Birmingham Goju Ryu Karate Academy
Goju-Ryu Karatedo - Traditional Okinawan Martial Art
Safeguarding Contacts
  1. Gary Brandon
    (Birmingham Welfare Officer)
    gb@carisbrookeboston.com
    Mobile: (07956) 510-093
  2. Matthew Taylor
    (GKI Welfare Officer)
    matt.sensei@twyfordkarate.club
    Tel: (0118) 9706-943
    Mobile: (07766) 684-254
  3. Carly Barrett-Greening
    (GKI Supporting Contact)
    waveconnections@outlook.com
    Mobile: (07850) 732-303
Benefits to Parents and Carers
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News

  1. The GKI Winter Gasshuku 2022
    Saturday, 26th November, 2022
    The GKI's winter gasshuku was held last weekend and it was very well attended not only by the UK contingent but also Portugal and Sweden put in a good showing too. Both Tristan

Events

  1. UK Mini Gasshuku (Swansea, Wales)
    From Saturday, 18th May, 2024 10.00am to Sunday, 19th May, 2024 3.00pm
    Location: John Chard VC House, Glamorgan Street, Swansea, SA1 3SY Training Times: 10am to 3pm (Both days) Go to the Official GKI web site for more information and booking.
  2. Brown & Black Belt Training
    Sunday, 14th July, 2024 from 1.30pm to 4.00pm
    Location: TBC (In / near Berkhamsted) Sensei: Sensei John Foster (4th Dan) For more information and booking please go to the official GKI web site.

Glossary

Japanese Terminology
[A - D] [E - G] [H - J] [K - L] [M] [N - R] [S - T] [U - Z]
[Useful Expressions] [Counting] [Grades] [Opening and Closing Ceremonies]

A, B, C, D
Age Tsuke Rising Punch     Chiri No Chan Chan Springyness
Age Uke Rising Block Chokusen Straight Line
Ashi Foot Chudan Middle Or Chest Area
Ashi Barai Foot Sweep Chudan Choku Tsuke Straight Punch To Body
Ashi Uke Foot Block Chudan Mae Geri Front Kick To The Middle Area
Atama Head Chudan Shuto Uke Middle Knifehand Block
Ate Waza Breaking Technique Chudan (Uchi) Uke Block From Inside Out With Top Of Wrist
Atemi Striking The Vital Points Chudan Ude Uke (Soto Uke) Forearm Block Against Body Attack
Awase Tsuke U Punch    
    Dachi Stance
Budo Martial Way Do Way
Bunkai Application Of Techniques In Kata Dogi Practice Suit
Bushido Way Of The Warrior Dojo Practice Place
[Top]

E, F, G
Empi Uchi Elbow Strike     Gedan Uke Downward Block
    Gedan Lower Body Area
Fumi Komi Stamping Kick Geri Kick
    Gi Uniform
Gedan Barai Uke Downward Sweeping Block Goshi (Or Koshi) Hip
Gedan Choku Tsuke Straight Punch To Groin Gyaku Mawashi Geri Reverse Round Kick
Gedan Tsuke Punch To Groin Gyaku Tsuke Reverse Punch

[Top]

H, I, J
Hachiji Dachi 8 Stance (\ /) Shoulder Width     Hiza Geri Knee Kick
Haishoku Instep    
Haishu Backhand Inue Kamae Double Ko Uke Kamae
Haishu Uke Backhand Block Ippon Ken One Knuckle Fist
Haito Ridgehand Ippon Kumite One Step Fight
Haito Uchi Ridgehand Strike Ippon Seoi Nage One Arm Shoulder Throw
Hajime Begin Iri Kumi Free Fighting
Hanmi Half Front Facing    
Hara Stomach Jodan Head Level
Harai Sweeping Jodan Age Uke Upper Block Against Head Attack
Heiko Dachi Parallel Stance Jodan Choku Tsuke Upper Straight Punch
Heisoku Dachi Closed Feet Stance (Attention) Jodan Mae Geri Front Kick To Head
Hidari Left Jodan Uke High Block
Hiji Ate Elbow Hit Judo Gentle Way
Hiriki No Yosei Elbow Power Ju Jitsu Gentle Art
Hiza Knee Jumbi Undo Warming Up Exercises

[Top]

