| TERM | LITERAL TRANSLATION | DEFINITION / DESCRIPTION |
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Ai
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Harmony, Peace
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The first kanji in Aikido. Also related to the kanji for to meet.
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Ai-hanmi
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same stance, meeting stance
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Uke and nage have same side forward, like shaking hands.
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Aikido
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The way of harmonizing energy
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A Japanese martial art focusing on re-directing an aggressor's energy and momentum to the defender's advantage.
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Aikidoka
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One who practices Aikido
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One who practices Aikido
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Aikikai
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Aiki Foundation
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The most traditional form of Aikido. This is the style practiced in the Swathmore Aikido Club.
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Atama
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head
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head
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Atamanage
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head throw
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Standing beside and a bit in front of uke, nage reaches around uke's head from the far side and drops to one knee, throwing uke.
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Ate
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strike
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Part of many technique names.
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Atemi
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fake punch
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A light strike with the purpose of distracting uke while a technique is executed.
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Bokken
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wooden practice katana
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Wooden practice katana (samurai sword). We practice with wooden swords so that mistakes in training do not result in severed body parts.
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Chudan
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middle height
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Middle height, as opposed to jodan or gedan.
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Dan
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master, expert
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Grade of black belt, as in 1st dan, 2nd dan, etc.
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Do
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the way of
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The third kanji in Aikido.
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Domo arigatou
gozaimashita
(/Sensei)
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Thank you very much for what has come to pass
(/Sensei)
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Traditional way of thanking practice partners and teacher after practice.
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Dori
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see tori
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Eridori
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collar grab
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collar grabbing attack, not practiced much
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Gedan
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low height
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Low height, as opposed to chudan or jodan.
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Geri
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see keri
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Misspelling of "keri."
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Gokyo
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5th technique
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The fifth technique, sort of an upsidedown ikkyo.
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Gyaku-hanmi
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opposite stance
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Uke and Nage have opposite sides of their bodies forward, on the same side of an imaginary center line
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Hanmi
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stance
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Proper martial way of standing
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Hanmi-
handachi
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half-standing stance
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Uke standing, nage sitting seiza.
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Henkan
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change
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Turning 180 degrees by rotating on the balls of the feet. Also called "Kaiten."
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Henkawaza
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changing techniques, reversals
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As nage applies a technique to uke, uke redirects it into a technique applied to nage.
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Hiji
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elbow
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Elbow, a frequent component in technique names.
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Hijiate
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elbow strike
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Nage draws uke's arm across their body and raises their arm under uke's elbow or upper arm, near the elbow. Can be a break or a throw.
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Hijigime
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arm bar
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Another name for rokkyo.
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Ikkyo
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1st technique
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The first technique. Nage controls uke's hand/wrist while driving uke's elbow up and back, then cutting down, straightening and turning the arm.
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Irimi
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entering
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Nage steps forward into uke's space.
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Irimi henkan
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entering change
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A forward step followed immediately by a henkan. Also called "irimi kaiten."
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Irimi kaiten
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entering turn
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see irimi henkan
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Iriminage
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entering throw, chest-to-chest throw
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Called the "20-year technique" because of the infinitude of nuances in proper execution. Nage secures uke's head against their shoulder, then raises and lowers their arm in a grand arcing motion, taking uke's head with it.
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Irimi tenkan
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entering turn
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A forward step immediately followed by a tenkan.
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Jo (Staff)
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stick
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A staff sometimes used in Aikido practice.
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Jodan
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high height
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High height, as opposed to chudan or gedan.
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Jujinage
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cross throw
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Uke's arms are crossed at the elbows as nage applies torque against this stoppage.
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Kaiten
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turn
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Turning 180 degrees by rotating on the balls of the feet. Also known as "henkan." Also used as a general term for methods of turning (uchi mawari, etc.).
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Kaitenage
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wheel throw
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After bring uke's head low, nage keeps their head down while spinning nage by rotating their arm above them (omote) or their hindquarters around (ura).
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Kanji
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Japanese characters
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Characters of Chinese origin, the complex looking ones. Used to signify nouns, verbs, and other conceptually important words.
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Kata
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shoulder/form
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Two homophones. The one meaning "shoulder" is part of many technique names. The one meaning "form" refers to long sets of exercises performed with a jo staff.
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Kataguruma
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over-the-shoulder throw
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The classic over-the-shoulder throw. Rarely practiced in Aikido, seen more often in Judo.
