Aikido Terminology
A partial list of terms you will come across in training:
Aikido
The word 'Aikido' is made up of three Japanese characters: AI – join or harmony, KI - spirit or universal energy, DO - the Way. Thus Aikido is 'the Way of Harmony with Universal Energy.'
Ai Hanmi
Paired stance where uke and nage each have the same foot forward.
Ashi Sabaki
Footwork. (tsugi ashi = slide, ayumi ashi = step)
Atemi
Strike directed at the attacker for purposes of unbalancing or distraction.
Budo
Martial Way.
Chushin
Center, especially, the center of one's movement or balance.
Dan
Black belt rank.
Do
Way/path.
Dojo
Literally 'place of the Way.'
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita
Japanese for 'thank you very much.'
Doshu
Leader of the Way (currently Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu, grandson of Aikido's founder, Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei).
Gyaku Hanmi
Paired stance where uke and nage have the opposite foot forward.
Hanmi
Triangular stance. (Literally 'half body')
Hombu Dojo
A term used to refer to the central dojo of an organization. For us, this usually designates Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo.
Hidari
Left.
Irimi
Entering movement.
Kaiso
The Founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei. Also called O-Sensei.
Kamae
A posture or stance. Although 'kamae' generally refers to a physical stance, there is an important parallel in Aikido between one's physical and one's psychological bearing.
Kamiza
A small shrine, especially in an Aikido, generally located in the front of the dojo. One bows in the direction of the kamiza when entering or leaving the dojo, or the mat.
Kata
A 'form' or prescribed pattern of movement. Also 'shoulder'.
Keiko
Training. The literal translation of the characters is 'to study the old'.
Keiko Gi
Training uniform.
Ki
Energy.
Kohai
A dojo member who joined after oneself. (Literally, "after companion")
Kokoro
'Heart or mind.'
Kokyu
Breath.
Kuzushi
The principle of destroying one's partner's balance. In Aikido, a technique cannot be properly applied unless one first unbalances one's partner.
Kyu
Any rank below shodan.
Ma Ai
Proper distancing or timing with respect to one's partner.
Mae
Front, as in mae ukemi or falling forward.
Migi
Right.
Mokuso
Meditation. Practice often begins or ends with a brief period of meditation. The purpose of meditation is to clear one's mind and to develop cognitive equanimity.
Nage
The person being attacked. Also Tori or Shite.
Obi
A belt.
Omote
'The front,' entering to the front.
Onegai shimasu
Literally, 'I make a request.' This is said when initiating practice or asking for instruction.
O-Sensei
Literally, 'Great Teacher,' i.e., Morihei Ueshiba, the Founder of Aikido.
Reigi
Etiquette. Observance of proper etiquette is as much a part of one's training as the practice of techniques. Also Reigi saho.
Sensei
Teacher. It is usually considered proper to address the instructor during practice as 'Sensei' rather than by his/her name. If the instructor is a
permanent instructor for one's dojo or for an organization, it is proper to address him/her as 'Sensei' off the mat as well. (Literally, 'born
before')
Seiza
Sitting on one's knees.
Sempai
A dojo member who joined before oneself. (Literally,'before companion")
Shikko
Knee walking.
Shodan
First degree black belt. (Literally 'Beginning Dan').
Shomen
Front or top (of head, body, room, etc).
Soto
Outside.
Tai Sabaki
Body movement.
Taninsugake
Training against multiple attackers.
Tegatana
'Hand sword', i.e. the edge of the hand.
Tenkan
Turning movement.
Tenshin
A movement where Nage moves 45 degrees away from the attack.
Uchi
'Inside.' Also 'strike'.
Ueshiba Kisshomaru
The son of the Founder of Aikido and Second Aikido Doshu.
Ueshiba Morihei
The Founder of Aikido.
Ueshiba Moriteru
The grandson of the Founder and current Doshu.
Ueshiba Mitsuteru
The great-grandson of the Founder, current Assistant Dojo Cho of Aikido Hombu Dojo.
Uke
Person attacking and receiving the technique. Role is to provide honest attack.
Ukemi
Literally 'receiving with the body'. The development of proper ukemi skills is just as important as the development of throwing skills and is no less deserving of attention and effort.
Ura
'Rear.'
