Aikido:
(ai: harmony; ki: spirit, energy; do: way, path, method)
Ai-hanmi:
(ai: same; han: half; mi: body) Uke and nage stand facing each other
with the same foot forward: right/right or left/left.)
Anza:
(the lotus position)
Ashi:
(foot or leg)
Atama:
(head)
Atemi:
(ate: to strike; mi: body) A strike or blow used during a technique,
directed toward the vulnerable parts of the body.
Awase:
(awase: to harmonize) To coordinate and fit your movements to the
movements of the attacker.
Bokken/bokuto:
(bo/bok-: wooden; ken/to: sword) Wooden sword.
Budo:
(bu: martial; do: way,path, method) The Way of the Warrior. Martial
arts including fighting techniques,strategy, physical and spiritual
training, mental discipline and etiquette.
Bukiwaza:
(buki: weapons; waza: technique) Weapons techniques.
Chudan:
(chu: middle; dan: level)
Dan:
(dan: level, grade) black belt level.
Shodan:
(sho: first) First dan.
Nidan:
Second dan.
Sandan:
Third dan.
Yondan/Yodan:
Fourth dan.
Deshi:
(de: youngerbrother; shi: child) A student training under a master.
Do:
(way, path, method)
Dojo:
(do: way; jo: place) Place for training.
Domo
Arigato Gozaimasu/gozaimashita: Most polite form of thanks in
present tense, past tense.
Dori/Tori:
(grab/ grasp)
Dozo:
(please, go ahead, begin)
Eri:
(collar)
Furikaburu:
(furi:to raise a weapon over the head; kaburu: to carry on or
over the head) The movement of raising a ken or jo over the head to
the position used for a downward strike.
Futari-dori:
(futari: two people; dori: hold, grasp) Two people holding nage.
Gaeshi/Kaeshi:
(turn, reverse)
Gedan:
(ge: lower; dan: level)
Gi:
(gi: clothes) In Japanese most often called dogi (do: way) or keikogi
(keiko: training) A training outfit for martial arts.
Gyaku-hanmi:
(gyaku: opposite; han: half; mi: body) Uke and nage stand facing
each other with the
opposite
foot forward: right/left or left/right.
Ha:
The edge of a sword
Hai:
(hai: yes)
Hajime:
(command) Begin.
Hakama:
Traditional Japanese pleated, skirt-like wide trousers. Worn by 1
dan holders; or from 3rd kyu.
Hanmi:
(han: half; mi: body) Aikido stance in which the front foot is
pointing straight forward and the rear foot is at an approximate 90
degree angle as in an upside-down T-shape. The same hip as the front
foot and upper body are turned slightly sidewise to make the body a
smaller target.
Hanmi-handachi:
(han: half; mi: body; han: half; dachi: standing) Uke is standing
and nage is sitting (in seiza).
Hantai:
(opposite)
Happo-giri:
(ha-: eight; po: direction; giri: cut) Eight directional cut with
the sword/bokken.
Hara:
(stomach) The lower region of the abdomen- the physical and
spiritual center of youself. The point in which you focus and center
your balance and awareness.
Hayagaeshi: (haya:
quick; gaeshi: turn) The turning movement usually from Tsuki No Kame
and directly into yokomen uchi without stopping for the blocking
position which is part of this transitional movement.
Henka-waza:
(henka: variation; waza: technique) Variation of a basic
technique.
Hidari:
left
Hiji:
elbow
Hito-e-mi:
(hito: one; e: Japanese counting prefix; mi: body) An Aikido stance
resembling hanmi but with the hips pulled further back to the side.
Used in irimi-nage for instance.
Hiza:
knee
Ho:
(1): direction
(2): method
Iie:
(iie: no)
Irimi:
(iri: entrance, enter; mi: body) Techniques in which nage places
him/herself behind uke.
Jiyu-waza:
(jiyu: free; waza: technique) Type of practice where nage
improvises, freely choosing the techniques to be used.
Jo:
(jo: staff) Wooden staff, usually approximately 1 1/2 meters
long.
Jodan:
(jo: upper; dan: level)
Jo-dori:
(jo: staff; dori: grab, grasp) Techniques used to take the
attacker’s (uchi’s) jo. Approximately 10 variations.
