Aikido Glossary
Compiled by Hans-Peter Dommel
Note: This glossary of Aikido terms and techniques is intended to serve as a brief reference to the art, not as a thorough account for the inherent complexity of certain concepts. The glossary is sorted within related concepts.
The allusions to the "Six Pillars of Aikido" stem from the book "Budo" by O'Sensei.
Concepts, Principles and Spirituality
- AI
- harmony; coming together; integration; unification; unity
- AI (different written character)
- love
- AME-NO-MURAKUMO-KUKI-SAMUHARA-RYU-O
- guardian kami (spirit) of O'Sensei ("Heavenly, Awesome, Enlightened Dragon King")
- AME-NO-UKIHASHI
- "Floating bridge of heaven", symbolizing connection between eartly and spiritual realms of existence
- KI
- spirit; life force; vital energy; strength; sensitivity
- DO
- the Way or Path
- AIKI O-KAMI
- Great Spirit of Aiki; supreme symbol of AIKIDO ideals
- AMATERASU OKAMI
- Great Spriit Shining in the Heavens - the Sun - symbolizing Love
- BUJUTSU
- technical fighting
- BUDO
- the way of the warrior arts; the way of protection, of society, strength and honor in peace
- BUSHIN
- highest level of spiritual communion
- BUSHIDO
- warrior's code, "the way of the warrior"
- CHINKON-KISHIN
- calm the spirit - return to the divine spirit (soura)
- TEN-NO-KOKYU
- "breath of heaven" posture in chinkon-kishin
- CHI-NO-KOKYU
- "breath of earth" posture in chinkon-kishin
- DOKA
- "Songs of the Way", didactic poems of O'Sensei
- FUDO-SHIN
- "steadfast spirit", unassailable presence of mind
- FUDO-NO-SHISEI
- immovable (firm and steady) posture
- FURU-TAMA
- to shake up, cleanse, polish the soul itself
- GASSHUKU
- seminar, workshop (literally "lodging together")
- HARAGEI
- the art of developing the hara
- KIIAI
- release of physical and spiritual power in form of a piercing shout originating in the hara; literally "the meeting of spirits"
- IKI
- breath; physical act of respiration
- JIN-NO-KOKYU
- the breath of human beings; third stage in breath meditation
- JU
- principle of flexibility; the willow aspect of Aikido techniques and philosophy
- KAMI
- fire and water; deity (natural gods and goddesses); spirit of the universe; the divine
- KANGEIKO
- "cold training"; intensified winter training
- KANSHA
- deep and heartfelt gratitude
- KATA
- "fixed form"; predetermined practice patterns used as learning vehicle
- KEI
- respect
- KIKAI TANDEN
- physical and spiritual center of human being
- KIMUSUBI
- linking of ki; blending of energies
- KOGI-FUNE-UNDO
- "rowing the boat"; warmup exercise adopted from Misogi-ritual
- KOKYU
- power of breath and life force; coordination of ki flow and breathing
- KOTODAMA
- the spiritual function of sound; every one-syllable sound has its own spiritual vibration
- KU
- emptiness; the void
- KUDEN
- secret teachings, imparted by word of mouth
- KUMANO
- ancient district in Wakayama prefecture, O'Sensei's birthplace and the site of many pilgrimages
- MA-AI
- distance of time and space between uke and nage; the direction and movement of mind and spirit, along with physical distance, determine the balance of power and proper usage of space
- MAKOTO
- sincerity, truth
- MAKOTO-NO-KOKYU
- "true breath"; third stage of breath meditation
- MASAKATSU AGATSU
- "True Victory is Self-Victory" - principal tenet of AIKIDO
- KATSUHAYABI
- "victory right here, right now"; "speed which transcends time and space"; principal tenet of AIKIDO
- MISOGI
- purification of mind, body and spirit, realized by keiko, cleaning, fasting or other exercises
- MUSHIN
- no mind; a mind without ego; a mind that reflects and does not judge; state of absolute clarity and absence of thoughts
- MUSUBI
- spiritual connection
- NAGARE
- flow; unbroken flow of KI during execution of technique
- NAI KAN GYO
- silence and action; training teaching us to still the mind and look inside
- OMOIYARI
- a mind of concern for other's feelings and safety
