This Kyokushin terminology page provides you with essential Japanese terms and commands used in Kyokushin Karate. Students need to know these Japanese words in order to pass belt tests, interact with their Sensei, understand Kyokushin kata, count in Japanese (i.e. during warm-ups), etc.
If we are missing an key Kyokushin terminology or phrases, please contact us so we can add them to this page. For the terminology used by other martial arts styles, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Martial Arts Terminology section.
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Kyokushin – Japanese Numbers
- One – Ichi
- Two – Ni
- Three – San
- Four – Shi
- Five – Go
- Six – Roku
- Seven – Nana
- Eight – Hachi
- Nine – Kyu
- Ten – Juu
- Eleven – Juu Ichi
- Twelve – Juu Ni
- Thirteen – Juu San
- Fourteen – Juu Shi
- Fifteen – Juu Go
- Sixteen – Juu Roku
- Seventeen – Juu Nana
- Eighteen – Juu Hachi
- Nineteen – Juu Kyu
- Twenty – Ni Juu
- For higher numbers, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main page on Karate Numbers.
Kyokushin – Key Words & Commands
- Abdomen (Belly) – Hara
- Basics – Kihon
- Begin (Start) – Hajime
- Black Belt Rank – Dan
- Block – Uke
- Bow – Rei
- Color Belt Rank – Kyu
- Elbow – Hiji
- Eye – Me
- Face – Kao
- Finger – Yubi
- Focus – Kime
- Foot – Ashi
- Form (or Pattern) – Kata
- If you are looking for individual kata names & instructions, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Kyokushin kata section.
- The application of kata with a partner is called Bunkai in Japanese.
- Hand – Te
- Head – Atama
- Instructor (Martial Arts Teacher) – Sensei
- Kick – Geri (or Keri)
- Back Kick – Ushiro Geri
- Front Kick – Mae Geri
- Groin Kick – Kin Geri
- Knee Kick – Hiza Geri
- Round Kick – Mawashi Geri
- Side Kick – Yoko Geri
- Knee – Hiza
- Knife Hand Strike – Shuto Uchi
- Line Up – Seiretsu
- Meditate – Mokuso
- Mouth – Kuchi
- No – Iie
- Nose – Hana
- Persevere When Pushed (Will Try My Best) – Osu (Oss) – However, be aware that the term Osu can be used for many different things in various dojos.
- Please – Dozo
- Punch – Zuki (or Tsuki)
- Relax – Yasume
- School (Martial Arts) – Dojo
- Senior Student – Sempai
- Sparring – Kumite
- Stance – Dachi
- Start (Begin) – Hajime
- Stop – Yame
- Strike – Uchi
- Target Levels
- Upper (Head Level) – Jodan
- Middle (Stomach Level) – Chudan
- Lower (Groin or Lower Level) – Gedan
- Technique – Waza
- Thank You (Formal – Past Tense) – Domo Arigato Gozaimashita
- Thank You (Informal) – Arigato
- Turn Around – Mawatte
- Uniform – Gi (Gee)
- Uniform Belt – Obi
- Yell (Spirit Yell or Battle Shout) – Kiai
- Yes – Hai (sounds like Hi)
50 Essential Words for Japanese Martial Arts
Reference Sources
- Black Belt Wiki, Karate Terminology
- Wikipedia, Kyokushin, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyokushin