At Alpha we use mainly English commands to ensure beginners understand. As you progress to higher ranks Japanese commands are introduced; by the time you reach Black Belt you will know the Japanese words for most of your techniques.
Numbers:
| # | COUNT | COLORED BELT RANK | BLACK BELT RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ichi | Ikkyu | Shodan |
| 2 | Ni | Nikyu | Nidan |
| 3 | San | Sankyu | Sandan |
| 4 | Shi | Yonkyu | Yondan |
| 5 | Go | Gokyu | Godan |
| 6 | Roku | Rokyu | Rokudan |
| 7 | Shichi | Nanakyu | Nanadan |
| 8 | Hachi | Hachikyu | Hachidan |
| 9 | Ku | Kukyu | Kudan |
| 10 | Ju | Jukyu | Judan |
| ADDITIONAL COUNTING | |||
|
11 - Juichi (10 plus one) 12 - Juni (10 plus 2) ... 19 - Juku (10 plus 9) 20 - Niju (2 10s) ... 29 - Nijuku (2 10s plus a 9) ... 30 - Sanju (3 10s) ... 35 - Sanjugo (3 10s plus a 5) ... 99 - Kujuku (9 10s plus a 9) 100 - Hyaku |
|||
Starting & Finishing Class:
| ENGLISH | JAPANESE |
|---|---|
| Face the front wall & bow | Shomen ni rei |
| Face the founders & bow Class responds: (starting) "sensei: please teach me" (finishing) "sensei: thank you" |
Sensei ni rei Class responds: (starting) "sensei: onegaishimasu" (finishing) "sensei: taihen arigato gosimasu" |
| Face the instructor & bow Class responds: (starting) "[instructor's rank]: please teach me" (finishing) "[instructor's rank]: thank you" |
Sensei ni rei Class responds: (starting) "[instructor's rank]: onegaishimasu" (finishing) "[instructor's rank]: arigato gosimasu" |
Blocks, Strikes & Stances:
| ENGLISH | JAPANESE |
|---|---|
| Stances | |
| Attention stance | Misubi dachi |
| Parallel stance | Heiko dachi |
| Defensive walking stance | Sanchin dachi |
| Sumo stance | Shiko dachi |
| Low front stance | Zenkutsu dachi |
| Cat-foot stance | Neko ashi dachi |
| Drag-foot stance | Suri hashi dachi |
| Heron stance | Sagi ashi dachi |
| Blocks | |
| High block | Age uke |
| Middle block | Yoko uke |
| Scissor block | Joge uke |
| Low block | Gedan burai |
| Circular sweeping block | Haraiatosh uke |
| Wrist-hook block | Kake uke |
| Wheel block | Mawashi uke |
| X block | Juje uke |
| Archer-palm block | Hari uke |
| Palm block | Te uke |
| Press block | Ose uke |
| Double middle-area block | Morote yoko uke |
| Union block | So uke |
| Hand/Elbow strikes | |
| Middle punch | Chudan tsiken tsuki |
| Double middle punch | Ni tsiken |
| Triple middle punch, broken rhythm #1 | San tsiken chomaninski ichiban |
| Triple middle punch, broken rhythm #2 | San tsiken chomaninski niban |
| Upper-thrusting punch | Ura ken |
| Descending backfist | Ura uchi |
| Horizontal backfist | Hara uchi |
| Hook punch | Furi uchi |
| Knife-hand strike | Shuto uchi |
| Short punch | Staski |
| Short punch, vertical fist | Tate ken tsuki |
| Spear-finger strike | Nuki te |
| Hammer fist | Tetsui |
| Ridge-hand strike | Haito uchi |
| Fingertip slap | Heishu |
| Front elbow strike | Mae hijiya te |
| Back elbow strike (chamber) | Ushiro hijiya te |
| Roundhouse elbow strike | Mawashi hijiya te |
| Foot/knee strikes | |
| Front thrust kick | Mae geri |
| Roundhouse kick | Mawashi geri |
| Side thrust kick | Yoko geri |
| Groin kick | Kin geri |
| Knee-joint kick | Kensetsu geri |
| Back kick | Ushiro geri |
| Crescent kick (in to out) | Mikazuki geri |
| Rising knee strike | Hiza geri |