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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tanto
tori: Techniques against knife attacks.
Kumitachi:
Partner boken work.
Kumijo:
Partner jo work.
Suburi:
Solo boken practices.
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.
Gi: Practice uniform, usually a white karate or judo one.
Obi: The belt worn with the keiko gi.
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.
Ichi, ni,
san, shi (yon), go, roku, shichi (nana), hatchi, ku, ju: One through ten.
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.