Caveat: this post is my interpretation of readings and studies therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. It is highly recommended one fact check the data for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter.
First, we are Westerners and we speak, write and use English. One of the draws toward martial arts is it Asian mystical traits that provide a sense of specialness. In that form westerners tend to gravitate toward the Asian terms and characters. In the sixties, seventies and even eighties it is doubtful that anyone took the time and effort to make sure that the terms in use were actually correct and proper in the usage made by American Martial Artists.
Today, the sources are vast and detailed but still difficult to grasp properly and utilize because the variances in definitions and translations are convoluted and strange and difficult, even for Asians. I was told by a Japanese that often and due to variances even in Japan that people from different areas would need to actually draw out the characters when talking to make the word or term used clear so that it would convey the proper meaning according to the conversation. Yet, we Americans and without any type of actual training, education or experience will create and use Japanese/Okinawan/Chinese/Korean terms somewhat willy nilly and for our own purposes so that we may appear to the uninitiated as professional martial artists with connections directly to the culture and martial systems we practice and teach.
Another well known and proficient person in both martial arts and the language was told when he left Japan, by his sensei, that he should go teach the system/style in America as he would teach an American subject in American. I got this to mean that he should pretty much leave a lot of the extraneous stuff behind, in Japan, and translate it toward language, cultures and customs of the west to teach the martial system/style.
Then again, many of today’s martial systems/styles may not have caught on if not for the Asian mystique we tied to our efforts when we came to the America states to pass on what we all learned in Asia. Add in the media industries push of the “B” martial arts movies from China, etc. i.e., think Bruce Lee here, this fed the demand for “Authentic Asian Martial Arts Training.” So, being the supply minded people we are, we gave them what they “Thought” they wanted and even today most cannot and will not learn whether what is presented is actually authenticated or just “Made up.”
Personally, I have worked over the years to collect terminology toward martial arts but more as a teaching tool rather than a requirement in the training hall. If someone were to join my dojo today, I would not require learning or using Japanese or Okinawan terms, nor use of the karate uniform, nor the belts for grading/levels. Loose clothing, etc. along with English explanations would be the term of the day.
I would present and use my version of the terminology as a teaching tool. An example is like the following, i.e., providing a term, in Japanese, and its associated characters/ideograms followed by definitions and martial arts oriented explanations of its usage to teach about such things as why terms in martial arts Asian languages and characters can and may be explained in a variety of ways.
My example to follow is the term, “Terminology.”
ENGLISH: Terminology: The body of terms used with a particular technical application in a subject of study, theory, profession, etc.; the study of terms and their use. Terms are words and compound words that in specific contexts are given specific meanings—these may deviate from the meanings the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language.
DEFINE: Strike: to hit forcebly and deliberately with one’s hand or a weapon or other implement.
The english definitions are often pretty straight forward if the word is used and defined by the subject of study as in this case, karate. If we don’t know the usage then we could extend that toward, “a refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in an attempt to gain a concession or concessions from their employer.”
ASIAN: Terminology:
Goi [語彙]
The characters/ideograms mean, “Vocabulary; lexicon; lexis; terminology.” The first character means, “Word; speech; language,” the second character means, “same kind.”
Yougo [用語]
The characters/ideograms mean, “Term; terminology; wording; choice of words; phraseology.” The first character means, “Utilize; business; service; use; employ,” the second character means, “word; speech; language.”
Jutsugo [術語]
The characters/ideograms mean, “Technical term; terminology; nomenclature.” The first character means, “Art; technique; skill; means; trick; resources; magic,” the second character means, “word; speech; language.”
Yougohou [用語法]
The characters/ideograms mean, “Word usage; terminology.” The first character means, “Utilize; business; service; use; employ,” the second character means, “word; speech; language,” the third character means, “method; law; rule; principle; model; system.”
Senmon’yougoshuu [専門用語集]
The characters/ideograms mean, “Technical glossary; terminology.” The first character means, “Specialty; exclusive; mainly; solely,” the second character means, “gate; counter for cannons,” the third character means, “utilize; business; service; use; employ,” the fourth character means, “word; speech; language,” the fifth character means, “gather; meet; congregate; swarm; flock.”
Kouyoubun [公用文]
The characters/ideograms mean, “Official terminology.” The first character means, “Public; prince; official; governmental,” the second character means, “utilize; business; service; use; employ,” the third character means, “sentence; literature; style; art; decoration; figures; plan.”
Senmongo [専門語]
The characters/ideograms mean, “(Specialist) terminology.” The first character means, “Speciality; exclusive; mainly; solely,” the second character means, “gate,” the third character means, “word; speech; language.”
Now, as can be seen with the above there are far more interpretations and definitions of one word that can and do mean the same or something else without changing the romanization of the term but having different characters/ideograms of said word.
Here is where the characters/ideograms are necessary to achieve an understanding of a martial arts term. Even then, some terms and characters will mean one thing in general conversation but take on another when that same term is used in an environment such as the dojo or in a martial arts community gathering. One of the reasons when I first began my efforts I would present a term used in the training all to a Japanese friend/acquaintance who would look at me as if I were nuts until I explained it further.
As an example look at the above Japanese terms and make a decision which is appropriate to explaining the use and terms for martial arts. It is not so easy. Even then, you could literally take one then provide a meaning that would be adequate to the dojo but no where else and when explained properly in the context of a general conversation the person you ask will in all likelihood agree that it “Could mean that.”
Personally, when used as a teaching tool and with adequate research that is only now becoming readily available via the Internet and apps for both computers an phones.
So, in a nutshell, take terminology with a grain of salt. If your dojo requires you learn them then learn them, if not then use them as a tool to gain additional understanding as to what they may have conveyed in the culture and belief system you adopted your martial system from then ask and validate through other sources reputable in language interpretations. If you actually learn a valuable tidbit from this then it is good, if you don’t then “So what.”
Just one last thing, don’t assume that because you use it in your training hall or that your instructor is an expert does not mean that the terms and meanings are correct or accurate. After all, your instructor is more of an expert in the physiokinetic aspects as to teaching than all the other Asian mystical meanings we assume and assign our martial arts (Note: even using the terms martial arts is open to critique, discussion and meaning, etc.
Note: Even now, with each post I tend to put a caveat so that misunderstandings may be avoided, if at all possible.
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