- Aikido terminology is in Japanese. It’s “all Greek” to the beginner, but by time we all learn most of it. Here is a comprised dictionary of aikido terms, with short translations/explanations.
Stefan Stenudd
- A
- ai harmony, unity, blending
- aihanmi basic relation between partners: both have same foot forward (left or right), compare gyakuhanmi
- aihanmi katatedori wrist grip, right on right or left on left, also called kosadori, compare gyakuhanmi katatedori
- aiki blending/uniting one’s ki with that of the partner
- aikibatto sword exercises, solo or pair
- aikibudo budo based on the aiki principle, earlier name for aikido
- aikido the way through the life energy to harmony/unity
- aikidoka one who does aikido, specifically on an advanced or professional level
- aikido toho Nishio sensei’s iaido school
- Aikijinja the aikido temple in Iwama
- aikijo aikido jo-staff exercises
- aikijutsu name on the Daito ryu Martial art, also called aikijujutsu
- Aikikai organization and “label” for Ueshiba’s aikido
- aikiken aikido sword exercises
- aikinage aiki-throw, throwing technique
- aiki no michi aikido (michi=do)
- aikiotoshi aiki-drop, throwing technique
- aikitaiso aikido warm-up exercises
- aite partner in training
- arigato thanks
- arigato gozaimasu thanks for something going on
- arigato gozaimashita thanks for something completed
- ashi leg, foot
- ate hit, strike
- atemi strike to the body
- awase harmonizing/blending movement
- ayumiashi altering steps, left and right, like normal walking
- B
- barai/harai parry, ward off
- batto draw the sword, also called nuki
- bo staff, longer than the jo
- bokken wooden training sword
- bokuto same as bokken
- bu war, battle, fight
- budo the way of war/battle, the Japanese Martial arts
- budoka one who does any budo, specifically on an advanced or professional level
- bugei battle art, old term
- bukiwaza weapons training
- bushi warrior
- bushido the way of the warrior
- C
- chado tea ceremony
- chikara force/strength
- choku direct
- chokutsuki direct strike with the jo
- chudan middle, compare jodan and gedan
- chudan kamae guard position with a weapon at belly height
- chudan tsuki strike at belly/solar plexus, with weapon or empty hand
- chukyusha continuing student, with a mid-level kyu grade (jämför jokyusha)
- D
- dai big, also o
- daisho sword pair, the long and the short sword
- Daito ryu aikijutsu school
- dame wrong, bad
- dan level, black belt grade in budo
- dao/tao transcribation of the Chinese word for way, do
- deshi student
- do way, also michi
- dogi training dress, also keikogi
- do-in self massage tradition
- dojo training hall
- dojo cho head of a training hall
- doka poem about the way
- domo much
- domo arigato gozaimas thank you so much, for something going on
- domo arigato gozaimashita thank you so much, for something completed
- dori take, catch, grab
- dosa movement
- doshu way leader, head of a budo
- dozo please/by all means
- E
- embukai public demonstration
- empi strike with elbow
- eri neck, collar
- eridori collar grip by the neck
- F
- fukushidoin assisting instructor, title for aikido teacher, 2-3 dan, compare shidoin and shihan
- funakogi undo, rowing exercise, also called torifune
- furitama exercise to still ki
- futaridori/futarigake two attackers
- G
- gaeshi/kaeshi returning, reversed
- gamae/kamae guard, basic position
- gasshuku training camp, lodging together
- gedan low, compare jodan and chudan
- gedanbarai low block
- geiko/keiko training
- geri kick
- gi dress
- giri/kiri cut
- go five
- gokyo fifth teaching, pinning technique
- gomen nasai excuse me
- Gorin no sho Book of Five Rings, by Miyamoto Musashi
- gotai hard body, static training, compare jutai, ryutai and kinagare
- gyaku reverse, opposite
- gyakuhanmi basic relation between partners: they have opposite foot forward, compare aihanmi
- gyakuhanmi katatedori wrist grip, right on left or left on right, compare aihanmi katatedori
- gyakutsuki strike with opposing arm and leg forward, compare oitsuki
- H
- hachi eight
- Hagakure Hiding the Leaves, classic samurai book from the 18th century
- hai yes
- hajime begin
- hakama traditional wide pants, used in aikido
- handachi half standing
- hanmi half body
- hanmi gamae angled guard position
- hanmi handachiwaza sitting versus standing
- hanshi title in kendo, from 8th dan
- hantai opposed
- happo eight directions, compare shiho
- hara stomach
- harai/barai sweep away, parry
- harakiri cut belly, ritual suicide, also called seppuku