Juken:
(ju: gun; ken: sword) Rifle with bayonet.
Kaicho:
(kai: organization; cho: leader)
Kaiso:
(kaiso: founder of a style) Term used for O-sensei Ueshiba.
Kaiten:
(rotate, turn)
Kaeshi-waza:
(kaeshi: reverse, return; waza: technique) Counter technique.
Kamae:
( kamae: stance) Aikido stance, encompassing an attitude of
hightened mental awareness and readiness to unleash techniques.
Kakari-geiko:
(kakari: to attack or swarm over; geiko/keiko: practice) Attackers
(uke) in a row attack one after the other.
Kansetsu:
(joint)
Kao:
(face)
Karada:
(body)
Kata:
(1) Shoulder
(2) Predetermined
sequence of movements. Used to learn techniques and principles in
Aikido weapons practice
Katana:
Japanese sword.
Katate:
(kata: one; te: hand) One-handed grab.
Katame-waza:
(katame: to hold or pin; waza: technique) Techniques ending in a
hold.
Keiko:
( actual meaning: to study old things) Training/ practice.
Ken:
Japanese sword.
Ken-tai-jo:
( ken: sword; tai: against; jo: staff) A series of weapon
techniques using the jo to defend against a sword/bokken.
Ki:
( ki: energy, spirit, intention) The vital life-force of the
body.
Kiai:
(ki: energy,spirit, intention; ai: harmony) A powerful yell or shout
originating from the pit of the abdomen, used to unleash physical
and spiritual energy from the body.
Kihon:
(ki: important, valuable; hon: basic) Basic techniques.
Ki-musubi:
( ki: energy, spirit, intention; musubi: to tie together, to
bind) The feeling of becoming one with the intentions and movements
of your opponent.
Ki-musubi
no Tachi: ( ki: energy, spirit, intention; musubi: to tie
together, to bind; no: belonging to; tachi: sword)) The sixth
kumi-tachi (paired sword practice in Aikido). Also known as Otonashi
no Ken:
The
Sword of No Sound. This practice is based on the feeling of
ki-musubi.
Ki
no Nagare: (ki: energy, spirit, intention; no: belonging to;
nagare: flow) Advanced type of training
using
flowing movements.
Kohai:
(ko: behind, after; hai: colleague) Fellow junior practitioner.
Kokyu:
(kokyu: breath) Coordination of breath, energy and body movement.
Komi:
(-komi: thoroughly,decisevly, strongly) A suffix used to express a
thoroughly completed or a strong action or movement. As in uchikomi:
uchi: strike; komi: strong or decisive.
Kokyu-ryoku:
(kokyu: breath; ryoku: power) The power gained through kokyu
training.
Koshi:
(hip)
Kotai:
(change) Command, given when for instance attacker and defender
are to change roles.
Kote:
(ko: small; te: hand) Wrist.
Kubi:
(neck)
Kuden:
(ku: oral; den: convey, transmit) The oral teachings of Ueshiba
used to explain important points in Aikido techniques.
Kumi-tachi:
(kumi: to unite, group; tachi: sword) Advanced partner practice
with the sword/bokken encompassing 5 basic forms plus variations.
Kumi-jo:
(kumi: to unite, group; jo: staff) Advanced partner practice with
the jo encompassing 10 basic
forms.
Kuro-obi:
(kuro: black; obi: belt)
Kuzushi: (kuzushi:
to break) The movement used to unbalance your opponent.
Kyu:
(kyu: student level) Student level, in Aikido beginning at 6th kyu
and advancing to 1st kyu toward
1st
dan.
Ma-ai:
(ma: distance; ai: harmony) The proper distance between nage and
uke.
Mawatte:
(mawatte: turn, turn back) Command used when practitioners should
turn and move in the opposite direction.
Me:
(me: eye)
Men:
(men: face, head)
Menkyo
kaiden: (menkyo: license, diploma; kai: everything, den: convey,
transmit) Highest diploma representing the acquisition of all the
techniques in a given martial art system.
Migi:
(migi: right)
Mo
ikkai: (mo: again; ikkai: one time) Command: Do it again.
Mo
ichido: ( mo: again; ichi: one; do: time) Same as above.
Mudansha:
( mu: none; dan: level; sha: person) Person not graded to black
belt.