- REI (command)
- to bow; salutation
- RITSUREI
- standing salutation
- REIGI
- proper etiquette, respecting the creative force and spirit in all of us; literally "holy spirit"
- SANGEN
- triangle (pyramid), circle (sphere), square (cube) - the three most perfect proportions in geometry
- triangle - body, mind, spirit; past, present, future; heaven, earth, humankind; signifies ki flow, creation of energy and initiative
- circle - unity, serenity, perfection; signifies liquid dimension, source of unlimited techniques
- square - earth, water, fire, air; signifies solid dimension, applied control based on form and solidity
- SENSHIN
- purified and cleansed heart and spirit; enlightened attitude
- SHINBU FUSATSU
- "divine techniques do not kill"; principal tenet in AIKIDO philosophy
- SHIN KOKYU
- divine or spirit breath
- AMATERASU NO OMIKAMI
- sun goddess, representing the divine, impartial love
- O'HARAIDO NO OMIKAMI
- spirit of purification and cleansing
- AME NO MINAKANUSHI NO OMIKAMI
- spirit of the universal center
- SHIN SHIN TOITSU
- unification of mind and body
- SHINTO
- "way of the gods"; traditional religion of Japan
- SHUGYO
- intensive training (spiritual, mental, physical, ascetic); the "day-to-day struggle"; lifelong discipline; the work of education to refine and purify the quality of life
- SUKI
- opening gap; vulnerability; moment of carelessness or inattention
- TAKEMUSU AIKI
- "courageous and creative living"; motto of AIKIDO
- TANREN
- "forging the body and mind"; especially intensive training
- TEN-CHI
- heaven-earth; the whole universei
- TEN-NO-KOKYU
- "breath of heaven"; first stage of breath meditation
- UCHI-GATAME
- "pounding the body with the fists"; warm-up exercise used to stimulate the skin and muscles
- WAJUTSU
- the technique of coordination
- ZANSHIN
- continuity; remaining aware and prepared for the next attack; calm awareness; retention of the mind; unbroken concentration
- ZAZEN
- meditation posture and exercise
The Training Place and Appearance
- DOJO
- place of the Way; a place for strengthening and refinement body, mind and spirit; training hall
- SHOMEN
- in the dojo the upper seat with the shrine housing the picture of the founder and the spirit of Aikido (not a religious, but rather a spiritual symbol); also: front or top of head
- JOSEKI
- upper side of mat, opposite the shimoseki
- KAMIZA
- upper seat on the mat, opposite the shimoza
- SHIMOZA
- lower seat on the mat
- SHIMOSEKI
- lower side of the mat
- GI or KEIKOGI or DOGI
- white training uniform
- OBI
- belt (part of gi)
- KURO-OBI
- "black belt"
- HAKAMA
- wide-skirted pants worn over gi; symbol of the samurai culture and typically worn by Aikido yudansha (black belts)
The Five Steps to Enlightenment
- KAIRIMIRU
- reflection
- HAJIRU
- repentance
- KUIRU
- feeling of shame
- OSORU
- feeling of fear
- SATORI
- enlightenment
The Six Pillars of Aikido
(cf. M. Ueshiba: "Budo"; John Stevens: "The Essence of Aikido")
- SHIHO-NAGE
- four direction throws
- IRIMI-NAGE
- entering throws
- KAITEN
- open-and-turn movements
- KOKYU-HO
- breath-power techniques
- OSAE-WAZA
- pinning techniques
- USHIRO-WAZA
- rear techniques
The Meaning of Hakama Pleats
- JIN
- Benevolence
- GI
- Justice
- REI
- Courtesy, Manners, Respect
- CHI
- Wisdom
- SHIN
- Faithfulness, Trustfulness
Roles, Postures, Directions and Movements
- AITE
- partner
- AME NO FURITAMA
- standing squarely, left hand resting (palmdown) on top of right hand (palmup); hands are gently shaken to relieve all tension in the body
- AME NO TORI-FUNE
- "rowing movements" in hanmi position; practice to cleanse the mind and spirit; in a metaphorical sense, row your boat through the spiritual levels of heaven towards purification
- AWASE
- blending
- CHOKUSEN-NO-IRIMI
- direct entering behind attack
- CHUDAN
- middle position
- CHUDAN
- middle-level position (of hands, sword etc.)
