Martial Arts

1. はいさい。とぅーでぃー ならいぶさいびーん

   Hai-sai. Tuu-dii na-rai-bu-sai-biin

   Hello. I would like to learn karate

   Usage

   Okinawa is the birthplace of karate, with hundreds of dojo in styles such as Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu and Kobayashi-ryu. Practice itself is conducted in standard Japanese, but opening with "haisai" (men) or "haitai" (women) delights older masters. "Tuudii" is the old Ryukyuan name for karate

   Grammar Note

   "Narayun" (to learn) takes the desiderative "busan" (want to) plus the polite "yaibiin". The oldest name for the art is simply "tii" (hand); techniques of Chinese origin were called "tuudii" (Tang hand)

2. けいこ みーぶさいびーん

   Kei-ko mii-bu-sai-biin

   I would like to watch the training

   Usage

   Okinawan dojo are welcoming to observers and rarely refuse if you call ahead. Bow at the entrance, then sit quietly along the wall. Always ask separately before taking photographs

   Grammar Note

   "Miin" (to see) plus the desiderative "busan" gives "miibusan", politely "miibusaibiin". The suffix "busan" attaches productively to verb stems to express wanting

3. わんねー はじみてぃ やいびーん

   Wan-nee ha-ji-mi-ti ya-i-biin

   This is my first time

   Usage

   Say this at the desk before a trial session. Okinawan styles differ in stance and footwork, so without this the instructor may assume you can follow along. If you have trained before, name your style

   Grammar Note

   "Wan" (I) fuses with the topic particle "ya" to give "wannee". In Ryukyuan the topic marker frequently merges with a preceding vowel, changing the word shape

4. ちゅー ぬ けいこー なんどぅちから やいびーが？

   Chuu nu kei-koo nan-du-chi-ka-ra ya-i-bii-ga?

   What time does today's training start?

   Usage

   Neighbourhood dojo in Okinawa typically run 19:00-21:00 on weekdays, with children's classes around 17:00. Summer sessions concentrate in the evening to avoid the heat. Many close during Kyu-bon and the Shiimii grave-visiting season, so check

   Grammar Note

   The polite "yaibiin" becomes the question "yaibiiga". Ryukyuan distinguishes the ending "ga" for wh-questions from "mi" for yes-no questions

5. どーぎ ぬ からし あいびーみ？

   Doo-gi nu ka-ra-shi a-i-bii-mi?

   Do you lend out training uniforms?

   Usage

   Many dojo keep a few spare uniforms for trial students, but not all do, so ask ahead. If none are available a T-shirt and loose trousers are fine. Karate is practised barefoot, so socks come off

   Grammar Note

   "Lending out" is karashi, nominalised from karasjuN "to lend" (also ?iraasjuN), by the same pattern as naraasjun → naraashi. Kashi (kasi) is a weaving warp-skein or the dregs of something and never means "to lend". The existential verb an "to be" becomes polite aibiin, and its yes-no question form is aibiimi; the ending mi appears only in questions without a question word

6. でー や ちゃっさ やいびーが？

   Dee ya chas-sa ya-i-bii-ga?

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   Monthly fees at a neighbourhood dojo run about 3,000-6,000 yen, while a one-off trial session for visitors is typically 2,000-5,000 yen. The Okinawa Karate Kaikan in Tomigusuku runs paid hands-on programmes

   Grammar Note

   "Chassa" is the Ryukyuan question word for quantity, used for both prices and counts. Japanese "dai" (fee) corresponds to Ryukyuan "dee", one example of the regular shift where Japanese "ai" appears as "ee"

7. ふぃっちーてーんぬ けいこん でぃきーびーみ？

   Fic-chii-teen nu kei-kon di-kii-bii-mi?

   Can I train for just a single day?

   Usage

   An increasing number of dojo, especially in Naha, accept one-off visits and some run English-language trial courses. More traditional dojo expect formal enrolment and may decline drop-ins, so do not press the point

   Grammar Note

   "One day" is ficchii (hwiQcii, "one day; all day long"), and "only, just" is the suffix teen (-teeN; example: cuiteeN 'uruQkwa "a child who is alone"). "Dikiin" (to be able) gives the polite question "dikiibiimi". Japanese "de" appears as "di" because Ryukyuan raised the vowel e to i as part of its three-vowel system

8. くしぬ やぬん

   Ku-shi-nu ya-nun

   My lower back is hurting

   Usage

   Declare any injury before training. Basic karate drills repeat hip rotation and driving steps, which can aggravate back or knee trouble. Once told, the instructor will adjust the depth of your stance and the number of repetitions

   Grammar Note

   "~nu yanun" is the same frame as "chiburunu yanun" (my head hurts) and "watanu yanun" (my stomach hurts), from 'januN "to ail, to hurt", with the body part replaced by "kushi" (lower back). Pain in a body part is expressed with this frame

9. よーんなー うにげーさびら

   Yoon-naa u-ni-gee-sa-bi-ra

   Please take it slowly with me

   Usage

   Use this to ask for lighter contact in kumite or pre-arranged sparring. "Unigeesabira" is a general-purpose polite request understood all over Okinawa, not only in dojo. To ask for more intensity, standard Japanese is safer

   Grammar Note

   "Unigee" corresponds to Japanese "onegai" (request) and "sabira" is the humble polite volitional "I shall do". Because "sabira" lowers the speaker, the whole request reads as courteous

