A
ai (合) meeting, harmony, unity, blending
aihanmi (合半身） basic relation between partners: both have same foot forward (left or right),
aihanmi katatedori （合半身片手取り）wrist grip, right on right or left on left, also called kosadori
aiki （合気）Meeting one’s ki or energy with that of the partner
aikibatto （合気抜刀）sword drawing exercises, solo or paired
aikibudo （合気武道）budo based on the aiki principle, earlier name for aikido
aikido （合気道）-The way through the life energy to harmony/unity
aikidoka （合気道家） – An aikido practicioner
aikido toho （合気道刀法）Nishio sensei’s iaido school
Aikijinja （合気神社）the aikido temple in Iwama
aikijo （合気杖）aikido jo-staff exercises
aikijujutsu （合気柔術）name on the Daito ryu Martial art, also called aikijujutsu
Aikikai （合気会）organization and “label” for Ueshiba’s aikido
aikiken （合気剣）aikido sword exercises
aikinage （合気投げ）aiki-throw, throwing technique
aiki no michi （合気の道）aikido (michi=do)
aikiotoshi （合気落とし）aiki-drop, throwing technique
aikitaiso （合気体操）aikido warm-up exercises
aite （相手）partner in training
arigato （有難う）thanks
arigato gozaimasu （有難う御座います）thanks for something going on
arigato gozaimashita （有難う御座いました）thanks for something completed
ashi （足）leg, foot
ate （当て）hit, strike
atemi （当身）strike to the body
awase （合わせ）harmonizing/blending movement
ayumiashi （歩み足）alternating footwork, like natural walking.
B
batto （抜刀）To draw the sword. Can also be an abbreviation of sword drawing arts or technique.
bo (棒）A staff. A staff of any length can be referred to technically as a bo, but usually this term refers to the 6′ rokushakubo.
bokken （木剣）wooden training sword
bokuto （木刀）See bokken
budo （武道） Martial ways/the Japanese Martial arts
budoka （武道家）A practicioner of budo
bugei （武芸）Martial crafts. An older term still used in some circles
bugeisha （武芸者） A practicioner or exponent of martial crafts
bujutsu （武術） Martial arts
bukiwaza （武器技）weapons techniques
C
choku （直） direct
chokusen （直線） Direct/Straight line
chokutsuki （直突き）direct strike with the jo, like a spear thrust.
chudan （中段）middle level, compare jodan and gedan
chudan no kamae （中段の構え）guard position with a weapon at belly height. Also known as Chudan gamae
chudan tsuki （中段突き）strike at belly/solar plexus, with weapon or empty hand
D
Daito ryu aikijujutsu （大東流合気柔術） The main influence in Ueshiba O’sensei’s formulation of aikido.
dan （段）level, black belt grade in budo
deshi （弟）student
do （道）way, also michi
dogi （道着）training dress, also keikogi
dojo （道場）training hall
dojo cho （道場長）head of a training hall
domo arigato gozaimasu （どうも有難う御座います）Thank you so much, for something going on
domo arigato gozaimashita （どうも有難う御座いました）thank you so much, for something completed
dori （取り） Suffix version of tori. To take, grab or catch.
dosa （動作） Exercise
doshu （道主）way leader, head of a budo. Lit. Master of a way.
dozo （どうぞ）please/proceed/by all means
G
gassho （合掌） The meeting of hands in respect to the kamiza and to the anscestors in the art.
gasshuku （合宿）Training camp, lodging together
gedan （下段） Low level, compare jodan and chudan
gedan barai （下段払い）Low sweeping block
gedan no kamae （下段の構え） Low level posture
go （五）Five
gokyo （五教）Fifth teaching, pinning technique
gomen nasai （ごめんなさい）Excuse me /Sorry
gyaku （逆）Reverse, opposite
gyaku hanmi （逆半身） Left side hanmi and can also refer to two partners in hanmi on different sides.
