Essential English Glossary
of Aikido Technical Terms
(This list does not include diacritics)
• Ago tsuki: “straight punch to the chin”.
• Ago tsuki age: “arch strike or push to the chin” (uppercut).
• Aiki: Blending, harmony, unification/union, synchrony.
• Aikidoka: A person who practices Aikido.
• Aiki otoshi: lit. “aiki drop.” A throwing technique in which nage grabs uke by his knees and pulling them up forces uke to fall backward.
• Aite: “opponent”, “partner”.
• Anza: cross-legged sitting position.
• Arigato gozaimasu: “Thank you very much”.
• Ashi: “foot”; “leg”
• Ashihakobi: “manner of walking”; “footwork”- characteristic way of moving in martial arts, keeping the center of gravity low (center/hara)
• Ashisabaki: footwork.
• Atemi: Striking.
• Atemi waza: Striking techniques; designed to control or cause Uke to react.
• Ayumi ashi: “alternated step” (normal stepping).
• Barai: (harai) “sweep”
• Boken/bokken: “wooden training sword”.
• Bokuto: “wood sword”; wooden training sword.
• Buki: “weapon(s)”
• Buki waza: “weapon techniques”, training techniques with weapons.
• Butoku: “the principles of budo/martial arts.”
• Chudan: “middle level”.
• Chudan tsuki: “chest strike”, middle (chest/stomach) level strike/thrust.
• Chushin: “center” (in Aikido it refers to the center of the body).
• Dan: “dan holder,” Aikido grade holder, black belt rank.
• Deshi: “pupil”, “disciple”.
• Do: “Way”, “Path”.
• Dogi: “uniform,” “dojo garments.” See also, keikogi, “practice uniform.”
• Dojo: The place where the way is revealed. A place for the strengthening and refinement of spirit, mind and body.
• Dojokun: “training hall rules”
• Dosa: “movement [of the body]”; action; gesture, exercise.
• Doshu: “Master of the Way” - Japanese title given to the head of the Aikido school and founder or successor of the tradition.
• Dozo: “please”.
• Embu: “martial demonstration”
• Embukai: “gathering/meeting of martial demonstrations”
• Eri: “collar”; “lapel.”
• Eri dori: “lapel grab” attack.
• Fudochi: “immovable mind,” “unshakable wisdom.”
• Fukko kamae: “kneeling position on one knee”
• Fumikomi: “stepping in” or “sliding in” toward the oppontent.
• Funekogi undo: “boat rowing exercise”
• Gaeshi/Kaeshi: “reverse”. To reverse/counter. Overturning or countering of opponent’s offensive action.
• Gaeshi/Kaeshi Waza: “counter technique”. Reverse techniques/practice.
• Gaku: “[picture] frame” – in a dojo this term typically refers to the portrait of O-sensei hanging or placed on the shomen.
• Gaman: “endurance”; “patience”; “perseverance”; bearing (with something). Also “self-restraint.” Term of Buddhist origin.
• Ganmen tsuki: “face thrust”, a hit/atemi (knife-hand/punch) to the face.
• Garami: “arm lock”.
• Gatame: see “Katame”
• Gedan: “low level”
• Gedan tsuki: “low level strike/thrust”.
• Gi: “training uniform”.
• Gokyo: (dai gokyo) fifth technique” – wrist and elbow control, usually against a tanto.
• Guchoku: “simplicity”, “purity”.
• Gyaku: “opposite”, contrary; reverse.
• Haishin undo: stretching exercise done in couple for the practitioners’ back, hips, and torso.
• Hajime: “beginning”.
• Hakama: Formal, wide pleated skirt-like pants worn over the gi.
• Hanmi: “half body”. The relaxed triangular stance of Aikido, with one foot forward.
• Hanmi handachi: Techniques practiced with nage sitting and uke standing.
• Hara: “belly.” The center of existence. Lower abdomen, physical and spiritual center.
• Hidari: “left,” the left side.
• Hiji: “elbow”
• Hiji dori: “elbow grab”
• Hiji kime osae: “elbow locking/control” technique. Also known as rokkyo (dai rokkyo) or Sixth technique”.
• Ikkyo: (dai ikkyo) “first technique”, arm control.
• Irimi: Entering, moving into and through the line of attack.
• Jigeiko: Free training, training between two students without direct instruction (kendo).
• Jiyu: “freedom,” “liberty”
• Jiyugeiko: “free practice,” “unrestricted practice”
• Jiyu waza: “free/unrestricted techniques”.
• Jo: Short wooden staff.
• Jo dori: Techniques of staff taking.
• Jodan: “head/face level”.
• Jodan tsuki: “head strike”, face level strike/thrust.
• Joseki: “upper-end side,” higher [or closer] side of the dojo.
