Just like Medicine has Latin and Mathematics has numbers, Karate has Japanese. Unfortunately, many people are confused by the Japanese words in Karate.
That’s why I want to explain 10 Japanese words everyone misunderstands in Karate today. Hopefully this helps you understand Karate better.
Uke
Misunderstood meaning: “Block.”
Real meaning: “Receive.”
Explanation: The word “uke” comes from the Japanese word “ukeru”, which means“to receive”.
If you shift your mindset from “blocking” to “receiving”, your entire perception of how to apply Karate against a bigger or stronger opponent will change. Now you rely more on technique, and less on brute force.
Ki
Misunderstood meaning: “Magic super power.”
Real meaning: “Energy.”
Explanation: The concept of “ki” (spelled “chi” or “qi” in Chinese) has gotten a bad reputation since charlatans started using it as an excuse to brainwash students into believing they had supernatural martial abilities.
But it’s really nothing new. “Ki” – or “energy” as we call it in English – is what life is made up of. It constantly flows through your body, your surroundings, the wind, water, earth and sun.
According to the laws of physics, you cannot create it or destroy it, only transferred to other objects or convert into different forms (kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, electrical energy etc…). Humans have been cultivating it for as long as we have been on earth. After all, Karate is all about efficient energy management.
Sensei
Misunderstood meaning: “Karate instructor.”
Real meaning: “One who has come before in life.”
Explanation: The word “sensei” consists of two parts:
- The first is “sen”, which means “before”.
- The second is “sei”, which means “life”.
In other words, a “sensei” is someone who is ahead of you in the journey of life. That’s why a sensei is not just a person who instructs Karate techniques.
A sensei is your mentor. Your life coach.
Your sensei can help you bridge the gap between self-protection and self-perfection.
Because ultimately, the Way of Karate is the Way of Life.
Bunkai
Misunderstood meaning: “Practical application of kata.”
Real meaning: “To break down.”
Explanation: Many Karate people, including me, like to use kata techniques for self-defense.
We usually call this aspect of Karate training “bunkai”.(After all, that was their original intent.)
But in reality, “bunkai” means to “to break down”– not “practical application of kata”.
“Bunkai” is actually just the first step of applying kata for practical self-defense.
After you “break down” the kata, you need to analyze the pieces and put it back together in the right context. I outlined this in my popular article titled The Bunkai Blueprint.
For most people, it seems the word “bunkai”represents this whole process though.
That’s why I use the word “bunkai” like this myself, even though I know it’s incorrect. After all, the purpose of terminology is to communicate – not prove a point.
However, when I’m in Japan or Okinawa, I rarely use the word “bunkai” if I want to know the application of a kata move.
I use the word “imi” instead (lit. the “meaning” of a movement).
Dojo
Misunderstood meaning: “Karate studio.”
Real meaning: “The place of the Way.”
Explanation: Many instructors teach Karate in gyms, dance studios, community centers or other venues not dedicated solely to Karate.
But… no matter where you teach/learn Karate, that place is your “dojo”.
(This holds true for all traditional Japanese martial arts.)
And the word “dojo” is deeper than most people think:
- “Do” means “Way”
- “Jo” means “Place”.
In other words, a “dojo” is a place where you embark on the journey to self-discovery – through the means of Karate training.
The “dojo” is a Place where you are guided on the Way, by someone who has “come before” ( = “sensei”), using Karate as tool for transmitting the knowledge necessary to spark personal progress.
Not just a “Karate studio”.
Kiai
Misunderstood meaning: “Battle scream.”
Real meaning: “Unified energy.”
Explanation: Sometimes it seems people scream “kiai” for the sake of screaming.
But “kiai” is not about screaming. It’s not about exercising your vocal chords.
- “Ki” literally means “energy” (like we discussed in #2).
- “Ai” literally means to “unify“.
This helps explains what the purpose of kiai truly is:
Unifying the total energy of your mind, body and technique (“shin-gi-tai”), in a split-second moment of intense culmination.
To some people, kiai is just a “battle scream”. And that’s fine. I honestly think people need to scream more in their daily life.
But to me, “kiai” it’s an essential expression of your unification within your Self.
Show me your “kiai”…
…and I will tell you who you are.
Rei
Misunderstood meaning: “Bow.”
Real meaning: “Respect.”
Explanation: Karate contains a lot of Japanese etiquette and culture.
One of the most important things is the bow – commonly known as “rei”.
The word “rei” comes from the Japanese word “reigi”, which means “respect, courtesy, manners”.
But the bow seems to have lost much of it’s respectful intention these days, especially when you look at people who compete in kumite. It looks more like a sloppy head nod.
I believe “rei” is an integral part of dojo etiquette. It’s a physical manifestation of your gratitude for those helping you on the Way.
That’s why we bow to both the dojo itself, as well as the people in it.
(Often we say “onegaishimasu” at the same time too.)
Without respect, you cannot progress in Karate.
Karate begins and ends with the bow.
Osu/Oss
Misunderstood meanings: ““hi”, “hello”, “goodbye”, “okay”, “thanks”, “excuse me”, “hey there”, “come here”, “go there”, “what’s up”, “look at me”, “do it this way”, “that way”, “do you understand?”, “I understand” and “train harder”.
Real meaning: “A rough, masculine Japanese cultural expression that many Westerners abuse.”
Explanation: First of all, you should know that “Osu/Oss” is a very touchy subject.
Second, the correct spelling is “Osu”. But since the “u” is silent, some people think it’s spelled “Oss”.
Third, no matter how you want to spell it, you should understand that“Oss/Osu” expresses a very strong assertiveness, masculinity and “let’s-kick-butt” spirit in Japanese. It’s not a word you should use carelessly.
For example, you should never say it to a Japanese person unless he is younger than you, lower in rank, or wants you to say it. And if you’re a woman, don’t say it at all. Japanese society is hierarchical and strict with proper etiquette when it comes to language.
Read the original article at
http://www.karatebyjesse.com/10-important-karate-words-japanese/
