IOGKF Terminology
Arriving or Leaving the Dojo
Arriving at the Dojo, you should bow as you enter the door and in a loud and clear voice say:
Onegaishimasu - Please teach me.
When leaving the Dojo at the end of class or for the day, you should bow once again and say:
Arigato Gozaimashita - Thank you very much.
Stances (dachi or tachi)
- heisoku dachi - Closed foot stance (feet together)
- musubi dachi – Formal attention stance (heels together, with each foot pointing outwards 45º)
- heiko dachi (parallel stance) – Feet parallel, shoulder-width apart.
- hachiji dachi (natural stance) – Feet shoulder-width apart, feet both pointing outwards at 45º.
- zenkutsu dachi (front stance) – Forward leg bent at the knee with 60% of weight on front leg and 40% on rear leg. Knee of rear leg locked and extended approximately two shoulder-widths behind lead foot. Torso erect. Feet facing outwards at 45º.
- han zenkutsu dachi (half front stance) – As for zenkutsu-dachi, but feet only one shoulder-width apart. Weight is distributed evenly. Front knee is bent so that toes are obscured.
- sanchin dachi (tension stance) – Feet shoulder-width apart, weight distributed evenly over both legs. Knees tensed and pulled inwards. Forward foot slightly ahead of rear foot, so that back of front foot aligns with the front of the rear foot. Toes pointed slightly inward. Back straight and hips tensed, with pelvis pulled forwards and upwards.
- neko ashi dachi (cat stance) – Rear knee bent, with foot flat on ground, and toes facing to the outside. Resting lightly (10%) on the front leg, approximately one shoulder-width from the rear leg. Toes of front foot facing forwards, flat on ground with heel of foot raised. Crouching slightly, with front leg in centre of body, bent a little at the knee. Torso erect.
- kokutsu dachi (back stance) – Rear knee bent, with foot facing to the outside. Forward leg approximately two shoulder-widths in front of and perpendicular to rear foot (i.e. facing forwards). 70% of weight on rear leg, 30% on foward leg.
- hanmi kokutsu dachi – as for kokutsu dachi, but rear leg is placed slightly to the side. Rear foot points directly sideways with back of foot aligned with big toe of front foot.
- kiba dachi or naifanchi dachi (horse stance) – Feet roughly two shoulder-widths apart, parallel, toes pointed forwards.
- shiko dachi (straddle stance) – Feet spread approximately two shoulder-widths apart, toes pointed outward at 45º. Weight distributed evenly over both legs. Knees bent deeply and pulled back as far as possible. Torso erect. Lower legs/shins approximately vertical.
- naname shiko dachi (diagonal straddle stance) – as for shiko dachi but at a 45º angle.
- yokomuki shiko dachi (sideways straddle stance) – As for shiko-dachi, but looking directly to the side.
- sesan dachi (side facing straddle stance) – Similar to yokomuki shiko dachi, but leading foot points directly forward and rear foot points directly outward.
- sagiashi dachi (one-legged or crane stance) – Leg raised and tucked behind knee of supporting leg. Supporting leg bent at knee and foot turned outward, weight shifted back above supporting leg.
- renoji dachi (Japanese character Re stance) – Feet one shoulder width apart, front leg in centre of body pointing directly forwards. Rear leg pointing outwards 45º. Legs relaxed and straight.
- kosa dachi (crossed-leg stance) – Front foot facing to outside at 45º.
- bensoku dachi – One leg crossed over the other with both knees bent. Both feet flat on ground.
Blocks (uke waza)
- Jodan Age uke - Head level rising block.
- Chudan Yoko Soto uke - Middle level outside block.
- Gedan barai - Lower level sweeping block.
- Hiki uke - Pulling/grasping block.
- Ko ken uke - Wrist block
- Shotei barai - Palm heel sweep
- Shotei uke - Palm heel block
- Otoshi uke - Dropping block
- Osae uke - Pushin block
- Uchi uke - Inside block (block from outside moving inward to the centre line of the body)
- Sukui uke - Scooping block
- Tora guchi - Tiger mouth block
Hand/arm Techniques
- Jodan tsuki - Upper level punch
- Chudan tsuki - Middle level punch
- Gedan tsuki - Lower level punch
- Age tsuki - Rising punch (upper cut)
- Furi tsuki - Swinging punch (hook)
- Gyaku tsuki - Reverse punch
- Kizami Tsuki - Jab Punch
- Oi tsuki - Following punch
- Seiken Tsuki - Correct fist punch (standard punch)
- Ura tsuki - Close range punch (back of hand facing down)
- Uraken uchi - Back fist strike
- Hijiate - Elbow strike
- Haito uchi - Ridge hand strike
- Koken uchi- Wrist strike
- Mawashi tsuki - Hook punch
- Nukite uchi - Spear hand strike
- Shuto uchi - Knife-edge hand strike
- Shotei uchi -Palm heel strike
- Tetsui uchi - Hammer fist strike
Foot/leg Techniques
- Mae geri - Front kick
- Mawashi geri - Roundhouse kick
- Yoko geri - Side kick
- Ushiro geri - Back kick
- Hiza geri - Knee kick
- Kansetsu geri - Stamping kick, joint kick
- Kakato geri - heel kick
- Kakato otoshi geri - Heel dropping kick
- Fumikomi geri - stepping inside heel kick
- Tobi geri - Jumping kick
- Ashi Barai - Foot sweep
IOGKF Vital Points
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