- hassogaeshi jo-staff technique
- hasso gamae guard with weapon at shoulder level
- henkawaza, changing techniques, variations on basic techniques, also shifting from one technique to another
- hidari left (right: migi)
- hiji elbow
- hijidori grip on elbow
- hijikimeosae pinning technique, sometimes called rokkyo
- hiki pull
- hineri twist
- hiragana Japanese phonetic writing, compare katakana
- hito e mi making the body small, guard position with more of an angle than hanmi
- hiza knee
- ho method
- ho direction, side
- hombu head quarters
- Hombu dojo head dojo, used for Aikido’s head dojo in Tokyo
- I
- iaido the art of drawing the Japanese sword
- iaito training sword, usually not sharpened
- ichi one
- ichiban first, best
- iie no
- iki will power
- ikkajo older term for ikkyo
- ikki one ki, bottoms up, toast
- ikkyo first teaching, pinning technique
- ikkyo undo exercise of the basic ikkyo movement
- in Japanese for the Chinese concept yin, compare yo
- ippon one point
- ipponken strike with one knuckle
- irimi in to the body, inwards
- iriminage inward throw, throwing technique
- Iwama Japanese town, where Osensei had a dojo and a home
- Iwama ryu Saito sensei’s aikido style
- J
- jiyuwaza free training
- jo wooden staff, 127.5 centimeters
- jo awase jo-staff exercises
- jodan high, compare chudan and gedan
- jodan kamae guard with weapon over head
- jodan tsuki strike at head
- jodanuke high block
- jodo the way of the staff
- jodori defense against jo-staff
- jokyusha advanced student, with a higher kyu grade, compare chukyusha
- ju ten
- ju soft
- judo the soft way, or the way to softness
- jujigarami/jujinage cross throw
- jujutsu the soft art
- jumbitaiso warm-up exercises, also called aikitaiso
- juntsuki strike with the same arm and leg forward, also called oitsuki, compare gyakutsuki
- jutai soft body, smooth training, compare gotai, ryutai and kinagare
- jutsu technique/art
- K
- kaeshi/gaeshi returning, reverse
- kaeshitsuki reverse strike with jo-staff
- kaeshiwaza counter techniques
- kagami biraki Japanese New Year celebration, held January 11
- kai club, association
- kaiso founder
- kaitennage rotation throw, throwing technique
- kaitenosae rotation pinning technique
- kakaedori embrace
- kakarigeiko attackers in line, one after the other
- kakudo angle
- kamae/gamae guard position
- kami divinity
- kamiza honorary place in a dojo, compare shomen and shinzen
- kampai cheers, toast
- kan intuition
- kangeiko mid-winter training
- kanji ideograms, the Chinese writing
- kanren linked, connected
- kanrenwaza linked techniques, one technique followed by another, compare renzokuwaza
- kansetsu joint (on body)
- karatedo the way of the empty hand, or the way through the hand to emptiness
- Kashima shintoryu traditional sword school
- kata form, pre-decided movements
- kata shoulder
- katadori shoulder grip
- katadori menuchi shoulder grip followed by shomenuchi
- katakana Japanese phonetic writing, compare hiragana
- katamewaza pinning techniques
- katana the Japanese sword, also ken, to and tachi
- katate one-hand technique
- katatedori wrist-grip
- katate ryotedori grip with both hands, also called morotedori
- Katori shintoryu traditional sword school
- keiko/geiko training
- keikogi training dress, also dogi
- ken sword, also katana, to and tachi
- kendo Japanese fencing
- ki spirit, life energy
- kiai gathered ki, usually used for shout in budo
- ki-aikido Tohei sensei’s aikido style
- kihon basics
- kihonwaza basic training
- kikai tanden the ocean of ki in the body’s center
- kime focusing
- kimusubi tying one’s ki to that of the partner
- kinagare/ki no nagare streaming ki, flowing training, compare gotai, jutai and ryutai
- Ki no kenkyukai Tohei sensei’s aikido school, also Shinshin toitsu
- kiri/giri cut
- kirikaeshi turning cut, sword exercise
- koan riddle in zen
- kobudo older budo
- kogeki attack
- kogekiho attack techniques
- kohai one’s junior, compare sempai
- Kojiki religious Japanese book from the 8th century
- kokoro heart, will, mind, also pronounced shin
- kokyu breathing
- kokyuho breathing exercise, throwing technique
- kokyunage breath throw
- kokyu ryoku breath power
- kosa cross over, pass
- kosadori cross-over grip, same as aihanmi katatedori
- koshi hip
- koshinage hip throw
- kote wrist
- kotegaeshi reversed wrist, throwing technique
- kotehineri twisted wrist, sankyo
- kotemawashi turned wrist, nikyo
- kotodama/kototama spirit of words, Japanese sound mystique and cosmology
- ku nine
