Japanese Terminology
Basic Terms
| Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| ossu | oh-ss | yes, I understand |
| dojo | doe-joe | school, place to learn the way |
| senpai | sen-pie | senior |
| gi | gee | karate uniform |
| obi | oh-bee | belt |
| deshi | deh-she | student |
| bunkai | boon-kie | application of kata technique |
| hai | hi | yes |
| iya | ee-yay | no |
| kumite | ku-mee-tay | sparring |
| kobudo | koh-boo-do | weapons |
| kata | kah-tah | forms |
| kihon | kee-hone | basics |
| kiai | key-eye | spirit yell |
| karateka | kah-rah-tay-kah | karate student |
| makiwara | mah-kee-wah-rah | striking board |
| seiza | say-zah | formal sitting on knees |
| sho | show | first |
| dan | don | rank, level |
| kyu | kyoo | grade |
Numbers
| Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| rei | ray | zero |
| ichi | eech | one |
| ni | nee | two |
| san | san | three |
| shi | she | four |
| go | go | five |
| roku | roke | six |
| shichi | seech | seven |
| hachi | hach | eight |
| ku | koo | nine |
| ju | joo | ten |
| ju ichi | joo eech | eleven |
| ju ni | joo nee | twelve |
| ju san | joo san | thirteen |
| ju shi | joo she | fourteen |
| ju go | joo go | fifteen |
| ju roku | joo roke | sixteen |
| ju shichi | joo seech | seventeen |
| ju hachi | joo hach | eighteen |
| ju ku | joo koo | nineteen |
| ni ju | nee joo | twenty |
| san ju | san joo | thirty |
| shi ju | she joo | forty |
| go ju | go joo | fifty |
Commands and Phrases
| Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| arigato gozaimasu | ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mas | thank you very much |
| hajime | hah-jee-may | begin |
| kamatte | kah-mah-tay | on guard |
| kiotsuke | kee-oh-skay | stand up straight! |
| mawatte | mah-wah-tay | turn around |
| onegai shimasu | on-neh-guy she-mas | please (teach me) |
| otagai ni | oh-tah-gah-ee nee | toward each other |
| otagai ni rei | oh-tah-gah nee ray | bow to each other |
| otagai ni mawatte | oh-tah-gah nee mah-wah-tay | turn and face each other |
| rei | ray | bow with respect |
| senpai ni rei | sen-pie nee ray | bow to your senior |
| shomen ni rei | shoh-men nee ray | bow to the front |
| shomen ni taishi | shoh-men nee ta-eesh | face the front |
| shugo | shoo-goh | line up |
| yame | yah-may | stop |
| yoi | yoy | ready, attention |
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