Glossary of Aikido Terms

Terms Definition Description
Attacks
katatori shoulder grab katatori ikkyo, ushiro katatori sankyo
katatetori one-hand grab katate tori shiho nage
ryotetori grab both of partner’s wrists ryotetori tenchi nage
mune tsuki punch or thrust to the chest munetsuki kotegaeshi
morote tori grab one wrist with both hands morote tori kokyu nage
shomen uchi direct strike to the front of the head shomen uchi ikkyo
ushiro katatori shoulder grab from behind ushiro kata tori sankyo
ushiro tekubitori grab both wrists from behind ushiro tekubi tori kotegaeshi
yokomen uchi strike to the side of the face or head yokomen uchi shiho nage
Throws
ikkyo
(omote and ura)		 first “form” technique also, nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo, gokyo for second through fifth form, resp.
kaiten nage
(omote and ura)		 “wheel” throw Turn of the wheel
kokyu nage breath throw throws relying on timing, body movement and attacker’s speed and strength, rather than joint locks
kote gaeshi wrist turn throw
randori attack by multiple, usually 4, uke
shiho nage
(omote and ura)		 four directions throw
tachi (bokken) tori sword waza deal with sword attacks
suwari waza seated techniques actually techniques executed while kneeling
tenchi nage
(omote and ura)		 heaven-earth throw
Exercises
fune kogi undo rowing exercise
hojo walk posture, moving and breathing exercise during warmups
kokyu ho breath exercise done in a kneeling position (seiza)
misogi breathing (okinaga) purification breathing
shikko knee walking preparation for suwari waza
Japanese Words + Phrases Used in Day-to-Day Practice
bokken wooden sword tachi, generic name for a (real) sword
tanden center of the body, just below the navel
hanmi stance lit., half body, as in facing forward with left or right foot forward, in left or right hanmi, respectively
hanmi handachi half standing techniques with standing uke attacking a kneeling nage
jiyu waza freestyle throwing usually rytotetori kokyunage techniques
jo staff
kamae stance formal posture for attacking or awaiting attack
kokyu breath or breathing kokyu nage, kokyu ho
kyu & dan rank, level or grade in martial arts:
ma’ai interval proper distance between nage and uke for attack and defense
men face or head
tori, or mochi hold, have
nage throw or person throwing shiho nage, irimi nage
onegai shimasu please as in, “please work (train) with me”
omote or irimi front entry shiho nage, omote
ryo both ryote tori, ryote mochi
seiza formal Japanese sitting, on the knees
sensei teacher Head instructor is Sensei; all other instructors are only addressed as Sensei when they are teaching and on the mat
tanto knife, lit. short sword tanto tori waza deal with knife attacks
te hand
tekubi wrist
tori take, grasp katate tori, ryote tori
uchi strike shomen uchi, yokomen uchi attacks
uke receive, i.e. person being thrown, the attacker
ukemi the art of attacking, following and taking the fall “Partner’s ukemi is good”; “we have to work on our ukemi”
ura or tenkan entry to the back ikkyo, ura
waza technique
zanshin connection maintain zanshin with your partner throughout the waza or training session