Aikido Terminology Glossary

FOOTWORK

Tai sabaki: Footwork.

Hanmi: The basic aikido triangular stance.

Ai: The same.

Ai hanmi: Standing so that uke and nage have the same foot forward.

Gyaku: Opposite.

Gyaku hanmi: Standing so that uke and nage have opposite feet forward.

Migi: Right.

Hidari: Left.

Tenkan: A turning movement involving sweeping the backward leg 180º and changing directions.

Tenkai: A pivot 180º without moving the leg position.

Tenshin: Stepping backwards at a 45º angle off the line of attack.

ATTACKS

Shomenuchi: A direct frontal strike using the hand like a sword.

Yokomenuchi: A side strike to the head using the hand as a sword.

Tsuki: A punch.

Tekubi: Wrist.

Ushiro: Rear.

Ushiro tekubi tori: Rear wrist grab.

Kata: Shoulder or a set of fixed stylized movements.

Tori: Grab.

Kata tori: Shoulder grab.

Katate: Wrist.

Katate tori: Wrist grab.

Morotetori: Two hands grabbing one.

Ryotetori: Two hands grabbing two.

Eritori: Collar grab, usually from behind.

Hijitori: Elbow grab.

Kubishime: A choke hold or attack.

Men: Head.

Uchi: Inside way or to strike.

Katatori men uchi: A shoulder grab and shomen uchi combined.

Katatetori men uchi: A wrist grab and shomen uchi combined.

TECHNIQUES

Waza: Technique.

Ikkyo: The first immobilization, armbar.

Nikkyo: The second immobilization, uke’s wrist and elbow at 90º, upward spiral twist on uke’s wrist.

Sankyo: The third immobilization, elbow at 90º, upward spiral twist on uke’s wrist.

Yonkyo: The fourth immobilization, the nerve technique.

Gokyo: The fifth immobilization, similar to ikkyo but for defense against knife attacks.

Shiho nage: Four directions throw.

Kotegaeshi: A basic wrist throw in which the wrist is twisted outwards.

Irimi: Entering.

Irimi nage: Entering throw.

Kokkyu: Breath.

Kokkyu nage: Breath throw or the class of techniques which throw uke without employing joint techniques.

Koshi: Hip.

Koshinage: Hip throw.

Kaiten: Rotary.

Kaitennage: Rotary throw.

Udekimenage: A throw applying pressure to the underside of uke’s elbow.

Juji: Character for ten in Japanese and looks like a cross.

Jujinage or Jujigarami: A throw in which uke’s arms are crossed against each other at the elbows.

Ten: Heaven.

Chi: Earth.

Tenchi Nage: A technique in which one of the nage’s arms is directed up and the other one is down.

Otoshi: Throw.

Sumiotoshi: Corner throw.

Aikiotoshi: A throw in which nage pins uke’s legs together.

Ude: Arm.

Osae: Pin.

RELATIONSHIPS

Nage: To throw or the partner executing a technique.

Uke: The initial attacker and the one who receives the technique.

Jodan: Upper way or position.

Chudan: Middle way or position.

Gedan: Lower way or position.

Omote: A variation of a technique that is done generally to uke’s front.

Ura: A variation of a technique generally done towards uke’s rear side.

Soto: Outside.

Uchi: Inside.

POSTURES

Seiza: The seated position with the legs folded under the torso.

Kiza: Like seiza but up on the toes.

Shizentai: Natural standing posture.

Hasso gaeshi: A posture using the jo in which the jo is held vertical at shoulder level.

BROAD CLASSES OF TECHNIQUE

Suwari waza: Both uke and nage are in seiza or kiza.

Hamni handachi: Uke is standing and nage is seated.

Tachi waza: Standing techniques.

Tachi or boken or bokuto: A wooden sword.

Ken: A sword.

Tachi tori: Techniques against attack with a boken.

Jo: A wooden staff roughly reaching to the armpit.

