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•  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

6th Kyu (Rokyu) / 30 days / 3 months

• Katate dori
  • Irimi
  • Tenkan
  • Kokyunage
  • Sumiotoshi
  • Shihonage
• Kosa dori
  • Iriminage
  • kotegaeshi
  • Ikkyo

5th Kyu (Gokyu) / 60 days / 4 months: All previous techniques plus

• Shomenuchi
  • Ikkyo (Suwariwaza and Standing)
  • Nikyo
  • Iriminage
• Kata dori
  • Ikkyo
  • Nikyo
• Mune tsuki
  • Kaitenage (Uchi and soto)
  • Kotegaishi
  • Ude Kiminage

4th Kyu (Yonkyu) / 60 days / 4 months: All previous techniques plus

• Ryote Dori
  • Tenchinage
  • Shihonage
  •  Kokyunage
• Yokomenuchi
  • Ikkyo
  • Kotegaeshi
  • Iriminage
  • Shihonage
• Shomenuchi
  • Sankyo
  • Yonkyo

3rd Kyu (Sankyu) / 70 days / 4 months: All previous techniques plus

• Ushiro Ryokatate Dori
  • Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyu
  • Iriminage
  • Shihonage
  • Kotegaishi
  • Kokyunage
  • Jujinage

• Ushiro Kubi Shime
  • kotegaeshi
  • kokyunage
• Ushiro Ryokata Dori
  • Kokyunage
  • Ikkyo