One of the most frequent times that Japanese will likely be spoken in the Dojo is when Sensei or one of the senior students is counting out loud.

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 pick up the terminology quite quickly.

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 everyone in the Dojo can clearly hear you, but be sure not to shout in a disrespectful manner.

If you are counting to keep the rhythm to standing punches or kicks 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.

The numbers from one to ten are pronounced as follows:

A very big thanks to Shihan Funakoshi and to Sensei Ron Silverthorne from FSKA Crawley for an incredible weekend of Shotokan karate training at the 2013 FSKA karate seminar.

The annual Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Seminar took place at the K2 Leisure centre in Crawley, West Sussex on the 5th and 6th October 2013.

The event was an opportunity for FSKA Shotokan karate students from all over the UK to meet up and train with Shihan Kenneth Funakoshi, 10th Dan.

Shihan Funakoshi put the participants through their paces and taught both basic and advanced techniques of Shotokan karate.

At the end of the seminar, Shihan Funakoshi graded students who had been training to grade to 1st Dan Black belt level and above, including two students from FSKA Bracknell.

Christophe from FSKA Bracknell Karate Club successfully passed his 1st Dan Black belt. Congratulations to Christophe on achieving this grading.