JAPANESE WORDS TO LEARN
ai ( eye ) = Harmony or Love
ki ( kee ) = Life energy; the energy of the Universe
do ( doe ) = the way
dojo ( doe-joe) = The training hall
kamiza ( kah-mee-za ) = a focus for respecting the spirit of the dojo
sensei ( sen-say ) = teacher
rei ( ray ) = respectful bow towards one another
gi ( gee ) = practice uniform
obi ( oh-bee ) = belt
seiza ( say-za ) = the kneeling position
hajime ( ha-jee-may ) = ‘Begin’
yame ( yah-may ) = ‘Stop’
hai ( ha-ee) = ‘Yes’ or ‘Start’
bokken ( bock-ken ) = wooden sword
jo ( joe ) = wooden staff
tanto (tahn-toe) = wooden knife
ukemi ( oo-kay-mee ) = the art of defensive falling
uke ( oo-kay ) = the one who tumbles ; the person who attacks
nage ( nah-gay ) = the one who performs the techniques
tenkan ( ten-kahn ) = a turning movement
irimi ( ih-rih-mee ) = an entering movement
shizentai ( shee-zen-tye ) = standing with both feet equal, neither one forward
hanmi ( hummi ) = standing position with one foot forward.
kiai ( kee-eye ) = spirited shout with ki extension
maai ( maa-eye ) = safe distance between training partners
hakama ( ha-ka-ma) = the black ‘skirt’ that seniors wear
shikko ( shee-ko) = knee-walking
NUMBERS
1 = ichi ( eechee )
2 = ni ( nee )
3 = san ( sun )
4 = shi ( shee )
5 = go ( go )
6 = roku ( rock )
7 = shichi ( shee-chee)
8 = hachi ( hut-chee)
9 = ku ( koo )
10 = ju ( joo )
11 = ju-ichi ( joo-ee-chee)
12 = ju-ni ( joo-nee )
13 = ju-san ( joo-sun )
14 = ju-shi ( joo-shee )
15 = ju-go ( joo-go )
16 = ju-roku ( joo-rock )
17 = ju-shichi ( joo-shee-chee)
18 = ju-hachi ( joo-hut-chee )
19 = ju-ku ( joo-koo )
20 = ni-ju ( nee-joo )
21 = ni-ju-ichi ( nee-joo-eechee )
22 = ni-ju-ni ( nee-joo-nee )
23 = ni-ju-san ( nee-joo-sun )
24 = ni-ju-shi ( nee-joo-shee )
25 = ni-ju-go ( nee-joo-go )
26 = ni-ju-roku ( nee-joo-rock )
27 = ni-ju-shichi ( nee-joo-shee-chee)