Aikido Language Guide
The Aikido Language Guide is an essential resource for practitioners at all levels, offering a comprehensive glossary of terms and phrases used in Aikido training. Understanding the language of Aikido not only enhances your practice but also deepens your connection to the art's rich cultural and philosophical heritage. This guide covers key terminology, commands, and expressions used in the dojo, providing clear definitions and context for each term. Whether you're a beginner learning the basics or an advanced student refining your skills, the Aikido Language Guide will help you navigate your Aikido journey with confidence and respect.
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Ai: Harmony
Ai hanmi: Both partners assume the same stance, both right or both left
Aiki nage: Special kind of breath throw
Anza: Sitting cross-legged
Arigato gozai mashita: Thank you very much
Atemi: Strike or hit
Aya: Cross
Aya mochi: Cross hand grasp
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Bango hajime: Begin counting
Bokken: Wooden sword
Bokken motoe: Put bokken away
Bokken yoi: Get your bokken ready
Buki waza: Weapons techniques
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Chikara o nuku: Relax
Choyaku undo: Jumping in place
Chudan: Middle level
Chushin: Centre
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Dai: Number
Dai ichi kihon waza: 1st basic technique
Dai ni kihon waza: 2nd basic technique
Dai san kihon waza: 3rd basic technique
Dame: Wrong/bad/not permitted
Do: Way (or path)
Dogi: Training uniform
Dojo: Place of the way
Dosa: Movement
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Embu: Demonstration
Eri mochi: Collar grasp
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Gaeshi: Reversal or change (direction)
Gambatte: Give it your all
Gomenasai: I’m sorry
Ganmen zuki: Face thrust
Gawa: Side
Gorei: Command
Gyaku: Reverse
Gyaku hanmi: Both partners assume opposite stances, one right, the other left
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Hajime: Begin
Hajime kara: From the beginning
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Hakama: Divided skirt
Hanmi: Standing position in which one foot is forward, often used interchangeably with kamae
Hanmi handachi: Shite seated, uke standing
Hantai: Opposite
Happo giri: Eight direction cut with sword
Hasso: Sword held vertically above shoulder
Hayai: Quickly
Hidari: Left
Hiji: Elbow
Hiji ate kokyu nage: Hitting elbow breath throw
Hiji mochi: Elbow grasp
Hiji shime: Elbow lock
Hiji osae: Elbow control
Hiriki no yosei: Elbow power
Hiza: Knee
Hojo dosa: Supplementary movement
Hyaku hachi ju do kaiten: 180 degree pivot
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Ichi ni suite: Everyone to their place
Ikkajo osae: First control
Irimi: Entering movement
Irimi nage: Entering throw
Irimi zuki: Step in thrust
Itai: Ouch/it hurts
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Jiyu waza: Free-style techniques
Jo: Wooden staff
Jodan: Upper level
Juji nage: Arm cross throw
Jushin: Weight
Jushin no ido: Weight change/shifting
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Kagami: Window
Kaiten: Pivot
Kaiten nage: Rotary throw/pivoting throw
Kakari geiko: Group training
Kamae: Basic stance
Kancho: Head of school
Kangeiko: Period of intensive training on winter’s coldest days to build spirit
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Kata: Shoulder
Katate aya mochi: Cross-wrist grasp
Katate mochi: One-handed grasp
Keiko shuryo: Class dismissed
Ken: Sword
Kenshu: Intensive/research training
Kenshusei: Student practicing intensive training
Kesa giri: Diagonal cut
Ki: Unified energy of all one’s powers, mental, physical and spiritual
Kiai: Spirit shout
Kihon: Basic
Kihon dosa: Basic movements
Kihon waza: Basic techniques
Kime waza: Locking techniques
Ki o tsuke: Attention!
