General Vocabulary

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Ago

Chin (or jaw)

Ago Tsuki Age

A strike (or thrust) to the chin (or jaw)

Ai

Harmony, unity to join or become one with. The word carries the feeling of the strength and power of natural forces.

Ai-Hanmi

Both partners facing each other in the same position.

Aiki Otoshi

Whole person drop.

Aiki Taiso(s)

Aikido warm-up exercises.

Aikidoka

One who practices Aikido.

Aikikai

An Aikido organization.

Anza

Sitting in a cross-legged position.

Atemi

A strike (or striking).

Bokken

Wooden sword used in practice.

Budo

Literally, the Way of the Warrior Arts; but the deeper meaning is the Way of the Protection of Society, of strength and honor and peace. “A mind to serve for the peace of all human beings in the world is needed in Aikido, and not the mind of one who wishes to be strong and practices only to fell an opponent. There are neither opponents nor enemies for true Budo. Therefore, to compete in techniques, winning and losing, it is not true Budo. True Budo knows no defeat. ‘Never defeated’ means never fighting.”

Bushido

Warrior's Code; Way of the Warrior.

Chokusen No Irimi

Direct entering movement, ending up behind the attacker.

Choyaku

To step back and turn.

Dan

Aikido black belt rank.

Deshi

Student, pupil, or disciple.

Do

The Way or Path. The Way means to be one with the will of the universe and embody its function.

Dojo

A place where the Way is revealed; the School.

Doshu

Honorary title for the Master of the Art. Present Doshu is Kisshomaru Ueshiba, son of the late O'Sensei.

En No Irimi

Circular, spinning entering movement.

Fune Kogi

Rowing (or rowboat).

Furi

To shake (or swing).

Gaeshi

To reverse.

Genki

Vigor (or healthy).

Gi

White training uniform.

Gokyo

Fifth classification or pinning technique.

Gyaku

Opposite (or reverse).

Gyaku-Hanmi

Reverse stance; Uke and Nage facing each other in reverse posture.

Gyaku-Yokomen

A strike to the opposite side of the head.

Hakama

Wide skirted pants worn over the Gi. Typically worn by Yudansha, though some Dojo may require other levels of students to wear a Hakama as well.

Hanmi

The relaxed triangular stance of Aikido.

Hanmi Handachi

Nage is kneeling while Uke attacks from a standing position.

Hantai

In reverse order; opposite side.

Happo

Eight directions.

Hara

The lower abdomen; the center of life energy, physical and spiritual.

Henka

Continuous freestyle Randori, one on one (Henka Waza).

Hiji

Elbow.

Hombu Dojo

Headquarters Training Hall of Aikido in Japan.

Iaido

The Way of Perfection with the Sword.

Ikkyo

First classification or pinning technique.

Irimi

Moving into and through the line of attack with no thought of escape. Technique of entering and choosing to “die in order to live.”

Iwama

Place where the Aiki Shrine and O'Sensei's country home and dojo are located (in Ibaraki prefecture).

Jiyu Waza

Free technique. In testing usually against one opponent.

Jo

Wooden training staff about fifty inches long and three-quarters to one inch in diameter.

Jo Tori

Techniques of staff taking.

Joho

High (as in the cross-arm Aiki Taiso).

Juji

Crossed arms.

Kaishi

Reverse (or counter).

Kaiten

To revolve or rotate.

Kamae

A posture or stance of readiness. In each kamae there are different positions for the hands or weapon. Jodan — high position; Chudan — middle position; Gedan — lower position.

Kata

Shoulder. (Also represents formalized movements, such as in Jo Kata and Bokken Kata.)

Kata Tori

Shoulder grab.

Katate

One hand.

Katate Tori

Wrist grab.

Katate Tori Ryote Mochi

Grabbing your partner's wrist with both hands.

Keiko

Study or practice. The deeper meaning is reflection and refinement; to return to the origin and discover reality.

Ken

Japanese sword.

Ki

Spirit; life force or vital energy; the essence of universal creative energy.

Kiai

Release of spiritual and physical power in the form of a piercing scream originating in the hara. Literally, a meeting of the spirits.

Kohai

Junior student. Those who begin their study of Aikido after you. You owe them your help and support.

Koho Tento

Rear falling (rolling) method.

Kokyu

Power of breath and life force; the coordination of Ki flow and breathing.

Kokyu Dosa

Exercise from a formal sitting position; pinning with Ki.

Kokyu Ho

Breathing method; Breath throw.

Kosa

Crossed.

Kosa Tori

Cross hand grab.

Koshi

With the hips (or lower back).

Kotai

A movement to the rear; to change.