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Katatetori
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1-handed grab
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1-handed wrist grab
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Katatori
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shoulder grab
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Shoulder grab
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Keri
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kick
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Kick. Rarely used in Aikido. Sometimes misspelled as "geri."
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Ki
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energy, spirit
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The second kanji in Aikido.
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Kokikai
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light ki foundation
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The style of Aikido practiced in the PE class at Swarthmore College.
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Kokyu
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breath/breathing
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Breath/breathing
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Kokyudosa
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Breathing movement
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Breathing exercise done with both partners in seiza. Uke grabs ryotetori; nage extends her arms and pins uke, focusing on proper breathing.
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Kokyuho
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Breathing technique
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Throws with a focus on proper breathing. The most common resembles an upsidedown iriminage.
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Kokyunage
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Breath throw
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Collection of throws, called breath throws, focused on proper breathing. Often, when Sensei cannot remember the proper name for a technique, it's a kokyunage.
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Koshinage
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hip throw
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Koshi! Nage gets their hips low and in front of uke, loads 'em up, and throws 'em.
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Kotegaeshi
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back-of-the-hand turn
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Uke's hand is turned back and roated to the outside of the body simultaneously.
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Kyu
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rank
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(White) Belt ranks, such as 5th kyu, 4th kyu, etc.
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Mae kaiten
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front roll
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A forward roll, the most basic form of ukemi.
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Mae yoko
kaiten
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front side roll
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A forward fall, often called "forward ukemi."
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Menuchi
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hit in the face
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Punch in the face, common element in technique names.
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Morotetori
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2-hand grab
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2 hands grabbing 1 arm.
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Munadori
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chest grab
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1-handed chest or lapel grab
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Nage
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throw
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Throw. Also the defender in Aikido (the one doing the techniques).
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Nikyo
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2nd technique
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The second technique, uke's wrist and elbow are compressed into a Z-shape and torqued a bit.
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Omote
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front side
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Term for techniques where nage applies the technique while moving or standing in front of uke. As opposed to ura.
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Onegaishimasu
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please do me the honor...
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Traditional phrase used at the start of practice as well as the start of each paired exercise.
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O'Sensei
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see Ueshiba, Morihei
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Randori
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chaos throw
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One nage defends against several ukes. Attacks and techniques used may be limited beforehand or unrestricted.
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Rokkyo
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6th technique
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The sixth technique. Another name for hijigime.
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Ryokatatori
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both shoulder grab
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Double shoulder grab.
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Ryotetori
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both wrist grab
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Double wrist grab.
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Sankyo
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3rd technique
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The third technique. Uke's hand and forearm are held vertical and torqued.
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Seiza
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proper sitting
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Sitting on top of one's feet with both knees in front, together.
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Sensei
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teacher
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Whoever is teaching class. Also an honorific appended to the names of those who have achieved shodan or higher. Ex: Jim Walsh Sensei.
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Shihonage
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4-direction throw
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Uke's upper arm is pointed straight up in the air. The elbow is fully bent and the tricep is extended. Nage grasps uke's wrist and cuts down. Although the proper spelling is "shihounage," meaning "4-direction throw," it frequently appears as "shihonage."
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Shikko
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knee walking
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Knee walking
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Shodan
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1st dan (see dan)
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The first level of black belt. Usually earned in American Aikikai Aikido after 7-10 years of training.
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Shomen
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front
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The front of the head. Also the front of the dojo. Also, the various artifacts at the front of the dojo, sometimes the picture of O'Sensei in particular.
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Shomenate
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front hit
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A rising strike to the face, sometimes used as a very abbreviated iriminage.
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Shomenuchi
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face hit
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Vertical strike to the face. In practice this strike stands in for any vertical barehanded strike as well as attacks with baseball bats, knives, etc.
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Soto
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outside
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Outside.
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Soto mawari
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outside turn
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Describes a technique done by turning to uke's outside and catching their wrist against the handblade (pinky metacarpal bone).
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Sumiotoshi
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corner drop
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With uke's wrist in hand and arm extended, nage bears down on the elbow.
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Suwari waza
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sitting technique
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A technique done with both uke and nage sitting seiza.
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Tachi
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standing
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Standing.
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Tachi waza
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standing technique
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A technique done with both uke and nage standing.
