glossary

Common Aikido Words

Aikido (eye-key-doe)

compound from "ai" (harmony), "ki" (spirit), and "do" (Way): the Way of harmonious spirit.

Aikidoka (eye-key-doe-kah)

one who practices aikido, an aikidoist.

Aiki Taiso (eye-key-tie-so)

aikido exercises.

Atemi Waza (ah-teh-me wah-zah)

striking techniques.

Bokken (bow-ken)

wooden sword used in practice.

Bushido (boo-she-doe)

warrior's code; the way of the warrior.

Dan (don)

aikido grade holder, black belt rank.

Deshi (day-she)

student, pupil, disciple.

Dojo (doe-joe)

training hall; place of the Way. in Buddhism also refers to the place of worship.

Doshi (doe-she)

comrade, friend (used among fellow aikidoists).

Gaeshi (guy-eh-she)

to reverse.

Gi (ghee)

training clothing. (a synonym is keikogi.)

Hajime (ha-gee-may)

beginning, begin (as a command). said by instructor to begin formal randori.

Hakama (hock-kah-ma)

a divided, pant-like skirt: a formal Japanese garment also worn by aikido dan-grade holders.

Hanmi (hahn-me)

a posture in which one foot is advanced one step and the body weight is distributed equally on both feet. triangular stance. literally means "half-body".

Hanmi Handachi (hahn-me hahn-dah-chee)

a type of training in which nage is kneeling and uke approaches from a standing position.

Hantai (Hahn-tie)

in reverse order.

Hara (Har-ah)

one's physical and spiritual center. physically, in the lower abdomen a few inches below the navel.

Hidari (he-dah-ree)

the left side.

Hiji (he-gee)

elbow.

Irimi (ee-ree-me)

to enter; entering.

Jiyu (gee-you)

free, unrestricted.

Jiyu Waza (gee-you wah-zah)

freestyle techniques/practice.

Jo (joe)

wooden staff.

Kamiza (kah-me-zah)

shrine; literally "seat of the spirit(s)".

Kaiten (kai-ten)

to revolve or rotate.

Kata (kah-tah)

1. shoulder; 2. form, a pre-arranged exercise.

Katate (kah-tah-tay)

one hand (left or right).

Keiko (kay-koh)

practice session; training.

Keikogi (ghee)

training clothing. (a synonym is gi)

Ken (ken)

Japanese sword.

Ki (key)

spirit: the vital force of the body; universal energy; a stream or flow of positive energy.

Kiai (key-eye)

a piercing scream or cry with practical and psychological value; literally "meeting of the spirits".

Kohai (co-high)

student junior to oneself; someone with a lower rank or who attained the same rank at a later date. (see sempai)

Kokyu (coke-you)

breath power; the coordination of ki flow with breathing.

Kokyu Dosa (coke-you doe-sah)

a method of off-balancing and pinning your partner with ki instead of physical power.

Kokyu-Ryoku (coke-you ree-oh-kyoo)

breath power.

Koshi (ko-she)

hips, waist. (also sometimes spelled "goshi")

Kubi (coo-bee)

neck.

Kyu (cue)

the aikido ranks held by undergraduates, prior to attainment of dan ranking.

Ma-ai (ma-eye)

distance between uke and nage. literally, "harmony of space".

Men (men)

face, head.

Migi (mih-ghee )

the right side.

Mudansha (moo-don-sha)

someone who has not yet attained dan ranking: an undergraduate. (see yudansha)

Nage (nah-gay)

a throw or the person who throws.

Obi (oh-bee)

belt.

O'Sensei (oh-sen-say)

Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido; literally, "great teacher".

Randori (ran-door-ri)

multiple attack.

Rei (ray)

salutation, bow.

Ryote (ree-oh-tay)

both hands.

Samurai (sam-oh-rye)

military retainer (from the feudal period of Japanese history).

Sempai (sem-pie)

student senior to oneself; someone with a higher rank or who attained the same rank at an earlier date. (see kohai)

Sensei (sen-say)

teacher, instructor; generally a title earned at 4th dan.

Seiza (say-zah)

formal sitting posture in which the insteps and shins rest against the floor.

Shiho (she-ho)

four directions.

Shimi (she-me)

choke.

Shodan (show-don)

holder of the first grade of black belt.

Shomen (show-men)

1. the front or top of the head; 2. the front of the dojo, where the kamiza is.

Suburi (suh-boor-ee)

a single movement using the ken or jo, done as a solo practice.

Sutemi (suh-teh-me)

a hard fall; literally "casting aside one's body".

Suwari Waza (sue-wah-ree wah-zah)

seated techniques.

Tachi (tah-chee)

1. Japanese sword; 2. standing (as opposed to sitting).

Tachi Waza (tah-chee wah-zah)

standing techniques.

Tachi-Dori (tah-chee doh-ree)

techniques of taking an opponent's sword.

Taijutsu (tie-jute-sue)

body arts; the techniques of aikido performed without weapons.

Tai No Henko (tie-no-hen-ko)

basic blending practice; literally "changing the body".

Tanto (tahn-toe)

dagger.

Te (tay)

hand.

Tegatana (tay-gah-tah-nah)

hand blade; sword edge of the hand.

Tekubi (tay-koo-be)

wrist.

Tenchi (ten-chee)

compound from "ten" (heaven) and "chi" (earth); a position of the hands: one high and one low.

Tsuki (tski)

thrust.

Uchi (ooh-chee)

a strike.

Uke (ooh-kay)

a person who receives an attack; generally speaking, the person being thrown.

Ukemi (ooh-kem-me)

the art of receiving the energy of a technique; literally, "receive with the body".

Ushiro (ooh-she-row)

back; behind; rear.

Waza (wah-zah)

technique(s).

Yame (ya-may)

stop (as a command). said by instructor to end formal randori.

Yokomen (yoh-koh-men)

side of the head.

Yudansha (you-don-sha)

black belt grade holder(s). (see mudansha)

Aikido l Instructors l Classes l Children l Seminars l Location l Membership
Events l Affiliation l Gallery l Links l Beginners' Handbook l Home