Counting

The "gorei" is the count from 1 to 10 shouted out when practicing punches, kicks, ido kihon and kata, etc, especially in group sessions.  In Japan there are several ways to pronounce numbers, but in the dojo "shi" for always used for four and not yon:
Ichi
Ni
San
Shi
Go
Roku
Shichi
Hachi
Ku (or Kyu)
Ju

One function of the gorei in training is to represent the instant of an opponent's attack. Therefore, the student should respond immediately upon hearing it with the required technique. This doesn't mean that the gorei should be called out too quickly, one after the other, which only rushes lower level students.  However, the response to each count should be immediate and unhesitating.  A slow response is not good. But "predicting" and jumping ahead of the count by executing the technique before the gorei is called is also poor form (though sometimes inevitable) and shows a lack of focus. To foster a sense of "battle readiness" in students, the gorei should sometimes be called out at random intervals, forcing students to maintain a state of tension and focus in between each count, instead of getting into a rhythm and therefore just "going through the motions."