Kote Gaeshi

Outward wrist turn.

Kotodama

The spiritual function of sound. Every one syllable sound has its own spiritual vibration.

Kubi

Neck (or throat).

Kubi Shime

A choke hold.

Kumi Jo

Paired Jo practice.

Kumi Tachi

Paired sword practice.

Kyu

Aikido rank before black belt (Dan). White belt grade.

Maai

The distance of time and space between Uke and Nage; the movement of mind, the stream of spirit, and the direction in which mind and spirit move, along with physical distance determines the balance and proper use of space.

Men

Face (or forehead).

Misogi

Purification of mind, body and spirit.

Mochi

To grab or grasp.

Mune

Chest; abdominal area.

Mune Tsuki

A straight punch to the chest or solar plexus.

Mushin

No mind, a mind without ego. A mind like a mirror which reflects and does not judge.

Musubi

Opposites are but different images of the same reality. Musubi is the process of their unification. It is the movement of the spiral.

Nage

To throw; the person who throws; the defender.

Nikyo

Second classification or pinning technique.

Omote

To the front.

O'Sensei

Great Teacher. The title used for the founder of Aikido.

Osai

A pin; method of holding down.

Otoshi

A drop (to drop).

Rei

To bow, or salutation.

Randori

Free style against multiple attack.

Ryohiji Tori

Grabbing both elbows (one in each hand) from the front.

Ryokata Tori

Grabbing both shoulders (one in each hand) from the front.

Ryokatate Tori

Grabbing both wrists (one in each hand) from the front.

Ryote

Both hands.

Ryote Mochi

Grabbing with both hands (such as grabbing one of Nage's wrists with both of Uke's hands).

Ryote Tori

Grabbing both wrists (one in each hand) from the front.

Samurai

Originally came from the verb “to serve.” Noble and honorable, one who has the duty and responsibility of protecting society.

Sankaku No Irimi

Triangular entering movement.

Sankaku No Tenkan

Triangular retreating movement.

Sankyo

Third classification or pinning technique.

Sayu

Left and right (or to the side).

Seiza

Formal sitting position.

Sempai

Senior student; sometimes assistant to the instructor. Anyone who began the study of Aikido before you. You should respect this person's experience.

Sensei

Teacher; the one who gives guidance along the Way. Literally means “born before.”

Shihan

Title for a Master Teacher who has been ranked at least to the grade of Sixth Dan.

Shiho

Four ways (or method).

Shiko

Walking on the knees; Samurai walk.

Shime

Choke.

Shinai

Split bamboo practice sword.

Shindo

Shaking.

Shomen

Upper seat; the shrine which houses the picture of the founder and spirit of Aikido. Not a religious symbol but a spiritual one.

Shomen Uchi

Strike to the forehead; a vertical circular strike to the head.

Shomen Tsuki

Thrust between the eyes.

Soto Mawari

Turning out movement, over Uke's arm.

Suburi

Training. Suburi is training as opposed to Kumi Tachi which is study. Suburi are single or individual movements with the Bokken or Jo, as in a Kata.

Sumi Otoshi

Corner drop.

Suwari

Sitting.

Suwari Waza

Techniques beginning with both Uke and Nage in formal sitting position, executed from the knees.

Tachi

Japanese long sword.

Tachi Tori

Techniques of sword taking.

Taijutsu

Empty handed techniques.

Tai No Tenkan

Body turning movement.

Tanto

Knife.

Te

Hand.

Tekubi

Wrist.

Tenchi

Heaven and Earth.

Tenkan

Turning to dissipate force.

Tori

To take; grab.

Tsuki

A strike (or thrust); punch.

Uchi Deshi

Live-in student; personal student or disciple.

Uchi Mawari

Turning in movement, under Uke's arm.

Ude

Arm.

Ueshiba

Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido; O'Sensei.

Uke

One who receives; the person being thrown; the attacker.

Ukemi

Techniques of rolling and falling. The art of protecting oneself from injury. The first and most important step to developing good Aikido technique is learning to take Ukemi well.

Undo

Practice (or exercise).

Ura

To the rear.

Ushiro

From behind.

Ushiro Tori

Wrapping the arms around Nage from behind.

Waza

Technique. Way of …

Yoko

Side.

Yokomen Uchi

A diagonal strike to the side of the head (or neck).

Yon

Four (as in fourth).

Yonkyo

Fourth classification or pinning technique.

Yudansha

Black belt rank holders.

Zempo Kaiten

Falling to the front; continuous rolling.

Zen

Philosophy of Buddhism; a form of meditation.

Zengo

Forwards and backwards.

Zenshin

A movement forward.

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