- ku emptiness
- kubi neck
- kubishime neck choke
- kuden oral tradition/teaching
- kumi group, set
- kumijo jo-staff exercises, jo against jo
- kumitachi sword exercises, sword against sword
- kumite empty handed fight
- kumiuchi ancient Japanese wrestling in full armor
- kuzushi break balance
- kyo principle, learning
- kyoshi title in kendo, 6-7 dan
- kyu grade before blackbelt, compare dan
- kyudo the way of the bow and arrow
- L(L not used in Japanese)
- M
- ma distance between training partners
- ma-ai harmonious, balanced distance between training partners
- mae front, forward, compare ushiro
- maegeri straight kick
- mae ukemi forward fall
- makiwara target for hitting practice in karatedo
- maru circle
- mawashi revolving, turning
- mawashigeri roundhouse kick
- mawate turning
- me eye
- men head
- michi way, also do
- migi right (left: hidari)
- misogi purification, cleansing
- mochi hold/grip, also called dori
- mochikata gripping attacks
- mo ikkai do again
- mokuso meditation, also called zazen
- moro both
- morotedori grip with both hands, also called katate ryotedori
- mu nothing, empty
- mushin empty mind
- mudansha trainee without dan grade, compare yudansha
- mune chest
- munedori collar grip by the chest
- musubi tie together
- N
- nagare flow, streaming
- nage throw, also used for the one doing the aikido technique, compare tori
- nagewaza throwing techniques
- naginata Japanese halberd
- nakaima here and now
- nana seven, also pronounced shichi
- nen the purity and unity of the mind
- ni two
- Nihon/Nippon Japan
- Nihongi religious Japanese book from the 8th century
- nikajo older name for nikyo
- nikyo second teaching, pinning technique
- nin person
- ninindori two attackers, also called futaridori
- ninja courier and spy in old Japan
- Nippon/Nihon Japan
- Nito ichiryu/Niten ichiryu School of Two Swords/Two Heavens, Musashi’s sword school
- noto return the sword to the scabbard
- nuki draw the sword, also called batto
- nukite strike with fingertips
- O
- o big, also dai
- obi belt
- ocha tea
- oitsuki strike with same arm and foot forward, also called jontsuki
- omote front, surface, compare ura
- Omotokyo shintoistic society
- onegai shimasu please, asking for something
- osae press down, pinning
- osensei great teacher, in aikido Morihei Ueshiba
- otagai ni rei bow to each others
- otoshi drop
- oyowaza applied techniques, modified for efficiency
- P(P rarely used in Japanese)
- Q(Q not used in Japanese)
- R
- randori disorderly grabbing, free training
- rei bow
- reigi etiquette, also called reishiki
- renshi title in kendo, 4-6 dan
- renshu training
- renzoku continuous
- renzoku uchikomi jo-staff exercise
- renzokuwaza consecutive techniques, a series of techniques
- ritsurei standing bow
- rokkyo sixth teaching, pinning technique, see hijikime osae
- roku six
- ryo both
- ryotedori gripping both wrists
- ryu school
- ryutai flowing body, fluid training, compare gotai, jutai and kinagare
- S
- sabaki action/handling
- sake rice wine
- samurai to serve, Japanese warrior class
- san three
- sankajo older term for sankyo
- sankaku triangle
- sankakutai triangle shape, position of the feet in hanmi
- sankyo third teaching, pinning technique
- sannindori/sanningake three attackers
- sanpo three directions
- satori enlightenment in zen
- saya scabbard
- seika no itten, the one point below the navel, the body center, also called tanden
- seiki life energy
- seiza correct sitting, sit on knees
- sempai one’s senior, compare kohai
- sen no sen before the attack, countering before the strike
- sensei teacher
- sensen no sen before before the attack, a leading initiative
- seppuku cut belly, ritual suicide with sword, also called harakiri
- shi four, also pronounced yon
- shiai competition
- shiatsu massage
- shichi seven, also pronounced nana
- shidoin instructor, middle title for aikido teacher, 4-5 dan, compare fukushidoin and shihan
- shihan expert example, high title for aikido teacher, from 6 dan, compare fukushidoin and shidoin
- shiho four directions
- shihonage four directions throw, throwing technique
- shikaku square
- shikaku dead angle
- shiki courage
- shikko knee walking
- shime choke
- shin heart, will, mind, also pronounced kokoro
- shinai kendo sword of bamboo
- Shindo Musoryu jodo-school
- shinken sharp authentic Japanese sword
- Shinshin toitsu Tohei sensei’s aikido school, Ki no kenkyukai
- shinto the way of the gods, Japanese religion
- shinzen seat of the gods, in a dojo usually a position on the wall farthest from the entrance, compare kamiza and shomen
