Top 5 Commonly Mispronounced Japanese Words For Karate!

[@KarateDojowaKu]

Which word was surprising for you?

[@kshitijhsharma3628]

in my karate dojo we say oss

[@kshitijhsharma3628]

we also say kiai

[@kshitijhsharma3628]

so even though they have a difference they are pronounced the same

[@EPSON-HP]

Most surlrising for me was actually nothing... except Kantoku (That's what you call it, right?).

[@Tsunamicombinedmartialart]

In my dojo we say oss and zuki also

[@johngr1747]

So if you are performing in front of Japanese people and you just scream the word "Kiai!" they will hear "I'm screaming!"

[@renji-hoangminh3731]

Ha ha

[@Jutta_slayz_2010]

Yes

[@michaelmoraescerqueira6345]

What was new for me was Kantoku, I had never heard of it!

[@kenshukaikarateeastlondon]

Thanks sharing. Very clear explanation, great to hear this from a Japanese person! I totally agree regarding the kiai - using the abdomen and diaphragm to generate the sound is the best way to add power. Personally, I have two kiai sounds that I use in my dojo. One for teaching beginners where I say the word “kiai”, and another one for full power techniques that sounds like “aaiiyaaa”.

[@NBTKDA]

As a non-native Korean speaker who runs a Kukkiwon taekwondo dojang in North America we have a lot mispronunciation issues as well. I’ve learned how to read and pronounce Hangul and always strive to be as accurate as possible - I’ve seen some videos where you pronounce taekwondo properly (the first word is commonly mispronounced as “tie/Thai”) and I was really glad to hear it! Most people seem to not understand how vowels are supposed to be pronounced. Here are some common Kukki style words and their approximate phonetic pronunciations: Dojang - Training Hall 도장 - “Doh-Jawhng” Dobok - Training Uniform 도복 - “Doh-Bohg” Kihap - Energy Focus (Potential → Kinetic) 기합 - “Gee-Hawhp” Geup - Grade (equivalent of “kyu” for Shotokan) 급 - “Goop” Sabeomnim - Instructor (can be shortened to sabeom, nim being a suffix) 사범님 - “Saw-Bohm-Neem” And of course the list goes on. Anyway, great videos! Love your channel 🥋

[@santunubiswas3051]

Please describe titles most people use according to their DAN. (Shihan, Renshi, Kyoshi, Soke etc..) how appropriate is this titles and who can use it / achieve it?

[@KathleenErvin-o4y]

Thank you for clarifying the various words regarding "teacher." In our dojo, I only heard the word Sensei used, but at tournaments I heard other forms and thought it might be due to the style of karate used.

[@chrisparsons6545]

Excellent video! It’s interesting how words morph in meaning as years go by, “Osu” being a great example. It really is used now much in the same way folks from the UK use “cheers.” A useful word with many meanings, understood based on how and when it’s used.

[@markwoodside4543]

Clear and precise explanations. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing the information, very helpful!

[@PovilasGi]

Great lesson! Thanks for kanji explanation too.

[@KarateDojowaKu]

No problem!

[@AP4Liberty]

Osu! Thank you for this video, was very helpful. I'm looking to get a video screen set up in my home dojo so that my family can hopefully start taking online classes from you soon!

[@Kermitthebadger]

Your hair looks great here :3 Also thanks for the tips!

[@KarateDojowaKu]

Hah I finally got a haircut

[@gamerflame8806]

thank you for your accurate and precise explanations, I'm really enjoy listening to you

[@liamwandi]

As always, really enjoyed it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the differences between "shihan", "hanshi" and "shinan". Thanks again.