10. くぬ かた ならーち くぃみそーれー

    Ku-nu ka-ta na-raa-chi kwi-mi-soo-ree

    Please teach me this kata

    Usage

    Kata are the core of each style: Sanchin in Goju-ryu, Sanchin and Seisan in Uechi-ryu, Naihanchi in Kobayashi-ryu. Name the kata you saw during your visit and the conversation moves quickly

    Grammar Note

    "Naraasun" (to teach) gives the conjunctive "naraachi", to which the honorific request "kwimisooree" attaches. The element "misooree" is the same one found in "mensooree" (welcome) and marks respect toward a senior

11. くぶどー ぬ ぼー ん ならいぶさいびーん

    Ku-bu-doo nu boo n na-rai-bu-sai-biin

    I would also like to learn the bo staff of kobudo

    Usage

    Okinawan kobudo covers weapons such as the bo staff, sai, tonfa, nunchaku, kama and tinbe shield, and is often taught alongside karate in the same dojo. The bo is the most basic and the easiest to try as a visitor

    Grammar Note

    Japanese "mo" (also) appears as "n" in Ryukyuan, so "boo n" means "the staff too". After a vowel the "n" forms its own syllable and blends audibly with the preceding word

12. けいこ ぬ しゃしん とぅてぃん しむびーみ？

    Kei-ko nu sha-shin tu-tin shi-mu-bii-mi?

    May I take photographs of the training?

    Usage

    Some dojo dislike having kata content or students' faces recorded, and closed kata or senior sessions are often strictly off limits, so always ask. Avoid framing shots against the shrine shelf or the dojo precepts board

    Grammar Note

    Permission is asked with "-tin shimubiimi", the Ryukyuan counterpart of Japanese "-te mo ii desu ka". The verb "shimun" means "to be acceptable" and forms the core of permission expressions

13. からてぃかいかん や まー やいびーが？

    Ka-ra-ti-kai-kan ya maa ya-i-bii-ga?

    Where is the Karate Kaikan?

    Usage

    The Okinawa Karate Kaikan is a prefectural facility in Tomigusuku with exhibition rooms, training halls and a special demonstration hall. You can view the history displays, and trial sessions or public demonstrations are held at certain times. It is about twenty minutes by car from Naha airport

    Grammar Note

    "Maa" is the question word for place, equivalent to Japanese "doko". Particles attach to it to express direction or goal, as in "maakai" (to where) and "maankai" (at where)

14. くぬ どーじょー や ごーじゅーりゅー やいびーみ？

    Ku-nu doo-joo ya goo-juu-ryuu ya-i-bii-mi?

    Is this dojo a Goju-ryu school?

    Usage

    Okinawan karate divides into three lineages named after the towns of Shuri, Naha and Tomari, from which styles such as Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu and Kobayashi-ryu descend. Breathing methods and kata differ by style, so check before committing

    Grammar Note

    Because the answer is yes or no, the ending is "mi", paired with "ga" for wh-questions. In Ryukyuan the place names are Sui (Shuri), Naafa (Naha) and Tumai (Tomari), which is where the lineage names come from

15. てぃー あぎりよー、あいてぃ ぬ みー んーちよー

    Tii a-gi-ri-yoo, ai-ti nu mii nn-chi-yoo

    Keep your hands up, look at your opponent's eyes

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. In real training the command usually comes in standard Japanese, but older masters slip into Ryukyuan endings such as "yoo" without thinking. It sounds like an order but carries warmth

    Grammar Note

    The ending "yoo" is a Ryukyuan final particle that softens a command or adds emphasis, the same "yoo" heard in "chibariyoo" (do your best). The verbs are the imperatives of "agiyun" (to raise) and "nnjun" (to look)

16. てーげー さんぐとぅ、ちばりよー

    Tee-gee san-gu-tu, chi-ba-ri-yoo

    Do not hold back, give it everything

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. "Teegee" — roughly "good enough, near enough" — is one of the best-known Okinawan words and is usually a positive idea, but negated in the dojo it becomes a rebuke: do not do things by halves

    Grammar Note

    "San" is the negative of "sun" (to do) and "gutu" means "so that". "Chibariyoo" derives from "kibaru" (to exert oneself) and is the most widely used word of encouragement in Okinawa

17. ぐふん やしまち、みじ ぬみよー

    Gu-fun ya-shi-ma-chi, mi-ji nu-mi-yoo

    Take five minutes and drink some water

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. Many Okinawan dojo have no air conditioning, so summer sessions are broken up by mandatory water stops. Bring your own bottle; some dojo have a vending machine

    Grammar Note

    Numbers use the same Sino-Japanese readings, so "gu" is five. The conjunctive "yashimachi" from "yashimayun" (to rest) chains the clause, and the final particle "yoo" softens the whole instruction

18. ちゅー や くままでぃ。 でーじ ゆたさたん

    Chuu ya ku-ma-ma-di. Dee-ji yu-ta-sa-tan

    That is all for today. That was very good

    Usage

    Said by the instructor to close the session. Okinawan dojo typically end with seated meditation followed by bows to the shrine shelf and to the master. Answer with "nifeedeebiru" (thank you) as you leave

    Grammar Note

    "Kuma" (here) takes "madi" (until). The adjective "yutasan" (good) forms its past as "yutasatan", following the regular "-san" to "-satan" pattern. "Deeji" is an intensifier that can also stand as a noun meaning "a serious matter"

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