K, L
Kakato Geri Heel Kick     Ki Inner Spirit Or Strength
Kake Geri Hooking Kick Kiai Yell Or Shout
Kake Tsuke Hook Punch Kiba Dachi Horse (Straddle Leg) Stance
Kakuto Uke Bent Wrist Block Kihon Waza Basic Techniques
Kakuto Bent-Wrist Block Kihon Kumite Basic Sparring
Kamae Posture Kime Focus
Kansetsu Geri Joint Kick Kin (Kinteki) Geri Groin Kick
Karate Empty Hand Kiostuke Attention (Command)
Kata Formal Exercise Kizami Tsuke Jab Punch
Kata Shoulder Koken Uke Wrist Block
Keage Snap (Kick) Kokutsu Dachi Back Stance
Kekomi Thrust (Kick) Koshi Ball Of The Foot
Kendo Sword Fighting Kubi Neck
Kentsui Uchi Fist Hammer Strike Kumade Bear Hand
Keri (Or Geri) Waza Kicking Techniques Kumite Fighting

[Top]

M
Ma Ai Distancing     Matte Stop
Mae Ashi Geri Front Leg Kick Mawashi Geri Round Kick
Mae Empi Uchi Forward Elbow Strike Mawashi Tsuke Round Punch
Mae Geri Keage "Front ""Snap"" Kick" Migi Right
Mae Geri Kekomi Front Thrusting Kick Mikazuki Geri Cresent Kick
Mae Geri Front Kick Momo Thigh
Mae Hiji Ate Forward Elbow Smash Morote Sukui Uke Two-Handed Twist Block
Mae Tobi Geri Jumping Front Kick Morote Tsukami Uke Two-Handed Grasping Block
Maeude Deai Uke Forearm Pressing Block Morote Tsuke Double Fist Punch
Maeude Hineri Uke Forearm Twist Block Morote Uke Augmented Forearm Block
Makiwara Striking Board Mushimii Sticky Feeling
Musubi Dachi Informal Attention Stance Musubi Dachi "Open Feet Stance

[Top]

N, O, P, Q, R
Nage Waza Throwing Techniques     Osae Uke Pressing Block
Nakadaka Ippon Ken Middle Finger One Knuckle Fist Otoshi Hiji Ate Downward Elbow Hit
Nekoashi Dachi Cat Stance Otoshi Uke Dropping Block
Nidan Geri Double Kick    
Nukite Spearhand Rei Bow
    Reinoji Dachi "Tick"" Stance"
Obi Belt Ren Tsuke Alternate Punching
Oi Tsuke Stepping Or Lunge Punch Renzoku Geri Combination Kick

[Top]

S, T
Sanchin Dachi Fundamental (High) Stance     Soto Uke Wrist Block From Outside
Sanren Tsuke Three Consecutive Punches Sukui Uke Scooping Block
Seisan Dachi Turned Version Of Shiko Dachi    
Seiken Forefist Tai Subaki Body Movement; Side Sliding Or Pivoting
Sensei Teacher Or Instructor Tameshiwari "Power Demonstration
Shihan Head Instructor Tanden Area Below The Navel And The Center Of Ki
Shiko Dachi Square Stance Tatami Mat
Shizen Tai Natural Position Teisho Uke Palm Heel Block
Shomen Tsuke Front Punch Teisho (Or Shotei) Palm Heel
Shotei Uchi Palmheel Strike Tobi Geri Jumping Kick
Shotei Uke Palmheel Block Tobi Yoko Geri Jumping Side Kick
Shuto Uchi Knifehand Tori Defender
Shuto Uke Knifehand Block Tsuke Punch
Sokuto Foot Edge Tsuro Ashi Dachi Crane Stance
[Top]

U, V, W, X, Y, Z
Uchi Hachiji Dachi Inverted Open Leg Stance     Ushiro "Back
Uchi Mawashi Geri Inside Cresent Kick    
Uchi Uke Inside Block Yama Tsuke "Wide ""U"" Punch"
Uchi Striking (Also Inner) Yama Uke Mountain Block
Ude Uke Forearm Block Yoko Empi Uchi Side Elbow Strike
Ude Arm Yoko Geri Keage "Side ""Snap"" Kick"
Ukae Attacker Yoko Geri Kekomi Side Thrust Kick
Uke Block Yoko Geri Side Kick
Ukemi Breakfalls Yoko Hiji Ate Side Elbow Strike
Ura Tsuke Close Punch Yoko Side
Uraken Uchi Back Fist Strike Yudansha Black Belt Level
Uraken Backfist    
Ushiro Ashi Geri Rear Leg Kick Zanchin Correct Focussed Awareness
Ushiro Geri Back Kick Zenkutsu Datchi Dachi Forward Stance
[Top]

