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
- Chishi: stone weighted training tools for upper body conditioning
- Ishi: a large rock that was carried around in order to build strength and conditioning.
- Ishi sashi: stone or concrete hand weights
- Jari bako: this Japanese training tool uses a bucket filled with sand to condition fingers and hands
- Kakite bikei: blocking post with movable arm
- Kongoken: a large heavy iron ring used for full body strength training and conditioning
- Makiage kigu: weighted rope used to build hand, wrist and forearm strength.
- Makiwara: a wooden striking post which provides progressive resistance
- Nigiri game: gripping jars used to develop palm and finger strength
- Sagi makiwara: a hanging version of the makiwara
- Suburito or suburi bokken: an extra heavy wooden practice sword for building arm and shoulder strength
- Sunabukuro: similar to modern day heavy bags
- Taketaba: bundle of bamboo used for finger strikes
- Tan: barbell with wooden handle
- Tanren bo: a wooden device used ‘solely’ for conditioning the wrists and arms.
- Tetsu geta: “Iron Sandals” or “Iron Clogs” used to strengthen the legs and develop kicking power
- Tetsuwa: these are iron weights that are worn on a student’s wrist to build arm and shoulder strength
- Ude makiwara: round version of the makiwara striking post
Karate tournament
- Aiuchi: simultaneous strike or scoring technique
- Aka: red
- Aoi: blue
- Chui: warning
- Enchosen hajime: extension time begin
- Fukushin: assistant referee
- Gogi: consultation
- Hansoku: violation, rule infraction, foul play
- Hansoku chui: foul warning
- Hantei: judge’s decision
- Hata: flag
- Hikiwake: a draw
- Ippon: one step, one point
- Jikan: time out
- Jogai: out of the mat
- Jogai chui: out of the mat penalty
- Katsu: win
- Keikoku: warning
- Kiken: forfeit/concede
- Mienai: could not see
- Moto no ichi: starting position
- Mubobi: showing undue care for one’s safety
- No Kachi: winner in a kumite bout
- Shiai: tournament, competition
- Shiai geiko: tournament practice
- Shikkaku: disqualification
- Shobu ippon: one point match
- Shiro: white
- Sundome: non-contact match
- Taikai: tournament
- Torimasen: no point
- Waza-ari: half point
Rankings in karate
- Mukyu: no level
- Kyu: all levels below black belt
- Dan: black belt level
- Shodan: first degree black belt
- Shodan-So: probationary junior black belt
- Joshu-shoban: junior First Degree Black Belt
- Shodan-Ho: Probationary First Degree Black Belt
- Nidan: Second degree black belt
- Sandan: Third degree black belt
- Yondan: Fourth degree black belt
- Godan: Fifth degree black belt
- Rokudan : Sixth degree black belt
- Nanadan : Seventh degree black belt
- Hachidan: Eighth degree black belt
- Kudan: Ninth degree black belt
- Judan: Tenth degree black belt
- Sempai/Senpai: Senior student
- Sensei: Teacher
- Shidoin : Assistant instructor
- Shidoshi: Dojo manager
- Renshi: Senior teacher
- Shihan: Teacher of teachers
- Kyoshi: Expert teacher
- Hanshi: Master teacher
Belts in karate
Different styles have different belt systems, but the following appears to be the most common one.
- White Belt.10th kyu. The white color symbolizes the beginning of a karateka’s journey
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
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