Shotokan Karate Do Academy of New England

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Below is a list of Shotokan Karate techniques, as well as Japanese terms used in the Dojo.

    I have trained with students that came from abroad, and had studied Shotokan Karate in their native country. Though some may have had a hard time understanding English, they always understood the Japanese terms used in shotokan training. Shotokan training has always used the Japanese terms past down from instructor to student. With this in mind I feel confident that a English speaking New England Yank as myself could train in a Shotokan dojo in France without knowing a word of French. I might not be able to order dinner, but I could train karate....

Body Areas

Jodan: From the neck up
Chudan: From the neck to belt
Gedan: From the belt down
Migi: Right side
Hidari: Left side

 

 Hand Techniques


Oi Zuki: Stepping punch
Gyaku Zuki: Reverse punch
San Bon Zuki: Triple punch
Age Zuki: Rising punch
Nukite: Spear Hand Thrust
Kentsui-uchi: Hammer Fist

Uraken: Back Fist

 
Kicks

Mae Geri: Front kick
Yoko Geri: Side kick
Mawashi Geri: Round house kick
Ushiro Geri: Back kick
Ushiro Mawashi Geri: Hook kick
Mae Ashi Mae Geri: Front leg front kick
Mae Ashi Mawashi Geri: Front leg round kick
add Tobi to a kick and it becomes a flying kick.

Example; Tobi-Mae-Geri: Flying Front Kick

 

 Other things you may hear in the Dojo

Sensei: Instructor
Sempai: Assistant instructor
Yoi: Ready
Hazime: Begin
Yame: Stop
Seiza: Proper method of kneeling
Mokuso: Meditation
Osu: Affirmative acknowledgement
Rei: Bow
Shomen Ni Rei: Bow to the front
Sensei Ni Rei: Bow to instructor
Otogai Ni Rei: Bow to each other, or Mutual bow.
Kiai: Powerful yell from the diaphragm.
Kime: Focus
Gi: Uniform
Obi: Belt
Kyu: Belt ranks below black belt
Dan: Black belt ranks

Numbers

Ichi: One
Ni: Two
San: Three
Shi: Four
Go: Five
Roku: Six
Shichi: Seven
Hachi: Eight
Ku: Nine
Ju: Ten

Ju-Ichi: Eleven

Ni-Ju: Twenty

Ni-Ju-Ichi: Twenty one

Starting to see a pattern???

 

San-Ju: thirty

San-Ju-Ichi: Thiry one

yon-Ju: Forty

yon-Ju-Ichi: Forty one

yon-Ju-Ni: Forty two

Go-Ju-Ichi: Fifty one

This should get you to Ninety nine. (Ku-Ju-Ku).

After that might I suggest counting in your native language.