21 Japanese words you absolutely need to know for karate

If you're planning to start training Karate or recently started, there are some words that you absolutely need to know in order to be able to follow your sensei's teaching.

In this article, I will cover the following:

  1. Dojo
  2. Sensei
  3. Gi
  4. Rei
  5. Ritsurei
  6. Zarei
  7. Seiza
  8. Mokuso
  9. Kihon
  10. Kata
  11. Kumite
  12. Dachi
  13. Kamae
  14. Counting
  15. Gedan
  16. Chudan
  17. Jodan
  18. Hajime
  19. Yame
  20. Kiai
  21. Directions

Karate terminology might seem intimidating at first, but everything new is, so don't worry, I've got your back! I have put together this list of the most commonly used Japanese words in Karate. Let's get started!

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Dojo (道場)

The dojo is a training hall, and it literally means the "place of the Way" - the place where you develop both your body and your spirit. The Dojo should be treated like a special place where students should hold themselves to a higher standard of behavior. The dojo is not strictly reserved to martial arts like Karate, Judo or Kendo, most Japanese practices or craft are studied in a dojo - Zen meditation, shodo (black ink painting), ikebana (floral arrangement), just to name a few.

Sensei (先生)

Sensei is an honorary term that can be loosely translated as "teacher". In Japanese, it literally means "a person born before another" or "one who comes before". The word sensei is used not only used to refer to a Karate teacher but can also be used to demonstrate respect towards someone who has reached a certain level of mastery in an art form, a craft or some other profession.

Gi (着)

The gi or Karate-gi is a traditional uniform used during Karate training. Sometimes known as dogi, the gi is generally white and is made of thick cotton or canvas. Its design is based upon the traditional Japanese kimono and was first created for Judo by Kano Jigoro. The gi is composed of three parts - a jacket (uwagi), pants (shitabaki) and a belt (obi).