gyakuhanmi katatedori （逆半身片手取り）Wrist grip, right on left or left on right,
gyaku tsuki （逆突き）Thrust punch with opposing arm and leg forward,
H
hachi （八） eight
hajime （始め） The verbal command to begin.
hakama （袴）traditional wide pants, used in aikido and other traditional budo.
hanmi （半身） half body
hanmi gamae （半身構え）angled guard position
hanza handachi （半座半立）sitting versus standing. A situation commonly found in Daito-ryu aikijujutsu, aikido and koryu bujutsu.
hantai （反対）opposed
happo （八方）eight directions,
hara （腹）stomach
harai/barai （払い）sweep away, parry
hasso gaeshi （八相返）jo-staff technique
hasso no kamae （八相の構え）guard with weapon at shoulder level
henka waza （変化技） Technique variations.
hidari （左） left (right: migi)
hiji （肘）elbow
hijidori （肘取り）grip on elbow
hijikime osae （肘極め押さえ）pinning technique, sometimes called rokkyo
hiki （引き） From the verb “hiku”, to pull
hineri （捻り）Twist. From the verb “hineru”.
hito e mi （一重身）making the body small, guard position, more triangular than hanmi
hiza （膝）knee
ho （法）method
ho （方）direction, side
hombu （本部）head quarters
Hombu dojo （本部道場）headquarters dojo
I
iaido （居合道）the art of drawing the Japanese sword
iaijutsu （居合術） older term for iai
iaito （居合刀）training sword, usually not sharpened
ichi （一）one
ichiban （一番）first, best
ikkyo （一教）first teaching, pinning technique
ikkyo undo （一教運動）exercise of the basic ikkyo movement
ipponken （一本拳）strike with one knuckle
irimi （入り身）in to the body, inwards
irimi nage （入り身投げ）entering throw, throwing technique
Iwama （岩間）the town in Ibarai prefecture, where Osensei had a dojo and a home.
Iwama ryu （岩間流）Saito Morihiro sensei’s aikido style. Since Saito sensei’s passing, his son, Saito Hitohiro formed the Shin Shin Aikishurenkai.
J
jiyu-geiko （自由稽古) free training or practice
jiyu waza （自由技）free technqiues
jo （杖）wooden polearm of roughly four feet in length.
jo awase （杖合わせ）jo exercises
jodan （上段）high level, compare chudan and gedan
jodan no kamae （上段の構え） High level posture, usually armed.
jodan tsuki （上段突き）thrust at head
jodori （杖取り）defense against jo-staff
jo-tai-jo （杖対杖）jo vs. jo
jo-tai-ken （杖対剣） jo vs. ken
ju （十）ten
ju （柔）soft, pliable, flexible, gentle
judo （柔道） the flexible way
jujigarami/jujinage （十字絡み・十字投げ）cross throw
jujutsu （柔術）the flexible/pliable art
junbi taiso （準備体操）warm-up exercises, also called aikitaiso
jun tsuki （順突き）strike with the same arm and leg forward, also called oitsuki, compare gyakutsuki
jutsu （術）technique/art
K
kaeshi/gaeshi （返し）return, turn, reverse
kaeshi tsuki （返し突き）reverse strike with jo-staff
kaeshi waza （返し技）counter techniques
kai （会）club, association
kaiten nage （回転投げ）rotation throw, throwing technique
kaiten osae （回転押さえ）rotation pinning technique
kakae dori （抱え取り）embrace or bear hug
kakari geiko （掛り稽古）attackers in line, one after the other
kakudo （角度）angle
kamae/gamae （構え）guard position/posture
kami （神） divinity/the gods
kamiza （神座）honorary place in a dojo,
kansetsu （関節）joint (on body)
Kashima Shinto-ryu （鹿島新当流）Koryu kenjutsu style that Ueshiba O’sensei and some of his uchideshi in Iwama trained in. Their names are historically recorded on the ryuha’s eimeiroku (register).
