Japanese terminology

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Commands & Phrases
Japanese Pronunciation Kanji English
Arigato Gozaimasu ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mas ありがとうございます Thank You Very Much
Hajime hah-jee-may 始め Begin
Kiotsuke Kee-oh-skay 気を付け Attention! Stand up straight!
Matte mah-tay 待って Wait
Mawatte mah-wah-tay 回って Turn Around
Mokuso moh-koo-soh 黙想 Quiet Meditation
Onegai Shimasu oh-neh-guy-she-mas お願いします Please (Teach Me)
Otagai ni Rei oh-tah-gah-ee nee ray お互いに礼 Bow to Each Other
Rei Ray 礼 Bow with Respect
Sensei ni Rey sen-say nee ray 先生に礼 Bow to the Teacher
Shomen ni Rei shoh-men ni ray 正面に礼 Bow to the Front
Yame yah-may 止め Stop
Yoi Yoy 用意 Ready, Attention

Ranks & Titles
Japanese Pronunciation Kanji English

Karate Ranks
Kyu Kyew 級 Ranks below Black Belt
Dan Dahn 段 Ranks of Black Belt
Shodan-Ho show-dahn hoe 初段補 Probationary First Degree Black Belt
Shodan show-dahn 初段 First Degree Black Belt
Nidan nee-dahn 二段 Second Degree Black Belt
Sandan san-dahn 三段 Third Degree Black Belt
Yondan yohn-dahn 四段 Fourth Degree Black Belt
Godan go-dahn 五段 Fifth Degree Black Belt
Rokudan rohk-oo-dahn 六段 Sixth Degree Black Belt
Nanadan nah-nah-dahn 七段 Seventh Degree Black Belt
Hachidan hach-ee-dahn 八段 Eighth Degree Black Belt
Kudan koo-dahn 九段 Ninth Degree Black Belt
Judan joo-dahn 十段 Tenth Degree Black Belt
Joshu-Shoban joh-shoo show-ban 助手初版 Junior First Degree Black Belt

Teaching Ranks
Sempai sehm-pie 先輩 Senior Student
Sensei sehn-say 先生 Teacher
Shihan she-han 師範 Teacher of Teachers

Miscellaneous Terms
Japanese Pronunciation Kanji English
Bunkai Boon-kai 分解 Application of Kata Techniques (lit. picking apart)
Dojo doe-joe 道場 Place to Learn the Way
Gi ghee 着 Karate Uniform
Hai hi はい Yes
Hidari hee-dah-ree 左 Left
Iya ee-yay いいえ No
Kamiza kah-me-zah 上座 Seat of Honor, Shrine
Kiai key-eye 気合 Spirit Yell
Kihon key-hon 基本 Basics
Kumite koo-meh-tay 組手 Sparring
Obi oh-bee 帯 Karate Belt
Migi mee-gee 右 Right
Waza wah-zah 技 Technique
Yakusoku Kumite yah-k(oo)-soh-koo koo-meh-tay 約束組手 Pre-arranged Sparring

Kazu (Numbers)
Japanese Phonetic Kanji English
Ichi eech 一 One
Ni nee 二 Two
San san 三 Three
Shi (Yon) she 四 Four
Go go 五 Five
Roku roke 六 Six
Shichi (Nana) seech 七 Seven
Hachi hach 八 Eight
Ku koo 九 Nine
Ju joo 十 Ten