• Juji garami: “crossed arms” or “figure-10” throwing technique (also calles juji nage).
• Jukyo: Confucianism, the root of East Asian understanding of the Way/do.
• Jumbi taiso: preparatory/warm-up exercises.
• Kaeshi waza: “counter technique”.
•Kagami: “mirror”, “model”, “example”.
• Kagami biraki: Japanese ritual opening of the New Year’s Day with Aikido practice.
• Kaiten: “rotation”, “revolution”, To revolve or rotate.
• Kaiten nage: “Wheel/rotary throw” – pressing uke’s arm behind and over their back.
• Kakari keigo: form of Aikido training in which multiple attackers (uke) attack the defendant (nage) from various directions.
• Kakujiku: “hanging scroll” – this term typically refers to the painting scroll (usually Japanese calligraphy of the word Aikido or Japanese language maxims/mottos) hanging in a dojo on the shomen.
• Kamae: Natural ‘readiness’ stance. With a weapon: Jodan kamae – high position; Chudan kamae- middle position; Gedan kamae – lower position.
• Kamiza: “chief seat”, seat of honor – area of the dojo where the instructor (sensei) sits and where O-sensei is remembered and respected.
• Kangeiko: “winter training.”
• Kata: Shoulder; person. Also means ‘form’ practice of pre-arranged exercises(s).
• Kata dori: “shoulder grab”.
• Katadori menuchi: “one shoulder grab, while simultaneously hitting the face or the forehead with other hand.
• Kata gatame: “immobilization techniques of the arm and the shoulder” occurring after execution of nikkyo, sankyo, kotegaeshi.
• Katame: “immobilization”, “holding”
• Katame waza: “immobilization techniques”, “holding techniques”, “grappling techniques”.
• Katate: “single hand.”
• Katate dori: “wrist grab.” Single hand grab.
• Katate dori ryote mochi: Grabbing your partner’s wrist with both hands; two-hand hold on two hands/wrists.
• Kawashi waza: “dodging techniques”, “deflecting/evasion techniques”.
• Kawasu: “to dodge” “to deflect”, “to evade”.
• Keiko/geiko: “practice”, “training”.
• Keikogi: “training uniform”.
• Keiretsu: “line alignment”, “arrangement in a row”.
• Kendo: the “Art of the Sword” a modern form of kenjustu in which use of the wooden sword has been replaced by that of a bamboo one.
• Kesa: a Buddhist monk’s robe; angle at which the robe collar slants.
• Kesa giri: “kesa cut”; “diagonal cut top to bottom.” A sword cut along the oblique line of the opponent’s lapel.
• Ki: The vital force of the body; Cosmic Energy; or “flow of energy” (ki no nagare).
• Kiai: A piercing scream or cry with practical and psychological value meaning – “Meeting of the Spirits”.
• Kihon waza: “fundamental techniques”, “basic techniques”.
• Kime: “blocking”, “immobilization”, “applying pressure on the joint”.
• Kimeru: “to immobilize with a double-arm lock”.
• Kime waza: immobilization techniques.
• Ki no nagare: “flow of Ki energy”; one way of practicing Aikido.
• Kiri: “cut.”
• Kiri otoshi: “falling cut throw” – typically executed from the opponent’s back (ushiro).
• Kohai: “Junior student.”
• Koho tento undo: “backward rocking exercise”
• Kokoro: “mind/heart”, “spirit”
• Kokyu: “breathing”; the power of breath.
• Kokyu nage: “breath power throw”. Name referring to a set of techniques that involve throwing uke without grabbing any parts of his body.
• Kokyu tanden ho: Paired, two-hand grab sitting exercise. Also referred to as kokyu-ho, or kokyu-dosa.
• Kosa dori: “Cross hand grab” (right hand grabbing right wrist), same as aihanmi katate dori.
• Koshi: “hip(s)”, “waist”.
• Koshi nage: “hip throw”.
• Kotae gaeshi: ‘turning the wrist’ – a wrist-turning throw.
• Kote: “wrist”, the forearm.
• Kubi: “neck”.
• Kubi nage: “throwing by grabbing the neck”.
• Kubi shime: “choke hold.”
• Kubi uchi: “blow/ strike to the neck”.
• Kuki nage: “air throw” or “whirling throw.”
• Kumi jo: “paired jo staff practice”, “sparring practice with jo staff”.
• Kumi tachi: “paired sword practice”
• Kuro/kuroi: the color “black”.
• Kuzushi waza: techniques to break opponent’s balance.
• Kuzusu: “to break one’s balance”, “to throw off balance”.
• Kyu: Aikido rank, class. A mudansha (or undergraduate).
• Kyudo: the traditional art of archery, or the “Way of the Bow”
• Kyusho: “vital points” of the human body.
• Ma-ai: “distance.” Space or gap between uke and nage, meaning “harmony of space.”
