A Dictionary of Term and Techniques of Aikido
Michael A. Abels
Last Up-Date 12/99

Ai (eye) Harmony, blend, oneness, become one with, meet.

Ai-hanmi (eye-hawn-mee) Situation in which opponents face each other in same posture; both in right or both in left stances.

Aiki (eye-key) Harmony with the universe.

Aikido (eye-key-doe) The way of life through harmony with the universe, a non-violent art of self-defense; "ai=harmony", "ki=spirit", "do=way".

Aikidoka (eye-key-doe-kah) A person who practices Aikido.

Ai-Uchi (eye-oo-chee) Mutual kill position, situtation where opponents face each other and if both strike at the same time would hit each other.

Arigato Gozaimasu (ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah-ee-mahss) Thank you,
(polite form).

Atemi (ah-teh-mee) Strike, a blow to the vital parts of the body to stun the opponent.

Bo (bow) Wooden staff or rod; about 6 feet in length.

Bokken (bow-ken) wooden sword; 42-46 inches in length.

Bu (boo) Martial.

Budo (boo-doe) Martial way, the way of life through application of the principles of martial arts; the way of the warrior arts.

Bushido (boo-she-doe) Warrior’s code; the way of the warrior. Code of moral principals which the samurai were required instructed to follow.

Bujutsu (boo-jit’sue) Martial arts; "bu=military", "jutsu=art".

Chudan (chew-don) Middle position. Area from neck to waist.

Dan (don) Black belt rank. Example: Shodan, 1st black belt.

Deshi (deh-she) Student, pupil, disciple.

Do (doe) Path, road, a way of life.

Dojo (doe-joe) Training hall; place of enlightenment; the place where the Way is revealed. NOTE: Dojang (doe-jang) in Tae Kwon Do.

Domo / Domo Arigato (doe-moe / doe-moe-ah-ree-gah-toe) Thank You / Thank you very much.

Domo Arigato gozaimasita (doe-moe ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah-ee-mah-she tah) Most formal way of saying thank you.

Dosa (Doe-sah) An exercise.

Doshu (doe-shoo) Honorary title for the Master of the Art. Present Doshu is
Kisshomara Ueshiba, son of the late o-Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba.

Fudoshin (foo-doe-shin) Immovable mind.

Funekogi (foo-nay-koe-gee) a rowing motion.

Gaeshi (guy eh-she) To reverse. (eh) as the ‘e’ in edible

Gedan (gay-don) Low position. Below the waist.

Gi (ghee) White training uniform.

Gokkyo (go-kee-you) Fifth control, .

Gyaku-hanmi (ghee-ah-koo hon-me) Situation in which opponents face each other in different postures; one in left and one in right stance.

Hajime (hah-jee-may) Begin.

Hai (hi) Yes, next, prompt to continue.

Hakama (ha-kah-mah) Wide-skirted pants worn over gi. Typically worn by yudansha.

Hanmi (hawn-mee) Aikido triangular ready stance with either left or right foot forward. Weight is equally distributed on both feet.

Hanmi Handachi (hawn-mee hawn-dah-chee) Nage is kneeling and opponent attacks from a standing position. Also known as Hanmi-hantachi.

Hantai (hawn-tie) In reverse order.

Happo (ha-poe) eight directions.

Hara (hah-rah) Center of gravity of a person; area below the navel. It is the reservoir of life energy (Ki), physical and spiritual.

Henka waza (hen-ka wah-za) Switching from one technique to another.

Hidari (hee-dah-ree) Left (direction).

Hidari-hanmi (hee-dah-ree hawn-mee) Ready position with left foot forward.

Hiji (hee-jee) Elbow.

Hiji-jime (hee-jee jee-may) Lock applied against elbow.

Hiji-otoshi (hee-jee-oe-toe-she) Dropping the opponent’s elbow to lead his fall.

Hiriki no yosei (hee-ree-key no yo-say) Elbow power. [Y]

Hiza (hee-zah) Knee.