Useful Expressions
Ohayo Gozaimasu Good Morning     Domo Thank You
Ohayo Good Morning Do Itashimashite You Are Welcome
Konnichiwa Good Afternoon Gomennasai I Am Sorry
Konbanwa Good Evening Sumimasen Excuse Me
Oyasuminasai Good Night Wakarimas I Understand
Saiyonara Goodbye Wakarimasen I Don’t Understand
Arigato Thank You Wakarimaska Do You Understand
Arigato Gozaimashita Thank You Very Much Mo Ichido One More Time
[Top]

Counting
1 Ichi     6 Roku
2 Ni 7 Shichi
3 San 8 Hachi
4 Shi 9 Ku
5 Go 10 Ju
[Top]

Grades
10th Kyu White     1st Dan Shodan
9th Kyu Yellow 2nd Dan Nidan
8th Kyu Orange 3rd Dan Sandan
7th Kyu Green 4th Dan Yondan
6th Kyu Blue 5th Dan Godan
5th Kyu Purple 6th Dan Rokudan
4th Kyu Purple And White 7th Dan Sichidan
3rd Kyu Brown 8th Dan Hachidan
2nd Kyu Brown One Black Tab 9th Dan Kudan
1st Kyu Brown Two Black Tabs 10th Dan Judan
[Top]

Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Typical Opening Ceremony
Each training session will usually begin and end with a short ceremony to show respect for your instructor, the dojo and your fellow students. There can be some variation between dojos and instructors:
  • Head student: Shugo /shoo-go/ Line up
  • Head student: Ki o tsuke /key-oht-skay/ Attention
  • Head student: Seiza /say-zah/ Kneel
  • Head student: Mokuso /mok-so/ Close eyes/meditate
  • Head student: Mokuso Yame /mok-so yah-may/ Open eyes
(Optional)
  • Head student: Shomen Ni (or Shin-ze Ni)/sho-men nee/ Face forward
  • Head student: Rei /ray/ Bow
  • Everybody: Onegaishimasu /oh-nay-guy she-mahhs/ - "Will you please?" or "I beg of you." In karate, "Please teach me," said to the instructor as you bow to start class, or to a fellow student before you begin working together.
  • Head student: Sensei Ni /sen-say nee/ (or Senpai Ni /sen-pie nee/ if no senior instructor is present) Face towards instructor.
  • Head student: Rei /ray/ Bow
  • Everybody: Onegaishimasu
  • Head student: Kiritsu /kee-ree-tsoo/ (or Tatte /tah-tay/) Stand up/face front
Typical Closing Ceremony
  • Head student: Shugo /shoo-go/ Line up
  • Head student: Ki o tsuke /key-oht-skay/ Attention
  • Head student: Seiza /say-zah/ Kneel
  • Head student: Mokuso /mok-so/ Close eyes/meditate
  • Head student: Mokuso Yame /mok-so yah-may/ Open eyes
(Optional)
  • Head student: Shomen Ni (or Shin-ze Ni) /sho-men nee/ Face forward (or to shrine)
  • Head student: Rei /ray/ Bow
  • Everybody: Arigato Gozaimashita /ah-ree-gah-toe go-zie-mahsh-tah/ Thankyou very much. Said to the instructor as you end class, or to a fellow student as you finish working together.
  • Head student: Sensei Ni /sen-say nee/ (or Senpai Ni /sen-pie nee/) Face towards instructor.
  • Head student: Rei /ray/ Bow
  • Everybody: Arigato Gozaimashita /ah-ree-gah-toe go-zie-mahsh-tah/ Thank-you very much.
  • Head student: Otagai Ni /oh-tah-guy nee/ Face fellow student.
  • Head student: Rei /ray/ Bow
  • Everybody: Arigato Gozaimashita /ah-ree-gah-toe go-zie-mahsh-tah/ Thank-you very much.
  • Head student: Shomen Ni /sho-men nee/ Face forward
The instructor will then get up and leave, then students in order of descending rank.
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