Here are the common words and phrases that we use in the class. It may be a bit daunting to start with but you soon get used to them. Learning to count is a good place to start.
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| Rei | ray | Bow |
| Sensei ni rei | sen-say-nee-ray | Bow to Teacher |
| Otagai ni rei | otto-guy-nee-ray | Bow to each other |
| Yoi | yoy | Ready |
| Hajime | ha-jim-may | Begin |
| Yame | ya-may | Stop |
| Sensei | sen-say | Teacher |
| Oss | ooss | I Acknowledge |
| Kihon | kee-hon | Basics |
| Kamai | ka-my | Fighting Guard Up |
| Dojo | doe-joe | Training hall |
| Kiai | kee-ay | Shout |
| Jodan | joe-dan | Nose height |
| Chudan | choo-dan | Solar plexus height |
| Geidan | gay-dan | Groin height |
| Gi | ghee | Training uniform |
| Hai | hi | Yes |
| Obi | o-bee | Belt |
| Mokuso | mock-so | Close eyes |
| Sayonara | sigh-an-arra | Goodbye |
| Seiza | say-zah | Kneel down |
| Ichi | itchy | One |
| Ni | knee | Two |
| San | sun | Three |
| Shi | she | Four |
| Go | go | Five |
| Roku | rook | Six |
| Shichi | sitch | Seven |
| Hachi | hatch | Eight |
| Ku | queue | Nine |
| Ju | jew | Ten |
| Ashi barai | ahsee-barr-eye | Ankle sweep |
| Empi | emm-pee | Elbow strike |
| Gedan barai | gay-dan-barr-eye | Lower sweeping block |
| Han zenkutsu dachi | han-zen-khoot-zoo-dah-chee | Half front stance |
| Heiko dachi | hi-koh-dah-chee | Parallel stance |
| Kin geri | kin-gair-ee | Groin snap kick |
| Mae geri | my-gair-ee | Front kick |
| Mawashi geri | mah-washa-gair-ee | Roundhouse kick |
| Musubi dachi | mer-soo-bee-dah-chee | Ready stance |
| Neko ashi dachi | neh-ko-ashee-dah-chee | Cat stance |
| Nukite | nuh-ker-tay | Finger Thrust |
| Sanchin dachi | san-chin-dah-chee | Hourglass stance |
| Sandan gi | san-dan-gay | Three level moving |
| Shiko dachi | she-ko-dah-chee | Horse stance |
| Tettsui | tet-suey | Hammer fist strike |
| Tora guchi | tora-goo-chi | Tiger mouth block |
| Uraken | oo-racken | Back fist strike |
| Yoko geri | yoko-gair-ee | Side kick |
| Zenkutsu dachi | zen-khoot-zoo-dah-chee | Front stance |
Other terms
Stances
dachi/tachi stance
fudo dachi free stance
heisoku dachi closed foot stance (feet together)
musubi dachi formal attention stance (heels together, feet at an angle)
heiko dachi parallel stance (feet shoulder width apart)
hachiji dachi natural stance (feet shoulder width apart, toes slightly pointed out)
shiko dachi horse riding stance
sanchin dachi hourglass stance (back toes in line with front heel)
han zenkutsu dachi half front stance (back knee drop down to front toes)
zenkutsu dachi front stance (back knee drops down to front heel)
kokutsu dachi back stance
neko ashi dachi cat foot stance
renoji dachi tick stance
Hand Techniques
tsuki punch or thrust
uchi strike
nakadaka ken middle finger knuckle fist
ippon ken first finger knuckle fist
kuma de bear hand
washi de eagle hand
empi/hiji elbow
choku tsuki straight punch
nihon tsuki double punch
sanbon tsuki triple punch
kizame tsuki leading punch, jab
oi tsuki lunge punch
gyaku tsuki reverse punch
ura tsuki short punch (palm side up)
age tsuki rising punch
tate tsuki vertical punch
kagi tsuki short punch
furi tsuki circular punch
mawashi tsuki round hook punch
heiko tsuki parallel punch
hasami tsuki scissors punch
yama tsuki mountain punch
awase/so tsuki u-punch
nagashi tsuki flowing punch
shotei/teisho tsuki palm heel thrust
seiken tsuki fore fist strike
nukite tsuki finger thrust
ko uchi bent wrist strike
ura ken uchi back fist strike
shuto uchi knife hand srike
hiji uchi/ate elbow strike/smash
tettsui uchi bottom fist strike
shotei/teisho uchi palm heel strike
tsukame grab
Foot Techniques
geri kick
ashi foot/leg
josokutei ball of the foot
sokuto foot edge
kakato heel
haisoku instep
tsumasaki tip of the toe
hiza knee
mae geri (kaegi) front snap kick
mae geri (kekomi) front thrust kick
mawashi geri round house kick
ushiro geri back thrust kick
yoko geri (keagi) side snap kick
yoko geri (kekomi) side thrust kick
kansetsu geri stamping kick, joint kick
hiza geri knee kick
nidan geri double front snap kick (back leg first)
ren geri double front snap kick (front leg first)
ashi barai foot sweep
mae tobi geri jumping front kick
yoko tobi geri jumping side thrust kick
Blocking Techniques
uke block
age uke (jodan) rising block
chudan uke inside circular block
chudan uchi uke outside forearm block
gedan barai downward block
gedan uchi barai outside downward block (open block)
hiki uke pulling/grasping block
kake uke open handed block
shuto uke knife hand block
shotei uke palm heel block
ko uke wrist block
ura uke back hand block
uchi uke inside forarm block
morote uke augmented block (double handed)
mawashi uke round house block
tora guchi double handed open-hand circular block
hari uke archer block
hiji uke elbow block
kuri uke downward elbow block
hiza uke knee block
Practice Fighting
kumite sparring
sandan gi basic sparring adapted from Gekisai kata
sanbon kumite three step sparring (three jodan, three chudan, three gedan)
ippon kumite one point sparring where the attacker defends, then counters after the attack
sandan kumite three step, three level sparring (one jodan, one chudan, one gedan)
sanbon tsuki three step sparring, blocking with one hand against a 3 punch combination
kihon ippon basic one step sparring
jiyu ippon one step sparring from ippon
randori slow and soft free style with emphasis on technique
jiyu kumite hard and fast controlled free style fighting
Opening Ceremony
Sensei: shugo line up
Sensei: shomen ni, face front
Sensei: rei bow
Closing Ceremony
Sensei: shugo line up
Sensei: seiza kneel
Sensei: mokuso meditation
Sensei: mokuso yame finish meditation
Sensei: sensei ni face instructor
Sensei: rei bow
Everybody: arigato gozaimashita “Thank you very much”
Sensei: otagai ni face each other
Sensei: rei bow
Everybody: arigato gozaimashita “Thank you very much”
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Hurst Goju Ryu Karate Club 