kata （形）form, pre-decided movements
kata （肩）shoulder
kata dori （肩取り）shoulder grip
katadori menuchi （肩取り面打ち）shoulder grip followed by shomenuchi
katame waza （固め技）pinning techniques
katana （刀）the Japanese sword, also ken, to and tachi
katate （片手） Single handed
katate dori （片手取り）single handed wrist-grip
katate ryote dori （片手両手取り）grip with both hands, also called morotedori
keiko/geiko （稽古）training
keikogi （稽古着）training dress, also dogi
ken （剣）sword, also katana, to and tachi
kendo （剣道）Japanese modern sport focused fencing
ki （気）spirit, life energy
kiai （気合）gathered ki, usually used for shout in budo
kihon （気合）basics
kihon waza （基本）basic training
kikai tanden （気海丹田）the ocean of ki in the body’s center
kime （決め）focusing
kimusubi （気結び）Tying one’s ki to that of the partner
kinagare/ki no nagare （気の流れ）Ki flow.
kiri/giri （切り・斬り）Cut
kirikaeshi （切り返し）Returning cuts in kumitachi. Is also a training exercise in kendo & kenjutsu
kobudo （古武道）Older budo
kobujutsu （古武術） Older martial arts
kogeki （攻撃）attack
kogekiho （攻撃法）Attacking techniques
kokoro （心）Heart or mind, also pronounced shin
kokyu （呼吸）Breathing
kokyuho （呼吸法）Breathing exercise/breathing method
kokyu nage （呼吸投げ）Breath throw
kokyu ryoku （呼吸力）Breath power
koshi （腰）Hip
koshi nage （腰投げ）Hip throw
kote （小手）Wrist & forearm area
kote gaeshi （小手返し）Reversed wrist, throwing technique
kote hineri （小手捻り）Twisted wrist, sankyo
kote mawashi （小手廻し）Turned wrist, nikyo
ku/kyu （九）Nine
kubi （首）Neck
kubi shime （首絞め・首締め）Neck choke
kumi （組み）Group, set
kumijo （組杖）Jo-staff exercises, jo against jo
kumitachi （組太刀）Sword exercises, sword against sword
kumite （組手）Free sparring, not unlike judo randori.
kumi-uchi （組討）An older term for jujutsu. Some of the techniques in kumi-uchi are very similar to sumo.
kuzushi （崩し） To break balance
kyo （教） teaching
kyu （級）Grade before blackbelt
M
ma-ai （間合）harmonious, balanced distance between training partners
mae （前）front, forward, compare ushiro
mae geri （前蹴）straight kick
mae ukemi （前受身）forward fall
makiwara （巻藁）target for hitting practice in karatedo
maru （丸）circle
mawashi （回し）revolving, turning
mawashi geri （廻蹴り）roundhouse kick
mawate （回って）Vocal order to turn
me （目）eye
men （面） Head area
Me Tsubushi （目潰） To distract the uke by attacking the eyes.
michi （道）way, also do
migi （右）right (left: hidari)
misogi （禊）purification, cleansing
mochi （持ち）hold/grip, also called dori
mochigata （持ち方） Ways of grabbing
mokuso （黙想）meditation,clearing of the mind
morote dori （諸手取り）grip with both hands, also called katate ryotedori
mu （無）nothing, empty
mushin （無心）empty mind
mudansha （無段者）trainee without dan grade, compare yudansha
mune （胸）chest
mune dori （胸取り）collar grip by the chest
musubi （結び）tie together – connection
nagare （流れ）flow, streaming. Also nagashi
nage （投げ）throw, also used for the one doing the aikido technique, compare tori
N
nage waza （投げ技）throwing techniques
nana （七）seven, also pronounced shichi
ni two
Nihon/Nippon （日本）Japan
nikyo （二教）second teaching, pinning technique
ninindori （二人取り）two attackers, also called futaridori , from the tasunindori exercises in Daito-ryu.
