Go

Go (五 / ご) is the Japanese word for the number five ($5$).

In traditional Japanese martial arts (Budo), including Karate, it is commonly used during class counting, warm-up drills, and sequence repetitions:

• Counting (1–5): Ichi (1), Ni (2), San (3), Shi/Yon (4), Go (5).

Key Contexts & Related Terms

• Counting Step: In dojo line drills (kihon), instructors count off movements rhythmically using go as the fifth count.

• Go-dan (五段): "Fifth Degree"—refers to a 5th-degree black belt rank.

• Gohon Kumite (五本組手): "Five-Step Sparring"—a foundational pre-arranged sparring drill in traditional karate where an attacker executes five consecutive strikes while the defender blocks and counters.