AIKI TE RYU KARATE KAI HONBU DOJO

Terminology you will hear when training

Using Japanese terminology is an important part of your training; however the majority of the classes below advanced are taught in English. When we hold a formal event you will hear the terminology being spoken and it is important that you understand each term listed below.

Stances (-dachi or -tachi)

heisoku dachi (ready stance) - Feet together, legs straight and relaxed.
musubi dachi (ready stance) - Heels together, with each foot pointing outwards 45º (forming a right angle between the feet).
heiko dachi (natural stance) - Feet parallel, shoulder-width apart.
soto hachiji dachi or just hachiji dachi (natural stance) - Feet shoulder-width apart, feet both pointing outwards at 45º.
uchi hachiji dachi (natural stance) - As for soto-hachiji-dachi but feet pointing slightly inwards.
zenkutsu dachi (front stance) - Forward leg bent at the knee with 60% of weight on front leg and 40% on rear leg. Knee of rear leg locked and extended approximately two shoulder-widths behind lead foot. Torso erect. Feet facing outwards at 45º.
han zenkutsu dachi (half front stance) - As for zenkutsu-dachi, but feet only one shoulder-width apart. Weight is distributed evenly. Front knee is bent so that toes are obscured.
sanchin dachi (tension stance) - Feet shoulder-width apart, weight distributed evenly over both legs. Kneeds tensed and pulled inwards. Forward foot slightly ahead of rear foot, so that back of front foot aligns with the front of the rear foot. Toes pointed slightly inward. Back straight and hips tensed, with pelvis pulled forwards and upwards.
gyaku zenkutsu dachi (rear defense stance) - As in zenkutsu-dachi but turned around so straight leg points forward. Head and torso turned to face forward, leaning to the rear.
neko ashi dachi (cat stance) - Rear knee bent, with foot flat on ground, and toes facing to the outside. Resting lightly (10%) on the front leg, approximately one shoulder-width from the rear leg. Toes of front foot facing forwards, flat on ground with heel of foot raised. Crouching slightly, with front leg in centre of body, bent a little at the knee. Torso erect.
kokutsu dachi (back stance) - Rear knee bent, with foot facing to the outside. Forward leg approximately two shoulder-widths in front of and perpendicular to rear foot (i.e. facing forwards). 70% of weight on rear leg, 30% on foward leg.
hanmi kokutsu dachi - as for kokutsu dachi, but rear leg is placed slightly to the side. Rear foot points directly sideways with back of foot aligned with big toe of front foot.
kiba dachi or naifanchi dachi (horse stance) - Feet roughly two shoulder-widths apart, parallel, toes pointed forwards.
shiko dachi (straddle stance) - Feet spread approximately two shoulder-widths apart, toes pointed outward at 45º. Weight distributed evenly over both legs. Knees bent deeply and pulled back as far as possible. Torso erect. Lower legs/shins approximately vertical.
naname shiko dachi (diagonal straddle stance) - as for shiko dachi but at a 45º angle.
yokomuki shiko dachi (sideways straddle stance) - As for shiko-dachi, but looking directly to the side.
sesan dachi (side facing straddle stance) - Similar to yokomuki shiko dachi, but leading foot points directly forward and rear foot points directly outwards.
moto dachi - Similar to naname shiko dachi, but leading foot points directly forward and rear foot points directly outwards.
shirasagiashi dachi or sagiashi dachi (one-legged or crane stance) - Leg raised and tucked behind knee of supporting leg. Supporting leg bent at knee and foot turned outward, weight shifted back above supporting leg.
renoji dachi (Japanese character Re stance) - Feet one shoulder width apart, front leg in centre of body pointing directly forwards. Rear leg pointing outwards 45º. Legs relaxed and straight.
kosa dachi (crossed-leg stance) - One leg crossed over the other with both knees bent. Front foot flat on ground. Rear leg supported on ball of foot. Front foot facing to outside at 45º.
bensoku dachi - similar to kosa dachi but both feet flat on ground.
naihanchi dachi - as for sanchin dachi but feet even (neither is further forward than the other).
fudo dachi or sochin dachi (free/immovable stance)

Blocks (uke waza)

uke - block
barai - parry
age uke - rising block (particularly to jodan, jodan age uke)
yoko uke - side block (particularly to mid height, chudan yoko uke). Palm up, blocking with thumb side of forearm, to the ouside. Also called soto ude uke, soto yoko uke, and ude uke.
gedan barai - downward circular block
hiki uke - pulling/grasping block
uchi yoko uke - inside forearm block
sukui uke - scoop block
nagashi uke - sweeping block
kake uke - hook block
ko uke - wrist block, wrist bent inwards, middle finger touching thumb. Block with end of forearm (particularly jodan ko uke). Also called koken uke.
kosa uke (cross block) - arms crossed at wrist, with backs of hands facing downwards and inwards towards each other.
shuto uke - knife hand block
shotei uke - palm heel block, particularly to gedan, also called shotei gedan barai.
tetsui uke - hammerfist block
hiza uke - knee block. hiza uchi uke (knee block from outside to inside) and hiza soto uke (knee block from inside to outside).
osae uke - pressing block
otoshi uke - descending block, eg shotei otoshi uke (palm-heel descending block)
kuri uka - circular elbow block
sokutei osae uke - pressing block with sole of the foot. Pressing down hard against the attacker's ankle, as in a yoko geri.
sokutei harai uke - block with the sole of the foot. Foot swung from outside to inside.
haisoku barai - instep block. Foot swung from inside to outside.
tora guchi - highly circular block simultaneously to both gedan and jodan, ending with a push forward (characteristic of Goju Ryu).