[@ripx5848]

Don't know if this adds anything to the conversation, but in Okinawa Kenpo our 9th degree Dan is called Shihan and our 10th degree is called Hanshi

[@juliecicero7824]

Never heard of shinan, but shihan is head of school as he said, Hanshi means “root Master” or head of system, most names in martial arts are given as a job title

[@royksk]

I practiced, taught, examined and judged Shotokan for over 40 years (stopped due to health) and never came across kantoku. In earlier years I tried to learn spoken Japanese. In one book by someone (not a karateka) who lived in Japan for many years, he said that Osu was, as you mentioned, a contraction of “ohyō gozaimasu and was only used by the rougher element such as labourers and martial artists. This was many years ago. Amongst martial artists it can mean hello, goodbye, thanks, cheers, I understand - in fact just about anything appropriate. Some people write ossu as spoken but I believe a single s is correct. It should be used “from the belly” with depth and feeling in greeting another martial artist My simple understanding of keri/tsuki and geri/zuki is that the former are generic terms as in keri waza or tsuki waza and the others are specific as in mae geri or gyaku zuki

[@petteriheino9856]

The years practicing Taido taught me to reply HAI! to anything I was told. I still find myself doing that even when training other arts.

[@Memorixt]

Great video, nicely summarized!

[@DocGiraffe]

In my Dojo, we use Senpai (or Sempai for those who don't speak Japanese) to refer to the senior student. Generally in the sense of the highest belt student below the Sensei. So in my dojo, that is a Ni Dan. But we also have some more rules there which requires that the Senpai must be qualified to teach as in they at the very least have their Class D Qualifications (for Instructors) or something along those lines, but they must also be at the age of 20 or older. I'm not entirely sure exactly how it works, but that's the general gist of how it works for us.

[@coreyw6498]

Amazing stuff here! Thanks for the knowledge

[@Oliver-gammarART]

So can sensei also means „this person exemplifies something to its students“ or „this person acts as a somebody who shows you how to develop your Karate“? In Germany we say „vorleben“ what means „the master lives his way / mention of Karate in front of his students so they can learn from“.

[@gagamushin6853]

Awesome video as usual ! OSU ! 🤍

[@dlbarton721]

When I studied Kyokushin, OSS/OSU was used with almost every breath; when I crossed over to Uechi Ryu, we were forbidden to use those terms and were taught they were macho-man wannabe terms for the street and disrespectful terms to use in Karate, especially to a sensei. Why the two different teachings?

[@Sander50cc]

I know I'm late but I think its because Kyokushin is a Japanese style and Uechi-Ryu is Okinawan so that's why there is different vocabulary

[@nyoromo]

Invaluable!! Thank you! ❤️

[@msnewcomb1]

As for Kiai, can you talk about the classical sounds that were used for kiai and why?

[@austinewanga]

Quite an eye opener. I i didn't get OSS/OSU part well though.

[@KarateDojowaKu]

I should do an another video on that

[@i.sofficial4889]

Hello, I am Reda from Morocco, 34 years old. I study martial arts. Admire your style and the way you explain the movements. Can you correct the pronunciation of JODAN AGYOKI

[@realwarriorscholar]

Great explanation of kiai!

[@ufoguy]

I'm kinda amazed that we've been practicing using the correct words here :D

[@KarateDojowaKu]

That's great!

[@dorgoron]

Now I see (considering the tsuki/ zuki pronounciation), thank you. Similar things happen in french language, for instance: “les arbres” we can hear: “leZ-arb-r”.

[@user-ds7jq3mn1i]

Not only do we learn karate but also Japanese in your video!

[@jameybarnette9178]

Please do one on counting 1-10. I've heard ichi pronounced three or four different ways. The same with Roku 6 and 7, 8. HELP! 😂

[@LittlePixieBot]

Yeah. I noticed many of my fellow Americans tend to pronounce it like "itch". I also wondered why we tend to use 'shi" and "shichi" for 4 and 7. I believe the preference in everyday Japanese is 'yon' and 'nana' due the former words being associated with death.

[@donoberloh]

I do truly appreciate your videos. Maybe check your narrative when you are explaining Tsuki and Zuki, I think you say when something FOLLOWS Tsuki you say Zuki. Would it not be adding adding a word BEFORE Tsuki it becomes Zuki. e.g Gyaku Zuki, not Gyaku Tsuki.

