Should we still teach Japanese in the dojo?

[Naszir]

My Norwegian is terrible at best, Swedish while similar is not the same and it adds a level of complexity to things. Rather than my learning "back carry throw" in the language of every place I visit, I can just learn "seoi nage". I have played judo with people from five continents. Rather than all of us learning every single language, we have learned the lingua franca of the sport.

If you have no desire to travel, compete or have foreign players visit then there is no need to learn Japanese, but for those of us who do, it is a tremendous help.

[Devil]

I'm prepared to concede Judo as an exception because of the widespread standardization of technique names that would otherwise be difficult to explain.

I'm not convinced on Karate and other Japanese arts. Somebody mentioned international competition earlier. Really, (a) how many karateka compete internationally? (b) it doesn't make sense for millions? of karate kids to learn Japanese words because like three people in the world want to compete internationally and (c) if someone wants to compete internationally it will take them about a millisecond to learn to say stop and go in another language - be it Japanese or otherwise.

I call Japanigans.

[It is Fake]

Everyone is ignoring the OP by saying "it helps when I can't explain a technique and compete internationally." Cool, I can completely agree with this point.

NO this is crap:

we need to keep the tradition going otherwise we will eventually forget about all the honour and discipline and respect that comes with ju-Jitsu do you agree!

No, an art will not lose any of these things because the words used aren't Japanese. If that happens, your school, students, and instructors are assholes.

[Permalost]

To be clear- the OP's dojo we're talking about teaches in English with a Japanese word here and there, right?

[dewey]

I'm prepared to concede Judo as an exception because of the widespread standardization of technique names that would otherwise be difficult to explain.

I'm not convinced on Karate and other Japanese arts.

Not true for koryu...and your provisio for Judo also applies to the koryu. Per my previous post in this thread: let's take for example the very first technique of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu...Mae. Loosely translated, it means "forward." That doesn't even begin to describe the meaning, purpose or proper execution of the technique. Use the Youtubes and see for yourself. "Forward" only denotes the direction of attack...it doesn't describe what's going on or even how to do it.

If I follow your train of logic, I should instead call Mae: "as you rise up from seiza, simultanously draw your sword in a rapid but controlled way and sever the entire bicept and most of the tricept of your attacker's right arm as well as deeply cutting his right pectoral muscle before he can draw his sword so as to render him lame, then finish him off with an overhead strike." Yeah, my honky Missouri-bred gaijin ass will stick with "Mae."

Everyone is ignoring the OP by saying "it helps when I can't explain a technique and compete internationally." Cool, I can completely agree with this point.

A common vocabulary unites all practicioners of a martial art or a combat sport. The use of the Japanese in traditional Japanese martial arts provides the Linga Franca for all. Using Japanese terminology is not bad in itself, it's just when the "Last Samurai" get involved and try to out Japanese the Japanese. We're all gaijin. Just gringos and honkys. As long as you're not comical or otherwise over-the-top about it, that's what counts.

[It is Fake]

A common vocabulary unites all practicioners of a martial art or a combat sport. The use of the Japanese in traditional Japanese martial arts provides the Linga Franca for all.

We've already heard anecdotes that this is debatable. I'm not arguing for or against its use. I'm saying it is ridiculous to say you are losing honor, respect, tradition, culture, history or anything else if your school teaches in your primary language.

[dewey]

We've already heard anecdotes that this is debatable. I'm not arguing for or against its use. I'm saying it is ridiculous to say you are losing honor, respect, tradition, culture, history or anything else if your school teaches in your primary language.

I completely agree. I apologize for not clarifying my position in my last post.

It's only the "Last Samurai" at the local strip-mall Krotty dojo that sees not using the Americanfied-Japanese lingo as losing honor, respect, tradition, culture, history or blah, blah blah. They have no direct connection to their supposed Japanese-Okinakawan roots. They don't get it. They invented their own fiction. Kind of like the SCA folks.

Per my previous posts in this thread, as a koryu practicioner, I use the Japanese nomenclature merely for a lack of a better expression in the vernacular as well as deference to my ryu. I am, and will always be, a Missouri gaijin/honky/gringo.

[It is Fake]

I completely agree. I apologize for not clarifying my position in my last post.

It's only the "Last Samurai" at the local strip-mall Krotty dojo that sees not using the Americanfied-Japanese lingo as losing honor, respect, tradition, culture, history or blah, blah blah. They have no direct connection to their supposed Japanese-Okinakawan roots. They don't get it. They invented their own fiction. Kind of like the SCA folks.

Per my previous posts in this thread, as a koryu practicioner, I use the Japanese nomenclature merely for a lack of a better expression in the vernacular as well as deference to my ryu. I am, and will always be, a Missouri gaijin/honky/gringo.

Gotcha and I do not have a problem with this at all. Like you, I can't stand Asiaphiles. The OP sounds like one.

[whatever123]

I'm prepared to concede Judo as an exception because of the widespread standardization of technique names that would otherwise be difficult to explain.

I'm not convinced on Karate and other Japanese arts. Somebody mentioned international competition earlier. Really, (a) how many karateka compete internationally? (b) it doesn't make sense for millions? of karate kids to learn Japanese words because like three people in the world want to compete internationally and (c) if someone wants to compete internationally it will take them about a millisecond to learn to say stop and go in another language - be it Japanese or otherwise.

I call Japanigans.

All of the major Kyokushin groups has multiple international championships.

[NeilG]

They have no direct connection to their supposed Japanese-Okinakawan roots.

Yeah, it's a little different with JSA. In Canada and the US, most of the top kendo and iaido instructors are Japanese immigrants, so there is a real strong connection there. We also pretty regularly have seminars with guys from Japan with little or no English.