Hand/arm Techniques

Note: zuki is often pronounced more like the word ski. -zuki techniques are punches or thrusts. -uchi techniques are other strikes.

tzuki (-zuki) - punch
-uchi - strike
ate - joint strike
seiken zuki or choku zuki - basic punch with closed fist, striking with front two knuckles.
oi zuki - lunge punch
kizami zuki - leading punch, jab
gyaku zuki - reverse (rear) punch, delivered with twist of hips.
age zuki - rising punch
kagi zuki - hook punch
ura zuki - short punch (palm side up)
ura ken uchi - back fist strike, snapping wrist, striking with top of knuckles.
mawashi zuki - round hook punch, with top of hand facing outwards/upwards.
furi zuki - circular punch. Delivered in large circular path with swing of hips, top of hand facing inwards.
awase zuki - U punch. Double fist punch consisting of seiken zuki and ura zuki executed simultaneously.
heiko zuki - Parallel punch. Double fist punch consisting of simultaneous left and right seiken zuki punch.
yama zuki (mountain punch) - Double punch as in awase zuki, but seiken zuki is higher and is delivered in a circular over-arm fashion and ura zuki is lower and rises slightly.
hiji uchi or hiji ate - elbow strike
tateken zuki - vertical fist punch. Top of hand faces out to the side.
nukite zuki - finger thrust/spear hand. Straight hand, middle finger slightly bent so first three fingers are roughly even in length. Thumb bent and held tightly against palm.
shuto uchi - knife-hand strike, eg shuto hasami uchi (knife-hand strike to neck).
tettsui uchi - bottom fist strike. Closed fist, strike with bottom of fist.
shotei zuki - palm-heel thrust. Hand is open as in nukite, wrist bent back. Strike made with bottom of hand, as in tettsui (also called teisho zuki).
haito uchi - ridge-hand strike. Hand held as in nukite but strike is made with inside of hand, a little below the index finger.
keiko-ken zuki - one knuckle fist. Index finger joint protrudes slightly and is held firmly in place by thumb.
nakadaka ippon-ken zuki or just nakadaka zuki - middle knuckle punch. Similar to keiko-ken zuki, but using second finger. Thumb and index finger press firmly against middle finger to hold it in place.
kaiko-ken zuki - crab shell fist. Thumb bent and pressed against palm. First knuckles straighted and fingers curled inwards to touch edge of plam. Strike is made with middle bone of the fingers.
boshiken zuki - similar to seiken zuki but thumb presses firmly against the bent side of the index finger. Thumb is used to strike.
ko uchi - bent wrist strike, similar to ura ken uchi with open hand (wrist is initially bent, but snaps out).
kote uchi - forearm strike.
zu zuki - headbutt.

Foot/leg Techniques

keri (-geri) - kick
mae geri - front kick. mae geri keage is a snap front kick, and mae geri kekomi is a thrust front kick. The strike is made with the ball of the foot (josokutei), and with the toes pulled up and back. mae kakato geri is a kick that strikes with the heel.
kin geri - Gedan kick using kasokutei (top of foot ).
mawashi geri - roundhouse kick
ushiro geri - back thrust kick
yoko geri - side kick. yoko geri keage is a snap side kick, and yoko geri kekomi is a thrust side kick. The strike is with sokuto, the outside edge of the foot.
kansetsu geri - stamping kick, joint kick
kake geri - hook kick
ashi barai - foot sweep. Either a hooking sweep using the inside/instep of the foot (sokko) or a larger sweeping of the leg.
mae tobi geri - jumping front kick
yoko tobi geri - jumping side thrust kick
hiza geri or hiza ate - knee kick
tobi geri - jumping kick
tobi nidan geri - jumping double kick
ushiro tobi geri - jumping back kick
yoko tobi geri - jumping side kick
ura yoko geri - spinning side kick
ura yoko tobi geri - spinning jumping side kick
ura ushiro tobi geri - spinning jumping back kick
ura mawashi geri - spinning roudhouse kick
kakatoto oshi - heel kick/heel drop
fumikomi geri - stamping kick, strike is made by stamping inwards (the kansetsu geri is similar but towards the outside).
gyaku mawashi geri - reverse roundhouse kick. Delivered from inside to outside of body.
mikazuki geri - crescent kick (inside to outside). Also called soto mikazuki geri.
kakato geri - inside crescent kick (outside to inside). Also called uchi mikazuki geri.
ura mikazuki tobi geri - spinning jumping crescent kick
otoshi geri - descending kick, or axe kick (also otoshi kake geri)

