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Okinawan to English TranslationTranslating Okinawan to English, and vice versa, has always been somewhat difficult. Since the Okinawan language doesn't use our alphabet, and the method of pronunciation is different, Americans have tried to phoneticaly spell Okinawan words. For this reason you may see Okinawan words spelled differently between reference books. As we do more research, we are clarifying and correcting our terminology. In the Okinawan as well as Japanese lannguage, a word does not change in the plural as it does in American. For example "kata" may mean one kata or five kata. It is incorrect to say "katas". |
General Terms |
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Okinawan |
English |
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| Aswatti | Sit | ||||||
| Bunkai | definition | ||||||
| Chin-na | Seize-control | ||||||
| Chudan | middle area | ||||||
| Dachi | stance | ||||||
| Dan | a black belt grade | ||||||
| Dojo | training hall | ||||||
| Empi | elbow | ||||||
| Gedan | lower area | ||||||
| Geri | kick | ||||||
| Gi | uniform | ||||||
| Hachimaka | sweat band | ||||||
| Hajime | begin | ||||||
| Ippon | one point | ||||||
| Isshin Ryu | School of One heart method | ||||||
| Isshin | One heart method | ||||||
| Jodan | upper area | ||||||
| Kakato | heel of foot | ||||||
| Karate | empty hand | ||||||
| Keage | snapping | ||||||
| Kekomi | thrusting | ||||||
| Keyoskay | attention | ||||||
| Kiai | shout of spirit | ||||||
| Kinkutsu | muscle control | ||||||
| Kobu Jutsu | art of weapons | ||||||
| Kombanwa | good evening | ||||||
| Konichiwa | good afternoon | ||||||
| Koshi | ball of foot | ||||||
| Kumae | on guard | ||||||
| Kumite | sparring | ||||||
| Kyosho | Attacking vital points | ||||||
| Kyu | below black belt rank | ||||||
| Mae | front | ||||||
| Makiwara | punching board | ||||||
| Matte | wait | ||||||
| Mawashi | round | ||||||
| Mikazuki | crescent | ||||||
| Nage | throwing | ||||||
| Nihon | two point | ||||||
| Nukite | spearhand | ||||||
| Obi | belt | ||||||
| Oyasumi Nasai | good night | ||||||
| Rei | bow | ||||||
| Ryu | school | ||||||
| Seiken | fist | ||||||
| Seiza | ormal sitting | ||||||
| Sensei | teacher | ||||||
| Shiai | inner dojo competition | ||||||
| Shihan | master | ||||||
| Sinban | referee | ||||||
| Soke | founder; head of family | ||||||
| Tachi Rei | standing bow | ||||||
| Tameshi Waza | breaking technique | ||||||
| Tobi | jump | ||||||
| Tzuki | punch | ||||||
| Uchi | strike | ||||||
| Uke | block | ||||||
| Waza | technique | ||||||
| Yamae | stop | ||||||
Counting |
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English |
Japanese (Okinawan) |
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| 1 | ichi (tichi) | ||||||
| 2 | ni (tachi) | ||||||
| 3 | san (michi) | ||||||
| 4 | shi (/yon yuchi) | ||||||
| 5 | go (ichichi) | ||||||
| 6 | roku (muchi) | ||||||
| 7 | shichi (/shichi nanachi) | ||||||
| 8 | hachi (yachi) | ||||||
| 9 | ku (kuchunuchi) | ||||||
| 10 | ju (tu) | ||||||
| 11 | ju-ichi | ||||||
| 12 | ju-ni | ||||||
| 13 | ju-san | ||||||
| 14 | ju-shi | ||||||
| 15 | ju-go | ||||||
| 16 | ju-roku | ||||||
| 17 | ju-shichi | ||||||
| 18 | ju-hachi | ||||||
| 19 | ju-ku | ||||||
| 20 | ni-ju | ||||||
| 21 | ni-ju-ichi | ||||||
Stances (Dachi) |
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Okinawan |
English |
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| Heiko Dachi | Parallel open stance | ||||||
| Kiba Dachi | Straddle, or "horse" | ||||||
| Kihon Dachi | Hourglass (Sanchin) | ||||||
| Kosa Dachi | Crossed leg stance | ||||||
| Musubi Dachi | Formal stance | ||||||
| Neko Ashi Dachi | "Cat" stance | ||||||
| Soto Hachiji Dachi | Toe outward (Seiuchin) | ||||||
| Sho Zenkutsu Dachi | Front stance (Seisan) | ||||||
| Teiji Dachi | "T" stance | ||||||
| Tsuru Ashi Dachi | "Crane" stance | ||||||
| Uchi Hachiji Dachi | Toe inward (Naihanchin) | ||||||
Strikes |
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Okinawan |
English |
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| Age Tzuki | Rising punch | ||||||
| Empi Uchi | Elbow strike | ||||||
| Gedan Uchi | Downward strike | ||||||
| Gyaku Tzuki | Reverse punch | ||||||
| Ha-ito Uchi | Ridge-hand strike | ||||||
| Hittsui Uchi | Knee strike | ||||||
| Ippon Nukite | One-finger spearhand | ||||||
| Mae Empi Uchi | Front elbow strike | ||||||
| Nihon Nukite | Two-finger spearhand | ||||||
| Oi Tzuki | Lunge Punch | ||||||
| Seiken Jodan Uchi | Uppercut strike | ||||||
| Shotei | Palm heel | ||||||
| Tate Tzuki | Side punch | ||||||
| Tettsui Uchi | Hammerfist strike | ||||||
| Uraken Uchi | Backfist strike | ||||||
| Uraken Chudan Uchi | Backfist to solar plexus | ||||||
| Uraken Gedan Barai | Lower backfist strike | ||||||
| Uraken Shomen Uchi | Inverted backfist strike (to bridge of nose) | ||||||
| Ushiro Empi Uchi | Rear elbow strike | ||||||
| Yoko Empi Uchi | Side elbow strike | ||||||
Blocks (Uke) |
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Okinawan |
English |
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| Age Uke | Rising block | ||||||
| Gedan Uke | Downward block | ||||||
| Juji Uke | "X" block | ||||||
| Mikazuki Uke | Crescent block | ||||||
| Shotei Uke | Palm heel block | ||||||
| Shuto Uke | Knifehand block | ||||||
| Soe Uke | Union block | ||||||
| Ude uke | Forearm block | ||||||
Kicks (Geri) |
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Okinawan |
English |
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| Fumikomi Geri | Stamping kick | ||||||
| Mae Geri Keage | Front snap kick | ||||||
| Mae Geri Kekomi | Front thrust kick | ||||||
| Mae Tobi Geri | Flying front kick | ||||||
| Mawashi Geri | Roundhouse kick | ||||||
| Mikazuki Geri | Crescent kick | ||||||
| Nihon Tobi Geri | Double jump kick | ||||||
| Ushiro Geri | Back kick | ||||||
| Yoko Geri Keage | Side snap kick | ||||||
| Yoko Geri Kekomi | Side thrust kick | ||||||
| Yoko Tobi Geri | Flying side kick | ||||||