Karate Terminology
Students learn karate terminology organically through listening and repeating Japanese words used in class. However, the common terminology is below for students who wish to have a reference.
Karate Words: beginning of class
Reishiki. Ceremony before and after class.
ZA-REI
student response: OSS
Call by the instructor, or someone assigned by the instructor, to start
the class.
SEIRETSU
student response: OSS
CALL to line up, given by Senpai.
REI
(Call to bow)
SEIZA
(Call to sit)
MOKUSO
(Call to close your eyes)
MOKUSO YAME
(Call to open your eyes)
SHOMEN NI REI
(Call to bow toward the front)
SENSEI NI REI
student response: ONEGAISHIMASU
(Call to bow toward Sensei)
OTAGAI NI REI
student response: ONEGAISHIMASU
(Call to bow to each other, toward Sensei)
KIRITSU
(Call to stand up)
REI
(Call to bow)
Karate Words: in class
KARATE-DO
Way of the empty hand
DOJO
Training hall
SHOMEN
Front
REI
Respect
TATAMI
Flooring
KURO-OBI
Black belt
AO
Blue
AKA
Red
SHIRO
White
SEIZA
To sit
KIRITSU
To stand
SHOSHIN-SHA
Beginner
SENPAI
Senior Student
SENSEI
Teacher
MIGI
Right
HIDARI
Left
MAE
Forward
USHIRO
Backward
ONEGAISHIMASU
Please
ARIGATO GOSAE MASHITA
Thank you
OSS!
The expression we always use
HAJIME
Start
YAME
Stop
MOKUSO
Closed Eyes
MUKUSO YAME
Open eyes
Karate Words: End of class
ZA-REI
student response: OSS
(Call by Sensei, or someone assigned by Sensei, for the class to end)
SEIRETSU
student response: OSS
(Call to line up given by Senpai)
REI
(Call to bow)
SEIZA
(Call to sit)
MOKUSO
(Call to close your eyes)
MOKUSO YAME
(Call to open your eyes)
SHOMEN NI REI
(Call to bow toward the front)
SENSEI NI REI
student response: ARIGATO GOZAE MASHITA
(Call to bow toward Sensei)
Important!
If the most senior student in the line is Green Belt or above, and the Head Instructor has left the training area, then the ceremony continues as follows:
first name of Senpai + SENPAI NI REI
student response: ARIGATO GOZAE MASHITA
Important!
While REISHIKI is on, students who are present in the training room, but are not taking part in the class, must stand in Musubi-Dachi). ADD LINK!
Karate Words: End of Class
OTAGAINI REI
student response: ARIGATO GOZAE MASHITA
(Call to bow toward each other, toward Sensei)
KIRITSU
Call to stand up
REI
(Call to bow)
Karate Numbers 1-10:
ICHI
One
NI
Two
SAN
Three
SHI
Four
GO
Five
(Phonetic: ‘ghoh’)
ROKU
Six
SHICHI
Seven
HACHI
Eight
KYU
Nine
JUU
Ten