[@deamonghod]

thank you for this!!

[@zl1gee]

In the US Karate and martial arts are privatized industry. Its like a hobby for most. But for people like me its a way of life. Osu!

[@LittlePixieBot]

Me too! I get annoyed when someone says hobby.

[@craigforeman903]

Osu is only used in mainland Japan, not in Okinawa where it is considered rude.

[@ugk1106]

Within Shotokan KarateDo lntern(S.K.I.) We use titles as follow Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa. (head world asso.) Remained as Kancho even after graduated due to respect him. Shihan Rikuta Koga(head national asso. and national coach). I used the term "Koga Shihan" as l was Kyu grade and "Koga Sensei" after l graduated to Dan. For my Dojo Sensei l used "Jamy Sensei" as a Kyu and stayed with that after graduated to Dan.

[@Selkian]

Oss/Osu is not used in Okinawan karate. Some even consider it disrespectful. Kumite does not mean sparring or fighting as commonly believed in the karate world. Uke does not mean block. Even my original Japanese teachers mistranslated or oversimplified many words. Enjoying your channel.

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

So teach us, master.

[@uglydemon5189]

illiterate old

[@petriantikainen1928]

Thanks for these videos. Very interesting things. Is it so, that you don’t pronounce “u” after “s”? E.g. uns(u), os(u), ts(u)ki?

[@KarateDojowaKu]

It's very subtle

[@joonasvakkilainen2457]

The Japanese u and i are often voiceless vowels between or after voiceless consonants.

[@oleshotokan]

Kanazawa translated OSS Onegai Shimasu. What do you think?

[@borcsaster]

And what if my 'sensei' is younger than me? How can I call a karate teacher who's younger in age but has a lot more knowledge than I do?

[@brookchivell]

Is Soke another term for master also. In Shito Ryu we often referred to Mabuni Sensai that way

[@KarateDojowaKu]

Soke means head of family/founder. So depending on the context, you can call your teacher that way

[@Gladers.]

Thanks. My son just stated practice Kyokushin Karate here in Sweden and all these new words is a little confusing :)

[@camiloiribarren1450]

Definitely happy to learn more Japanese and in the correct way. Domo!

[@lievanathor]

Muchas gracias!!! ❤️👌

[@zanelsteffen2002]

I google translated geri and im not disappointed 🤣 cant wait to use my new found knowledge

[@amareshpereira]

Thank you very much!

[@Abhiraj669]

Good sensei 👍

[@kakman1958]

I'd love to hear a native Japanese speaker pronounce the names of Judo throws - I'm sure in Australia we pronounce them all wrong.

[@daneshpusparani6854]

So far I doing good with pronunciation. Only 1 thing I do, oss a lot when teaching my students. So, basically after rest they have to oss again. Sounds weird if say hello so many times right.

[@hangetsukuzunoha2467]

i wonder if there's any local Japanese karate disciple calling their master with 師匠(shishou) i mean. i found a lot of case in movie or in an anime series. student are calling their master shishou

[@anthonyadja5244]

Up

[@HexenStar]

Thank you very much! What about Kyokushin, Shogun and Shoichi? In the Russian community there is a decades-long debate, regarding the way these words are pronounced. And the proponents of each variant are convinced beyond any doubt that only their version is correct, - and the argument continues to this very day. Is it Kyokushin or Kyokusin / Shogun or Segun / Shoichi or Syoichi / Shotokan or Setokan...Can you perhaps help with these?

[@lordtains]

I was taught that Osu was an abreviation of onegaishimasu.. so this was false?

[@sixstringrevolver6742]

I've studied Go/Baduk/Weiqi on and off for years now, and the changes in pronunciation is still so strange to me. I mention Go because that's where I first learned that Japanese does this from the moves keima and ogeima.