• Mae: “the front,” forward.
• Mae geri: “front kick”.
• Mae mawari ukemi; "forward rolling fall/ukemi".
• Mae ukemi: “front fall”. See also utsubuse ukemi.
• Maki: winding; wrapping.
• Makoto: “sincerity”, “truth”
• Mawari: "rotation," "round" (as a suffix).
• Mawashi geri: “roundhouse kick,” spin kick.”
• Men: “face”
• Men tsuki: Straight thrust (punch) to the face. Same as jodan tsuki.
• Menuchi: “strike to the opponent’s head or forehead”.
• Metsuke: “expression of the eyes”
• Migi: “right”, right side.
• Misogi: “purification ritual” (Shinto). Ritual ceremony typically performed with water/ablutions.
• Mitori-geiko: “looking practice,” usually means coming to class when you are injured and can't participate. To learn something by watching and copying/mimicking.
• Mokuso: “silent sitting”; “silent contemplation” - short meditation before or after class.
• Morote: “both hands,” two handed.
• Morote dori: “two hand hold”. Grabbing [the opponent’s wrist] with two hands.
• Muga: “no ego”, “no self”. Buddhist term.
• Mune: “chest”; “lapel”
• Munen: “no thought”, “no thinking”. Buddhist term.
• Musha shugyo: a “warrior’s ascetic practice” to hone and ascertain one’s skills.
• Mushin: “no mind”. Buddhist term.
• Musubi: “connection”, “unification”.
• Nageru: “to throw”.
• Naname: “diagonal” direction.
• Naname kokyu nage/naname irimi nage: “diagonal throw” also referred to as sokumen irimi nage (Lit. “Side-of-the-face/frontal throw”).
• Nikkyo: (dai nikkyo) ‘Second Technique’ – a wrist joint-lock control.
• Obi: “belt”.
• Omote: “front side.”
• Osae: “suppression”; “keeping control”, pression; immobilization.
• Osaeru: “to suppress” (to hold; to immobilize)
• O Sensei: “Great teacher” – the title used for the Founder of Aikido.
• Otoshi: “drop”
• Randori: “free technique” against multiple attacking opponents (lit. “grabbing [the opponent] in a disorderly manner”].
• Rei: “bow”, to bow.
• Reigi: “courtesy”, “manners”, “etiquette”.
• Reiho: “rules of courtesy and respect,” “etiquette”.
• Ritsurei: “standing bow”.
• Ryohiji dori: “grabbing both elbows”.
• Ryokata dori: “grabbing both shoulders”.
• Ryokatate dori: “both hands grabbing one of the opponent’s wrists”.
• Ryote: “two handed”.
• Ryote dori: “grabbing with two hands”; two-hand hold.
• Ryote mochi: “grabbing with two hands”.
• Sabaki: “movement control”, “managing”.
• Sankaku: “triangle”
• Sankyo: (dai sankyo) “third technique”, a wrist-joint twisting technique.
• Sayu undo: “side exercise” (lit. left and right exercise)
• Seika [no] tanden: “point below one’s navel” – a focal point in meditative practice related to one’s mental and physical centralization.
• Seiza: formal sitting position on knees.
• Sekka no ki: “flash from a flint” a principle in martial arts that denotes a instantaneous reaction to an attack and immediate as a spark from a flint.
• Seoi: “shoulder”.
• Seoi otoshi: “shoulder drop technique” (typically from ushiro)
• Sempai: “senior student”.
• Sensei: “teacher”, one who gives guidance along the way.
• Senshin: “pure mind”. A purified heart and spirit; enlightened attitude.
• Shihan: official title in Aikido given to the most senior teacher in a dojo (typically after 6th dan).
• Shiho: “four directions/sides”.
• Shiho nage: “four corner throw” – a wrist / elbow lock, throw, and pin.
• Shikaku: “blind spot”.
• Shikko: “knee walking exercise”; moving on one’s knees.
• Shime waza: “choking techniques”
• Shimoseki: “lower end side”, lower [or further away] side of the dojo.
• Shimoza: “lower seat” – the area in the dojo where students (deshi) sit, facing the kamiza and the shomen.
• Shingitai ichinyo: “the unity of mind, technique, and body.”
• Shinshin ichinyo: “Body and mind as One.” Practicing with the goal of uniting movement and thinking.
• Shinzenbi: the principle of “mind, honesty, and beauty”
• Shiro/shiroi: the color “white”.
• Shisei: “body posture”.
• Shizen: “nature”, natural.
• Shizen hontai: “natural physical attitude”.
• Shizan tai: “natural standing posture”.
• Shochugeiko: “summer training.”
• Shodan: Holder of the first-grade black belt.
• Shomen: “front”. Also, name given to the area in the dojo housing the picture of O-Sensei, calligraphies, and often flowers/plants.
