A

AiHarmony; union

Ai hanmiEqual or mutual stance; partners stand facing one another with the same foot forward.

Ai uchiMutual destruction

AtemiStrike to distract or unbalance uke so a technique can be effectively applied.

B

BokkenWooden sword used in practice

BudoMartial way

BushidoWarrior way

C

ChudanMiddle position

D

DanSystem of ranking; black belt rank

DeshiStudent, pupil, disciple

DojoTraining hall

Domo arigato gozaimashitaThank you very much

DoriGrab

E

EridoriCollar or lapel grab

F

FukushidoinAssistant instructor rank

G

GedanLow position

GiTraining uniform

GoFive

GokkyoFifth pinning technique

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

H

HachiEight

HakamaDivided, skirt-like pant; formal wear, normally worn by Yudansha and advanced Aikido students

HanmiTriangular stance with either left or right foot forward

Hanmi handachiAttack where nage is kneeling and uke approaches from a standing position

HaraThe center of existence; lower abdomen; physical and spiritual center; center of gravity of a person; area below the navel; the reservoir of ki

HidariLeft (direction)

HijiElbow

I

IaidoThe art of drawing the sword

IchiOne

IkkyoFirst technique, elbow technique

IrimiTo enter

IriminageThrowing technique using an entering motion

J

JodanHigh position

JodoriDisarming jo attack

JuTen

JujinageCrossed arm throw

JyoWooden staff

K

Kaeshi wazaCounter techniques

KaitenTo revolve or rotate

KaitenageRotary throw

KamaePosture

KamizaAltar, seat of gods

KataPre arranged exercise

KatadoriOne hand grab to the shoulder

KatatedoriOne hand grab to wrist

KeikoPractice; training

KenSword

KiSpirit

Ki musubiEnergy blending

KohaiJunior or subordinate student

KokyuBreath: ki and the motions of the body unified by control of the breath

KokyunageBreath throw

KoshiHips, waist

KoshinageHip throw

KotegaeshiWrist turn out throw; wrist turning technique

KuNine

KubishimeChoke

KyuAikido ranks below black belt

M

MaaiDistance between uke and nage, meaning harmony of space

MenuchiStrike to the head

MisogiPurification

MokusoMeditate

MorotedoriAttack grabbing one wrist/forearm with both hands

MunedoriLapel grab

MusubiBlending

N

NageThrow, person who is attacked and performs the technique

NiTwo

NikkyoSecond technique, wrist bending technique

O

ObiBelt

OmoteMoving in front/forward

Onegai shimasuPolite way to make a request (spoken when one wishes to practice with a fellow student or teacher and at the beginning of each class)

O-SenseiGreat teacher, founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba 1883-1969

R

RandoriMultiple person attack

ReiBow, salutation

RokuSix

RyokatadoriTwo-shoulder grab

RyoteBoth hands

RyotedoriAttack in which both wrists are held from the front

S

SanThree

SankyoThird technique, wrist twisting/pinning technique

SeizaFormal kneeling position with back straight

SenpaiSenior student

SenseiTeacher, the person who has walked ahead on this path

ShiFour

ShichiSeven

ShidoinCertified instructor rank

ShihanMaster instructor rank

ShihonageFour directions throw

ShikkoTechnique of walking on the knees

ShodanFirst degree black belt

ShomenuchiStrike to forehead

ShugyoRigorous purification training

SodeSleeve

SotoOutside

Soto kaitenOutside turning motion

SotodeshiNon live-in student; apprentice. (See also Uchideshi)

SuburiSingle movement using the ken or jo done as a solo practice

SumiotoshiCorner drop throw

SuwariwazaSitting techniques

T

TachiwazaTechniques done with both uke and nage standing

TaijutsuTechniques done without weapons

Tai-no-henkaBasic blending practice, tenkan exercise

TaisabakiBody movements

TandenPoint just below the navel

TantoKnife

TeHand

TegatanaHand blade; sword edge of the hand

TenchinageHeaven and earth throw

TenkanTurning movement

TsubaSword handguard

TsukaSword handle

TsukiThrust, punch

U

UchiInside, also means to strike

Uchi kaitenInside turning movement

UchideshiLive-in student; apprentice. Form of apprenticeship in martial and other arts or disciplines where the student lives alongside the master to study the way. (See also Sotodeshi)

UkePerson who gives the attack and receives the technique

UkemiThe art of receiving the technique/falling

UraMoving behind

UshiroBack, behind, rear

Ushiro eridoriCollar grab from behind

Ushiro kubishimeChoke from behind with free hand grabbing wrist

Ushiro ryokatadoriBoth shoulders grabbed from behind

Ushiro ryotedoriBoth wrists grabbed from behind

UshirowazaTechniques applied from the rear

W

WazaTechniques

Y

YokomenuchiStrike to the side of head/temple

YonkyoFourth technique where pressure is applied against uke's forearm

YudanshaBlack belt grade holders

Z

ZabutonRectangular, base cushion for zazen

ZafuRound cushion for zazen

ZanshinUnbroken awareness and concentration

ZazenSitting meditation