Judo Terminology 1: Numbers & Reigi

This is the first of many articles to come. It is my attempt to create a resource for my people: those who love Judo, want to train Judo anywhere in the world, and know what is going on. Judo is taught in Japanese, so knowing the proper terminology is essential.

Most Judo clubs incorporate reigi, a system of etiquette characteristic of Japanese martial arts. Doing so is an act of deference and respect for the art in its cultural context. Some schools dispense with the Japanese cultural context, though this is generally frowned upon. Unsurprisingly, clubs that don’t participate in reigi don’t care about being frowned upon.

Counting 1-10

This seems to be the opposite of important, but it’s on most Judo rank promotion curricula. Further, some schools adopt a traditional style of counting aloud in class, either led by the instructor, by senior students, or by all students in unison. This is for those situations.

1. Ichi, pronounced like the English word “each.”

2. Ni

3. San

4. Shi

5. Go

6. Roku, pronounced like the English word “woke” but with an “R”: “roke.”

7. Shichi, pronounced similar to Cheech Marin’s first name: “sheech.”

8. Hachi, pronounced like the English words “hot” and “hatch” together: "hotch.”

9. Ku

10. Jū

Rei (Bowing)

Every class begins and ends with showing respect to the instructors and each other. Additionally, bowing to opponents and officials is mandatory in Judo competition. If you’re a dork (like I am), you can also bow to your training partners before placing hands on them during drills and randori (sparring).

The video above demonstrates the proper standing and kneeling bows. Notice the absence of aggressive, audible slapping of the thighs. I’m looking at you, Brazilian jiu-jitsu people.

Starting/Ending Practice

Every Judo club I’ve been to begins class by having students line up by belt rank. When facing the front of the room, more senior students line up on the right-hand side, and junior students fall in by descending belt order on the left. Black belts (yudansha) are often at the front, standing opposite the line(s).

The senior-most student will lead the rest of the students in bowing to the instructors using the following terms. Click the hyperlink to hear it pronounced.

• Attention!

  気をつけ, Kiotsuke

• Bow!

  礼, Rei

Sometimes Judo schools have a specific bowing order. For schools that incorporate one, the first direction of bowing is toward the front of the room. This is called the shomen (literally, "the front"). At the front of the room, you will often find a photo of Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. Bowing to this photo outside of the Japanese cultural context is an act of deference and gratitude, and emphatically not religious worship or idolatry.

Bowing order, in schools that use one, is as follows:

1. Bow to the front!

   正面に礼, Shomen ni rei

2. Bow to the teacher(s)!
   先生に礼, Sensei ni rei

   Sensei is a title often reserved for 3rd-degree black belts (sandan) and higher. A 1st-degree black belt (shodan) is culturally considered a junior instructor rank, and a 2nd-degree black belt can sometimes be referred to as “sensei” in smaller clubs.

3. Bow to the senior(s)!

   先輩に礼, Senpai ni rei

4. Bow to each other!

   お互いに礼, Otagai ni rei