Extra terminology


One problem that many people have is understanding terminology when placed slightly out of context. While introduced in the teachings, their meanings may not be clear. Unfortunately there is never a perfect way to translate anything, including the techniques that we teach, but hopefully this will make a little more sense out of the words that make up the phrases describing our techniques. Click Here for a more printer friendly version of this page.


Another site with names and Japanese symbols for many of the things we learn and some extra information is http://users.erols.com/ziring/kempo_w.htm. This page also has some other potentially useful links. Please note that this and other connected pages may show a difference in pronunciation and usage of some words from the way we use them. There are often reasons for these differences and both may be correct depending on various situations.

Phrases

Domo arigato gozaimashta sensei = Thank you very much honored teacher
domo arigato = thank you
gozaimashta = very much (with honorable meaning)
sensei = teacher
Ten Chi Kenpo Karate Do = Law of Heaven and Earth Fist/Boxing, Way of the empty Hand
ten = heaven
chi = earth
kenpo = fist/boxing
karate do = way of the empty hand
kara = empty
te = hand
do = way
 Body Terms

ashi = leg
chudan = mid section (stomach, chest)
empi = elbow
gedan = lower section (groin, legs, feet)
haishu = back-hand
haitu = open hand (inside edge)
harai = groin
hariken = extended knuckle
hetsui = left
hittussi(hitsui?) = knee
jodan = upper section (neck, head)
kakuto = top of wrist
ken = knuckle
kentussi = inside of closed fist
koshi = hip
kosoto = minor outside?
kote = wrist
kumade = bear claw (semi-open hand)

mawashi = roundhouse
migi = right
muchi = same side
nakadate = middle
nukite = spear tip (open hand finger tips - one or many fingers)
osoto = major inside?
shuto = open hand (outside edge)
tai = body
tate = verticle
te = hand
tetsui = side of closed fist
tiesho = palm
ude = forearm
uraken = backfist
washide = chicken-beak (grouped fingers)
yubi = finger

Counting Terms

Ichi = 1
Ni = 2
San = 3
Shi/Yan = 4
Go = 5
Roku = 6
Nana/Shichi = 7
Hachi = 8
Kyu = 9
Jyu = 10

Sho = first
Ni = second
San = third
Yan = fourth
Go = fifth
 Other Terms

age = rising
berai = parry
dachi = stance
dan = repeat (same)
gaiku(gyaku?) = opposing
geri = kick/reap
goshin = take down
gote = lock
hasami = scissor (legs)
heisoku = instep
juji = scissor (arms)
jun = same
kage = hook
kata = form
katate = hand form (grab)
katen = wheel
kumite = 2 person
make = wrapping
mikazuki = crescent

morate = double
nuke = clear
oi = lunge
okuri = winding
otoshi = dropping
pinan = heavenly mind
ren = alternate
ryote = double
seiken = foreknuckle
taikyoku = cause
tori = grab (attacker)
uchi = strike (round)
uke = block (defender)
ura = uppercut
ushiro = behind
wage = wedge
yama = scissor (opposing directions w/o crossing)
yoko = side
zuki = thrust
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