Ushiro
Backwards or behind, as in ushiro ukemi or falling backwards.
Waza
Technique.
Yudansha
Black belt holder.
Zanshin
Literally 'remaining mind/heart.' Even after an Aikido technique has been completed, one should remain in a balanced and aware state.
Aikido Techniques
Tachi waza
Standing Technique.
Suwari waza
Seated Technique. Also ZAGI.
Hanmi handachi waza
Technique where NAGE is seated and UKE is standing.
Osae waza
Pinning Technique.
Kansetsu waza
Joint technique.
Jiyu Waza
Free-style practice of techniques.
Ikkyo
First teaching. Also UDE OSAE (arm pin).
Nikyo
Second teaching. Also KOTE MAWASHI (wrist/forearm rotate).
Sankyo
Third teaching. Also KOTE HINERI (wrist/forearm twist).
Yonkyo
Fourth teaching. Also TEKUBI OSAE (wrist pin).
Goyko
Fifth teaching. Also UDE NOBASHI (arm stretch).
Iriminage
Entering Throw.
Shihonage
Four Way Throw.
Sumi Otoshi
Corner Drop.
Kokyunage
Breath Throw.
Kotegaeshi
Wrist/forearm Reversal.
Kaitennage
Circular Throw.
Tenchinage
Heaven and Earth Throw.
Kokyuho
Breath Method.
Aikido Attacks
Tori/Dori
Grab
Uchi
Strike
Keri/Geri
Kick
Katatedori
One hand grabbing one hand (mirror image).
Kosadori
One hand grabbing one hand (right to right or left to left).
Morotedori
Two hands grabbing one hand.
Ryotedori
Two hands grabbing two hands
Katadori
Shoulder grab.
Ushirodori
Grab from behind.
Shomenuchi
Strike to the front or top of the head.
Yokomenuchi
Strike to the side of the head.
Tsuki
Punch or thrust.
Counting in Japanese
One Ichi
Two Ni
Three San
Four Shi or Yon
Five Go
Six Roku
Seven Shichi
Eight Hachi
Nine Kyu or Ku
Ten Ju
Eleven Ju-ichi
Twenty Ni-ju
Aikido
The word 'Aikido' is made up of three Japanese characters: AI – join or harmony, KI - spirit or universal energy, DO - the Way. Thus Aikido is 'the Way of Harmony with Universal Energy.'
Ai Hanmi
Paired stance where uke and nage each have the same foot forward.
Ashi Sabaki
Footwork. (tsugi ashi = slide, ayumi ashi = step)
Atemi
Strike directed at the attacker for purposes of unbalancing or distraction.
Budo
Martial Way.
Chushin
Center, especially, the center of one's movement or balance.
Dan
Black belt rank.
Do
Way/path.
Dojo
Literally 'place of the Way.'
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita
Japanese for 'thank you very much.'
Doshu
Leader of the Way (currently Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu, grandson of Aikido's founder, Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei).
Gyaku Hanmi
Paired stance where uke and nage have the opposite foot forward.
Hanmi
Triangular stance. (Literally 'half body')
Hombu Dojo
A term used to refer to the central dojo of an organization. For us, this usually designates Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo.
Hidari
Left.
Irimi
Entering movement.
Kaiso
The Founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei. Also called O-Sensei.
Kamae
A posture or stance. Although 'kamae' generally refers to a physical stance, there is an important parallel in Aikido between one's physical and one's psychological bearing.
Kamiza
A small shrine, especially in an Aikido, generally located in the front of the dojo. One bows in the direction of the kamiza when entering or leaving the dojo, or the mat.
Kata
A 'form' or prescribed pattern of movement. Also 'shoulder'.
Keiko
Training. The literal translation of the characters is 'to study the old'.
Keiko Gi
Training uniform.
Ki
Energy.
Kohai
A dojo member who joined after oneself. (Literally, "after companion")
Kokoro
'Heart or mind.'
Kokyu
Breath.
Kuzushi
The principle of destroying one's partner's balance. In Aikido, a technique cannot be properly applied unless one first unbalances one's partner.
Kyu
Any rank below shodan.
Ma Ai
Proper distancing or timing with respect to one's partner.
Mae
Front, as in mae ukemi or falling forward.