• Shomen uchi: “strike to the forehead”. Downward strike or cut to one’s forehead or the top of the head.
• Shuto: “knife-hand.” See tegatana.
• Sode: “sleeve”.
• Sode dori: “sleeve grab”.
• Sokumen: “side”, “profile”, “lateral”.
• Sokumen irimi nage. See naname kokyu nage above.
• Soto: “outer/outside”.
• Soto kaiten nage: throwing technique that involves reversing one’s posture next to uke’s side.
• Suigetsu: “solar plexus” (vital target point); lit. “water-moon.”
• Sumi: “corner”, “angle”.
• Sumi otoshi: “Corner drop”, sometimes a locked-elbow throw.
• Suriashi: “sliding step” – moving on the tatami mats with feet always in contact with the surface.
• Sutemi: “suicide fall”, a hard fall; lit. “throwing or sacrificing one’s own body to throw an opponent”).
• Suwari waza: “kneeling techniques”.
• Tachi: Japanese sword; also “standing/upright position”.
• Tai no henko: Basic blending practice.
• Tai otoshi: “body dropping” - throwing technique in which nage lowers his body forcing uke to follow and fall to the ground.
• Taiso: “Body conditioning”; exercises and calisthenics.
• Tanden: The hara, the center of the body below the navel; the lower abdomen, the center of the body’s KI, or vital energy.
• Tanto: “knife” (lit. short blade)
• Tanto dori: Techniques of knife taking.
• Te: “hand”.
• Tegatana: “hand-blade” or “knife-hand”. Edge of the hand used like a sword in fighting. Same as Japanese term shuto; same meaning different pronunciation.
• Tekubi: “wrist(s)”.
• Tekubi kosa undo: “wrist crossing exercise”.
• Tenchi: Ten=heaven, chi=earth. A position of the hands, one up and one down.
• Tenchi nage: “heaven and earth throw.”
• Tenkan: “pivoting,” turning to dissipate force.
• Tenshin: “body turn”.
• Tobi ukemi: “flying fall”, “break fall”.
• Tori: “doer” the thrower. See “nage.”
• Toru: “to take,” grab, catch; seize.
• Tsugi ashi: “follow-up step”. Moving the leading foot first and bringing the rear foot one close behind it.
• Tsuki: “thrust”.
• Uchi: “Inner”, “inside”, “under”
• Uchideshi: (lit. inside student), “live-in student,” apprentice who trains under and assists a sensei on a full-time basis.
• Uchi kaiten nage: throwing technique involving nage’s stepping under uke’s arm before performing a rotation (kaiten).
• Ude: “forearm”.
• Ude furi undo: “arm swinging exercise”.
• Ude garami: “entangled arm lock.”
• Uke: “receiver;” one who receives [the technique]. The person being thrown.
• Ukemi: Techniques of receiving, falling and protecting yourself. The art of falling away from harm.
• Ukeru: to receive; to accept.
• Uki otoshi [kokyu nage]: Throwing techniques in which nage pulls uke by the hand and the latter rolls to nage’s side. Lit. “floating drop”.
• Ura: “ear/back/behind”.
• Ushiro: Attacking from the back, behind, rear.
• Ushiro dori/tori: holding/attacking/grabbing from behind.
• Ushiro hiji dori: elbow hold from behind.
• Ushiro kata dori: shoulder hold from behind.
• Ushiro kiri otoshi: “cutting down from behind”
• Ushiro kubishime: strangulation from behind.
• Ushiro ryote dori: Two hands grabbing two hands/wrists, from behind.
• Ushiro tekubi tori: wrist grab/hold from behind.
• Ushiro tekubi tori zenshin undo: “wrist grab from behind backward throw”.
• Ushiro tori undo: “forward extension exercise”.
• Ushiro ukemi: “rear fall”.
• Waka sensei: “young teacher”, “young mater” – in Aikido title given the son and successor of the doshu.
• Utsubuse ukemi: "face down/front ukemi".
• Waza: “technique(s)”.
• Yoko geri: “side kick.”
• Yoko menuchi: “side of the head strike”. A lateral cut or strike.
• Yoko ukemi: “side fall”.
• Yonkyo: (dai yonkyo) “fourth technique” – a wrist pressure point technique.
• Yudansha: Black belt grade holder(s).
• Yukyusha: White belt grade holder(s).
• Za: “sit”.
• Zanshin: “remaining mind”. Awareness of action and surroundings at all times (subconsciously).
• Zori: “sandals,” – traditional Japanese split-toe sandals.
of Aikido Technical Terms
(This list does not include diacritics)
• Ago tsuki: “straight punch to the chin”.
• Ago tsuki age: “arch strike or push to the chin” (uppercut).