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Tai no henko
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body change
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An exercise. Uke grabs nage gyaku hanmi katatetori, nage does a tenkan and extends his arms.
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Tai sabaki
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body movement
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The basic footwork for Aikido. Tenkan, kaiten/henkan, irimi tenkan, etc.
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Tanto
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knife
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Term for both knives and wooden practice knives.
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Tenchinage
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heaven and earth throw
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With both hands grabbed, nage directs one earthward and the other skyward.
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Tenkan
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turn
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A 180 degree turn executed by turning the front foot pigeon-toed then withdrawing the rear foot straight backwards.
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Tori
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grab
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From "toru," meaning "to take," a common element in technique names. Often seen as "dori," also.
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Tsuki
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punch
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A straight-on punch.
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Uchi
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hit, inside
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2 totally different terms in Japanese (homophones). One word means "a hit." The other refers to techniques performed by turning "inside," which usually means under uke's outstretched arm.
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Uchi mawari
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inside turn
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See uchi.
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Udegarame
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arm intertwining
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A really cool technique. Nage positions herself beside and slightly ahead of uke. Grasping uke's outside arm with her outside arm, nage reaches over uke's outstretched arm with her free arm, bends at the elbow, and grabs her own wrist, underneath uke's arm, applying pressure to the elbow.
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Ueshiba,
Morihei
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(a name)
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The founder of Aikido. Frequently referred to as O'Sensei. Click here to learn more.
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Uke
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receive
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The partner receiving a technique in practice. The one playing the part of an attacker.
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Ukemi
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what uke does
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What uke does, meaning how to take the techniques without harm. The art of falling.
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Ura
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back side
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Denotes a technique performed while nage is behind or traveling behind uke. Usually involves a tenkan. As opposed to omote.
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Ushiro
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back, backwards, behind
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When referring to an attack, it means that the attack ends up coming from behind. When referring to ukemi, it means that the ukemi is done backwards, ie backwards roll.
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Ushiro eridori
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collar grab from behind the back
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Collar grab from behind the back.
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Ushiro kaiten
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backwards roll
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A backwards roll, the second most basic form of ukemi.
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Ushiro
katatetori
to eridori
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wrist and collar grab from behind the back
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Wrist and collar grab from behind the back.
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Ushiro
kubishime
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choke from behind the back
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Wrist grab and choke from behind the back.
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Ushiro mae
kaiten
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backwards forwards roll
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A backwards-into-forwards roll. While falling backwards, uke turns in midair and performs a forward roll. An advanced ukemi.
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Ushiro mae
yoko kaiten
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backwards forwards side roll
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A backwards-into-forwards fall, often called "backwards-into-forwards ukemi." While falling backwards, uke turns in midair and performs a mae yoko kaiten. An advanced ukemi.
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Ushiro
ryokatatori
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both shoulder grab from behind the back
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Double shoulder grab from behind the back.
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Ushiro
ryotetori
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both wrist grab from behind the back
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Double wrist grab from behind the back.
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Ushiro toshi
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backwards through
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There are two versions of this ukemi, one advanced and one very advanced. In the basic version, when confronted with a horizontal, head-level attack, such as a clothesline, uke reaches underneath the attacker's arm and hangs on with the outside arm while spinning 90 degrees towards the attacker and bending fully in the knees, all the way down to the ground.
Uke then touches down with an outstreched inside arm and rolls across it, both shoulders, and the other arm, away from the attacker, and stands up.
(The bullet-dodging scene in The Matrix was a poorly executed basic ushiro toshi.) In the advanced, or "aerial," version, the attack is so hard and fast uke doesn't have time to bend at the knees. Instead uke kicks both legs above his head, leaving himself airborne, then touches down with the inside hand and rolls out as in the basic version.
"Ushiro toshi" actually means "backwards age"; we suspect it's a misspelling of "ushiro toushi," meaning "backwards through" -- uke goes through the space under the arm.
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Ushiro yoko
kaiten
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backwards side roll
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Often called, "backwards ukemi," the reverse of mae yoko kaiten.
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Waza
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technique
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The things we learn in Aikido.
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Yoko
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side
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A common component in many terms used in Aikido.
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Yokomenuchi
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side-of-the-head hit
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A circular strike to the forwardmost temple.
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Yonkyo
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4th technique
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The fourth technique. Nage grasps uke's wrist like a sword and cuts down.
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