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**johnteriz** · 01-05-2007, 12:55 PM

That's fine for numeric counting in exercise drills but don't forget that the Japanese language has modified wording in counts depending on the nature of what is being counted. Look at the numbering for kata, for example. Kata no. 4 is not pronounced "shi", nor is no. 7 "shichi". The words for counting people, paper, pencils, etc. varies from each other. It is mind-boggling at times.

When I was a young kid I was taught by my late grandmother to count on my fingers thusly:
"hee, fu, mee, yoh, itsu, mu, nana, ya, ku, ju"
It was easier to remember and a lot faster to count (you can make a single multi-syllable word out of it). Never have used it in the dojo, though.

01-05-2007, 12:55 PM	#3
johnteriz Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 443 Senior Member	That's fine for numeric counting in exercise drills but don't forget that the Japanese language has modified wording in counts depending on the nature of what is being counted. Look at the numbering for kata, for example. Kata no. 4 is not pronounced "shi", nor is no. 7 "shichi". The words for counting people, paper, pencils, etc. varies from each other. It is mind-boggling at times. When I was a young kid I was taught by my late grandmother to count on my fingers thusly: "hee, fu, mee, yoh, itsu, mu, nana, ya, ku, ju" It was easier to remember and a lot faster to count (you can make a single multi-syllable word out of it). Never have used it in the dojo, though.
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