Opinions on "Japanese" terms in class.

[Zanshin]

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?

And our survey says...

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".

[GOM]

Can I take Hogen for $40 thanks Eddie.....

[Fish]

I don't have a problem with it, but nor do I feel it adds anything of great signficance to my training.

[Zanshin]

I don't have a problem with it, but nor do I feel it adds anything of great signficance to my training.

Big Sigh!!

And a Wado-ka as well

Oh well, each to their own!

[nine_weapons]

IMO, other than cultural preservation, there is no reason the names cannot be spoken in english, other than maybe for shortening. saying o uchi gari or shortening it to o uchi is faster than saying "major inner reap", for example. As a teacher, you should be able to convey to your students and mindset that may have been more apparent in the original name.

that makes me wonder though... if you go to china or japan and learn western boxing, do they teach it in english or in their language? I am betting they teach it in their language.

[Zanshin]

I would think that they would teach boxing in their own language as it is a sport.

Traditional Martial Arts like Karate are NOT sports, and that’s perhaps the difference.

[shinbushi]

IMO, other than cultural preservation, there is no reason the names cannot be spoken in english, other than maybe for shortening. saying o uchi gari or shortening it to o uchi is faster than saying "major inner reap", for example. As a teacher, you should be able to convey to your students and mindset that may have been more apparent in the original name.

that makes me wonder though... if you go to china or japan and learn western boxing, do they teach it in english or in their language? I am betting they teach it in their language.

As a Muay Thai person you should know that in Thailand they'll say a lot of the punches in English. Thai language doesn't have a good word for uppercut and hook. "Madd"(punch in Thai)can only be used so much. In Japan I've heard English and Nihongo be used for punches but I don't like mawashi tsuki being used for hook, it just seems weird when I think of it translated.

I can't really say for other countries since I've only trained in Thailand and Japan, and by no means do I speak much more than just the terminology for Muay Thai and Karate in terms of speaking Japanese and Thai.

[bushido_man96]

I would think that they would teach boxing in their own language as it is a sport.

Traditional Martial Arts like Karate are NOT sports, and that’s perhaps the difference.

Whether you call it sport or art, the techniques are just techniques, and the language doesn't change the technique.

[Zanshin]

I would think that they would teach boxing in their own language as it is a sport.

Traditional Martial Arts like Karate are NOT sports, and that’s perhaps the difference.

Whether you call it sport or art, the techniques are just techniques, and the language doesn't change the technique.

It doesn't but IMO I think it helps to reinforce the "Cultural Identity" of the particular Martial Art that you are learning, and I think that’s important.

And as mentioned earlier the "Universal" language for Karate is Japanese. Again not vital to doing or teaching the techniques of Karate, but certainly advantageous if you train with Instructors of different nationality to yourself, or overseas etc.

[nine_weapons]

I would think that they would teach boxing in their own language as it is a sport.

Traditional Martial Arts like Karate are NOT sports, and that’s perhaps the difference.

judo, tkd, sumo, kendo, kyokushin... all have a sportive aspect. What of these?