Guide To Terminology
Concepts, Principles and Spirituality
AI
AI
KI
DO
BUDO
KATA
KOGI-FUNE-UNDO
KOKYU
MA-AI
MISOGI
SANGEN
TAKEMUSU AIKI
TEN-CHI
UCHI-GATAME
ZANSHIN
harmony; coming together; integration; unification; unity
(different written character) love
spirit; life force; vital energy; strength; sensitivity
the Way or Path
the way of the warrior arts; the way of protection, of society, strength and honor in peace
"fixed form"; predetermined practice patterns used as learning vehicle
"rowing the boat"; warm-up exercise adopted from Misogi-ritual
power of breath and life force; coordination of ki flow and breathing
distance of time and space between uke and nage; the direction and movement of mind and spirit, along with physical distance, determine the balance of power and proper usage of space
purification of mind, body and spirit, realized by keiko, cleaning, fasting or other exercises
triangle (pyramid), circle (sphere), square (cube) - the three most perfect proportions in geometry
triangle - body, mind, spirit; past, present, future; heaven, earth, humankind; signifies ki flow, creation of energy and initiative
circle - unity, serenity, perfection; signifies liquid dimension, source of unlimited techniques
square - earth, water, fire, air; signifies solid dimension, applied control based on form and solidity
"courageous and creative living"; motto of AIKIDO
heaven-earth; the whole universe
"pounding the body with the fists"; warm-up exercise used to stimulate the skin and muscles
continuity; remaining aware and prepared for the next attack; calm awareness; retention of the mind; unbroken concentration
The Training Place and Appearance
DOJO
SHOMEN
KAMIZA
GI or DOGI
OBI
HAKAMA
place of the Way; a place for strengthening and refinement body, mind and spirit; training hall
in the dojo, the upper seat with the shrine housing the picture of the Founder and the spirit of Aikido (not a religious, but rather a spiritual symbol); also: front or top of head
upper seat on the mat, opposite the shimoza
white training uniform
belt (part of gi)
wide-skirted pants worn over gi; symbol of the samurai culture and typically worn by Aikido yudansha (black belts)
Roles, Postures, Directions and Movements
AME NO FURITAMA
AME NO TORI-FUNE
CHUDAN
GAESHI
GEDAN
HANMI
HAPPO GIRI (UNDO)
IRIMI
JODAN
KAITEN
NAGE
OMOTE
SEIZA
SHIHO GIRI (UNDO)
SHIHO
SHIKKO
SHIME
TENKAN/URA-WAZA
TORI
UCHI
UCHI
UCHI-DESHI
UKE
UKEMI
URA
URA
YOKO
standing squarely, left hand resting (palm down) on top of right hand (palm up); hands are gently shaken to relieve all tension in the body
"rowing movements" in hanmi position; practice to cleanse the mind and spirit; in a metaphorical sense, row your boat through the spiritual levels of heaven towards purification
middle position
to reverse
low position
relaxed triangular (T-)stance , "half-body" (sankakutai)
eight corner cutting/extension movement
front technique, entering, moving into and through the line of attack
high position
to revolve, rotate; wheel, round; "open and turn"
"thrower"; defender; the person applying a technique
to the front
formal sitting position; the only proper sitting on the mat
four corner cutting/extension movement
four directions
knee-walking
to squeeze/choke
"back" technique, turning
"the one who takes" (alternate term for NAGE)
to strike
inside
live-in disciple who trains full time under senior instructor
"receiver"; the person providing the attack and falling
the art of receiving/taking actions as uke/falling
rear, back
to the rear/back
(to the) side
Weapons
BOKKEN
JO
KEN
TACHI
TANTO
wooden sword
short wooden staff (48" - 55" long and 3/4" - 1" thick)
