Martial Art Terminology In Class?

Alan Armstrong · Black Belt

Do you or the CI use the correct terminology in class?

Or is the MA terminology a combination of English and Asian?

Or is all the terminology used for the MA class in English?

Do MMA classes use solely English terminology?

Do BJJ use Japanese terminology or is it all in Portuguese?

Personally I like using the Asian terminology of the style, due to that it helps me to understand native Asian speakers when they are explaining techniques on video.

Spartacus Maximus · Black Belt

Most martial arts systems taught originate in cultures where the language is different. Keeping the original terminology maintains continuity between generations of students and teachers. Naturally, every instructor will use their own native language to some extent when explaining or describing the system they teach. The terms used always depends on whom one learns from and how close this person is to the system's culture of origin.

Okinawan karate tends to be taught with Japanese or even Okinawan terminology. Especially when the Instructor has close connections to representatives who teach and train in Okinawa. It is also the case with anyone who learned from any of the first non-native students of Okinawan systems.

Personally, all except one instructor was not Okinawan so Japanese and native Okinawan terminology is used exclusively. Also thanks to personal interest and years spent in immersion, fluent communication in the instructor's native language is a habit. Of course nobody is expected to learn a new language to train, but it does help understand some of the context of what one is practising.

Safroot · Pre-Black Belt

In the kyokushin dojo I was training in they used Japanese terminology & I used to struggle understanding it & was in a mess specially with combinations & that was the only time that the instructor might explain it to me in English !
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"The Martial Arts begin with a point and end in a circle."
Sosai Mas Oyama founder of Kyokushin Karate.

sensei8 · KF Sensei

Well, seeing that our Soke and Dai-Soke were born and raised and trained in Okinawa, and that they're mastery of the English language was deplorable, our classes with either of them was also a lesson on Okinawa/Japanese; terminologies were in their language, yet, spiced up with them trying to speak English.

A lot of our terminologies were posted on the East wall of the Hombu. That, I believe was for our benefit as a reference. But man oh man, there was a lot of grunting, mumbling, and finger and Shinai pointing!! "Go here!"..."There!"..."NO!!", and so on and so forth!!

As far as my dojo's, both English and Okinawa/Japanese was on the menu as far as terminologies and the like.

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**Proof is on the floor!!!

Nidan Melbourne · KF Sempai

Well in our classes we use a combination of English and Japanese. But depends on the skill level and knowledge of the students.

We use the english terminology for our white belts but introduce the japanese terms to them after several lessons. In comparison for our 1st Kyu's we use predominantly japanese terms.

When we are in our advanced seniors class we only use japanese terms. As it is expected that we know what it is.

DWx · Black Belt

We mostly use Korean terminology. At the very least we name techniques in Korean and use Korean for basic instruction.

The great advantage is that this terminology is the international standard that everyone will learn so you then have the opportunity to train with people who might not speak your native language. I've trained with plenty of Europeans and Asians who didn't speak English yet understanding what they wanted me to do wasn't a problem.

I also think it brings you closer to the roots and culture of a style, if that kind of thing is important to you. The original language can also tell you more about what you are doing and why you are doing it as sometimes things can be lost in translation.
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"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius

sensei8 · KF Sensei

Over my many years in the MA, I've heard it said that we, MAists, use the language of the culture that founded the style, whether it be Japanese or Okinawan or Korean or whatever else it might be, to only show off, and to make ourselves seem more important!!

Fair enough!! This might be warranted!!

Is it, iyho??

As far as myself, well, I just don't subscribe to blanket accusations!!

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**Proof is on the floor!!!

Alan Armstrong · Black Belt

JR 137 · Black Belt

Both dojos I've trained at full-time use Japanese terminology for techniques and etiquette (starting and ending class, etc.). Not that it bothered me, but I didn't care much for it my first few weeks. I didn't think there was much point.

I quickly came to appreciate it. I guess it makes it officially karate or something, I don't know. To be honest, I don't think I'd like training without it. Maybe it would be too informal or too sport-like, like wrestling was.

Both styles I've trained have Tadashi Nakamura in the lineage. My first organization's founder was Nakamura's student in Nakamura's Kyokushin days, and followed him to Seido before leaving (Seido was still bare knuckle at this point). My current system is Seido Juku. Nakamura was born and raised in Japan before being sent to the US to spread Kyokushin.

I can relate to sensei8 here. Nakamura has been here going on 50 years, and he's still difficult to understand at times. Everyone however understands when he asks us to do a technique. Sometimes the pronunciation is a bit different from a native Japanese speaker than it is from my American CI, but it's not that hard to figure it out.

Last summer was Seido's 40th anniversary. There was a week-long event with seminars, a tournament, etc. Part of it was teachers from different countries teaching a class as they normally would in their native language. There were classes in Italian, Polish, Japanese, Hebrew and a few others. Seeing parts of the Hebrew and Polish class, it was obvious that the students understood enough of what was being said despite not knowing the teachers' native languages. Japanese terms became a universal language.

Along the same lines as terminology, but not exactly, I'm a big fan of the strict/militaristic/not sure what to call it traditions. Using titles, responding with an "Osu Sensei" or the like is something that's really grown on me. It wouldn't be the same without it. I think the "Yes, Sir/Ma'am" that TKD typically does is better for people, especially kids, in our culture, but for some reason I like the Japanese way I've always done in karate better.

Spartacus Maximus · Black Belt

The teaching style just depends on the intructor and is not really tied to whether or not one uses a certain set of terminology. The instructors from my experience used Japanese and Okinawan exclusively and the atmosphere in the dojo was very informal.

The militaristic or strict style, which is often associated with martial arts is probably because a great portion of instructors have some kind of military background. They are only reproducing the way they learned.

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