A

harmony, union

Ai hanmi

equal or mutual stance; partners stand facing one another with the same foot forward.

Ai uchi

equal strike or equal kill

Aikido

The word Aikido is made up of three japanese characters: ai – harmony, ki – spirit, mind, or universal energy, do – the way. Thus Aikido is ‘the way of harmony with universal energy’.

Aikidoka

one who practices Aikido

Atemi

strike to distract or unbalance uke so a technique can be effectively applied.

B

Bokken

wooden sword used in practice

Budo

martial way

Bushido

warrior way

C

Chudan

middle position

D

Dan

system of ranking; black belt rank

Deshi

student, pupil, disciple

Dojo

training hall

Dori

grab

Domo arigato gozaimashita

thank you very much

E

Eridori

collar or lapel grab

F

Fukushidoin

first instructors rank, 2nd or 3rd dan

G

Gedan

low position

training uniform

five

Gokyo

fifth pinning technique

Gyaku hanmi

opposite stance; partners stand with the opposite foot forward (like a mirror image)

H

Hachi

eight

Hakama

divided, skirt-like pant; formal wear, normally worn by yudansha and advanced aikido students

Hanmi

triangular stance with either left or right foot forward

Hanmi handachi

attack where nage is kneeling and uke approaches from a standing position

Hara

a persons center of mass; lower abdomen; center of gravity of a person; area below the navel; the reservoir of ki; traditionally thought to be the location of the spirit

Hidari

left (direction)

Hiji

elbow

Hijidori

elbow grab

I

Iaido

the art of drawing the sword

Iaito

Japanese training sword, usually not sharpened

Ikkyo

first technique, elbow technique

Irimi

to enter

Iriminage

throwing technique using an entering motion

Ichi

one

J

Jyo

wooden staff

Jodan

high position

Jodori

disarming jyo attack

ten

Jujinage

crossed arm throw

K

Kaeshi waza

counter techniques

Kaiten

to revolve or rotate

Kaitenage

rotary throw

Kamiza

Honorary place in a dojo

Kata

pre-arranged exercise

Katatedori

one hand grab to wrist

Katadori

one hand grab to the shoulder

Keiko

practice, training

Spirit

Kohai

junior or subordinate student

Kokyu

breath; ki and the motions of the body unified by control of the breath

Kokyunage

breath throw

Koshi

hips, waist

Koshinage

hip throw

Kotegaeshi

wrist turn out throw; wrist turning technique

nine

Kubishime

choke

Kyu

aikido ranks below dan

M

Maai

distance between uke and nage, meaning harmony of space

Menuchi

strike to the head

Misogi

purification

Morotedori

attack grabbing one wrist/forearm with both hands

Nothingness, empty

N

Nage

throw; person who is attacked and performs the technique

two

Nikkyo

second technique, wrist bending technique

O

O Sensei

great teacher, founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba 1883-1969

Obi

belt

Omote

moving in front/forward

Onegai shimasu

polite way to make a request (spoken when one wishes to practice with a fellow student or teacher and at the beginning of each class)

R

Randori

freestyle practice with multiple attackers

Rei

bow, salutation

Roku

six

Ryokatadori

two-shoulder grab

Ryote

both hands

Ryotedori

attack in which both wrists are held from the front

S

San

three

Sankyo

third technique, wrist twisting/pinning technique

Seiza

formal kneeling position with back straight

Senpai

senior student

Sensei

teacher, the person who has walked ahead on this path

Shi

four

Shichi

seven

Shidoin

certified instructor rank

Shihan

master instructor rank

Shihonage

four directions throw

Shikko

technique of walking on the knees

Shinai

split bamboo practice sword

Shodan

first degree black belt

Shomenuchi

strike to forehead

Soto

outside

Soto Kaiten

outside turning motion

Suburi

single movement using the ken or jyo; done as a solo practice

Sumiotoshi

corner drop throw

Suwariwaza

sitting techniques

T

Tachiwaza

techniques done with both uke and nage standing

Taijutsu

techniques done without weapons

Tai-no-henka

basic blending practice, tenkan exercise

Taisabaki

body movements

Tanden

point just below the navel

Tanto

wooden knife

Tenchinage

heaven and earth throw

Tenkan

turning movement

Tsuba

sword handguard

Tsuka

sword handle

Tsuki

thrust, punch

U

Uchi

inside, also means to strike

Uchideshi

live-in student, apprentice; form of apprenticeship in martial and other arts or disciplines where the student lives alongside the master to study the way

Uchi kaiten

inside turning movement

Uke

person who gives the attack and receives the technique

Ukemi

the art of receiving the technique/falling

Ura

moving behind

Ushiro

back, behind, rear

Ushiro eridori

collar grab from behind

Ushiro hijidori

elbows grabbed from behind

Ushiro kubishime

choke from behind with free hand grabbing wrist

Ushiro ryokatadori

both shoulders grabbed from behind

Ushiro ryotedori

both wrists grabbed from behind

Ushirowaza

techniques applied from the rear

W – Y – Z

Wakizashi

short sword

Waza

techniques

Yokomenuchi

strike to the side of head/temple

Yonkyo

fourth technique where pressure is applied against uke’s forearm

Yudansha

black belt grade holders

Zabuton

rectangular, base cushion for zazen

Zafu

round cushion for zazen

Zanshin

unbroken awareness and concentration

Zazen

sitting meditation