Moku-roku:
(moku: eye; roku: document) A document or diploma including
technical explanations given in traditional martial art systems.
Mune
(muna-): (chest, chest area)
Mushin:
(mu: nothing; shin: spirit) The state of no thought stived for in
martial arts; a feeling of being
able
to react instinctively.
Musubi:
( musubi: to tie, bind) The same as ki-musubi: The feeling of
becoming one with the intentions and movements of your opponent.
Nage:
(1) (nage: throw) Aikido throwing technique.
(2) In Aikido, the
person performing the technique.
Nagare:
(nagare: flow)
Ni-nin
gake: (ni: two; nin: person, gake: attack) Two uke attacking
nage.
Obi:
(obi: belt)
Omote:
(omote: front)
Omoto-kyo:
( o: great; moto: foundation; kyo: belief) The name of the Shinto
group lead by Onisaburo
Deguchi,the
most important source of spiritual inspiriation for O-sensei
Ueshiba.
Onegaishimasu:
(o-negai: wish; shimasu: verb conjugation) Japanese standard
expression when requesting or wishing for something. Used for
instance at the beginning of practice or for requesting someone to
practice with you.
O-sensei:
(o: great; sensei: teacher, master) Morihei Ueshiba, founder of
Aikido (1883-1969). Also called Kaiso: founder.
Osae-waza:
(osae: lock; waza: technique) Techniques ending in a lock.
Owari/owarimasu:
(owari: finish, end; masu: verb conjugation)Command used to indicate
the end of a training session for instance.
Oyo-waza:
(oyo: application; waza: technique) Variations of basic
techniques in advanced training. The practical usage of Aikido
techniques in a more self-defense based context.
Randori:
(ran: disorder; dori: grab, grasp) Free style, improvisational
practice with several attackers, where the types of attack are not
predetermined.
Rei:
(rei: bow, thanks, politeness) Command used in Budo: bow.
Reigi:
(rei: bow, thanks, politeness; gi: rule, ceremony) Correct behaviour
in as well as outside of the dojo. Also called : reishiki ( shiki:
ceremony).
Renshu:
(ren: to discipline, shu: study) Training, practice.
Renzoku:
(ren: to bring with; zoku: to continue) One after the other,
continuous.
Riai:
(ri: logic, reason; ai: harmony) The common principals in Aikido
connecting empty-handed techniques, sword and staff.
Ryu:
(ryu: school, flow) A prefix meaning of a certain style in Budo
context.
San-nin
dori: (san: three; nin: person; dori: grab, grasp) Three
attackers holding nage.
San-nin
gake: (san: three; nin: person; gake: attack) Three people
attacking nage.
Saya:
(saya: sword sheath)
Sempai:
(sem: in front, before; pai/hai: colleague) Fellow senior
practitioner.
Sensei:
(sen: before, in front; sei: to be born, live) Teacher/master: one
who is born before you.
Seiza:
(sei: correct; za: seat, sit) The traditional Japanese way of
sitting on your knees.
Shihan:
(shi: teacher; han: example) A representative of a Budo system,
graded 6th dan or higher.
Shiho:
(shi: four; ho: direction)
Shiho-giri:
(shi: four; ho: direction; giri: cut) Practice of cutting in
four directions with the sword.
Shiho-tsuki:
(shi: four; ho: direction; tsuki: thrust) Practice of thrusting with
the jo in four directions.
Shikko:
(knee walking)
Shime/-jime:
(shime: to squeeze, strangle)
Shisei:
(shi: form, appearance; sei: power) Posture.
Shiro-obi:
(shiro: white; obi: belt)
Shomen
(1): (sho: correct; men: front) The wall in the dojo towards
which you bow before starting practice, usually where there is a
picture of O-sensei.
Shomen
(2): (sho: correct; men: face, front) The face or head.
Sode:
(sode: sleeve)
Sode-guchi: (sode:
sleeve; guchi/kuchi: mouth) The opening of the sleeve.
Soto:
(soto: outside)
Soto-deshi:
(soto: outside; deshi: student) Student who lives outside of the
dojo, not a live-in student.
Suburi:
(su: origin; buri: to swing a sword or staff) A basic strike
or thrust with a jo or bokken.
