Pronunciation keys of Japanese terms are given in parentheses.
How to read Japanese in English alphabet (rōmaji):
English vowels a=ah, i=ee, u=oo, e=eh and o=oh
A macron or a line over a vowel indicates that it is pronounced for twice the length of the vowel without a macron or a line. Sometimes an “h” is added instead, as in Mr. Ohshima’s name. The first “o” in Mr. Ono’s name, on the other hand, is not lengthened. Ohno and Ono are two different names. However, these sounds are just approximations and there are some exceptions.
Please note that the pronunciation keys given here are only approximations and are primarily designed for the members in the U.S. and Canada. They may not necessarily be helpful for the members of international affiliates.
Numbers
One
ichi (ee-chee)
Two
ni (nee)
Three
san (sahn)
Four
shi (shee)
Five
go (goh)
Six
roku (roh-koo)
Seven
shichi (shee-chee)
Eight
hachi (hah-chee)
Nine
ku (koo) / kyū (kyoo)
Ten
jū (joo)
General
Head instructor/Master instructor (of an organization)
shihan (shee-hahn)
Instructor
sensei (sehn-seh-ee)
Training hall
dōjō (doh-joh)
Training uniform
keiko gi (keh-ee-koh gee)/gi (gee)
Training uniform belt
obi (oh-bee)
Vocal expulsion of air
kiai (kee-ah-ee)
Black Belt rank
dan (dahn)
White/Brown belt rank
kyū (kyoo)
Meditation
mokusō (moh-koo-soh)
Bow
rei (reh-ee)/lei (leh-ee)
Assume stance
kamaete (kah-mah-eh-teh)
Get ready
yōi (yoh-ee)
Begin
hajime (hah-jee-meh)
Pivot/assume opposite direction
kaette (kah-eht-teh)
Stop
yame (yah-meh)
At ease
yasume (yah-soo-meh)
Basic training
kihon (kee-hohn)
Formal exercise/forms
kata (kah-tah)
Sparring
kumite (koo-mee-teh)
Escape techniques
torite (toh-ree-teh)
Throwing techniques
nagewaza (nah-geh-wah-zah)
Foot sweep
ashibarai (ah-shee-bah-rah-ee)
Maximum effectiveness/ focus of techniques
kime (kee-meh)
Pulling hand
hikite (hee-kee-teh)
Breathing center in lower abdomen
tanden (tahn-dehn)
Getting into the opponent
irimi (ee-ree-mee)
Elbow Attacks
enpi (ehn-pee)/ empi(ehm-pee)
Jumping-in attack
tobikomi (toh-bee-koh-mee)
Continuous Techniques
renzoku waza (rehn-zoh-koo wah-zah)
Punching board
makiwara (mah-kee-wah-rah)
Staff
bō (boh)
Standing Forms: Tachikata (tah-chee-kah-tah)
Tachi (tah-chee) changes to dachi (dah-chee) when used after other words.
Front stance
zenkutsu-dachi (zehn-koo-tsoo-dah-chee)
Back stance
kōkutsu-dachi (koh-koo-tsoo-dah-chee)
Horse riding stance
kiba-dachi (kee-bah-dah-chee)
Immovable stance
fudō-dachi (foo-doh-dah-chee)
Cat stance
nekoashi-dachi (neh-koh-ah-shee-dah-chee)
Natural stance
shizentai (shee-zehn-tah-ee)
Close-leg stance
heisoku-dachi (heh-ee-soh-koo-dah-chee)
Half-facing stance
hanmi-dachi (hahn-mee-dah-chee)
Open-leg stance
hachiji-dachi (hah-chee-jee-dah-chee)
Blocks: Uke (oo-keh)
Harai (hah-rah-ee) changes to barai (bah-rah-ee) when used after other words. Harai is one kind of block.
Distance, timing, and other things between opponents
ma (mah)
Match
shiai (shee-ah-ee)
Bow
rei (reh-ee) / lei (leh-ee)
One point match
shōbu ippon (shoh-boo eep-pohn)
Begin
hajime (hah-jee-meh)
Stop
yame (yah-meh)
Clash
aiuchi (ah-ee-oo-chee)
I award no point
torimasen (toh-ree-mah-sehn)
Continue
tsuzukete (tsoo-zoo-keh-teh)
One more time
mō ichido (moh ee-chee-doh)
End of match
soko made (soh-koh mah-deh) / sore made (soh-reh mah-deh)
Half-point
waza ari (wah-zah ah-ree)
Point
ippon (eep-pohn)
Two half-points equal one point
waza ari awasete ippon (wah-zah ah-ree ah-wah-seh-teh eep-pohn)
Draw
hikiwake (hee-kee-wah-keh)
Red
aka (ah-kah)
White
shiro (shee-roh)
Red is the winner
aka no kachi (ah-kah noh kah-chee)
Referee
shinpan (sheen-pahn) / shimpan (sheem-pahn)
Throwing Techniques: Nagewaza (nah-geh-wah-zah)
(Names of techniques)
Byōbudaoshi (byoh-boo-dah-oh-shee)
Komanage (koh-mah-nah-geh)
Kubiwa (koo-bee-wah)
Katawaguruma (kah-tah-wah-goo-roo-mah)
Tsubamegaeshi (tsoo-bah-meh-gah-eh-shee)
Yaridama (yah-ree-dah-mah)
Taniotoshi (tah-nee-oh-toh-shee)
Udewa (oo-deh-wah)
Sakatsuchi (sah-kah-tsoo-chee)
Performer of the technique
tori (toh-ree)
Receiver of the technique
uke (oo-keh)
Falling techniques
ukemi (oo-keh-mee)
For more information on nagewaza, please refer to Karate-Dō Kyōhan, pages 227-232.
*Notes
When Shihan or Sensei is used as an honorific or a title, there are a few important things one needs to be aware of:
Shihan or Sensei is attached to the end of the person’s family name, e.g., Ohshima Shihan (not Shihan Ohshima), Ohshima Sensei (not Sensei Ohshima)
According to the Japanese culture, it is not appropriate to call oneself Shihan or Sensei, or introduce oneself with the title Shihan or Sensei, e.g., Instructor John Doe shouldn’t call himself Shihan, Sensei, Doe Shihan or Doe Sensei. His students can, but he shouldn’t.
The same thing applies to the honorific san (meaning Mr., Mrs., or Miss). Mr. John Smith shouldn’t call himself Smith-san or John Smith-san. San can be attached only to the end of others’ names.