Migi
Right.
Mokuso
Meditation. Practice often begins or ends with a brief period of meditation. The purpose of meditation is to clear one's mind and to develop cognitive equanimity.
Nage
The person being attacked. Also Tori or Shite.
Obi
A belt.
Omote
'The front,' entering to the front.
Onegai shimasu
Literally, 'I make a request.' This is said when initiating practice or asking for instruction.
O-Sensei
Literally, 'Great Teacher,' i.e., Morihei Ueshiba, the Founder of Aikido.
Reigi
Etiquette. Observance of proper etiquette is as much a part of one's training as the practice of techniques. Also Reigi saho.
Sensei
Teacher. It is usually considered proper to address the instructor during practice as 'Sensei' rather than by his/her name. If the instructor is a
permanent instructor for one's dojo or for an organization, it is proper to address him/her as 'Sensei' off the mat as well. (Literally, 'born
before')
Seiza
Sitting on one's knees.
Sempai
A dojo member who joined before oneself. (Literally,'before companion")
Shikko
Knee walking.
Shodan
First degree black belt. (Literally 'Beginning Dan').
Shomen
Front or top (of head, body, room, etc).
Soto
Outside.
Tai Sabaki
Body movement.
Taninsugake
Training against multiple attackers.
Tegatana
'Hand sword', i.e. the edge of the hand.
Tenkan
Turning movement.
Tenshin
A movement where Nage moves 45 degrees away from the attack.
Uchi
'Inside.' Also 'strike'.
Ueshiba Kisshomaru
The son of the Founder of Aikido and Second Aikido Doshu.
Ueshiba Morihei
The Founder of Aikido.
Ueshiba Moriteru
The grandson of the Founder and current Doshu.
Ueshiba Mitsuteru
The great-grandson of the Founder, current Assistant Dojo Cho of Aikido Hombu Dojo.
Uke
Person attacking and receiving the technique. Role is to provide honest attack.
Ukemi
Literally 'receiving with the body'. The development of proper ukemi skills is just as important as the development of throwing skills and is no less deserving of attention and effort.
Ura
'Rear.'
Ushiro
Backwards or behind, as in ushiro ukemi or falling backwards.
Waza
Technique.
Yudansha
Black belt holder.
Zanshin
Literally 'remaining mind/heart.' Even after an Aikido technique has been completed, one should remain in a balanced and aware state.
Aikido Techniques
Tachi waza
Standing Technique.
Suwari waza
Seated Technique. Also ZAGI.
Hanmi handachi waza
Technique where NAGE is seated and UKE is standing.
Osae waza
Pinning Technique.
Kansetsu waza
Joint technique.
Jiyu Waza
Free-style practice of techniques.
Ikkyo
First teaching. Also UDE OSAE (arm pin).
Nikyo
Second teaching. Also KOTE MAWASHI (wrist/forearm rotate).
Sankyo
Third teaching. Also KOTE HINERI (wrist/forearm twist).
Yonkyo
Fourth teaching. Also TEKUBI OSAE (wrist pin).
Goyko
Fifth teaching. Also UDE NOBASHI (arm stretch).
Iriminage
Entering Throw.
Shihonage
Four Way Throw.
Sumi Otoshi
Corner Drop.
Kokyunage
Breath Throw.
Kotegaeshi
Wrist/forearm Reversal.
Kaitennage
Circular Throw.
Tenchinage
Heaven and Earth Throw.
Kokyuho
Breath Method.
Aikido Attacks
Tori/Dori
Grab
Uchi
Strike
Keri/Geri
Kick
Katatedori
One hand grabbing one hand (mirror image).
Kosadori
One hand grabbing one hand (right to right or left to left).
Morotedori
Two hands grabbing one hand.
Ryotedori
Two hands grabbing two hands
Katadori
Shoulder grab.
Ushirodori
Grab from behind.
Shomenuchi
Strike to the front or top of the head.
Yokomenuchi
Strike to the side of the head.
Tsuki
Punch or thrust.
Counting in Japanese
One Ichi
Two Ni
Three San
Four Shi or Yon
Five Go
Six Roku
Seven Shichi
Eight Hachi
Nine Kyu or Ku
Ten Ju
Eleven Ju-ichi
Twenty Ni-ju