[@jaronby]

If I would say Osu, in my dojo, I would get smacked by my sensei, as it is unpolite and considered rude...

[@artisticsolarninja]

They sometimes they mispronounced "Rai-yu"(rah-you) but sometimes it's "Ryu"(ree-you) or some if you are a martial artist it's "Ru"[Roo]. Which one is correct?

[@ariesstorm9577]

I always felt awkward shouting kiai, turns out I might as well as just shouted “shout” lol

[@tokenstandpoint93]

My dojo we also say "Seiken" for punch.

[@KarateDojowaKu]

That’s also okay!

[@KarateDojowaKu]

Very Kyokushi like!

[@CaptAmerica12]

When Fighting I found using a "Plosive" like "Ewts" actually increased my strength. The "T" sound is the Plosive.

[@Chimib]

Great vid ... My Sensei Umezawa used to pronounce Keri ... what does geri mean?

[@KarateDojowaKu]

It means diarrhea

[@LittlePixieBot]

@@KarateDojowaKu Oh wow! So in a dojo where they say 'geri', they are shouting, 'diarrhea'? I shouldn't find that funny, but I do.

[@MHahn-bg7cu]

Just thank You.

[@rubendariofonseca]

Thank you for the video....

[@xxwhatevahxx]

Yasuke, i heard things like that "Oss/Osu" can be disrespectful, that you should never say it to a Japanese person unless he is younger than you, lower in rank, or wants you to say it (if you’re a woman, don’t say it at all). Depends on instructor/master/dojo how & when to use it i guess?

[@zomuankimakhawlhring5366]

Geri means diarrhoea isn't it?

[@KarateDojowaKu]

Yes...lol

[@bremexperience]

shit happens.

[@sciencechomp5444]

The Gerigeri or diarrhoea kick, if you will, is the most lethal kick in all martial arts.

[@MrKarate_11]

@@sciencechomp5444 it happens in a manga called Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru. A character makes a mae geri and he splashes some shit in his master's face through his zubon xD

[@APTV-s7r]

@@sciencechomp5444 AKA when your opponent’s shin hits your liver and stomach simultaneously

[@StressJudoCoaching]

It's so impressive when someone does a kiai by yelling as loud as they can for 30-40 seconds. Not.

[@ripx5848]

I have actually been at tournaments where the judges tell them ahead of time, I do not want to feel like I am watching a murder scene. Do not scream in my face. What's really crazy, is sometimes the students look at each other like what do I do now?

[@pkdmartialarts]

I would like to invite you to my dojo for a seminar in future. I hope covid19 eases soon

[@KarateDojowaKu]

That’ll be great!

[@tisletto]

It's a shame some of this stuff gets a culture shift. I'm Australian and I've done 2 styles of karate. In both styles, younger kids are taught to actually say Kiai, which I find just makes them have to relearn their shout if they go ahead to train as adults. And any assisting instructor is a Senpai, no matter their age. Plus, since we don't actually speak Japanese, the accent will make it harder to actually say words like Tsuki haha. Otherwise I think it's great our school take trips to Japan annually to learn authentic practices :)

[@fuzukimaru2]

1番誤った発音は空手をkuradiと 発音する事だと思う。誤った発音が定着してるから仕方がないという思うのかもしれないけど､私は釈然としない。 私は空手はあくまでカラテで通してる。

[@Reithierion]

3:04 Wait, does that mean we should all be shouting love? Ai?

[@edsmith5848]

Kantoku? That really shows how far into sport you have placed karate. That’s the cause of delegitimization of the martial culture. WKF-style tag karate turned karate into an after-school activity for kids. And you can say “diarrhea” (Geri), it’s not a bad word.

[@KarateDojowaKu]

Thanks for your opinion!

[@antiplusch9381]

@@KarateDojowaKu that was maybe the most japanese response possible. :D

[@madmonkey642]

Im glad my father taught me a lot if this before I started teaching or else I would be pretty embarrassed right now 😅

[@edgardocarrasquillo9]

Thank you

[@masculinogenerico]

My aikido teacher doesn't want to be called master or sensei. He said he is a teacher or just Benjamin.

