Opinions on "Japanese" terms in class.

[Zanshin]

My instructor teaches the Japanese for a good purpose. He said that when he was going to seminars lead by Japanese Black Belts, had he not learned the proper japanese terms in his own dojo, he would not have known what to do at these seminars. He said that he was one of a handful of Americans who did not feel "lost", at the seminar.

Your instructor is very wise.

Also the Japanese is the universal language of Karate so if you train / or compete overseas (in France for example) you can understand what is going on.

It's funny how we use Japanese in karate instead of Okinawan.

Some styles do use "Okinawan", but most do use "Japanese" because they are Japanese styles.

Which "styles" would these be?

Wado ryu is a "Japanese" karate rather than Okinawan. The founder Ohtsuka Sensei was keen to make this apparent in his style.

The first Shotokan and Kyokushin Dojo were also established in mainland Japan, so technically they are regarded as Japanese and not Okinawan.

[bushido_man96]

I suppose it’s a case of how deep you want to look into your Karate. If you only want to learn the moves, then English would probably suffice, but this is really just scratching the surface. If you want to get to grips with the workings of your karate then I think it is important to at least try to look at it from a “Budo” perspective, and knowing and “understanding” the Japanese terms for this is key.

I would buy into this idea, but there are fighting styles, concepts, principles, etc., that came from and have existed in other parts of the world for as long as history goes back. Fighting didn't come from Japan alone. Therefore, I don't feel that only Japanese terms (or those of another language) are the only way to explain a principle.

[marie curie]

I like using Japanese because it makes me feel cool I just think its fun. Also, it helps set a different tone from "outside" to "training".

[shinbushi]

shinjibukan and uechi ryu have some hogen terminology in it, and I'm certain that other styles being taught on Okinawa do too, even if it's Uchinaguchi dialect. Oh yes, Hogen is "Okinawan".

[Shotokan-kez]

Since i have started teaching occasionally, i tend to forget the terms in Japanese, so i am currently trying to learn them....i'm forever getting them mixed up and then i get funny looks from the students lol

[Zanshin]

I suppose it’s a case of how deep you want to look into your Karate. If you only want to learn the moves, then English would probably suffice, but this is really just scratching the surface. If you want to get to grips with the workings of your karate then I think it is important to at least try to look at it from a “Budo” perspective, and knowing and “understanding” the Japanese terms for this is key.

I would buy into this idea, but there are fighting styles, concepts, principles, etc., that came from and have existed in other parts of the world for as long as history goes back. Fighting didn't come from Japan alone. Therefore, I don't feel that only Japanese terms (or those of another language) are the only way to explain a principle.

True, but many of these fighting systems have their own "specific" ways to approach combat.

Japanese Budo is heavily intertwined with "Zen" and the development of the mind and spirit to make them ready for Combat. For me, it is a vital part of my training to at least try to acknowledge this higher level premise.

You will find it hard to do that, if you don’t understand some of the Karate related Japanese terms that have "percolated" down from these "Zen" approaches.

[bushido_man96]

I think that, historically, Zen principles were added to training later on. The training was there first, and then some Zen principles were added to it, in order to mold the warriors. Which I think is a good thing, but, it shows that the fighting principles where their first.

[GOM]

It's funny how we use Japanese in karate instead of Okinawan.

Some styles do use "Okinawan", but most do use "Japanese" because they are Japanese styles.

Which "styles" would these be?

Wado ryu is a "Japanese" karate rather than Okinawan. The founder Ohtsuka Sensei was keen to make this apparent in his style.

The first Shotokan and Kyokushin Dojo were also established in mainland Japan, so technically they are regarded as Japanese and not Okinawan.

So which styles use Okinawan then?

[mantis.style]

Not Japanese or Karate but I speak Chinese (two dialects) fluently and for the most part, my martial arts training has been conducted in mainly Cantonese, it being the language from where they originate/developed. In the UK however, I can't see what difference it makes teaching the students here purely in English as the Chinese terms and principles don't tend to translate fully beyond the literal meaning. Often, it takes a five miuntes to fully explain something from the Chinese to the English because you have to also explain the cultural/historical reference. In my experience, it doesn't add anything and can potentially take something away from the learning because the student who doesn't have a full grasp of the language and culture from where the language comes from will only really be learning the names of things. Using a karate example, how easy is it to really explain osae fully? Even if you can explain it, is it really going to have the full meaning that the term has in Japanese?

[Zanshin]

I think that, historically, Zen principles were added to training later on. The training was there first, and then some Zen principles were added to it, in order to mold the warriors. Which I think is a good thing, but, it shows that the fighting principles where their first.

Exactly, and that is why I think that training using Japanese, helps me at least try to understand the "improvements" that where made to the core combat principles through this addition. It's what gives Karate its Martial Arts identity, and I personally think that’s a good thing.

I suppose we all have different tastes, and I think that’s what makes us Human.