Ikkajo (eek-kah-joe) First control, characterized by manipulation below the wrist joint and pressure on the elbow or upper arm. [Y]

Ikkyo (eek-kyo) First control; applying pressure to control the arm. [SST]

Irimi (ee-ree-mee) Entering; moving into and through the line of attack.

Irimi nage (ee-ree-mee nah-gay) Entering throw; Tori brings his body into or almost into contact with uke’s body to effect the technique.

Jo (joe) Wooden Staff, 48 -52 inches long.

Jodan (joe-don) High position.

Joji (joe-jee) Techniques to throw the opponent with jo.

Jo (joe) Wooden staff, 48-52 inches long.

Juji nage (jew-gee nah-gay) X-throw, tori uses the pressure of crossing uke’s arms against each other to throw.

Jiyu (jee-you) Free style.

Kaeshi waza (ka-eh-she wah-za) Counter techniques.

Kaiten (kah-ee-ten) To revolve or rotate; to turn like a wheel.

Kaiten-nage (kah-ee-ten nah-gay) Circle throw, the spin throw which makes the opponent’s body rotate once before led to the mat.

Kamae (kah-ma-eh) Ready stance; ready posture. The two basic postures used in Aikido are: "migi-hanmi=right stance", "hidari-hanmi=left stance".

Kami (kah-mee) Deities worshiped by the Shinto.

Kansetsu-waza (con-seh-t’sue wah-zah) Techniques which are applied to the joints.

Kata (kah-tah) shoulder; practice of pre-arrange exercises.

Kata Tori (kah-tah toe-ree) Shoulder grab.

Katana (kah-tah-nah) Sword; blade.

Katate (kah-tah-tay) One hand.

Katate tori (kah-tah-tay toe-ree) Wrist grab, opponent grabs with one hand.

Katate tori ryote mochi (kah-tah-tay toe-ree roe-tay moe-chee) Two hands grabbing one wrist.

Keiko (kay-ko) Practice session.

Ken (ken) Sword.

Ki (key) Spirit; life force or vital energy; the essence of the universe; the source of energy of nature; the power of one’s mind.

Kiai (key-eye) To shout with Ki, the spirits.

Kihon (key-hone) Basic form of a technique.

Kihon dosa (key-hone doe-sah) Fundamental movements [Y]

Kihon waza (key-hone-wah-sah) Basic techniques. [SSK]

Kime (kim-ee) Bending the joint in the direction of natural movement; final locking technique, focus of physical/mental energy.

Ki musubi (key-moo-sue-bee) To move as one, to tie the Ki together.

Koho (koe-hoe) To the rear.

Koho Tento undo (koe-hoten-toe un-doe) Backward roll.

Kokyo (koe-kyoo) Breath; coordination of Ki flow and breathing, the coordination of ki flow with breathing.

Kokyu-Dosa (koe-kyoo doe-sah) Seated extension exercise used to practice movement from the waist, a method to pin you partner with "ki".

Kokyu-ho (koe-kyoo-hoe) Breathing method.

Kokyu-nage (koe-kyoo nah-gay) Breath or timing throw; the throw which overthrows the opponent using his own momentum and the timing of one’s mind and body, but without applying any pressure to his joints. [SST]

Kokyu-ryoku (koe-kyoo-roe-que) Breathing power.

Kosa (koe-sha) To cross or intersect.

Koshi (koe-she) The hips and/or lower back.

Koshi-nage (koe-she na-gay) Hip throw.

Kotai (koe-tai) To move backward.

Kote (koe-tay) Wrist area, as opposed to tekubi.

Kote-gaeshi (koe-tay guy-eh-she) wrist throw; outer wrist turn-out.

Kote-gaeshi undo (koe-tay guy-eh-she un-doe) wrist exercise.

Kubi (koo-bee) Neck.

Kubi-shime (koo-bee she-mee) Strangle hold, choke.