sword
(Japanese long) sword; can also mean "from standing position"
(wooden) knife
Attacks
AIUCHI
TSUKI
SHOMEN-UCHI
YOKOMEN-UCHI
SHIME
TACHI-TORI
TANTO-TORI
JO-TORI
"mutual strike"; position in which both partners can strike
thrusting strike
strike to (top of) head
side of the head (diagonal) strike
to squeeze/choke
attack with bokken, sword taking
attack with knife, knife taking
short staff taking
Grabs and Holds
HIJI-TORI
KATA-TORI
KATATE-TORI
KUBI-SHIME
MOROTE-TORI
RYOTE-TORI
USHIRO-TORI
USHIRO-RYO-HIJI-TORI
USHIRO-RYO-KATA-TORI
USHIRO-RYOTE-TORI
USHIRO-RYO-TEKUBI-TORI
elbow grab
shoulder grab
single-wrist grab
rear choke with one wrist held
both hands grabbing one wrist
both hands grabbing one wrist each
rear "bear hug"
both elbows grabbed from rear
both shoulders grabbed from the rear
both wrists grabbed from the rear
both wrists grabbed from the rear
Techniques
ATEMI
ATEMI-WAZA
IKKYO
NIKYO
SANKYO
YONKYO
GOKYO
HANMI-HANDACHI
HENKA-WAZA
JO-TORI
JIYU-WAZA
KAESHI
KAESHI-WAZA
RANDORI
SUWARI-WAZA
TANTO-TORI
TENKAN
USHIRO-WAZA
WAZA
diverting, defensive strike or blow
striking techniques
first teaching
second teaching (using wrist pressure)
third teaching (using wrist pressure)
fourth teaching (using nerve pressure)
fifth teaching (reverse grip of ikkyo, esp. for knife attacks)
nage is kneeling and uke attacks from standing
switching from one technique to another
techniques for disarming opponent armed with JO
free-style techniques with one uke (specific or any attacks)
to return, come back (trans. of kaeru, from kaesu)
reverse (counter) techniques
free-style practice with multiple attackers
techniques practiced on knees
techniques to disarm attacker who is using a knife
"pivoting of the body"; basic blend
rear techniques ("sixth sense") (6th pillar of Aikido)
technique(s)
Throws
IRIMI
IRIMI-NAGE
JUJI-NAGE
KAITEN
KAITEN-NAGE
KOKYU
KOKYU-HO (KOKYO DOSA)
KOKYU-NAGE
KOSHI-NAGE
KOTE-GAESHI
KUBISHIME
SHIHO-NAGE
SUMI-OTOSHI
TENCHI-NAGE
entering
entering throw ("20-year throw")
crossed arm (X, ten) throw
opening and turning
rotary throw
breath power; concentrated power; good timing
seated technique using ki to throw and pin partner
"breath throw", using timing of body and spirit without applying pressure to partner's joints
hip throw
apply wrist reversal to throw partner
choke
four-direction throw (applied at wrist)
four direction throw (applied at elbow)
heaven-and-earth throw
Ranks, Learning, and Teaching
O'SENSEI
DOSHU
DOJO-CHO
SENSEI
UCHI-DESHI
KOHAI
SEMPAI
FUKU-SHIDOIN
SHIDOIN
SHIHAN
KYU
DAN
SHODAN
YUDANSHA
great teacher; the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba (Dec. 14, 1883 - Apr. 26, 1969)
honorary title for the master of the art; the current Aikido doshu is Moriteru Ueshiba,
head of the dojo
teacher; anyone who gives guidance along the way; literally "born before"
devoted, personal student living in dojo with teacher
junior student; anyone who begins the study of Aikido
anyone who began the study of Aikido before you
assistant instructor; usually 2nd dan and below
teacher typically with sandan rank
master teacher with rank of 6th dan or above
white belt grade; undergraduate/mudansha rank (usually 6th kyu to 1st kyu)
black belt rank; graduate/yudansha rank (1st dan to 10th dan)
first degree black belt
holder of black belt degree
Greetings, Order, and Etiquette
DOMO ARRIGATO
ONEGAISHIMASU
thank you
please (train with me); I ask a favor
Parts of body
HIJI
KATA
KOSHI
KUBI
TE
TEKUBI
elbow
shoulder
hip, lateral pelvis, waist
neck
hand
wrist
Counting
ICHI
NI
SAN
SHI
GO
ROKU
SHICHI
HACHI
KU
JU
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10