Author: Ash Prime

New class starting May 28

Tuesday 6:15pm

North Ipswich Scout Hall

8A Smith St North Ipswich

While we use English in class for ease of learning, it can be interesting to learn some Japanese terms. Here’s a list of commonly used words in Karate.

General Terms
Karate: empty hand
Karteka: Karate practitioner
Karategi: karate wear (uniform)
Obi: belt
Dojo: training hall
Dojo kun: training hall rules

Sensei: one who came before, teacher
Seiza: kneeling position
Mokuso: silent thought (meditation, clearing the mind)
Hajime: begin
Yame: stop
Kumite: crossing hands (sparring)
Kata: form
Bunkai: breakdown or dissection (of kata movements)
Oyo: application (of kata techniques)
Zanshin: remaining mind (focused awareness)
Mushin: no mind (clear from though the Karateka acts on pure instinct/flow state)
Kyu: rank level (below black belt)
Shodan: beginning level (1st degree black belt)
Kuro Obi: black belt
Kiai: energy join (a shout summoning all of your energy on a technique)

Kata
Sanchin: three batttles (mind, body, spirit)
Tensho: turning palms/hands
Saifa: smash and tear
Kusanku: named after a Chinese martial artist
Rohai: image of the heron
Pinan: free from harm

Stances
Zenkutsu dachi: forward or front stance
Shikodachi: square stance
Nekoashi dachi: cat stance
Sanchin dachi: three battles stance

Target areas
Jodan: high level, head and neck
Chudan: mid level, torso
Gedan: low level, below belt, legs

Strikes
Tsuki: thrust/punch

Oi zuki: step-over/lunge punch
Kizami zuki: snap/jab punch
Mae ken zuki: front fist thrust/ front hand punch
Gyaku zuki: reverse thrust/ back hand punch
Shuto uchi: knife hand strike
Nukite zuki: spear hand thrust
Tettsui uchi: hammer fist strike
Empi uchi: elbow strike

Kicks
Keri: kick
Mae geri: front kick
Mawashi geri: roundhouse kick
Gedan mawashi geri: low/leg roundhouse kick
Yoko geri: side kick
Ura mawashi geri: hook kick
Ushiro geri: spinning back kick
Mae tobi geri: front jump kick
Yoko tobi geri: side jump kick
Hiza geri: knee strike
Kin geri: groin kick

Defence
Uke: receive (commonly called block but it’s more than that)
Age uke: rising receive/block
Soto uke: from outside receive/block
Uchi uke: from inside receive/block
Gedan barai: downward sweep/block
Shuto uke: knife hand receive/block
Mawashi uke: roundhouse receive/ circling hands

Numbers
1: ichi
2: ni
3: san
4: yon/shi
5: go
6: roku
7: nana/shichi
8: hachi
9: kyu
10: ju

It is not required to learn all of this but I may occasionally use these terms in class. The list ended up a lot longer than planned!

Side note: Karate originally developed in Okinawa, which has its own language, Uchinaguchi. Karate later became popularised in Japan and spread to the world from there, hence the common use of Japanese terminology.

Respect, Effort, Courage, Kindness.

Private Karate and/or Kettelbell training sessions now available.

$50 for one hour

$30 for 1/2 hour

1-2 people

Term 2 starts Monday April 15

Classes Cancelled.

Hello everyone. Unfortunately I am unwell and need to cancel classes this week. I’m very sorry to do this as it was to be the last week of term and grading day. I know many students were excited for grading. I’m sure everyone would prefer not to get sick for the holidays though.

Grading will take place in the first week of term 2.

Fee credit will be given for cancelled classes.

Hi all.

Sorry for the short notice but there will be no Wednesday class this week 20/3.

If you truly want to become proficient in karate, or anything, you have to choose to improve. A teacher can show you what to do, how to practice, give corrections and guidance, but ultimately it is up to you to make the decision that you want to be better. Only you can do the work required to be the best that you want to be. Decide to practice. Choose to push yourself just a bit harder. When you practice, practice with the intention to improve. 👊🏼🥋

Happy new year everyone.
Term 1, 2024 starts on January 22 with a new day for Harrisville.
Here’s the new timetable of classes.

Monday: 4:30-5:30pm
Harrisville School of Arts
All ages 7+
Followed by kobudo (weapons) and advanced kata training.

Wednesday: 10-11am
Ipswich Girl Guides Hut
All ages 7+
Followed by kobudo (weapons) and advanced kata training.

Saturday: 2-3pm
Ipswich Private Dojo
Advanced class age 15+

Kata is often said to be the essence of Karate, but why is it so important?

Kata is a solo practice tool that you can do anywhere, any time with any amount of space. I’ve previously demonstrated Pinan Shodan in just 1 square meter. You can adapt them as required or train small parts. Practice for one minute or one hour.

Repetition of kata develops and strengthens neural pathways (often referred to as “muscle memory”) so that you can effectively employ your techniques instinctively in an emergency.

Kata can be practiced with emphasis on different elements such as, speed, balance, power, timing and flow, ultimately combining all together.

Kata allows us to visualize the use of self-defence techniques against an opponent to understand how the movements work.

Prolonged kata training with the intent to improve develops mental focus and encourages you to find your inner strength.

Memorizing kata gives you a built in encyclopedia of the vast range of Karate techniques and principles.

Kata is art, providing a means of self expression. No two people person any kata exactly the same. It can be very personal.

We could practice the individual movements of each kata on its own and they could be effective, but kata shows us how techniques connect and how to adapt when something doesn’t work. The more you practice kata, the more you will see these connections. The first step is learning the kata so that you can then turn to improving specific aspects. Learning a kata comes down to observation and practice. And practice.

And practice.