six
Shichi = seven
Hachi = eight
Ku = nine
Ju = ten


STANCES

Shizentai = natural stance
Zenkutsu dachi = front stance
Gyaku zenkutsu dachi = reversed front stance
Kiba dachi = horse stance
Kokutsu dachi = back stance
Neko ashi dachi = cat stance
Jiyu kamae = freestyle stance
Shiko dachi = square stance
Fudo dachi = rooted stance


BLOCKS

Gedan barai = downward block
Age uke = rising block
Soto uke = outside to inside cross block
Uchi uke = inside to outside cross block
Shuto uke = knife hand block
Osae uke = pressing block
Otoshi uke = downward forearm block
Sukui uke = scooping block
Chudan barai = middle level downward block
Nagashi uke = flowing block
Haiwan nagashi uke = flowing block with outside of arm


PUNCHES

Choku zuki = basic punch
Oi zuki = stepping punch
Gyaku zuki = reverse punch
Kizami zuki = snap punch
San bon zuki = three times punch
Ura zuki = upper cut punch
Kagi zuki = hook punch


PUNCHES

Mae geri = front snap kick
Yoko geri keage = side snap kick
Yoko geri kekomi = side thrust kick
Mawashi geri = roundhouse kick
Ushiro geri = back thrust kick
Hiza geri = knee kick
Uru mawashi geri = reverse roundhouse kick
Ushiro mawashi geri = back roundhouse kick
Fumikomi = stamping kick
Ren geri = two kicks in a row


STRIKES

Shuto uchi = knife hand strike
Empi uchi = elbow strike
Mawashi empi uchi = roundhouse elbow strike
Uraken uchi = back fist strike
Nukite = spear hand thrust
Haito uchi = ridge hand strike
Otoshi = striking downward



COMMANDS

Seiza = formal kneeling position
Mokuso = meditation
Mokuso Yame = finish meditation
Rei = bow
Shomen ni rei = bow to shomen
Sensei ni rei = bow to sensei
Sempai ni rei = bow to sempai
Dojo kun = rules of the dojo
Yoi = ready
Hajime = start
Kamaete = move into stance
Mawate = turn
Yame = finish
Naore = relax

MISC

Sensei = instructor
Sempai = senior
Kiai = yell originating from diaphram
Kata = set movement pattern
Jodan = head target area
Chudan = chest target area
Gedan = lowest target area
Kihon = basic techniques
Kumite = attacking/defending technique
Kyo = pause between consecutive techniques
Zanchin = awareness
Sen no sen = seizing the initiative earlier
Go no sen = seizing the initiative later
Tate = upright
Hikite = pulling hand