Kirioroshi: Cut down
Kiritsu: Stand up
Kokoro gamae: Mental preparation
Koho kaiten ukemi: Backward roll
Koho ukemi: Back backfall
Kokyu nage: Breath throw
Kokyu ryoku: Breath power
Kotai: Change
Kote (tekubi): Wrist
Kote gaeshi: Outward wrist turn
Kubi ate: Hit the neck
Kumi tachi: Together with bokken
Kurikaesu: Repeat
Kuzusu: Break the balance
Kuzushi: Breaking balance
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Ma-ai: Distance between partners
Me: Eye
Me o okeru: Open your eyes
Meimoku: Close your eyes
Metsuke: Visual focus point
Migi: Right
Migi hanmi: Right basic stance
Mo ichi do: Once more
Mo ikkai: Once more
Mochi: Grasp
Mokuso: Meditate
Motto: More
Motto mageru: Bend more
Mukai ate: Face each other
Mune: Chest
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Nage: Throw
Naname: Diagonally
Nikajo osae: Second control
Nobasu: Stretch/straighten
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Obi: Belt
Onaji: Same
Onajiku: Same (on the other side)
Osae: Control
Osoi: Late
Otagai ni rei: Bow to each other
Otsukarisama deshita: Everyone worked hard
Oyo waza: Advanced techniques
Owari: Finished/the end
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Rei: Bow
Rei-ho: Etiquette
Renshu: Practice
Renzoku: Continuation
Riai: Theoretical basis/logical structure
Ryo hiji mochi: Both elbows grasp
Ryo hiza tsuki: Both knees down
Ryote mochi: Both wrists grasp
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Saisho kara: From the beginning
Saigo ni: Lastly
Saigo ni kamae de owarimasu: We will finish with kamae
Sankajo osae: Third control
Sankaku: Triangle
Seigan no kata: Sword position in which sword tip is pointing at the opponent’s eyes
Seiretsu: Line up!
Seiza: Kneeling position
Seiza chumoku: Kneel and pay attention
Sekkin: Advance
Sempai: Senior
Senaka o nobasu: Straighten your back
Sensei: Instructor
Sensei ni rei: Bow to instructor
Seioshi undo: Back to back exercise
Shiho nage: Four direction throw
Shikkari: Firmly
Shikko-ho: Knee walking
Shime waza: Locking techniques
Shisei o tadashite: Stand up straight!
Shite: Person performing the technique
Shite uke kotai: Change roles
Shomen: Front
Shomen ni rei: Bow to the front
Shomen tsuki: Front thrust/punch
Shomen uchi: Front strike
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Shuchu: Concentration
Shumatsu dosa: Finishing movement (Traditionally this exercise was performed at the end of class, hence “finishing”; also called After Class Exercise”)
Sokumen irimi nage: Side entering throw
Sonomama de: Without change
Sotai dosa: Movement with partner
Sumimasen: Excuse me/I’m sorry
Suri-ashi: Sliding step
Suwari waza: Kneeling techniques
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Tachi waza: Standing techniques
Tai no henko: Turning, body change
Tai sabaki: Body movement
Taiso: Exercise
Tandoku: Solo
Tandoku dosa: Solo movement
Tanto: Dagger
Tatami: Rice straw mats
Tatsu: Stand up
Tegatama: Literally “sword hand”, hand sword
Tekubi: Wrist
Tenchi nage: Heaven and earth throw
Tsuki: Thrust/punch
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Uchi: Strike
Udegarami: Arm lock
Ude osae: Arm control
Ude tate: Push ups
Uke: Person receiving the technique or who is being thrown
Ukemi: Breakfalls
Undo: Exercises
Ura-ken: Backhand strike
Usagitobi: Bunny hops
Ushiro: Back/behind
Ushiro waza: Techniques initiating from behind shite
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Waza: Techniques
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Yame: Stop
Yarinaosu: Do it again correctly
Yoi: Prepare
Yoko: Side
Yokomen uchi: Strike to the side of the head
Yonkajo osae: Fourth control
Yubi: Finger
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Zanshin: Alert and ready manner maintained after completing each technique
Zenpo hiyaku ukemi: Jumping forward roll, flip
Zenpo kaiten ukemi: Forward roll
Zuki (tsuki): Thrust/punch
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Ichi: 1
Ni: 2
San: 3
Shi: 4
Go: 5
Roku: 6
Shichi: 7
Hachi: 8
Kyu: 9
Ju: 10
Hyaku: 100
Sen: 1000
