Wado Ryu Karate and Budo Terminology & Pronunciation Guide

Welcome to the U.S. Eastern Wado Ryu Karate Federation Terminology and Pronunciation Guide — your on-line reference manual for all things Budo! We strongly encourage everyone to visit the Pronunciation Guide first — and review the basics of elementary Nihon. It’s always a good idea to know how to say what you’re learning about!

Table of Contents

• Japanese Pronunciation Guide
• CLASSICAL BUDO, BUJUTSU AND RYU
• KIHON NO GENGO (BASIC BUDO TERMS)
• Kihon Dachi — Basic Stances
• Kihon Uke Waza — Basic Blocks
• Kihon Geri Waza — Basic Kicks
• Atemi Waza — Striking Techniques
• Dojo Hoko — Class Commands
• Nihongo Ban — Japanese from 1–20
• Basic Anatomy

Japanese Pronunciation Guide

Contrary to what many perceive, the Japanese language is one of the easiest languages to learn to speak correctly. For those of us who train in the first truly Japanese style of karatedo, learning the basics of Japanese, or Nihon, should be as actively practiced -on and off the dojo floor- as the basic techniques of Wado itself. By learning basic pronunciation, we not only add to our knowledge of the culture and country that gave birth to the art we practice, but in doing so, we show our respect for its origins and those willing to share its secrets with those of us outside its borders.

Japanese is essentially syllabic; which means that words are broken into individual syllables, much the same as those languages westerners are perhaps more familiar with. However, the inherent problem we westerners have with Japanese words is not in their syllables — it’s with their vowels; and once you get past those differences, you’ll be on your way to correct pronunciation! So, as you explore and familiarize yourself with our Budo and Karatedo terminology, use the following vowel guide to aid you in your pronunciation.

VOWEL PRONUNCIATION

a) Pronounced: ah. Example: rajah

e) Pronounced: eh — as a short ay sound. Example: met

i) Pronounced: ee. Example: see

o) Pronounced: oh. Example: no

u) Pronounced: oo. Example: cool

COMMONLY USED VOWEL-CONSONANT COMBINATIONS

ai) Pronounced: eye

ei) Pronounced: ayee

tsu) Pronounced: dzoo

ite) Pronounced: eetay

chi) Pronounced: chee

ADDITIONAL PRONUNCIATION REMINDERS

The letter ‘g’ is always pronounced hard — as in the word go.

The letter ‘j’ is always pronounced soft — as in the word jump

When used as the last letter, and when following the letter ‘s’, the letter ‘u’ is not emphasized. For example; the word jutsu is pronounced, ‘joots’, leaving off the sound of the vowel ‘u’ at the end.

CLASSICAL BUDO, BUJUTSU AND RYU

AIKIDO – (Flowing Harmony Way) Believed to have originated as AIKIJUJTSU near the year 1100, the art of Aikido as we know it today is most closely associated with it’s founder. Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1970). It is said that Ueshiba learned the basics of aikijujutsu from Sokaku Takeda (the seventh generation of the Takeda family), and in a moment of spiritual enlightenment, or satori, envisioned aikido.

AIKIJUJUTSU (Flowing harmony art) – Historically regarded as the root, or birth, of DAITO RYU, and all classical systems of jujutsu, including aikido.

DAITO RYU – (Great Eastern School) – A school of classical martial arts dating from the Heian period, and passed down generationally through the Takeda family.

HAKKO RYU – (Eighth-light School) A jujutsu system developed from Daito Ryu Jujutsu by Ryuho Okuyama in 1941.

ITTO TENSHIN RYU – A school of KENJUTSU (Art of the Sword) from the Edo period, founded by Kurosawa Kojiro, legendary foe of Miyamoto Musashi.

JUDO (Yielding Way, or The Way of Gentleness) – Contemporary Budo style and sport, derived from JUJUTSU, founded by Jigoro Kano in 1881.

KARATEDO (Empty Hand Way)

KARATEJUTSU (Empty Hand Art) – System of unarmed combat developed on the island of Okinawa.

KENDO (The Way of The Sword) – Fencing method developed from KENJUTSU (Art of the Sword)

KENJUTSU (Art of The Sword) Classical Japanese swordsmanship

KYUBA NO MICHI DO (The Way of The Bow and Horse) – A code of warrior ethics developed in the 12th century during the reign of Minamoto Yoritomo (Also known as Kyusen No MIchi Do – The Way of The Bow and Arrow)

KYUDO (The Way of The Bow) The classical art of Japanese archery.

SHOTOKAN (House of Shoto) – The first historically recognized school of Karate, as founded by Gichin Funakoshi in 1922. Shoto was the pseudonym under which Funakoshi wrote and published his books of poetry.