Jo tori: Techniques applied against attacks with a jo.

Tanto: Knife.

Tano tori: Techniques against knife attacks.

Kumitachi: Partner boken work.

Kumijo: Partner jo work.

Suburi: Solo boken practices.

EXERCISES

Undo: Exercise.

Sayo undo: Side lateral swing exercise.

Ude furo undo: Arm spinning exercise.

Tenkan undo (Tai no henko): A turning exercise involving a 180º spin or turn.

Tekubi kosa undo: An exercise drawing the arms forward against an imaginary rear two handed grab.

Ikkyo undo: An exercise in which the arms are raised as in shomenuchi ikkyo.

Kogyu undo: Rowing exercise.

Ushiro tori undo: An exercise practicing a defense against an imaginary bear hug from behind.

Ushiro tekubi tori zenzen undo: An exercise practicing a defense against an imaginary tow handed rear grab.

Yoko hiki: Side stretching exercise.

Tekubi shindo: Wrist shaking exercise.

Furitama: An exercise in which the hands are cupped and pressed against the body at the hara and pulsed rhythmically.

TRAINING UNIFORM

Gi: Practice uniform, usually a white karate or judo one.

Obi: The belt worn with the keiko gi.

TRAINING TERMS

Keiko: Practice.

Onegai Shimasu: Literally, “please teach me”, used between partners before practicing or by the group at the start of the class.

Doomo arigatoo goziamasu: “Thank you very much”, used by the group at the end of class or by partners when through practicing.

Gomen nasai: “I’m sorry”, used when one person has fallen into another or any other appropriate time.

Moo ichido, or Moo ikkai: Do it once again.

Ukemi: Protective falling.

Sutemi waza: High falls.

Shikko: Knee walking.

Kata: A set, stylized series of movements.

Atemi: A strike or blow intended to take uke’s mind, to disorient, shock or perhaps damage uke.

Rei: Bowing.

Reigi: Etiquette.

Sempai: Senior.

Kohai: Junior.

BASIC CONCEPTS

Kuzushi: Balance.

Hara: The center of gravity which should be about two inches below the navel and corresponds to the third charka.

Ki: Universal life force, or inner energy.

Ki no musubi: To tie together or match ki.

Zanshin: To hold a thought, in aikido to hold the final posture of a technique for a moment.

Ma ai: The concept of a proper distance which retains ki connection and yet forces the opponent to commit in order attack.

Reipaku: The vertical alignment of the body in the energetic column connecting heaven and earth.

Yama no hibiki: Literally mountain echo, refers to sending out an energetic pulse to draw in or disorient uke.

Kotodama: The science and practice of using sound vibrations to purify the body.

Mitami shizume: A breathing exercise involving long inhalations and exhalations.

Chinkon Gyoho: A specific practice of O’ Sensei’s and Sensei’s involving specific sounds and movements to align the body’s energies with the Universal Energies.

Shiatsu: Acupressure.

Zen: A Japanese form of Buddhism and meditation.

Sen no sen tachi: The sword of initiative, moving at the precise moment of intention of uke and prior to uke’s actual movement.

Ato no sen: Setting the second beat. It involves moving out of uke’s line of attack as uke’s energy expands and then expanding into uke as uke’s energy naturally contracts.

Kiri harai: A sword cut that extends outward and then is drawn back physically but with continued ki extension forward.

Kiri komi: A sword cut which physically extends during the cut.

Kannagara: In the rhythm or flow. Existing in the stream of the Universal consciousness.

Kami: Spirits or demigods in Shinto.

Shinto: The native religion of Japan believing that all things have a spirit and that the people, after death can become Kami.

Takemusu Aiki: The true warrior spirit of transcending the realm of competition. The spirit of the sword that gives life.

Budo: The way of the warrior.

Misogi: Ritual purification, the process of purification.



by http://studentorganizations.missouristate.edu/aikido/Aikido%20Terminology%20Glossary.htm