• Aiki: Blending, harmony, unification/union, synchrony.
• Aikidoka: A person who practices Aikido.
• Aiki otoshi: lit. “aiki drop.” A throwing technique in which nage grabs uke by his knees and pulling them up forces uke to fall backward.
• Aite: “opponent”, “partner”.
• Anza: cross-legged sitting position.
• Arigato gozaimasu: “Thank you very much”.
• Ashi: “foot”; “leg”
• Ashihakobi: “manner of walking”; “footwork”- characteristic way of moving in martial arts, keeping the center of gravity low (center/hara)
• Ashisabaki: footwork.
• Atemi: Striking.
• Atemi waza: Striking techniques; designed to control or cause Uke to react.
• Ayumi ashi: “alternated step” (normal stepping).
• Barai: (harai) “sweep”
• Boken/bokken: “wooden training sword”.
• Bokuto: “wood sword”; wooden training sword.
• Buki: “weapon(s)”
• Buki waza: “weapon techniques”, training techniques with weapons.
• Butoku: “the principles of budo/martial arts.”
• Chudan: “middle level”.
• Chudan tsuki: “chest strike”, middle (chest/stomach) level strike/thrust.
• Chushin: “center” (in Aikido it refers to the center of the body).
• Dan: “dan holder,” Aikido grade holder, black belt rank.
• Deshi: “pupil”, “disciple”.
• Do: “Way”, “Path”.
• Dogi: “uniform,” “dojo garments.” See also, keikogi, “practice uniform.”
• Dojo: The place where the way is revealed. A place for the strengthening and refinement of spirit, mind and body.
• Dojokun: “training hall rules”
• Dosa: “movement [of the body]”; action; gesture, exercise.
• Doshu: “Master of the Way” - Japanese title given to the head of the Aikido school and founder or successor of the tradition.
• Dozo: “please”.
• Embu: “martial demonstration”
• Embukai: “gathering/meeting of martial demonstrations”
• Eri: “collar”; “lapel.”
• Eri dori: “lapel grab” attack.
• Fudochi: “immovable mind,” “unshakable wisdom.”
• Fukko kamae: “kneeling position on one knee”
• Fumikomi: “stepping in” or “sliding in” toward the oppontent.
• Funekogi undo: “boat rowing exercise”
• Gaeshi/Kaeshi: “reverse”. To reverse/counter. Overturning or countering of opponent’s offensive action.
• Gaeshi/Kaeshi Waza: “counter technique”. Reverse techniques/practice.
• Gaku: “[picture] frame” – in a dojo this term typically refers to the portrait of O-sensei hanging or placed on the shomen.
• Gaman: “endurance”; “patience”; “perseverance”; bearing (with something). Also “self-restraint.” Term of Buddhist origin.
• Ganmen tsuki: “face thrust”, a hit/atemi (knife-hand/punch) to the face.
• Garami: “arm lock”.
• Gatame: see “Katame”
• Gedan: “low level”
• Gedan tsuki: “low level strike/thrust”.
• Gi: “training uniform”.
• Gokyo: (dai gokyo) fifth technique” – wrist and elbow control, usually against a tanto.
• Guchoku: “simplicity”, “purity”.
• Gyaku: “opposite”, contrary; reverse.
• Haishin undo: stretching exercise done in couple for the practitioners’ back, hips, and torso.
• Hajime: “beginning”.
• Hakama: Formal, wide pleated skirt-like pants worn over the gi.
• Hanmi: “half body”. The relaxed triangular stance of Aikido, with one foot forward.
• Hanmi handachi: Techniques practiced with nage sitting and uke standing.
• Hara: “belly.” The center of existence. Lower abdomen, physical and spiritual center.
• Hidari: “left,” the left side.
• Hiji: “elbow”
• Hiji dori: “elbow grab”
• Hiji kime osae: “elbow locking/control” technique. Also known as rokkyo (dai rokkyo) or Sixth technique”.
• Ikkyo: (dai ikkyo) “first technique”, arm control.
• Irimi: Entering, moving into and through the line of attack.
• Jigeiko: Free training, training between two students without direct instruction (kendo).
• Jiyu: “freedom,” “liberty”
• Jiyugeiko: “free practice,” “unrestricted practice”
• Jiyu waza: “free/unrestricted techniques”.
• Jo: Short wooden staff.
• Jo dori: Techniques of staff taking.
• Jodan: “head/face level”.
• Jodan tsuki: “head strike”, face level strike/thrust.
• Joseki: “upper-end side,” higher [or closer] side of the dojo.
• Juji garami: “crossed arms” or “figure-10” throwing technique (also calles juji nage).
• Jukyo: Confucianism, the root of East Asian understanding of the Way/do.
• Jumbi taiso: preparatory/warm-up exercises.
• Kaeshi waza: “counter technique”.
