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.

 

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B

 

Bokken

wooden sword used in practice

 

Budo

martial way

 

Bushido

warrior way

 

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C

 

Chudan

middle position

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D

 

Dan

system of ranking; black belt rank

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Deshi

student, pupil, disciple

 

Dojo

training hall

 

Dori

grab

 

Domo arigato gozaimashita

thank you very much

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E

 

Eridori

collar or lapel grab

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F

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Fukushidoin

first instructors rank, 2nd or 3rd dan

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G

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Gedan

low position

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Gi

training uniform

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Go

five

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Gokkyo

fifth pinning technique

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Gyaku hanmi

opposite stance; partners stand with the opposite foot forward (like a mirror image)

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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

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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

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J

 

Jyo

wooden staff

 

Jodan

high position

 

Jodori

disarming jyo attack

 

Ju

ten

 

Jujinage

crossed arm throw

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K

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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

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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

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N

 

Nage

throw; person who is attacked and performs the technique

 

Ni

two

 

Nikkyo

second technique, wrist bending technique

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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W - Y - Z

 

Waza

techniques

 

Yokomenuchi

strike to the side of head/temple

 

Yonkyo

fourth technique where pressure is applied against uke's forearm

 

Yudansha

black belt grade holders

 

Zabuton

rectangular, base cushion for zazen

 

Zafu

round cushion for zazen

 

Zanshin

unbroken awareness and concentration

 

Zazen

sitting meditation