Kuchi (koo-chee) Mouth.

Kumi-jo (koo-mee joe) Advanced partner practice with Jo staff.

Kumi-tachi (koo-mee ta-chee) Advanced partner practice with sword.

Kyu (cue) ranks before black belt; promotional grades.

Maai (mah-eye) distance between opponents.

Mae (mah-ah) In front.

Marui (mah-roo-ee) Circular, round.

Matte (mah-tay) Wait.

Mawari (mah-wah-ree)) Movement.

Mawashi (mah-wah-she) Circular, round.

Me (meh) Eye.

Men (men) face, head.

Men-uchi (men-oo-chee) Strike to the head.

Metsubushi (meh-t’sue-boo-she) backfist to the eye, literally "smashing the eyes".

Migi (mee-gee) right.

Migi-hanmi (mee-gee hawn-mee) Ready position with right foot forward.

Misogi (mee-soe-gee) Breathing exercise to unify mind and body, purification cleansing breath.

Mitsuke (meh-t’sue-key) Eye focusing and direction.

Mochi.....(moe-chee) Grip; to grasp or hold with hand.

Mokuso (moe-koo-soo) Command for students to go into meditative state of mind, meditate.

Mune (moo-neh) Chest.

Munetusuki (moo-nah t’sue-key) Punch to chest area.

Musubi (moo-sue-bee) Blending.

Nafudakake (na-foo-dah-kah-kay) Name board; list of dojo members by rank.

Nage (nah-gay) Throw; the person who throws.

Nikajo (nee-kah-joe) second wrist control. [Y] (same as Nikkyo)

Nikkyo (neek-kyo) Wrist control, characterized by manipulation above and below the wrist joint directing extension to opponents center. [SSK}

Obi (oh-bee) Belt.

O-sensei (oh-sen-say) Founder of Aikido; Morihei Ueshiba; 1883-1969.

Omote (oh-moe-tay) Front, moving in front, (same as Irimi).

One-point (english) Hara; center of gravity of one’s body.

Onegaisimasu (oh-neh-guy-she-mahs-oo) Please do me a favor; said after the formal bow at the beginning of class. Said after instructor presents and signals students it’s time to practice. NOTE: Only pronounce the final ‘ou’ sound in extremely formal situations, not common for dojo use.

Osae (oh-sah-eh) control.

Randori (ran-doe-ree) Freestyle exercise of attack. Mutilple attack.

Rei (ray) Bow.

Ryokata-tori (roe-kah-tah toe-ri) Gipping both of a person’s shoulders.

Ryote (roe-tay) Both hands.

Ryote mochi (roe-tay-moe-chee) Holding with both hands.

Ryote-tori (roe-tay toe-ri) Tori is being held by both hands with two hands.

Ryoku (roe-kyu) Power.

Sabaki (Sah-bah-key) Body motion.

Sankajo (san-kah-joe) Third wrist control. [Y]

Sankyo (san-kyo) Third classification, characterized by a twisting wrist manipulation. [SST] Note: (kyo) as in Tokyo.

Sankyo-undo (san-kyo oon-doe) Wrist exercise. [SSK]

Sayu (sah-you) term indicating left and right direction.

Seiza (sei-zah) Formal sitting position; also used as instruction to sit.

Seiza-ho (sei-zah hoe) Moving into formal sitting position from Kamae.

Sempai (sem-pie) Senior student but not black belt.

Senaka (seh-nah-kah) Back.

Sensei (sen-say) Teacher, instructor, "one who comes before".

Shihan (she-han) Master teacher; title given to an instructor 6th Dan or higher.

Shiho (she hoe) Four directions.

Shiho-nage (she-hoe nah-gay) Four-direction throw; four corner throw.

Shikko (she-koh) Knee walking; moving on the knees.

Shime (she-me) A lock.

Shite (she-tay) The defender, also called tori. The one who executes the aikido technique in practice.

Shodan (show-don) First degree black belt.