•Kagami: “mirror”, “model”, “example”.
• Kagami biraki: Japanese ritual opening of the New Year’s Day with Aikido practice.
• Kaiten: “rotation”, “revolution”, To revolve or rotate.
• Kaiten nage: “Wheel/rotary throw” – pressing uke’s arm behind and over their back.
• Kakari keigo: form of Aikido training in which multiple attackers (uke) attack the defendant (nage) from various directions.
• Kakujiku: “hanging scroll” – this term typically refers to the painting scroll (usually Japanese calligraphy of the word Aikido or Japanese language maxims/mottos) hanging in a dojo on the shomen.
• Kamae: Natural ‘readiness’ stance. With a weapon: Jodan kamae – high position; Chudan kamae- middle position; Gedan kamae – lower position.
• Kamiza: “chief seat”, seat of honor – area of the dojo where the instructor (sensei) sits and where O-sensei is remembered and respected.
• Kangeiko: “winter training.”
• Kata: Shoulder; person. Also means ‘form’ practice of pre-arranged exercises(s).
• Kata dori: “shoulder grab”.
• Katadori menuchi: “one shoulder grab, while simultaneously hitting the face or the forehead with other hand.
• Kata gatame: “immobilization techniques of the arm and the shoulder” occurring after execution of nikkyo, sankyo, kotegaeshi.
• Katame: “immobilization”, “holding”
• Katame waza: “immobilization techniques”, “holding techniques”, “grappling techniques”.
• Katate: “single hand.”
• Katate dori: “wrist grab.” Single hand grab.
• Katate dori ryote mochi: Grabbing your partner’s wrist with both hands; two-hand hold on two hands/wrists.
• Kawashi waza: “dodging techniques”, “deflecting/evasion techniques”.
• Kawasu: “to dodge” “to deflect”, “to evade”.
• Keiko/geiko: “practice”, “training”.
• Keikogi: “training uniform”.
• Keiretsu: “line alignment”, “arrangement in a row”.
• Kendo: the “Art of the Sword” a modern form of kenjustu in which use of the wooden sword has been replaced by that of a bamboo one.
• Kesa: a Buddhist monk’s robe; angle at which the robe collar slants.
• Kesa giri: “kesa cut”; “diagonal cut top to bottom.” A sword cut along the oblique line of the opponent’s lapel.
• Ki: The vital force of the body; Cosmic Energy; or “flow of energy” (ki no nagare).
• Kiai: A piercing scream or cry with practical and psychological value meaning – “Meeting of the Spirits”.
• Kihon waza: “fundamental techniques”, “basic techniques”.
• Kime: “blocking”, “immobilization”, “applying pressure on the joint”.
• Kimeru: “to immobilize with a double-arm lock”.
• Kime waza: immobilization techniques.
• Ki no nagare: “flow of Ki energy”; one way of practicing Aikido.
• Kiri: “cut.”
• Kiri otoshi: “falling cut throw” – typically executed from the opponent’s back (ushiro).
• Kohai: “Junior student.”
• Koho tento undo: “backward rocking exercise”
• Kokoro: “mind/heart”, “spirit”
• Kokyu: “breathing”; the power of breath.
• Kokyu nage: “breath power throw”. Name referring to a set of techniques that involve throwing uke without grabbing any parts of his body.
• Kokyu tanden ho: Paired, two-hand grab sitting exercise. Also referred to as kokyu-ho, or kokyu-dosa.
• Kosa dori: “Cross hand grab” (right hand grabbing right wrist), same as aihanmi katate dori.
• Koshi: “hip(s)”, “waist”.
• Koshi nage: “hip throw”.
• Kotae gaeshi: ‘turning the wrist’ – a wrist-turning throw.
• Kote: “wrist”, the forearm.
• Kubi: “neck”.
• Kubi nage: “throwing by grabbing the neck”.
• Kubi shime: “choke hold.”
• Kubi uchi: “blow/ strike to the neck”.
• Kuki nage: “air throw” or “whirling throw.”
• Kumi jo: “paired jo staff practice”, “sparring practice with jo staff”.
• Kumi tachi: “paired sword practice”
• Kuro/kuroi: the color “black”.
• Kuzushi waza: techniques to break opponent’s balance.
• Kuzusu: “to break one’s balance”, “to throw off balance”.
• Kyu: Aikido rank, class. A mudansha (or undergraduate).
• Kyudo: the traditional art of archery, or the “Way of the Bow”
• Kyusho: “vital points” of the human body.
• Ma-ai: “distance.” Space or gap between uke and nage, meaning “harmony of space.”
• Mae: “the front,” forward.
• Mae geri: “front kick”.
• Mae mawari ukemi; "forward rolling fall/ukemi".
• Mae ukemi: “front fall”. See also utsubuse ukemi.
