Aikido Terms

Aikido Terms

Ai-hanmi Mutual stance. Partners stand facing one another with the same foot forward
Aiki Harmonising/Unification of ki
Ashi Foot
Atemi A strike, hit or blow
Awase Blending exercise with a partner using jo/bokken
Bokken Wooden sword
Chi Earth
Chudan Middle level eg chudan tsuki - strike to the abdomen
Deshi Student, pupil, disciple
Do Way eg Aikido = The Way of Aiki
Dojo Training hall
Domo arigato gozamashita Thank you very much
Dori Holding eg Katadori - holding the gi at the shoulder
Dozo Please (used when giving permission)
Etsunen-geiko Special New Year's Eve practice
Furitama Clasped hands/tanden shaking following torifune
Futaridori Being held by two opponents
Gassho Palms together, as if praying
Gedan Lower level eg Gedan Uchi - strike to legs/lower area of body
Geiko/Keiko Practice
Gi/Keikogi Training suit
Giri Cutting
Gyaku Reverse
Gyakuhanmi Opposite stance. Partners stand with opposite feet forward
Gyakute "Reverse hand". Holding the jo with the palm facing downwards.
Hachi no ji gaeshi Figure of eight circular movement
Haishin-undo Back stretch exercise
Hajime Begin
Hanmi Oblique stance. "Half body"
Hanmi-handachi Techniques performed with Tori (thrower) seated, Uke (attacker) standing
Happo giri Eight direction cutting
Hara Lower abdomen; physical and spiritual centre
Hasso Holding jo or bokken vertically at right shoulder
Hidari Left
Hito e mi Basic back triangle stance. "Making the body small".
Ho Method eg Kokyu ho - breathing method
Irimi Entering with the body
Irimi-ashi "Back foot irimi"
Iriminage Body-entering throw
Jo Staff/stick, about 4-foot long
Jodan Upper level eg Jodan tsuki - strike to the face
Juji Cross, like the Roman numeral X
Junbi undo Warm-up exercises
Jusan no jo The 13-count jo kata
Jutsu Techniques
Jyunte "Normal hand". Holding the jo with the palm facing upwards.
Kaiten Turning
Kaitennage Rotary throw
Kamae Posture, stance
Kamiza Place in the dojo where O-Sensei's picture is placed.
Kata Series of movements eg 13-count jo kata
Kata Shoulder eg Katadori - holding the gi at the shoulder
Katana Japanese sword
Katate One hand
Katatedori One hand held
Keiko/Geiko Practice
Keikogi/Gi Training suit
Ken Sword
Kesa The collar of the gi where it lies across the chest. A blow aimed along this line.
Kesagiri Sword cut along the line of the kesa
Ki "Energy", "intention"
Kihon Basic
Kiri Cutting
Kiriotoshi Cutting down
Kiza Sitting on the heels, supported by the toes (in seiza, the toes lie on the mat).
Kohai Junior
Kokyu Breath
Kokyu-ho Breathing method
Kokyunage Breath throw
Kokyu Ryoku Breath power
Koshi Hip
Koshinage Hip throw
Kote Wrist
Kotegaeshi Wrist out-turn
Kotehineri Wrist twist. Another name for Sankyo
Kotemawashi Wrist turn-in. Another name for Nikyo
Kubi Neck
Kubishime Neck choke
Maai Distance
Mae-ukemi Forward ukemi
Makiwara Object used for striking practice
Men Strike, blow, cut
Menuchi Same as Shomenuchi
Mi Body eg Irimi - entering with the body
Migi Right
Misogi Purification practice
Mitori-Geiko Learning by observing others
Morotedori Uke (receiver) holds one of Tori's (thrower's) arms with both hands
Mune Lapel
Munedori Holding both lapels together, usually with one hand
Musubi Uniting, bonding
Nage Throw or thrower
Nagewaza Throwing techniques
Obi Belt
Omote Front
Onegaishimasu Please (would you do this for me)
Osae Pin, immobilisation
Otoshi Drop
Oyowaza Applied techniques
Rei Bow
Renzoku Continuous
Renzoku Uchikomi Continuous striking attack
Ryokata Both shoulders
Ryote Both hands
Ryotedori Both of Tori's hands held
Ryotemochi Holding with both hands
Sabaki Movement, motion
Sangaku or Sankaku Triangle
Sake Japanese rice wine
Sate Sit down
Seiza Sitting posture. "Good sitting"
Sempai Senior
Sensei Instructor, teacher
Shikko Knee walking
Shime Strangulation
Shimewaza Strangulation techniques
Shihonage Four-direction throw
Shizentai Natural
Shomenuchi Vertical blow to the head
Sode Sleeve
Sodedori Sleeve held
Sokumen Side
Soremade Finish
Soto Outer, outside eg Sotokaiten nage
Suburi Striking, cutting exercises with jo or bokken
Sumiotoshi "Corner drop"
Suwariwaza Techniques performed in a seated posture
Tachi Sword
Tachi Standing
Tachiwaza Techniques performed from a standing posture
Tai Body
Taijutsu "Body arts"
Tai no henko Body turning
Taisabaki Body movement
Tanden Energy centre in the lower abdomen
Tanren Uchi Makiwara practice with a bokken
Tanto Knife
Tatami Mat
Tate Stand up
Te Hand eg Katate - one hand, Ryote - two hands
Tegatana The edge of the hand. "Hand blade"
Ten Heaven
Tenchinage Heaven-earth throw
Tenkan Turning
To Sword
Toma A great distance
Tori The person who throws
Torifune "Rowing" exercise
Tsugi-ashi "Glide-walking". "Forward foot irimi"
Tsuki Thrust, punch
Uchi A strike
Uchi Inner eg Uchikaiten nage
Uchideshi A disciple who lives in the dojo and acts as a trainee/attendant to a master
Ude Arm
Udegarame "Arm entanglement"
Udekimenage Another name for jujinage. "Arm focus throw".
Udeosae Another name for Ikkyo. "Arm pin".
Uke Receiver of technique
Ukemi The art of falling. "Receiving with the body".
Ura Behind, rear
Ura sankaku The basic back triangle stance
Ushiro From behind
Ushiro ukemi Backward breakfall
Ushiro Kiriotoshi Cutting down from behind
Ushirowaza Techniques performed against an attack from behind
Waza Technique
Yame Stop
Yokomenuchi Circular strike to the head
Yoi Be ready
Za Sitting
Zafu Firm cushion used for sitting in Zazen
Zanshin Continuing awareness after executing a technique
Zazen "Sitting Zen"
Zori Straw sandals

Counting

Ichi One
Ni Two
San Three
Shi/Yon Four
Go Five
Roku Six
Shichi Seven
Hachi Eight
Ku Nine
Ju Ten
Ju-ichi Eleven
Ju-ni Twelve
Ni-ju Twenty
Ni-ju-ichi Twenty one
Ni-ju-ni Twenty two
San-ju Thirty
San-ju-ichi Thirty one