noto （納刀）resheathing of the sword into the scabbard
nukitsuke （抜き付け）drawing the sword, also called batto
O
obi （帯）belt
omote （表）front, surface
onegai shimasu （お願いします）please, asking for something
osae （押さえ）press down, pinning
osensei （翁先生）great teacher, in aikido Morihei Ueshiba
otagai ni rei （お互いに礼）bow to each others
otoshi （落とし）drop
oyo waza （応用）applied techniques, modified for efficiency
R
randori （乱捕り）
rei （礼）bow
reigi （礼儀）etiquette, also called reishiki （礼式） or reiho （礼法）
renshu （練習）training
renzoku （連続）continuous
renzoku uchikomi （連続打ち込み）jo-staff exercise
renzoku waza （連続技）consecutive techniques, a series of techniques
renraku waza （連絡技） Combination techniques
ritsurei （立礼）standing bow
rokkyo （六教）sixth teaching, pinning technique, see hijikime osae
roku （六）six
ryo （両）both
ryotedori （両手取り）gripping both wrists
ryu （流）school, also ryuha （流派）or ryugi （流儀）
S
sabaki （捌き） movement/handling
san （三）three
sankaku （三角）triangle
sankakudai （三角体）triangle shape, position of the feet in hanmi
sankyo （三教）third teaching, pinning technique
sannindori/sanningake （三人取り・三人掛け）three attackers
sanpo （三方）three directions
saya （鞘）scabbard
seiki （生気）life energy
seiza （正座）correct sitting, sit on knees
sen no sen （先の先） initiating at the same instant as an attack
sensei （先生）one who has gone before – usually applied to a person leading a class in aikido
sensen no sen （先々の先）initiating before the attack begins.
shi （四）four, also pronounced yon
shiai （試合）competition or match, meaning to literally meet and test. The older meaning was a lot more serious; （死合） to meet with death.
shichi （七）seven, also pronounced nana
shidoin （指導員）instructor, middle title for aikido teacher, 4-5 dan
shihan （師範） Literally means teacher. Japanese practicioners who reach rokudan are automatically titled Shihan.
shiho （四方）four directions
shihonage （四方投げ）four directions throw, throwing technique
shihogiri （四方切り） Cutting in four directions, one of the kihon taught in aikiken.
shikaku （四角）square
shikko （膝行）knee walking
shime （絞め）choke
shin （心）heart, will, mind, also pronounced kokoro
shinken （真剣） A live Japanese sword. Also refers to being serious in modern day Japanese.
shinken shobu （真剣勝負） A life or death match. Teachers in Japan sometimes refer to shinken shobu keiko – Training as if your life depended upon it.
shinzen （神前） front of the gods, facing towards the kamiza.
shisei （姿勢）posture
shizentai （自然体）natural body posture
shodan （初段）first dan grade
shomen （正面）front of the head. Also, the front of the dojo where the kamiza is.
shomen ni rei （正面に礼）bow to head place of the dojo
shomenuchi （正面打ち）cut or blow to head
shoshinsha （初心者）beginner
shuto （手刀） sword hand
sode （袖）sleeve
sodedori （袖取り）sleeve grip
sodeguchidori （袖口取り）grip on the cuff of the sleeve
soto （外）outside, outer, compare uchi
soto deshi （外弟子）student who lives outside the dojo, compare uchideshi
soto kaiten （外回転）outer rotation, compare uchikaiten
soto uke （外受け）block from outside, compare uchiuke
suburi （素振り）basic exercises with sword or staff
suki （隙）opening or a weakness in one’s technique or posture
sumi （隅）corner
sumikiri （隅きり）sharpness of body and mind
sumimasen （すみません） excuse me/sorry
sumo （相撲）traditional Japanese wrestling
sutemi waza （捨て身技） Sacrifice techniques where you give away your position to exploit your opponent’s vulnerability
suwari waza （座り技）seated training, also called suwate. In jujutsu, usually referred to as Idori （居捕）
suwatte waza （座って技）seated training, also called suwariwaza
T
tachi （太刀）sword, also nihonto, ken and katana
tachi ai （立ち合い） training where both parties stand
tachidori (太刀取り) defense against sword. lit. “Sword taking”
tachi waza （立ち技）standing techniques
tai (体)body
taijutsu （体術）body techniques, unarmed techniques. Also another term used instead of jujutsu
tai no henko （体の変更）body turn, also called tai no tenkan
tai no tenkan （体の転換）body turn, also called tai no henko
tai sabaki （体捌き）body move, evasive movement in aikido
taiso （体操）exercises
takemusu （武産）improvised Martial art. The unification of mind, body and principle in aiki. “The spontaneous execution of limitless techniques”.