• Maki: winding; wrapping.
• Makoto: “sincerity”, “truth”
• Mawari: "rotation," "round" (as a suffix).
• Mawashi geri: “roundhouse kick,” spin kick.”
• Men: “face”
• Men tsuki: Straight thrust (punch) to the face. Same as jodan tsuki.
• Menuchi: “strike to the opponent’s head or forehead”.
• Metsuke: “expression of the eyes”
• Migi: “right”, right side.
• Misogi: “purification ritual” (Shinto). Ritual ceremony typically performed with water/ablutions.
• Mitori-geiko: “looking practice,” usually means coming to class when you are injured and can't participate. To learn something by watching and copying/mimicking.
• Mokuso: “silent sitting”; “silent contemplation” - short meditation before or after class.
• Morote: “both hands,” two handed.
• Morote dori: “two hand hold”. Grabbing [the opponent’s wrist] with two hands.
• Muga: “no ego”, “no self”. Buddhist term.
• Mune: “chest”; “lapel”
- Mune dori: “lapel grab”. Lapel grab with one hand”.
• Munen: “no thought”, “no thinking”. Buddhist term.
• Musha shugyo: a “warrior’s ascetic practice” to hone and ascertain one’s skills.
• Mushin: “no mind”. Buddhist term.
• Musubi: “connection”, “unification”.
- Nafuda kake: “name tag board” – traditional wooden board (kake) containing name tags (nafuda) of the members of a dojo arranged according to rank.
- Nagare: “flow” – typically referred to a flowing technique between two partners that is smooth and uninterrupted.
• Nageru: “to throw”.
• Naname: “diagonal” direction.
• Naname kokyu nage/naname irimi nage: “diagonal throw” also referred to as sokumen irimi nage (Lit. “Side-of-the-face/frontal throw”).
• Nikkyo: (dai nikkyo) ‘Second Technique’ – a wrist joint-lock control.
• Obi: “belt”.
• Omote: “front side.”
• Osae: “suppression”; “keeping control”, pression; immobilization.
• Osaeru: “to suppress” (to hold; to immobilize)
• O Sensei: “Great teacher” – the title used for the Founder of Aikido.
• Otoshi: “drop”
• Randori: “free technique” against multiple attacking opponents (lit. “grabbing [the opponent] in a disorderly manner”].
• Rei: “bow”, to bow.
• Reigi: “courtesy”, “manners”, “etiquette”.
• Reiho: “rules of courtesy and respect,” “etiquette”.
• Ritsurei: “standing bow”.
• Ryohiji dori: “grabbing both elbows”.
• Ryokata dori: “grabbing both shoulders”.
• Ryokatate dori: “both hands grabbing one of the opponent’s wrists”.
• Ryote: “two handed”.
• Ryote dori: “grabbing with two hands”; two-hand hold.
• Ryote mochi: “grabbing with two hands”.
• Sabaki: “movement control”, “managing”.
• Sankaku: “triangle”
• Sankyo: (dai sankyo) “third technique”, a wrist-joint twisting technique.
• Sayu undo: “side exercise” (lit. left and right exercise)
• Seika [no] tanden: “point below one’s navel” – a focal point in meditative practice related to one’s mental and physical centralization.
• Seiza: formal sitting position on knees.
• Sekka no ki: “flash from a flint” a principle in martial arts that denotes a instantaneous reaction to an attack and immediate as a spark from a flint.
• Seoi: “shoulder”.
• Seoi otoshi: “shoulder drop technique” (typically from ushiro)
• Sempai: “senior student”.
• Sensei: “teacher”, one who gives guidance along the way.
• Senshin: “pure mind”. A purified heart and spirit; enlightened attitude.
• Shihan: official title in Aikido given to the most senior teacher in a dojo (typically after 6th dan).
• Shiho: “four directions/sides”.
• Shiho nage: “four corner throw” – a wrist / elbow lock, throw, and pin.
• Shikaku: “blind spot”.
• Shikko: “knee walking exercise”; moving on one’s knees.
• Shime waza: “choking techniques”
• Shimoseki: “lower end side”, lower [or further away] side of the dojo.
• Shimoza: “lower seat” – the area in the dojo where students (deshi) sit, facing the kamiza and the shomen.
• Shingitai ichinyo: “the unity of mind, technique, and body.”
• Shinshin ichinyo: “Body and mind as One.” Practicing with the goal of uniting movement and thinking.
• Shinzenbi: the principle of “mind, honesty, and beauty”
• Shiro/shiroi: the color “white”.
• Shisei: “body posture”.
• Shizen: “nature”, natural.
• Shizen hontai: “natural physical attitude”.
• Shizan tai: “natural standing posture”.
• Shochugeiko: “summer training.”
• Shodan: Holder of the first-grade black belt.
