Terminology
Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai

Terminology

  • Ichi (eech-ee) One
  • Ni (nee) Two
  • San (sawn) Three
  • Chi (shee) Four
  • Go (goe) Five
  • Roku (row-koo) Six
  • Shichi (see-chee) Seven
  • Hachi (hah-chee) Eight
  • Ku (koo) Nine
  • Ju (joo) Ten
  • Mae (my) Front
  • Yoko (also sokumen) (yoh-koh) (soh-koo-men) Side
  • Ushiro (oo-she-row) back
  • Hidari (hee-dar-ree) left
  • Migi (mee-gee) right
  • Jodan (joe-don) head level
  • Chudan (chew-don) mid-level
  • Gedan (gay-don) low level
  • Dojo (doe-joe) school or training room
  • Kata (kah-tah) form
  • Kiai (key-eye) “spirit shout”, focus of energy
  • Kumite (koo-mee-tay) sparring, fighting
  • Gi (gee) uniform
  • Kihon (key-hone) fundamentals
  • Bunkai (boon-k’eye) application of kata techniques
  • Ippon kumite (oo-pohn koo-mee-tay) one-step sparring
  • Kamae (kah-my) posture
  • Tai-sabaki (tie sah-bah-kee) body shifting
  • Yoi (yo-ee) readiness
  • Seiza (say-zah) kneeling position
  • Mokuso (mok’soo) deep breathing meditation
  • Matte (mah-tay) wait
  • Hajime (hah-jee-may) begin
  • Yame (yah-may) stop
  • Hai (h’eye) yes/affirmation
  • Ossu (ouss) “I understand and will try to do my best.”