SHIDOKAN - "The place for the study of Leadership to Protect Society"

This is a basic list of Japanese terms which you will hear used in the dojo. By studying these definitions you will discover many facets of Aikido philosophy. It is important to your practice that you have a basic understanding of them. Quotation marks indicate the words of the Founder.

For additional resources, visit AikiWeb's vocabulary section or the AikiWeb pronunciation guide. Learn to count from 1-10 in Japanese here.

- A -

agura
    Cross-legged seated position.

arigato gozaimashita
    Thank you (past tense).

arigato gozaimasu
    Thank you (present tense).

atemi Waza
    Techniques of striking.

- B -

bokken
    Wooden practice sword.

budo
    Literally to stop the thrusting spear. "A mind to serve for the peace of all humanity is needed in Aikido, not the mind of one who wishes to be strong and only practices to defeat an opponent. There are neither opponents nor enemies for true Budo. Therefore to compete in techniques, winning or losing, is not true Budo. True Budo knows no defeat. Never defeated means never fighting."

bushido
    The way of chivalry.

- D -

deai
    The moment of truth. The moment of the meeting of two forces.

deshi
    Student.

dojo
    The place where the way is revealed. A place for the strengthening and refinement of spirit, mind, and body.

dohai
    Student of equal seniority.

- G -

go
    Five.

- H -

hachi
    Eight.

hakama
    Wide skirted pants worn over the gi. You will be expected to wear hakama (dark blue or black) after receiving the 6th Kyu grade.

hanmi
    The relaxed triangular stance of Aikido. It is stable yet flexible enough to move quickly in any direction. All technique begins, moves through and ends in hanmi.

hanmi handachi
    Techniques practiced with nage sitting and uke standing.

hara
    The lower abdomen. The center of life energy, physical and spiritual. All movement must originate from this point.

- I -

ichi
    One.

irimi
    Entering, moving into and through the line of attack with no thought of escape.

- J -

jiyu waza
    Free technique. In testing usually against one opponent.

jo
    Short staff.

jo dori
    Techniques of staff taking.

ju
    Ten.

- K -

kamae
    A posture or stance of readiness. In each kamae there are different positions for the hands or weapon:

        jodan - high position;
        chudan - middle position;
        gedan - lower position.

kata dori
    Shoulder grab
.
katate dori
    Wrist grab.

katate dori ryote mochi
    Grabbing your partner's wrist with both hands.

keiko
    Study or practice. The deeper meaning is to return to the origin. Through the study of the past and appreciation for its experience we can understand the present and refine our spirit.

kiai
    The release of spiritual and physical power in the form of a piercing scream originating in the hara.

kiza
    Mobile seated position.

kohai
    Junior student. Those who begin their study of Aikido after you. You owe them your help and support.

kokyu
    The power of breath, renewal of life force.

kosa dori
    Cross hand grab
.
kotodama
    The spiritual function of sound. Every one syllable sound has its own spiritual vibration.

ku
    Nine.

kubi shime
    A choke hold.

kumi jo
    Paired jo practice.

kumi tachi
    Paired sword practice.

kyu
    White belt grade; nine.

- M -

maai
    The distance of time and space between two forces. The movement of the mind, the stream of spirit and their direction, as well as physical distance, determines the balanced and proper use of space.

munetsuki
    A straight punch to the chest or solar plexus.

misogi
    Purification of mind, body, and spirit. Sweating is misogi; cleaning is misogi; fasting is misogi; keiko is misogi.

mushin
    No mind, a mind without ego. A mind like a mirror which reflects and does not judge.

musubi
    Opposites are but different images of the dame reality. Musubi is the process of their unification. It is the movement of the spiral.

- N -

nage
    A throw. One who throws.

nana
    Seven.

ni
    Two.

- O -

omote
    To the front.

onegai shimasu
    If you please...

O'Sensei
    lit. "Great teacher"; the title used for the Founder of Aikido.

- R -

randori
    Free technique against multiple attacks.

rei
    To bow.

reigi
    Rei can also be translated as holly spirit; gi as manifestation. When used together the words mean proper etiquette, respecting the creative force and spirit which is the same in all of us.

roku
    Six.

ryote dori
    Grabbing both wrists.

ryokata dori
    Grabbing both shoulders.

- S -

samurai
    Originally comes from the verb meaning to serve. One who has the duty and responsibility to protect society.

sempai
    Senior student: Those who began their study of Aikido before you. You owe them your respect for their experience.

san
    Three.

seiza
    Formal sitting position.

sensei
    Teacher, one who gives guidance along the way. Literally - born before.

senshin
    A purified heart and spirit; enlightened attitude.

shi (see also yon)
    Four.

shichi
    Seven.

shikko
    Knee walking.

shomen
    The upper seat, the shrine which houses the pictures of the Founder and the spirit of Aikido.

shomenuchi
    Strike or cut to the top of the head.

shomentsuki
    Thrust between the eyes.

shinai
    Split bamboo practice sword.

shugyo
    The daily work to refine and purify the quality of life.

suburi
    Practice with sword of bokken in which the same cut is repeated again and again. An excellent purification / meditation exercises.

suwariwaza
    Techniques which begin with both opponents in seiza and are executed from the knees.

- T -

tachi
    Japanese long sword.

tachi dori
    Techniques of sword taking.

taijutsu
    Empty handed techniques.

takemusu aiki
    Enlightened Aikido. "Aiki has a form and does not have a from. Aiki is a life which has a form and still flows with change; it expresses itself by changing itself. A form without a form is word in a poem which expresses the universe limitlessly."

tanden
    The hara.

tanren
    Training. Suburi is training; kumi tachi is study (keiko).

tanto
    Knife.

tanto dori
    Techniques of knife taking.

tenkan
    Turning to dissipate force.

- U -

uke
    One who receives. The person being thrown.

ukemi
    Techniques of falling. The art of protecting oneself from injury. The first and most important step to developing strong Aikido technique is developing good ukemi.

ura
    To the rear.

ushiro
    From behind.

- W -

waza
    Techniques.

- Y -

yokomenuchi
    Strike or cut to the side of the head or neck.

yon (see also shi)
    Four.

yudansha
    Black belt rank holders.

- Z -

zanshin
    Continuity; remaining aware and prepared for the next action.