A Conversation for Karate
"Empty" Hand?
Dancing Ermine Started conversation May 30, 2000
As far as I know, the "Kara" part of Karate means "Open" not "Empty". This then makes more sense when translating Karaoke from Japanese to "Open Mic(rophone)" rather than "empty mic". Mind you this piece of knowledge was imparteda
The entry's good though 
"Empty" Hand?
Dancing Ermine Posted May 30, 2000
Sorry I meant to say that this piece of information was imparted a few years ago by my Judo instructor (also having move names in Japanese) and seems to have stuck in my head slightly better than some of the other words. However it means that it is quite possible I could be mistaken
"Empty" Hand?
some bloke who tried to think of a short, catchy, pithy name and spent five sleepless nights trying but couldn't think of one Posted May 31, 2000
Some other words which are used quite frequently are:
kata - ordered system of moves
rai - bow
yamai - relax
hai - yes
sempai - the sensei's assistant
I have a sheet of them at home (not here, so I may have misspelt them) and I'll get some more of them later.
o o o o 
° ° ° °
Patron Saint of Brevity
"Empty" Hand?
some bloke who tried to think of a short, catchy, pithy name and spent five sleepless nights trying but couldn't think of one Posted Jun 2, 2000
Okay, here we go:
Shihan (she-han) - Chief Instructor
Sempai (sem-pie) - Assistant Instructor
Seiza (say-za) - formal sitting
Rei (ray) - bow
Mokuso (mok-so) - close your eyes
Mokuso yame (mod-so-ya-may) - open your eyes
Autagani (au-ta-ga-nee) - everybody
Hai (hi) - yes
Yoi (yoy) - get into ready stance
Kime (kim-ay) - ready or take position
Hajime (ha-jim-ay) - begin
Yame (ya-may) - stop
Jodan (joe-dan) - head level
Chudan (chew-dan) - stomach level
Gedan (ge-dan) - groin level
Tsuki (zoo-kee) - Punch
Chudan tsuki (chew-dan-zoo-kee) - stomach level punch
Jokan tsuki (joe-dan-zoo-kee) - head level punch
Shita tsuki (sh-ta-zoo-kee) - short punch
Uchi (oo-chi) - strike
Ura uchi (oo-ra-oo-chi) - back fist strike
Haito uchi (hi-toe-oo-chi) - ridge hand strike
Shuto uchi (shoe-toe-oo-chi) - knife hand strike
Hiji ate (hid-gee-ar-tay) - rising elbow strike
Mawashi empi (ma-wash-ee-em-pee) - round elbow strike
Gedan uke (ged-dan-oo-kay) - sweeping block
Chuge uke (chew-gee-oo-kay) - double block
Kake uke (car-key-oo-kay) - open hand hooking block
Mawashi uke (ma-wash-ee-oo-kay) - round block
Shuto uke (shoe-toe-oo-kay) - knife hand block
Stances
Heko dachi (hi-ko-datch) - parallel stance
Zenkutsu dachi (zen-koot-sue-datch) - long forward stance
Han zenkutsu dachi (hun-zen-koot-sue-datch) - short forward stance
Kiba dachi (key-ba-datch) - horse-riding stance
Shiko dachi (she-ko-datch) - sumo stance
Kokutsu dachi (kow-koot-sue-datch) - back leaning stance
Sanchin dachi (sun-shin-datch) - pigeon-toed stance
Nekoashi dachi (neck-o-ash-ee-datch) - cat stance
Counting
Ichi (itch) - 1
Ni (nee) - 2
San (sun) - 3
Shi (she) - 4
Go (go) - 5
Roku (rook) - 6
Shichi (shitch) - 7
Hachi (hutch) - 8
Ku (koo) - 9
Ju (jew) - 10
o o o o ° ° ° °
Patron Saint of Brevity
"Empty" Hand?
Albino Lagomorph Posted Jun 3, 2000
I´ve got a large list of vocab as well, though I thought I would put in the entry what would best be imparted to those with no knowledge, just to give an idea. I may add the 20 principles of Karate later as well, which I have framed in old Japanese on a scroll at home. Sounds sad, but I think it looks cool
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"Empty" Hand?
- 1: Dancing Ermine (May 30, 2000)
- 2: Dancing Ermine (May 30, 2000)
- 3: Tzench (May 30, 2000)
- 4: some bloke who tried to think of a short, catchy, pithy name and spent five sleepless nights trying but couldn't think of one (May 31, 2000)
- 5: Dancing Ermine (May 31, 2000)
- 6: some bloke who tried to think of a short, catchy, pithy name and spent five sleepless nights trying but couldn't think of one (Jun 2, 2000)
- 7: Albino Lagomorph (Jun 3, 2000)
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