Shomen (show-men) Front, top of the head, forward, front of dojo.

Shomen-ni (show-men-knee) Face the front.

Shomenuchi (show-men-oo-chee) Overhead strike, strike to the top front of the head.

Shumatsu-dosa (shoe-mah-t’sue doe-sah) Exercise; Fixing movement.

Sokumen (soe-kyoo-men) Side.

Suburi (sue-boo-ree) A single movement using sword or staff in solo practice.

Sudori (sue-doe-ri) To drop down on your knees and trap.

Suwari-wasa (sue-wa-ree) sitting techniques, exercise were both participants are seated.

Tachi (tah-chee) To stand up, also means long sword.

Tachi-wasa (tah-chee) Exercise were both participants are standing.

Tai (tie) Body

Taijutsu (tie-ju-t’sue) Body arts, techniques done without weapons.

Tai-no-henko (tie-no-hen-koo) Turning, fundamental movement used to move out of the line of an opponent’s attack. [Y] also see Tenkan.

Tai-Sabaki (tie-sah-bah-key) Body movements.

Tanto (tahn-toe) Knife or dagger.

Te (tay) Hand; ryote is both hands.

Tekubi (tay-koo-be) Wrist.

Tekubi kosa-undo (tay-koo-be ko-sah un-doe) Wrist-crossing exercise.

Tegatana (tay-gah-tah-nah) Knife hand, knife edge of the hand.

Te-wasa (tay-wah-sah) Hand techniques.

Tenchi (ten-chee) Heaven and earth, or up and down.

Tenchi-nage (ten-chee nah-gay) Heaven and earth throw.

Tenkan (ten-kan) method of turning outside of an opponent’s line of attack, reversal, move in circle [SSK], pivoting movement [Y], also see Tai-no-henko.

Tori (toe-ree) To grab; the one who applies the techniques; The one who executes the aikido technique in practice.

Tsuki (t’sue-key) Thrust.

Uchi (oo-chee) A strike; as in shomenuchi.

Uchideshi (oo-chee-dah-she) Instructors thowing partner. Student who lives and works at a dojo.

Udefuri undo (oo-day-foo-ree un-doe) Arm swinging exercise.

Uke (oo-kay) The attacker who gets thrown by the nage: the one who receives the techniques.

Ukemi (oo-kim-mee) Roll or fall taken by the nage; break falls.

Undo (un-doe) Exercise.

Ura (oo-rah) Back, moving behind. (same Tenkan SSK or B side Y).

Ushiro (oo-she-row) Back or behind.

Ushiro Kubishimi (oo-she-row koo-bee-she-me) Rear choke.

Ushiro Kata-tori (oo-she-row kah-tah-toe-ree) Attack to the shoulders from behind.

Ushiro-tori (oo-she-row toe-ree) Bear hug attack from behind.

Wasa (wah-zah) Technique or art.

Yame (yah-may) Stop.

Yokomen (yo-ko-men) Side of the head.

Yokomen-uchi (yo-ko-men oo-chee) Strike to side of the head.

Yoi (yo-ee) Prepare; used as a command to get ready.

Yonkajo (yon-kah-joe) Fourth control. [Y].

Yudansha (you don-sha) Holders of black belt grades.

Zanshin (zahn-shin) Completion of the technique in which awareness of opponent and surroundings is maintained. [Y], aware state of mind.

Zazen (za-zen) Sitting meditation, seated indian style.

Zempo-kaiten (zen-poe kai-ten) Falling forward.

Zengo (zen-go) Term indicating forward and backward directions.

Zenpo (zen-poe) Foward

Zori (zo-ree) Sandals.

[Y] Term used in Yoshinkan Aikido.

[SSK] Term used in Sei Shin Kai Aikido.

[SST] Term used in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido.

Please send corrections or comments to:

Mike Abels
Sei Shin Kai Aikido
PO Box 80981
Fairbanks, AK 99708

Copyright 1998 Michael A. Abels