- shisei posture
- shite the one leading, defender in aikido, also called tori or nage
- shizentai natural body posture
- sho first, beginning
- shodan first dan grade
- shodo calligraphy
- Shodokan Tomiki sensei’s aikido school
- shomen front of the head
- shomen head place of the dojo, compare shinzen and kamiza
- shomen ni rei bow to head place of the dojo
- shomenuchi cut or blow to head
- shoshinsha beginner
- shuto hand ridge strike
- sode sleeve
- sodedori sleeve grip
- sodeguchidori grip on the cuff of the sleeve
- soto outside, outer, compare uchi
- sotodeshi student who lives outside the dojo, compare uchideshi
- sotokaiten outer rotation, compare uchikaiten
- sotouke block from outside, compare uchiuke
- suburi basic exercises with sword or staff
- suki opening
- sumi corner
- sumikiri sharpness of body and mind
- sumimasen excuse me
- sumo traditional Japanese wrestling
- suri rub, scrape
- sutemiwaza techniques with losing one’s own balance
- suwariwaza seated training, also called suwate
- suwate seated training, also called suwariwaza
- T
- tachi sword, also to, ken and katana
- tachi stand
- tachidori defense against sword
- tachiwaza training standing up
- tai body
- taijutsu body techniques, unarmed techniques
- tai no henko body turn, also called tai no tenkan
- tai no tenkan body turn, also called tai no henko
- taisabaki body move, evasive movement in aikido
- taiso exercises
- takemusu improvised Martial art
- takemusu aiki improvised Martial art through the principle of aiki
- tameshi test
- tameshigiri cutting test with sword
- tameshiware hitting test in karatedo
- tanbo short staff
- tanden body center, compare seika no itten
- taninzugake several attackers
- tanren drill techniques
- tanto/tanken knife
- tantodori defense against knife
- tao/dao Chinese for do
- tatami mat
- tate stand up
- te hand
- tegatana hand sword, hand ridge in swordlike movements
- tekubi wrist
- tekubiosae pinned wrist, yonkyo
- tenchinage heaven-earth throw, throwing technique
- tenkan turn
- tettsui hammer strike
- to sword, also ken, tachi and katana
- tobigeri jump kick
- tobikoshi fall over hip, break fall
- tomauchi jo-staff technique
- tori the one who takes, defender in aikido, also called nage and shite
- torifune rowing exercise, also called funakogi undo
- tsuba sword guard
- tsugiashi following step, back foot following and not passing front foot
- tsuka sword hilt
- tsuki strike, with a weapon or empty hand
- U
- uchi hit
- uchi inside, within, inner, compare soto
- uchideshi student living in the dojo, compare sotodeshi
- uchikaiten inner rotation, compare sotokaiten
- uchikata striking and hitting attack forms
- uchikomi hitting repeatedly
- uchiuke block from inside, compare sotouke
- ude arm
- udekimenage arm lock throw
- udenobashi extended arm, gokyo
- udeosae pinned arm, ikkyo
- uke the one receiving, attacker in aikido
- uke block, parry
- ukemi falling
- undo exercise
- ura backside, inside, reverse side, compare omote
- uraken backhand strike
- ushiro behind, backwards, compare mae
- ushirogeri backward kick
- ushiro kiriotoshi rear cutting drop, throwing technique
- ushiro ukemi backward fall
- ushirowaza attacks from behind
- V(V not used in Japanese)
- W
- waka sensei young teacher, used in aikido for successor of Doshu
- waki side
- wakizashi short sword
- ware break, split
- waza technique, skill, training method
- X(X not used in Japanese)
- Y
- yame stop
- yang sunny side, heavenly, in Japanese yo, compare yin
- yari spear
- yawara old jujutsu
- yin shady side, earthly, in Japanese in, compare yang
- yo Japanese for yang
- yoko side, sideways, horizontal
- yokogeri side kick
- yokogiri horisontal cut
- yokomen side of the head
- yokomenuchi strike to the side of the head
- yoko ukemi side fall
- yon four, also pronounced shi
- yonkajo older term for yonkyo
- yonkyo fourth teaching, pinning technique
- Yoseikan Mochizuki sensei’s aikido school
- Yoshinkan Shioda sensei’s aikido school
- yudansha dan graded, compare mudansha
- Z
- za seated, sit
- Zaidan Hojin Aikikai Aikikai Foundation
- zanshin remaining spirit, continued concentration
- zarei sitting bow
- zazen sitting meditation, also called mokuso
- zen a form of buddhism
- zengo around, forward and back, front and rear
- zori sandals
- Numbers
- 1 ichi
- 2 ni
- 3 san
- 4 shi / yon
- 5 go
- 6 roku
- 7 shichi / nana
- 8 hachi
- 9 ku
- 10 ju
- 20 ni-ju
- 21 ni-ju-ichi
- 100 hyaku
- 1000 sen