takemusu aiki （武産合気）improvised Martial art through the principle of aiki
tameshigiri （試し斬り）cutting test with sword
tanden （丹田）body center, compare seika no itten
tanren （鍛錬）drilling to forge the spirit
tanto （短刀） Japanese style dagger
tantodori （短刀取り）defense against knife
tatami （畳）mat
te （手）hand
tegatana （手刀） sword hand. To use the hand to strike in sword-like movements.
tekubi （手首）wrist
tekubi osae （手首押さえ）pinned wrist, yonkyo
tenchi nage （天地投げ）heaven-earth throw, throwing technique
tenkan （転換）turn
tobikoshi （飛び腰）fall over hip, break fall
tori （取り・捕り）the one who takes, defender in aikido, also called nage and shite (Pronounced “Shtay” for you wiseguys out there!)
torifune （取り船）rowing exercise, also called funakogi undo
tsuba （鍔）sword guard
tsugiashi （次足）sliding step, back foot following and not passing front foot
tsuka （柄）sword hilt
tsuki （突き）to thrust with a weapon or empty hand
U
uchi （打ち）to strike or hit
uchi （外）inside, within, inner, compare soto
uchi deshi （内弟子）student living in the dojo, compare sotodeshi
uchi kaiten （内回転）inner rotation, compare sotokaiten
uchi gata （打ち方）striking methods
uchikomi （打ち込み）hitting repeatedly
uchi uke （内受け）block from inside, compare sotouke
ude （腕）arm
ude kime nage （腕極め投げ）arm lock throw
ude nobashi （腕延ばし）extended arm, gokyo
ude osae （腕押さえ）pinned arm, ikkyo
uke （受け）the one receiving, attacker in aikido
uke （受け）block, parry
ukemi （受身）falling
undo （運動）exercise
ura （裏）backside, inside, reverse side, compare omote
uraken （裏拳）backfist strike
ushiro （後ろ）behind, backwards, compare mae
ushiro kiriotoshi （後ろ切り落とし）rear cutting drop, throwing technique
ushiro ukemi （後ろ受身）backward fall
ushiro waza （後ろ技）techniques from behind
W
waka sensei （若先生）young teacher, used in aikido for successor of Doshu
wakarimasen （分かりません）I do not understand
waki （脇）side
waki gatame （脇固め） side armlock in jujutsu, similar to hiji shime
wakizashi （脇差）short sword, also called a kodachi （小太刀）
waza （技）technique, skill, training method
Y
yame （止め）verbal order to stop
yari （槍・鑓）spear
yoko （横）side, sideways, horizontal
yokomen （横面）side of the head
yokomenuchi （横面打ち）strike to the side of the head
yoko ukemi （横受身）side fall
yon （四）four, also pronounced shi, however is rarely used, since shi rhymes with the Japanese word for death （死）
yonkajo （四ヶ条）older term for yonkyo
yonkyo （四教）fourth teaching, pinning technique
yudansha （有段者）dan graded, compare mudansha
Z
za （座）seated, sit
zanshin （残心）remaining spirit, continued concentration. Awareness focused on the opponent after the execution of a technique.
zarei （座礼）sitting bow
zazen （座禅）sitting meditation, also called mokuso
zen （禅）a form of buddhism
zengo （前後） forward and back, front and rear
zori （草履）sandals