Karate Terms in Japanese Part 5 – Training Equipment, Tournament, Rankings and Belts

This is the fifth post in a series of posts on karate terms which covers training equipment, tournament, and rankings.

For previous posts in this series, please click the links below:

• Karate Terms in Japanese Part 1 – Counting in Japanese
• Karate Terms in Japanese Part 2 – Directions and Body Parts
• Karate Terms in Japanese Part 3 – Stances
• Karate Terms in Japanese Part 4 – Techniques

Content

• Karate training equipment
• Karate tournament
• Rankings in karate
• Belts in karate

Karate training equipment

1. Chishi: stone weighted training tools for upper body conditioning
2. Ishi: a large rock that was carried around in order to build strength and conditioning.
3. Ishi sashi: stone or concrete hand weights
4. Jari bako: this Japanese training tool uses a bucket filled with sand to condition fingers and hands
5. Kakite bikei: blocking post with movable arm
6. Kongoken: a large heavy iron ring used for full body strength training and conditioning
7. Makiage kigu: weighted rope used to build hand, wrist and forearm strength.
8. Makiwara: a wooden striking post which provides progressive resistance
9. Nigiri game: gripping jars used to develop palm and finger strength
10. Sagi makiwara: a hanging version of the makiwara
11. Suburito or suburi bokken: an extra heavy wooden practice sword for building arm and shoulder strength
12. Sunabukuro: similar to modern day heavy bags
13. Taketaba: bundle of bamboo used for finger strikes
14. Tan: barbell with wooden handle
15. Tanren bo: a wooden device used ‘solely’ for conditioning the wrists and arms.
16. Tetsu geta: “Iron Sandals” or “Iron Clogs” used to strengthen the legs and develop kicking power
17. Tetsuwa: these are iron weights that are worn on a student’s wrist to build arm and shoulder strength
18. Ude makiwara: round version of the makiwara striking post

Karate tournament

1. Aiuchi: simultaneous strike or scoring technique
2. Aka: red
3. Aoi: blue
4. Chui: warning
5. Enchosen hajime: extension time begin
6. Fukushin: assistant referee
7. Gogi: consultation
8. Hansoku: violation, rule infraction, foul play
9. Hansoku chui: foul warning
10. Hantei: judge’s decision
11. Hata: flag
12. Hikiwake: a draw
13. Ippon: one step, one point
14. Jikan: time out
15. Jogai: out of the mat
16. Jogai chui: out of the mat penalty
17. Katsu: win
18. Keikoku: warning
19. Kiken: forfeit/concede
20. Mienai: could not see
21. Moto no ichi: starting position
22. Mubobi: showing undue care for one’s safety
23. No Kachi: winner in a kumite bout
24. Shiai: tournament, competition
25. Shiai geiko: tournament practice
26. Shikkaku: disqualification
27. Shobu ippon: one point match
28. Shiro: white
29. Sundome: non-contact match
30. Taikai: tournament
31. Torimasen: no point
32. Waza-ari: half point

Rankings in karate

1. Mukyu: no level
2. Kyu: all levels below black belt
3. Dan: black belt level
4. Shodan: first degree black belt
5. Shodan-So: probationary junior black belt
6. Joshu-shoban: junior First Degree Black Belt
7. Shodan-Ho: Probationary First Degree Black Belt
8. Nidan: Second degree black belt
9. Sandan: Third degree black belt
10. Yondan: Fourth degree black belt
11. Godan: Fifth degree black belt
12. Rokudan : Sixth degree black belt
13. Nanadan : Seventh degree black belt
14. Hachidan: Eighth degree black belt
15. Kudan: Ninth degree black belt
16. Judan: Tenth degree black belt
17. Sempai/Senpai: Senior student
18. Sensei: Teacher
19. Shidoin : Assistant instructor
20. Shidoshi: Dojo manager
21. Renshi: Senior teacher
22. Shihan: Teacher of teachers
23. Kyoshi: Expert teacher
24. Hanshi: Master teacher

Belts in karate

Different styles have different belt systems, but the following appears to be the most common one.

1. White Belt.10th kyu. The white color symbolizes the beginning of a karateka’s journey
2. Yellow Belt. 9th kyu. The yellow color represents the sunlight meaning a karateka has achieved some understanding that gives hope for a future of potential growth
3. Orange Belt. 8th kyu. The orange color signifies the sun’s intensity, and a student with an orange belt is thought to have gained more understanding of the basics of karate and shown strengthened commitment to train
4. Green Belt. 7th kyu. Green is the color of growth. Green belt students have learned basic skills and begin to refine those skills and grow
5. Blue Belt. 6th kyu. Blue represents the sky and blue belts are given to students who have gained a firm basic knowledge and begin their journey of growing upwards and learning more difficult techniques
6. Purple Belt. 5th kyu. Purple is the color of dawn. This represents the end of the intermediate level and purple belt students are now beginning to transition to a more advanced stage of their karate study
7. Red Belt. 4th kyu. Red is the color of strength. This implies that red belt students have shown hard work, dedication and strength through their karate training and are now ready for more challenges. Red is also the color of danger, meaning these students now possesses dangerous skills and need to be cautious during their training and when applying what they know in actual situations
8. Brown Belt. 3rd kyu to 1st kyu. The color brown represents a ripening seed ready for harvest. Brown belt students are ready to move to the next level and begin a new journey in martial arts
9. Black Belt. Shodan. The color black symbolizes the end, meaning the student has completed a transformation from an unknowing white belt to one with skills and a deep understanding of bushido. It also signals the beginning of a new journey.