CheatSheet
This project is to contain a listing of termiology and basics for Goju Ryu karate.
The listing sheet, as PDF, can be found here, while below is an unruly html rendition.
This reference sheet is built around the system https://github.com/alhassy/CheatSheet.
Table of Contents
- Dachi –Stance
- Uke –Block
- Te –Hand Strikes
- Geri –Kick
- Kata –Forms
- Goju History
- Local Goju History
- General Terms
Dachi –Stance
Power is rooted in the feet, developed by the knees, and directed by the hips!
| Heiko dachi | Natural stance |
| Heisoku dachi | Attention stance |
| Zenkutsu dachi | Forward stance |
| Shiko dachi | Horse, Straddle stance |
| Sanchin dachi | Hour Glass, Power stance |
| Neko ashi dachi | Cat stance |
| Tsuru ashi dachi | Stork stance |
| Teiji dachi | t-stance |
| Kokutsu dachi | back stance |
Uke –Block
90% of blocks are executed with the front hand, making it easier to counter!
| Gedan bari | Low sweeping block |
| Jodan uke | Rising block |
| Chudan uke | Inside forearm block |
| Soto uke | Outside forearm block |
| Hariatoshi | Low 3 point block |
| Kakewaki uke | Cross block |
| Mawashi uke | Roundhouse block |
| Kake uke | Hook block |
| Hiza uke | Shin block |
| Kakuto uke | Crane head block |
| Shuto uke | Knife hand block |
| Morto uke | Augmented forearm block |
| Teisho uke | Palm block |
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Te –Hand Strikes
The principles of expansion and contraction are a must when striking and as well for blocking!
| Oi zuki | Lunge punch |
| Gy Aku zuki | Reverse punch |
| Kizama zuki | Front jab |
| Morto zuki | Double fist punch |
| Rek Ken | Backfist |
| Ura Ken | Back fist |
| Tetsui | Hammer fist |
| Shuto | Knifehand |
| Teisho | Palm heel |
| Empi | Elbow |
| Mawashi zuki | Hook punch |
| Nukite | Finger strike |
Geri –Kick
Except the instep roundhouse, remember to curl your toes for each and every kick!
| Mae Geri Kekomi | Front thrust kick |
| Mae Geri Keage | Front snap kick |
| Yoko Geri Kekomi | Side thrust kick |
| Yoko Geri Keage | Side snap kick |
| Kinsetsu Geri | Joint kick, Knee break |
| Mawashi Geri | Roundhouse kick |
| Fumi Komi Geri | Stomp kick |
| Ushiro Geri | Back kick |
| Ashi Barai | Foot sweep |
| Mikasuki Geri | Crescent kick |
Remember the joint sequence: All kicks start with the hips, work to the knee, and finish with the ankle.
Kata –Forms
A kata is the execution of a pre-defined series of movements which simulates a confrontation against multiple opponents. As such, remember to place yourself in the midst of your enemies and to visualise them –this in turn necessitates rhythm and timing. Moreover, full all-out intense kata will quickly demonstrate the importance of breathing.
\room The key points of kata are:
| Pace | Breathing | Eyes | Focus | Kiai | Technique |
Always concentrate on posture. Never rush through the kata. You will become what you practice. If you rush your movements without purpose, your kata will become ragged and weak.
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| Kata —Forms |
| Gekisai Itch | Attack & Smash 1 |
| Gakisai Ni | Attack & Smash 2 |
| Sanchin | Three Battles |
| Tensho | Rotating Palm |
| Saifa | Destroy & Defeat |
| Seienchin | Attack, Conquer, Suppress |
| San Sei Ryu | Thirty-six movements |
| Shi Sho Chin | Twenty-seven movements |
| Seisan | Fifty-six movements |
| Seipai | Eighteen movements |
Goju History
- Sixth century Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma immigrated to China is credited with being the father of the martial arts.
- Okinawa is a large island between Japan and China where many Chinese immigrated for trade.
- As a major trading post, Okinawa produced a composite fighting style known as Te, “hand”, a forerunner of karate, “empty hand”.
- In 1904, it was introduced into Okinawan public schools as part of the physical education curriculum.
- In 1915, Okinawan Gichin Funakoshi brought the art to Japan, founding shotokan karate.
- ‘Shoto’ is pine-waves and ‘kan’ is hall; shotokan was the name of his dojo.
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Okinawan Miyagi Chojun popularised karate and incorporated Chinese forms to produce goju ryu, “hard soft style”.
- He revised sanchin –the hard aspect of goju– and created tensho– the soft aspect.
- These two kata are considered the essence of Goju Ryu.
- The highest kata, Suparinpei, is said to contain the full syllabus of Goju Ryu.
He designed goju’s official insignia: The goju fist, which is half open and half closed preserving the dichotomy that goju ryu is neither completely hard nor completely soft.
- The characters on the wrist read go ju ryu, while those on the banner read kara te do.
- Its colours are white symbolising the purity of the beginner, black associated with the ideals of being a black belt, and red for mastery of the artform –the more red shaded in, the higher the rank of the bearer.
- Miyagi’s student Gogen ‘the cat’ Yamaguchi formed the All-Japan Karate-do Goju-kai, spreading the style throughout the world.
The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of character of its participants. –Gichin Funakoshi
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Local Goju History
- Don Warrener, 6ᵗʰ Dan: Popularised Goju across southern Ontario.
- Practising Goju since the age of 17; won the Canadian Karate Championships in 1968.
- Studied under Richard Kim, Bob Dalgleish, Frank Lee, and Goshi Yamaguchi –Gogen’s son.
- Joey Jackson, 4th Dan: Sensei of The Martial Arts Center.
- He has been training at the center since the age of 11 years old.
- Proficient in Goju Ryu (4th Dan) and Kobudo (1st Dan) —weaponry.
- Direct student of Kyoshi Mike Sywyk, 7th Dan
- He was accredited with the title of Kyoshi (``school teacher’’) by the Japanese Government in 2011.
- Student of Teruo Chinen Sensei, 7th Dan —who formed Tachi Waza or ``Formation 11’’.
- Chinen studied under Chojun Miyagi’s senior student Eichi Miyazato.
General Terms
| Sensei | teacher |
| O'Sensei | Teacher's teacher |
| Dojo | training hall |
| Nippon | Japan |
| Kihon | Basics |
| Gi | Uniform |
| Obi | Belt |
| Kyu | Boy |
| Dan | Man |
| Mukso | Meditate |
| Kimi | Focus |
| Kilskai | Attention |
| Rei | Bow |
| Ashimai | Begin |
| Yemai | Stop |
| Kia | Yell |
| Japanese Numbers |
| 0 | rei |
| 1 | ichi |
| 2 | ni |
| 3 | san |
| 4 | yon |
| 5 | go |
| 6 | roku |
| 7 | nana |
| 8 | hachi |
| 9 | kyuu |
| 10 | juu |
| 100 | hyaku |
| 1000 | sen |
- 11, 12, …, 19 are juu ichi, juu ni, …, juu kyuu.
- 20, 30, …, 90 are ni juu, san juu, …, kyuu juu.
- Likewise, 200, …, 900 are ni hyaku, …, kyuu hyaku.
- Exceptions: 300 san byaku, 600 ro ppyaku, 800 ha ppyaku.
- Likewise, 200, …, 900 are ni hyaku, …, kyuu hyaku.
- twenty-one, sixty-nine, eighty-two, … are
ni juu ichi, roku juu kyuu, hachi juu ni, … .
- Likewise, 368 is three hundred and sixty-eight which is san byaku roku juu hachi.