TE (Hand) Historically regarded as the name originally given to the system of empty handed combat system as developed on Okinawa.

KIHON NO GENGO (BASIC BUDO TERMS)

AI – Blending, harmony in movement

AIKI (United Spirit) The spiritual principle of overcoming an adversary (externally or internally) by harmonizing with his force and re-directing it.

BUDO (Martial Way) Originally referring to The Martial Way; a warrior’s way of life devoted to self-development. Now, more commonly used in reference to particular combative systems

BUGEI (Martial Art) The Classical methods of fighting as developed by Japanese warriors (Samurai) for the sole purpose of real combat.

BUJUTSU (Same as Bugei)

BUNKAI (Practical Application) The practice of applying specific techniques to real situations.

BUSHIDO (The Way of the Warrior) The martial ethic developed among warriors in Japan’s medieval and feudal periods. Derived from the practical ethics held in common by the Samurai class, stressing the importance of loyalty, bravery, integrity, respect and honor.

BUSHI KAI – Warrior’s society

CHADO (The Way of Tea) The art of the tea ceremony.

DAISHO – The term given to the two swords customarily worn by Samurai

DAN – Degree, level or grade. Commonly used as a suffix following the numbered rank of a Black Belt (Yon Dan)

DO (Way) From the Chinese, Tao, meaning Way or Path. A term used to describe a path one uses to seek or achieve spiritual enlightenment. (Wa-do, Ai-ki-do, Jo-do).

DOJO (Way Place) A hall or place in which one seeks spiritual enlightenment. Usually used in reference to traditional martial arts training halls or schools.

GAMAN – Perseverance, endurance, or suffering.

GI – More formally termed, Do Gi — the term given to the uniform worn by practitioners of traditional Japanese martial arts.

HAKAMA – Pleated, skirt-like pants worn by practitioners of classical Japanese martial arts.

HANSHI – Master Instructor.

JU – Suppleness, flexibility. (Also, the number 10)

KAMAE – Ready position of the hands.

KAMIZA (Spirit Seat) – A Holy place, or shelf on the front wall of traditional Japanese dojos, where a shrine often resides.

KARATE – Empty hand.

KEAGI – Term used to describe the ‘snap’ of a hand or kicking technique, when recoiled.

KEKOME – Term used to describe a thrust, or thrusting movement of a particular technique

KATA – A formal, prearranged set of prescribed movement
KATSU – Victory.
KI – From the Chinese, Chi — the term used to describe the life force present and flowing in all living things. Energy.

KIAI (Harmonious energy) – Focused, concentrated life force, given form in sound.

KIHON – Basic, elementary

KIME – Focus; mental, physical or spiritual.

KOAN – A Zen riddle with no logical answer.

KOKORO – Spirit.

KOHAI – Junior, or lower ranking student.

KUMITE (Sometimes termed, gumite) – Free fighting, or sparring

KYOSHI – An advanced teacher.

MEIJIN – A Great Master.

MENKYO – License or certificate.

MOKUSO – Meditation.

MUDANSHA – Martial arts term used to define all students under the rank of Yudansha (Black Belt).

MUSHIN (Mind-no-mind) – The term used to describe the state of pure consciousness unburdened by thought.

OBI – Sash or belt.

OKUDEN – Hidden teachings; sometimes referred to as, Okuden Waza.

PINAN – Harmonious, or flowing movement.

REI – To bow.

RENMEI – League, union, alliance

RYU – (Current, flow, style) — usually used in reference to particular schools or styles of classical martial arts.

SABI – The term used to describe the feeling one has when finding beauty in a simple, solitary, and perhaps imperfect thing.

SAMURAI – (One Who Serves) – From the verb, saburau, meaning to serve. A member of the elite class of warriors in feudal Japan’s social order.

SAN – A term used as an honorific suffix following someone’s name, denoting respect.

SATORI – Enlightenment.

SEMPAI – Senior student.

SHUGYO – Austere, rigorous training.

TAISABAKI – One-ness of movement (usually implied in training with one or more partners).

TATAMI – Floor mats traditionally made of bundled straw.

WA – Harmony. The classical concept of non-resistance.

WADO – The Way of Peace and Harmony. The formal name given to the style of karate fathered by Meijin Hironori Ohtsuka.

WABI – A sense of loss or loneliness.

WAZA – Technique

YUDAN – Black Belt student.

YUDANSHI (or, yudansha) – A Black Belt student who is a member of a larger group of Yudan.

ZANSHIN – The state of pure and heightened mental, physical and spiritual awareness.

ZEN – One of the major branches of Mahayana Bhuddism that arose in China and flourished following its introduction there in the 13th century.

