::: Aikido Shinju-kai Singapore :::

AIKIDO TERMS

Welcome to Aikido Japanese 101! Here you will find Japanese terms commonly used and heard in Aikido. We hope this little list here will help you out - so you won't go "Huh?!" come grading time when a technique name is called out for you to execute.

It's as easy as 1,2,3...

*ichi*	one	*roku*	six
ni	two	*shichi*	seven
*san*	three	*hachi*	eight
*shi (or yon)*	four	*kyu*	nine
go	five	ju	ten

General Terms

Ai	Harmonising
Ki	Vital force of body
Do	Way
Aiki	Harmonising of ki
*aikidoka*	One who participates in Aikido.
*dojo*	Training hall
*rei*	To bow
*budo*	The martial way
*bujin*	Military soldier
*kyu*	Beginner's grade, before reaching dan grade
*yudansha*	Dan grade students
*sensei*	Teacher, instructor (4th dan & above)
*shihan*	Master, instructor (6th dan & above)
*O'Sensei*	"Great Teacher", Founder of Aikido - The Late Morihei Ueshiba
fuku shidoin	Assistant instructor (2nd dan & below)
shidoin	Instructor/sensei (3rd dan & above)
*onegaeshimasu*	Translated as 'please teach/guide' in the context where it is said at the beginning of a class or practice session.
*domo arigato gozaimashita*	Thank you very much, said at the end of the class.
*hakama*	Split skirt worn by yudansha
*kamiza*	A small 'shrine', located at the front of the dojo, where practitioners bow towards
*suburi*	A single movement using ken or jo; done as a solo practice
*keiko*	Training
*kiai*	A shout, while performing techniques/exercises, intended to focus energy
*sempai*	Senior
*kohai*	Junior
*ma ai*	The appropriate distance between uke & nage
*ukemi*	The way of receving techniques.
*nage*	The thrower or the person performing the technique
*uke*	The 'throwee', or the person receiving the technique
*jiyu waza*	Free style practice
*waza*	Technique
*seiza*	Formal kneeling position
*tatami*	Japanese straw mat
*hara*	One point (lower abdomen, approximately 50mm below navel) physical & spiritual center
*ju no ri*	Principles of gentleness
*kakutogi*	Combat art, fighting technique
*bokken*	Wooden sword
jo	Short staff
*tanto*	Short knife

Movement

*Irimi*	Entering move (omote)
*Tenkan*	Negative move (ura)
*Ukemi*	General term for break-fall techniques
*Mae ukemi*	Front roll/break-fall
*Ushiro ukemi*	Back roll/break-fall
*Shikko*	Knee walk
*Uchi*	Inside
*Soto*	Outside
*Hidari*	Left
*Migi*	Right
*Tai no tenkan*	Body turns
*Hai shin undo*	Back stretch

Stance & Attacks

*Kata dori*	Shoulder grab
*Katate dori*	Hand catch, catching just above the opponent's wrist
*Kubishime*	Neck choke/strangle
*Morote dori*	Two handed catch on one of the opponent's hand/wrist
*Ryo kata dori*	Both shoulder catch
*Ryote dori*	Two hand catch, catching both the opponent's arms, just above the wrist
*Shomen uchi*	Strike to the face/to the top of the head
*Yokomen uchi*	Strike to the side of the head/neck
*Tsuki*	Thrust, straight punch, usually to the stomach
*Shomen tsuki*	Thrust/straight punch to the face
*Ushiro*	From the rear
*Ushiro* Dori	Rear bear hug
*Ushiro ryo kata dori*	Shoulder grab from behind
*Ushiro ryote dori*	Two hands grasp from behind at the wrists
*Ushiro kushi jimi*	Collar grab with one hand from behind and grab at the wrist with the other hand
Tachi waza	Standing techniques
Suwari waza	Knee techniques
Hanmi handachi	Nage kneels, uke stands
Kata men uchi	Grasp one shoulder and execute a straight frontal strike to the head with the other hand
Hiji dori	Elbow grab
Ryo hiji dori	Grabbing both elbows
Ushiro hiji dori	Rear grabbing of both elbows
Mae geri	Front kick
*Aihanmi*	Assuming the same side of stance as your opponent's (shaking hand position, right hand meeting right hand, or left meeting left)
*Gyaku hanmi*	Assuming opposite stance as your opponent's, therefore becoming mirror image.
*Omote*	Positive move, entering to the front of the opponent
*Ura*	Negative move, entering to the rear of the opponent
*Atemi*	A Strike
*Kamae*	Stance
*Katame waza*	Immobilization techniques
*Taiho jutsu*	Arrest techniques
*Jotori*	Defense against Jo attacks

Locks

*Ikkyo*	1st immobilisation lock
*Nikyo*	2nd immobilisation lock
*Sankkyo*	3rd immobilisation lock
*Yonkyo*	4th immobilisation lock
*Gokyo*	5th immobilisation lock

Techniques & Throws

*Shiho nage*	Four directions throw
*Irimi nage*	Entering throw
*Kokyu nage*	Breath throw
*Kote gashi*	Wrist throw/outer wrist twist
*Koshi nage*	Hip throw
Kaiten nage	Rotary throw
Tenchi nage	Heaven and Earth throw
Kokyu ho	Flow with breathing