Suki:
(suki: opening) An opening or weak point in a technique which
leaves you open to a counter-attack.
Suwari-waza:
(suwari: sit; waza: technique) Seated techniques, performed in
seiza.
Tachi-dori:
(tachi: sword; dori: grab, grasp) Empty-handed techniques
defending against sword attacks. Approximately 10 variations.
Tai:
(tai: body)
Tai-jutsu:
(tai: body; jutsu: technique) Empty-handed Aikido
techniques.
Tai
no Henko: ( tai: body: no: belonging to; henko: to turn
around) Basic practice in turning 180 degrees while uke is
grabbing nage’s wrist.
Tai
sabaki: (tai: body; sabaki: to move, evade) Movements off
the line of attack.
Takemusu
Aiki: (take: martial; musu: to give birth to; ai: harmony;
ki: energy, spirit, intention) A term used by O-sensei to
describe the most advanced level of practice in Aikido: the
spontaneous use and creation of techniques through a complete
understanding of the basic principals.
Taninzu
gake: (taninzu: a group of people; gake: attack) A group of
people attacking nage; the same as randori.
Tanren
Uchi: (tan: to forge,train; ren; to practice; uchi: strike)
The practice of striking a tire with a suburi bokken in order to
obtain hip strength and to learn to unleash power at a maximum.
Tanren is also used in for instance "Yokomen no Tanren",
the practice of striking yokomen with the hand while your
partner blocks the strike.
Tanto:
(tan: short; to: sword) Knife.
Tanto-dori:
(tan: short; to: sword, dori: grab, grasp) Knife disarming
techniques.
Tegatana:
(te: hand; k/gatana: sword) The edge of the hand.
Tsuba:
(tsuba: sword guard) The small disc-like decorative object which
is found between the blade and the hilt of the Japanese sword.
Tsuka:
(tsuka: hilt) The hilt or handle of the Japanese sword.
To:
(to: sword)
Tobu
ukemi: (tobu: jump, fly; ukemi: breakfall) A high breakfall.
Tsuki:
(tsuki: thrust) A thrust with a jo or bokken, or a straight
punch.
Uchi
(1): (uchi:strike) Strike, most often from above the head in
a downwards motion.
Uchi
(2): (uchi: strike) The term for the attacker in jo
techniques.
Uchi
(3): (uchi: inside) Inner or inside.
Uchi-deshi:
(uchi: inside; deshi: student) A live-in student who trains
under and assists a sensei on a full time basis.
Uchi-tachi:
(uchi: strike; tachi: sword) In sword partner practice: the
attacker.
Uke
(1): (uke: to receive) The person receiving the technique;
in empty-handed techniques the person who is thrown; the
attacker.
Uke
(2): (uke: to receive) In jo practice, the person who is
defending.
Ukemi:
(uke: to receive; mi: body) To receive (the technique)
through the body: Breakfalls.
Uke-tachi:
(uke: to receive; tachi: sword) In sword partner practice,
the person who is defending.
Ushiro:
(ushiro: behind, in back)
Waza:
(waza: technique)
Yamé:
(yamé: stop) Command: stop.
Yari:
(yari: spear)
Yoko:
(yoko: side)
Yokomen:
(yoko: side; men: face) The side of the head. Often used as
a shortened form for the the following strike:
Yokomen-uchi:
(yoko: side; men: face; uchi: strike) Strike with the edge of
the hand, jo, bokken or tanto to the side of the head/ temple.
Yoko
ukemi: (yoko: side; ukemi: breakfall) Sideways breakfall.
Yubi:
(yubi: finger)
Yudansha:
(yu: to possess; dan: grade; sha: person) Black belt graded
person.
Zanshin:
(zan: to remain; shin: spirit) The mental connection between you
and your partner even after completion of a technique. This
manifests itself in the person performing the technique holding
the final position while channeling a surge of energy outwards;
the feeling of the power continuing to pour out even after the
movement is over.
Zenbu:
( zen: everything; bu: part) Everything, all.
Zengo-giri:
(zen: forward; go: backward; giri: cut) The practice of cutting
with the sword to the front and rear consecutively.
Zengo-
tsuki: (zen: forward; go: backward, tsuki: thrust) The same
practice as above, but thrusting with the jo instead.
Source http://www.aiki-shuren-dojo.com