Kihon Dachi — Basic Stances

MUSUBI DACHI – Attention stance

HACHIJI DACHI – Ready stance

ZENKUTSU DACHI – Forward fighting stance

NO TSUKOMI DACHI – Forward lunging stance

GYAKUTSUKI DACHI – Reverse-punch stance

GYAKUTSUKI NO TSUKOMI DACHI – Lunging reverse-punch stance

SEIKO DACHI – Horse stance

NEKO ASHI DACHI – Cat leg stance

MAHAMI NEKO ASHI DACHI – Profile or half-view cat-leg stance

SHOMEN NEKO ASHI DACHI – Front cat-leg stance

HEISOKU DACHI – Narrow stance, heels and toes together

SHIZENTAI DACHI – Natural stance

KOKUTSU DACHI – Rearward lunging stance, sometimes called gyakutsuki no tsukomi dachi

NAIHANCHI DACHI – Modified horse stance, feet turned inward

SEISHAN DACHI – Hourglass stance

Kihon Uke Waza — Basic Blocks

UKE – Block, or defend. Also, receiver of energy, or ki

GEDAN UKE – Low block

SOTO UKE – Inside-to-outside block

JODAN UKE – High block

SHUTO UKE – Knife edge of the hand block

TETSU UKE – Hammer-fist block

UCHI UKE – Outside-to-inside front forearm block

UDE UKE – Outside-to-inside forearm block

EMPI UKE – Elbow block

KAKAE UKE – Circular pulling block, emphasizing the shote, or heel of the hand

URAKEN UKE – Block with the back of the knuckles

Kihon Geri Waza — Basic Kicks

MAE GERI – Front snap kick

MAWASHI GERI – Roundhouse kick

YOKO GERI – Side kick, striking surface: ashi sokuto, or knife-edge of the foot

HAKU GERI – Inward crescent kick, striking surface: usually the instep-to-pad of the foot

MAE TOBI GERI – Flying front kick, usually executed with kekome thrust

USHIRO GERI – Back, or rearward kick, striking surface: heel of the foot

FUMIKOMI GERI – Stomping kick, usually executed as gedan yoko geri

HIZA – Knee strike

Atemi Waza — Striking Techniques

TSUKI – Fist strike, punch

JUNTSUKI – Stepping front-hand punch

JUNTSUKI NO TSUKOMI – Stepping front-hand lunging punch

GYAKUTSUKI – Reverse punch

GYAKUTSUKI NO TSUKOMI – Lunging reverse, or back-hand punch

URAKEN – Back-fist

SHUTO – Knife-edge of the hand

TETSU – Hammer-fist

TATE – Vertical-fist, or vertical-hand

SHOTE – Palm-heel of the hand

NUKITE – Spear-hand

KENTSUI – Knuckle strike

HAESHU – Open, back of the hand strike

HAITO – Ridge-hand

EMPI – Elbow strike

Dojo Hoko — Class Commands

SEIRETSU – Line up, traditionally right to left by rank

SEIZA – Sit traditionally, in the zazen or kneeling position

YOI – Open to “ready” position, usually from musubi dachi to hachiji dachi

TACHI REI – Standing bow

REI – Bow

HAJIME – Begin, start

SHOMEN NI REI – Bow to the front of the dojo

SENSEI NI REI – Bow to the instructor

YUDANSHA NI REI – Bow to black belts

SEMPAI NI REI – Bow to the senior student or students

OTAGAI NI REI – Bow to your fellow classmates

KIOTS UKE – Attention; “Pay attention”

KIRITSU – Stand quickly

NAO REI – Recover to attention stance; prepare to bow

YAME – Recover, return, usually to hachiji dachi

Nihongo Ban — Japanese from 1–20

1–10 – Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi, Kyu, Ju

11–20 – Ju-Ichi, Ju-Ni, Ju-San, Ju-Shi, Ju-Go, Ju-Roku, Ju-Shichi, Ju-Hachi, Ju-Kyu, Ni-Ju

Basic Anatomy

GEDAN – Lower area of the body from the hips down

CHUDAN – Middle area of the body from the waist to the shoulders

JODAN – High; upper area of the body from the neck up

ASHI – Foot; also leg

ASHI KUBI – Ankle

ASHI JOSOKUTEI – Ball of the foot

ASHI SOKUTO – Outer edge, or “knife edge,” of the foot

HITI – Heel

KOSHI – Hips

HIZA – Knee

TE – Hand

EMPI – Elbow

UDE – Arm

ME – Eye

SEIKEN – Fist

NODO – Throat

ONAKA – Stomach

TEKUBI – Wrist

SHINZO – Heart