Glossary
a -
Ai
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
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
Gi
training uniform
Go
five
Gokkyo
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
the center of existence; lower abdomen; physical and spiritual center; center of gravity of a person; area below the navel; the reservoir of ki
Hidari
left (direction)
Hiji
elbow
Hijidori
elbow grab
I -
Iaido
the art of drawing the sword
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
Ju
ten
Jujinage
crossed arm throw
k -
Kaeshi waza
counter techniques
Kaiten
to revolve or rotate
Kaitenage
rotary throw
Kamae
posture
Kamiza
altar, seat of gods
Kata
pre-arranged exercise
Katatedori
one hand grab to wrist
Katadori
one hand grab to the shoulder
Keiko
practice, training
Ken
sword
Ki
Spirit
Ki Musubi
ki blending
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
Ku
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
Mokuso
meditate
Morotedori
attack grabbing one wrist/forearm with both hands
Munedori
lapel grab
Musubi
blending
n -
Nage
throw; person who is attacked and performs the technique
Ni
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
multiple person attack
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
Shodan
first degree black belt
Shomenuchi
strike to forehead
Shugyo
rigorous purification training
Sode
sleeve
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
knife
Te
hand
Tegatana
hand blade; sword edge of the hand
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 -
Waza
techniques
y -
Yokomenuchi
strike to the side of head/temple
Yonkyo
fourth technique where pressure is applied against uke's forearm
Yudansha
black belt grade holders
z -
Zabuton
rectangular, base cushion for zazen
Zafu
round cushion for zazen
Zanshin
unbroken awareness and concentration
Zazen
sitting meditation