[@durantabiswas1627]

Thank you.

[@belalabusultan5911]

1:16 Zuki Janai, Tsuki Da. sotty, I had to write this :P

[@isifredo93]

muy buena información

[@titosteinsgaming9340]

In my school Shishou used for master and Shihan for grand master

[@pseftis21]

i think i heard you, in a video with Jesse, say that the word "oss" is not used

[@TBButtSmoothy]

in okinawa and before it was known as karate

[@Tsunamicombinedmartialart]

Good information osu

[@KarateDojowaKu]

Glad you liked it

[@cubbykovu8955]

I Shout like a Monster kind of like an EYE !!!!! XD

[@alandmcleod5988]

For strikes I use 'Aye!' and for blocks I use 'Toh!' is this japanese?

[@kenespennerdal1488]

So morote tsuki can be mow-row-the-zoo-key?

[@Max_tax07]

My today's useless comment 😁TSUKI with this kanji 月 means moon

[@mtburton909]

Another useless comment, imagine being kicked while doing your necessities because of being half British raised in Japan

[@madspetersen1708]

Why do you write shiNan when you say shiHan?

[@scout3058]

What about kohai/senpai relationship? 宜野座沖縄に4年住んでいました

[@jefft786]

Never heard of Oss

[@kshitijhsharma3628]

in my karate dojo we say oss

[@stevebrindle1724]

It does not matter at all!

[@markc.jamila2386]

sensei yusuke my friends in my karate training they say osh than oss.

[@KarateDojowaKu]

as long as it’s pronounced correctly, it’s fine!

[@markc.jamila2386]

@@KarateDojowaKu But i tell them the correct prounounciation is oss not osh something weird

[@aaronbaptist1563]

@@markc.jamila2386 Why not show them this video

[@icharezatutiana8629]

Well i am 31 yrs old, black belt 1st dan but i assume your dan is higher than me 😊 so i think i should call you senpai right?

[@Brandon123456magine]

Mawashi geri, mae geri, mikazuki geri. But geri means yeah diarhea.🤣

[@FortniteDad39]

Ive also heard "bo staff" and im like, staff staff? Lol

[@toranomakichanelkarate9899]

Oss / osu purnound realy to say in dojo??

[@maximilianbaden4905]

Hi, i have a question. I teach Karate in my own Dojo in Germany. And i have the highest belt (4th Dan). So what is the Right Word? Sensei, Shihan, shinan? I‘m Not sure. My student call me Sensei oder with my Name. Trank you for your help 🙏

[@raniakhair1746]

May i know When did you start learning karate?

[@arhipmatusov8823]

When I was practicing Kyokushin Karate in my teen years, my trainer had 1st kyu, and he didn't allow us to call him "sensei" because he didn't achieve his black belt yet (though his skill was enough for that and he had 1st dan in another karate style).

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

He was your senior student therefore he was your senpai. His position was instructor. Sensei means literally teacher.

[@arhipmatusov8823]

@@suprememasteroftheuniverse You tell this to a man who has spent several years practicing karate? :D :D Lol!

[@JohnnyMillion-y1d]

Can you certify me as a black belt?

[@dozer11]

Great explanations of where the words come from and what they mean. Ironically, your pronunciation of the word “pronunciation” is a little off as you’re saying “pronounciation”.

[@ZainAhmad-jl4vt]

Tsuki and Zuki is the same thing in german

[@miasmajin]

So who is a shishō ?

[@jamiirali1]

I'm not a karateka but when Im around friends who practice it I hear " yame (yaa-may)...what does that mean?

[@senseisambo]

I believe that’s Korean. Taekwondo.

[@uglydemon5189]

Yaa may means stop

[@princekermit0]

Cease... In the dojo when we are doing a series of actions, and the instructor wishes us to cease doing them... "Yame"