Movements

sabaki - general term for body moving/shifting techniques
tai sabaki - body movement
te sabaki - hand movement
ashi sabaki - foot movement
suri ashi - sliding step
tsugi ashi - shuffling step
tenkai ashi - pivot
kaiten ashi - forward step pivot
tenkan ashi - pivot backstep
ayumi ashi - natural stepping/walking
yori ashi - dragging step
keri ashi - kicking foot
tenshin - moving, shifting
chakuchi - replacing

Sparring

kumite - sparring
san dan gi - basic three step/three level sparring
sanbon kumite - three step sparring
ippon kumite - one step sparring (block and counter)
jiyu ippon kumite - free one step sparring, emphasis on technique
randori kumite - slow and soft free style sparring with emphasis on technique
yakusoku kumite - prearranged sparring
jiyu kumite - hard and fast controlled continuous free fighting (iri kumi in the Okinawan dialect)
go kumite - full contact sparring
sanbon shobu kumite or shiai kumite - three point competition karate

Other Terms

age - upper/rising
ashi tanren - leg conditioning
bunkai - techniques and applications of a kata
gasshuku - training camp
gyaku - reverse
hara - centre, centre of mass
hoju undo - supplementary exercises utilising aids to develop strength, stamina, speed and coordination (see above)
honbu dojo - central dojo of an organisation/region
junbi undo - warmup and preliminary exercises
junbi owarimasu - end of warmups
kakie - a type of hand/arm exercise and associated applications used mostly for close combat. Also for improving strength, control and muchimi.
kamae - stance and distancing as assumed for sparring
karate-do - the way of karate. do means way or path (from the chinese tao).
karateka - a karate practioner
kata - a sequence of pre-arranged movements and techniques
ki - spirit and energy (similar to chi)
kiai - shout given as techniques are delivered to focus energy
kihon - basics
kime - focus
ma-ai - correct distancing or timing with respect to one's partner
morote - both hands simultaneously
muchimi - heavy/sticky but still flowing (a desirable feature of many techniques)
mushin - to do something automatically or without having to think about it.
ritsurei - standing bow
seiken - normal fist (front two knuckles)
seiza - kneeling
shihan - chief/master instructor. For IOGKF Goju Ryu this is Morio Higaonna.
shime - testing of sanchin kata
soto - outside (inside to outside)
tako ashi - gripping the floor with spread toes.
uchi - inside (outside to inside) or strike
ude tanren - forearm conditioning
zarei - sitting bow

Common Aiki Te Ryu Karate Phrases

The most common phrases you will encounter when you start training.

Getting Started

One of the first difficulties you might encounter during formal training sessions is understanding what your instructor is saying. Sometimes we train with a guest instructor, or train overseas with people that speak different languages. To make sure everybody understands each other, we use Japanese as a common language. We also use Japanese out of respect and tradition. The following list of words and phrases is by no means complete, but these are the most common things you will hear or say. Because most of us don't speak Japanese, we also use English for many things.

After each Japanese word (written in bold) a kind of simple phonetic spelling is included so you know what the word should sound like. This is followed by the meaning of the word as we use it in karate.

General Words and Commands

karate /kahrah-tay/ - "Empty hand" or weaponless art of defense.
dojo /doe-joe/ - Literally "way-place," or "place for learning the way," name for karate school/training room.
obi /oh-bee/ - Belt
gi /ghee/ - Karate uniform (or dogi /doe-ghee/).
sensei /sen-say/ - Instructor
sempai /sem-pie/ - Senior student
hajime /hah-jee-may/ - Begin at your own speed, continue to your own count, as in free sparring or kata.
yame /yah-may/ - Stop.
migi /me-ghee/ - Right side
hidari /he-dah-ree/ - Left side
mokuso /mohk-so/ - Meditation (eye's closed)
yoi /yoy/ - Ready position (for kata etc.), in musubi dachi stance, hands one fist in front of belt, crossed left over right, palms down.
ashi o kaete /ah-she oh kie-tay/ - Change stance, as from left foot to right (ashi means foot/feet)
te o kaete /tay oh kie-tay/ - Change hands, used for all hand techniques (te means hand/hands)
mawatte /mah-wah-tay/ - Turn around/other way

Directions (to strike, etc.)

mae /my/ or /may/ - Front
yoko /yoe-koe/ - Side
mawashi /mah-wah-she/ - Around, eg round-house
ushiro /oo-she-roe/ - Back

Areas (to strike, etc.)

jodan /joe-dahn/ - Upper level, collar and up (e.g. face, head, throat)
chudan /choo-dahn/ - Middle level, belt up to collar (e.g. stomach)
gedan /gay-dahn/ - Lower level, "below the belt" (e.g. abdomen, groin, legs)

For example, a jodan mawashi geri would be a round-house kick at head height, whereas a gedan mawashi geri would be a round-house kick to the leg. A chudan mae geri is a front kick at stomach/chest height, and so on.