Shotokan Pocket Book

About the Book

The Shotokan Pocket Book is a compilation of the translation of Karateka Terminology and other Japanese words and phrases into English. This book has been written to assist students of Karate-Do and to supplement their training and learning processes. Both junior and senior Karateka should find this book useful.

In compiling this book, the primary objective has been to provide a comprehensive reference book that lists the various Japanese terms, commands and expressions that are used when training in the dojo and when taking part in competition. Sections 2 to 19 are devoted to this.

Section 1 explains the general rules of pronunciation of Japanese for the English speaking tongue. It is important to spend time understanding the basic principles which should assist students to read and annunciate Japanese words correctly.

Sections 20, 21 and 22 contain the Dojo Kun, the 20 Precepts of Gichin Funakoshi and Japanese numbers from one to one hundred respectively for quick reference.

Whilst the terms used are primarily the same for all of the popular Japanese Karate styles there are some variations and differences in spelling and pronunciation. This book attempts to take account of this fact and includes the most popular alternatives where applicable. Whilst this book will therefore be useful to Karateka of all styles it focuses on the Shotokan style and therefore Section 14 contains the 26 Shotokan Kata. In addition, this section contains other terms that are used in relation with Kata and one or two Kata performed by other styles which are of particular interest to Shotokan Karateka.

About the Author

During the day he manages a technical team of Building Surveyors and Occupational Therapists and at night he trains and teaches Shotokan Karate. Ken Lyons has presently attained the grade of Shodan with the Shotokan of England Karate Union. He is the instructor at the Machi Dojo, RAF Uxbridge which is (for those that are interested) a stones throw from London Heathrow Airport in the UK.

Ken Lyons began training in the art of Karate-Do at the ripe old age of 42. Initially, this was to encourage his daughter Katie (aged 10 years old at the time) to learn self-defence and to help her gain confidence. The training sessions included both adults and children and seemed a fun way to keep fit.

5 years later Ken and Katie had progressed through the grades to (4th Kyu) and had taken part in numerous competitions but Katie had school exams and boys on her mind. She gave up training and dad was left to attend lessons on his own. By now Ken had got the bug and was an enthusiastic student, keen to improve and master the more difficult techniques and Kata. At this time, Ken discovered that although the big five 0 was gradually looming closer he was generally getting fitter. Prior to taking up Karate he had suffered from a mild form of arthritis but it now appeared that the condition was getting better and the regular exercise was undoubtedly doing some good.

In the summer of 2001 Ken was bitten on the ankle by a spider and ended up on his back in hospital with an intravenous dip in his arm. With his brain active but with body temporarily out of commission, the days ticked by as he watched the infection spread up his leg. The team of doctors would gather around his bed each day and mark his leg with felt-tipped pens as they contemplated amputation of the lower section of his leg in order to save the knee joint. He was desperately missing the training session and spent most of his time reading the Karate books that he had accumulated over the years but never had time to read. Eventually, the antibiotics began to work and his leg was saved but during the four weeks in hospital and a further five weeks of convalescing at home his brain was a sponge soaking up data on Karate and the history of Japanese martial arts. Ken was hungry for more information and he tried to find a comprehensive book on Shotokan Karate that contained all the data and answers to the most common questions but discovered that there was not one available. This was the seed of the Shotokan Pocket Book.