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 |