Ai |
Harmony, unity, to join or become one with. |
Ki |
Spirit; the life force or vital energy; the essence of universal creative energy. |
Do |
The way or Path. “The Way means to be one with the Will of the Universe and embody its function. If you are even slightly apart from it, it is no longer the Way.” |
Atemi Waza |
Techniques of striking. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Irimi |
Entering, moving into and through the line of attack with no thought of escape. |
Jiyu Waza |
Free technique. In testing usually against one opponent. |
Jo |
Short staff. |
Jo dori |
Techniques of staff taking. |
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. |
Kannagara |
The Stream of God. The flow of creative energy which reaches from the past into the future. |
Katana |
Japanese sword. |
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. |
Kohai |
Junior student. Those who begin their study of Aikido after you. You owe them your help and support. |
Koki |
Self-challenge |
Ko-shin |
Light Divine |
Kokyu |
The power of breath, renewal of life force. |
Kotodama |
The spiritual function of sound. Every one syllable sound has its own spiritual vibration. |
Kyu |
White belt grade. |
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 balance and proper use of space. |
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 same reality. Musubi is the process of their unification. It is the movement of the spiral. |
Nage |
A throw. One who throws. |
Omote |
To the front. |
O Sensei |
Great teacher – the title used for the Founder of Aikido. |
Randori |
Free technique against multiple attacks. |
Rei |
To bow. |
Reigi Rei |
can also be translated as holy 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. |
Samurai |
Originally comes from the verb meaning to Serve. One who has the duty and responsibility to protect society. |
Sempai |
Senior student: Those who begin their study of Aikido before you. You owe them your respect for their experience. |
Seiza |
Formal sitting position. |
Sensei |
Teacher, one who gives guidance along the way. Literally – born before. |
Senshin |
A purified heart and spirit; enlightened attitude. |
Shikko |
Knee walking. |
Shomen |
The upper seat, the shrine which houses the picture of the founder and the spirit of Aikido. |
Shinai |
Split bamboo practice sword. |
Shugyo |
The daily work to refine and purify the quality of life. |
Suburi |
Practice with sword or bokken in which the same cut is repeated again and again. An excellent purification/meditation exercise. |
Tachi |
Japanese long sword. |
Takemusu Aiki |
Enlightened Aikido. “Aiki has a form and does not have a form. 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 a word in a poem which expresses the universe limitlessly.” |
Tanden |
The hara. |
Tanren |
Training. Suburi is training; kumi tachi is study ( keiko). |
Tanto |
Knife. |
Tenkan |
Turning to dissipate force. |
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. |
Waza |
Technique |
Yudansha |
Black belt rank holders. |
Zanshin |
Continuity; remaining aware and prepared for the next action. |
|
|
|
Attacks |
|
Dori |
Grab |
Kata dori |
Shoulder or lapel grab |
Katate dori |
Wrist grab |
Kosa dori |
Cross hand grab |
Kubi shime |
A choke hold |
Munetsuki |
A straight punch to the chest or solar plexus |
Ryote dori |
Grabbing both wrists |
Ryote mochi |
Grabbing your partners wrist with both hands |
Rokata dori |
Grabbing both shoulders |
Shomenuchi |
Strike or cut to the top of the head |
Shomentsuki |
Thrust between the eyes |
Tsuki |
Straight punch or thrust with a weapon |
Uchi |
Strike with the edge of the open hand or cut with a weapon from over the head |
Ushiro |
From behind |
Yokomenuchi |
Strike or cut to the side of the head or neck |
|
|
|
Techniques |
|
Gokyo |
Fifth form |
Ikkyu |
First form |
Iriminage |
Entering throw |
Jiyu Waza |
Free technique. In testing usually against one opponent. |
Jo dori |
Techniques of staff taking |
Kaitennage |
Turning or rotating throw |
Kokyunage |
Breath or rhythm throw |
Koshinage |
Hip throw |
Kumi Jo |
Paired jo practice |
Kumi Tachi |
Paired sword practice |
Nikyo |
Second form |
Sanko |
Third form |
Shihonage |
Four corner throw |
Suwariwaza |
Techniques which begin with both opponents in seiza and are executed from the knees |
Tachi dori |
Techniques of sword taking |
Taijutsu |
Empty handed techniques |
Tanto dori |
Techniques of knife taking |
Tenchinage |
Heaven and Earth throw |
Yonko |
Fourth form |