• Shomen: “front”. Also, name given to the area in the dojo housing the picture of O-Sensei, calligraphies, and often flowers/plants.
• Shomen uchi: “strike to the forehead”. Downward strike or cut to one’s forehead or the top of the head.
• Shuto: “knife-hand.” See tegatana.
• Sode: “sleeve”.
• Sode dori: “sleeve grab”.
• Sokumen: “side”, “profile”, “lateral”.
• Sokumen irimi nage. See naname kokyu nage above.
• Soto: “outer/outside”.
• Soto kaiten nage: throwing technique that involves reversing one’s posture next to uke’s side.
• Suigetsu: “solar plexus” (vital target point); lit. “water-moon.”
• Sumi: “corner”, “angle”.
• Sumi otoshi: “Corner drop”, sometimes a locked-elbow throw.
• Suriashi: “sliding step” – moving on the tatami mats with feet always in contact with the surface.
• Sutemi: “suicide fall”, a hard fall; lit. “throwing or sacrificing one’s own body to throw an opponent”).
• Suwari waza: “kneeling techniques”.
• Tachi: Japanese sword; also “standing/upright position”.
- Tachi dori: “sword taking”. Techniques of taking an opponent’s sword
- Tachi waza: “standing techniques”.
- Tai: “body”
• Tai no henko: Basic blending practice.
• Tai otoshi: “body dropping” - throwing technique in which nage lowers his body forcing uke to follow and fall to the ground.
• Taiso: “Body conditioning”; exercises and calisthenics.
• Tanden: The hara, the center of the body below the navel; the lower abdomen, the center of the body’s KI, or vital energy.
• Tanto: “knife” (lit. short blade)
• Tanto dori: Techniques of knife taking.
• Te: “hand”.
• Tegatana: “hand-blade” or “knife-hand”. Edge of the hand used like a sword in fighting. Same as Japanese term shuto; same meaning different pronunciation.
• Tekubi: “wrist(s)”.
• Tekubi kosa undo: “wrist crossing exercise”.
• Tenchi: Ten=heaven, chi=earth. A position of the hands, one up and one down.
• Tenchi nage: “heaven and earth throw.”
• Tenkan: “pivoting,” turning to dissipate force.
• Tenshin: “body turn”.
• Tobi ukemi: “flying fall”, “break fall”.
• Tori: “doer” the thrower. See “nage.”
• Toru: “to take,” grab, catch; seize.
• Tsugi ashi: “follow-up step”. Moving the leading foot first and bringing the rear foot one close behind it.
• Tsuki: “thrust”.
• Uchi: “Inner”, “inside”, “under”
• Uchideshi: (lit. inside student), “live-in student,” apprentice who trains under and assists a sensei on a full-time basis.
• Uchi kaiten nage: throwing technique involving nage’s stepping under uke’s arm before performing a rotation (kaiten).
• Ude: “forearm”.
• Ude furi undo: “arm swinging exercise”.
• Ude garami: “entangled arm lock.”
• Uke: “receiver;” one who receives [the technique]. The person being thrown.
• Ukemi: Techniques of receiving, falling and protecting yourself. The art of falling away from harm.
• Ukeru: to receive; to accept.
• Uki otoshi [kokyu nage]: Throwing techniques in which nage pulls uke by the hand and the latter rolls to nage’s side. Lit. “floating drop”.
• Ura: “ear/back/behind”.
• Ushiro: Attacking from the back, behind, rear.
• Ushiro dori/tori: holding/attacking/grabbing from behind.
• Ushiro hiji dori: elbow hold from behind.
• Ushiro kata dori: shoulder hold from behind.
• Ushiro kiri otoshi: “cutting down from behind”
• Ushiro kubishime: strangulation from behind.
• Ushiro ryote dori: Two hands grabbing two hands/wrists, from behind.
• Ushiro tekubi tori: wrist grab/hold from behind.
• Ushiro tekubi tori zenshin undo: “wrist grab from behind backward throw”.
• Ushiro tori undo: “forward extension exercise”.
• Ushiro ukemi: “rear fall”.
• Waka sensei: “young teacher”, “young mater” – in Aikido title given the son and successor of the doshu.
• Utsubuse ukemi: "face down/front ukemi".
• Waza: “technique(s)”.
• Yoko geri: “side kick.”
• Yoko menuchi: “side of the head strike”. A lateral cut or strike.
• Yoko ukemi: “side fall”.
• Yonkyo: (dai yonkyo) “fourth technique” – a wrist pressure point technique.
• Yudansha: Black belt grade holder(s).
• Yukyusha: White belt grade holder(s).
• Za: “sit”.
• Zanshin: “remaining mind”. Awareness of action and surroundings at all times (subconsciously).
• Zori: “sandals,” – traditional Japanese split-toe sandals.