COUNTING
IN JAPANESE
Start at the beginning
In most dojo's today, despite the various local languages that
may be spoken in the surrounding area, the language of the dojo
will often include some Japanese. One of the most frequent times
that Japanese will
likely be spoken is when the Sensei or one of the senior students
is counting out loud. In fact learning to count in Japanese is
really quite simple, and since these commands are used often,
and repeated over and
over again, at least up to the number ten, you are bound to catch
on quickly.
Now if you are ever asked to count during the course of a class
try to do so in Japanese, and always be sure and do so in a loud
firm voice so that all those present in the dojo can clearly hear
you, but be sure not to shout in an unseemly, or disrespectful
manner. If you are counting to keep the rhythm to standing punches
for example, always remember to count before you punch, not during,
or after your technique is finished, this will help to keep both
you and the class at a synchronized pace.
In order to learn count up to ninety-nine all you really need
to know are the Japanese terms for the numbers 1 through 10 -
after that it is just a matter of remembering to combine these
numbers in a specific sequence to get the desired result.
The numbers from one to ten are pronounced as follows:
one ichi
two ni
three san
four shi
five go
six roku
seven shichi
eighth achi
nine kyu
ten ju
Above
ten the numbers are pronounced differently: for example the number
11 in Japanese is translated as "10 plus 1"
elevenju ichi
twelveju ni
thirteenju san
fourteenju shi
fifteenju go
sixteenju roku
seventeenju shichi
eighteenju hachi
nineteenju kyu
Above
the number twenty the numbers are again pronounced in a slightly
different manner. For example the number 20 in Japanese translates
as "2 - 10's" and continuing on therefore, the number
21 would be
considered as "2 - 10's plus 1"
twentyni ju
twenty-oneni juichi
twenty-twoni juni
and so on - all the way up to the number 99.
For example the number 56 would be "5 - 10's plus 6"
- or - "gojuroku" - the number 61 would then be "6
- 10's plus 1" - or - "rokujuichi" and so on and
so on.
The number 100 is pronounced as "hyaku" so counting
above 100 is basically just a matter of adding the word "hyaku"
in the appropriate place and then following the same general principle
for example the
number 150 is pronounced as "hyakugoju".
So give it a try, and learn to count with confidence, at least
up to the number ten, since you will find that in most dojos the
"count" during class will normally only go up to ten,
at which point the count
usually starts over again at the number one, with this pattern
repeating it's self as often as maybe required by the sensei or
senior sempai.
You just never know, one day you may find that you too are asked
to count out loud for the benefit of the rest of the class, at
which point being able to do so in Japanese just may make your
task that much more interesting, and enjoyable. Sensei
Peter Lindsay
HUMAN
PRESSURE POINTS
There
are many kyusho secrets showing where and how to strike human
pressure points . All it takes is some in-depth research and careful
practice to learn and master the Karate bunkai of pressure points
strikes. Learning to strike vulnerable human pressure points correctly
is much better than relying on brute strength, fast speed and
all those kime, hip rotation, dropping or tensing techniques taught
in many typical sports-oriented Karate training everywhere. After
all, we cannot fight "father time" and as we age or
grow old, our physical abilities will diminish with time too.
You cannot expect to fight like a youth at 50 years old.
This
is where good knowledge of human pressure points will allow you
to maintain your "fighting" capability, especially if
you practice pressure points strikes regularly. Just like the
acupuncturist who make use of the constructive cycle of human
pressure points to heal a person, the Karateka make use of pressure
points strikes to control, restrain, knockout, injure or even
kill a person.
Below are the descriptions of some vulnerable human pressure points
or kyusho points which you can easily strike to cause sharp pain,
paralysis, neurological shutdown, loss of consciousness (knockout)
or even death:
The
Head:
Gall Bladder 4 - on the temple. Strike with elbow, back-knuckle
fist or middle-knuckle fist. Potentially fatal point.
Gall Bladder 20 - behind the head on the bottom hollow part. Strike
with hammer-fist, palm-heel and etc. Knockout point.
Stomach 5 - on lower jaw of the mouth. Strike with punch, palm-heel,
hammer-fist or forearm. Knockout point.
Governor Vessel 26 - right below the nose. Strike with palm heel,
knuckles and etc.
Triple Warmer 17 - behind the ear on the bottom hollow part. Strike
with middle-knuckle fist or thumb.
The Neck:
Bladder 10 - half inch below base of skull at the back. Strike
with knife-hand, hammer-fist, and etc. Knockout point.
Large Intestine 18 - on middle-side of the neck. Strike with knife-hand,
hammer-fist or forearm. Potentially fatal point.
The Center Line:
Conception Vessel 22 - in the notch top of sternum. Strike with
fingertips, middle-knuckle fist, knife-hand and etc. Potentially
fatal point.
Conception Vessel 14 - the solar plexus. Strike hard with fist.
Although one of the better known human pressure points, striking
this point is not recommended for Karate women because it requires
considerable strength to work.
USE
YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN PRESSURE POINTS TO KILL, INJURE OR SIMPLY
CONTROL AND IMMOBILIZE. MORE KNOWLEDGE, MORE OPTIONS.
The Arms:
Pericardium 4 - on the middle of forearm anterior. Strike with
any "heavy hand" or "scooping" techniques.
Good setup point.
Triple Warmer 11 - on slightly above the elbow joint. Rub with
your knuckles or forearm. Good control point.
Triple Warmer 12 - middle of the upper arm on the hollow triceps
muscle. Strike with knife-hand, hammer-fist, or forearm. Good
restrain point.
Lung 5 - one inch below crease of elbow. Strike with any "heavy
hand" techniques. Good setup point.
The Legs:
Stomach 34 - about 4 inches above the knee. Strike with knee,
foot and etc.
Gall Bladder 31 - on the outer thigh, in the middle between the
knee and hip. Strike with knee, foot and etc. Good knockdown or
paralysis point.
Bladder 54 - on the back of the knee. Strike with heel, ball or
side of foot.
Spleen 10 - just above and to the inside of the knee, on the inner
thigh. Strike with toes, ball or side of foot.
Spleen 11 - on the inner thigh, in the middle between the knee
and hip. Strike with toes, ball or side of foot.