- GAESHI
- to reverse
- GEDAN
- low position
- HANMI
- relaxed triangular (T-)stance , "half-body" (sankakutai)
- HANTAI
- reverse, opposite
- HAPPO GIRI (UNDO)
- eight corner cutting/extension movement
- HIDARI
- left
- IRIMI
- front technique, entering, moving into and through the line of attack
- JODAN
- high position
- KAITEN
- to revolve, rotate; wheel, round; "open and turn"
- KAMAE
- posture or stance of readiness; there are different stances, each with different positions for the hands or weapon
- KATA
- a prescribed set of movements (often in solo practice)
- KEIKO
- study or practice; reflection and refinement, returning to the origin and discovering reality
- KIHON-DOSA
- basic movements
- MIGI
- right
- NAGE
- "thrower"; defender; the person applying a technique
- OMOTE
- to the front
- SANKAKU-IRIMI
- triangular entering (ISSOKU-IRIMI, one-step irimi)
- SAHO
- etiquette used in performing bows, handling JO and KEN etc.
- SEIZA
- formal sitting position; the only proper sitting on the mat
- SHIHO GIRI (UNDO)
- four corner cutting/extension movement
- SHIHO
- four directions
- SHIKKO
- knee-walking
- SHIME
- to squeeze/choke
- SHIZENTAI
- basic, natural posture
- SUBURI
- single movement using sword or staff (bo/jo) in solo practice; suburi is traini ng as opposed to kumi tachi, which is study (keiko)
- SUTEMI
- hard (high) fall; literally "to throw away or sacrifice the body"
- TAI-SABAKI
- two-step turn, body-turning
- TANDEN
- center (of being)
- TENKAN/URA-WAZA
- "back" technique, turning
- TORI
- "the one who takes" (alternate term for NAGE)
- UCHI
- to strike
- UCHI
- inside
- UCHI-DESHI
- live-in disciple who trains full time under senior instructor
- UKE
- "receiver"; the person providing the attack and falling
- UKEMI
- the art of receiving/taking actions as uke/falling
- URA
- to the rear/back
- YOKO
- (to the) side
Weapons
- BOKKEN
- wooden sword
- BO
- long wooden staff
- JO
- short wooden staff (48" - 55" long and 3/4" - 1" thick)
- JUKEN
- bayonet
- KATANA
- (medium length japanese) sword, blade
- KEN
- sword
- KOSHI-ZORI
- deepest curvature of ken towards handle
- TORII-ZORI
- curvature of ken greater in middle of blade
- SAKI-ZORI
- greatest curvature towards end of blade
- NAGINATA
- spear with knife at end
- SHINAI
- split bamboo practice sword
- SUBURITO
- heavy wooden training bokken to refine sword practice
- TACHI
- (japanese long) sword; can also mean "from standing position"
- TANTO
- (wooden) knife
- TEGATANA
- "hand-sword"; edge of hand
- WAKIZASHI
- (short japanese) sword
- YARI
- spear
Attacks
- AIUCHI
- "mutual strike"; position in which both partners can strike
- TSUKI
- thrusting strike
- (SHO)MEN-UCHI
- strike to (top of) head
- SHOMEN-TSUKI
- strike (thrust) to the face
- MUNE-TSUKI
- strike to chest or stomach
- YOKOMEN-UCHI
- side of the head (diagonal) strike
- SHIME
- to squeeze/choke
- TACHI-DORI
- attack with bokken, sword taking
- TANTO-DORI
- attack with knife, knife taking
- BO-DORI
- long staff taking
- JO-DORI
- short staff taking
Grabs and Holds
- AI(GYAKUTE)-DORI
- cross hand grab
- HIJI-DORI
- elbow grab
- KATA-DORI
- shoulder grab
- KATATE-DORI
- single-wrist grab
- MOROTE-DORI (RYOTE MOCHI)
- both hands grabbing one wrist
- MUNADORI
- chest grab
- RYOTE
- both hands
- RYOTE-DORI
- both hands grabbing one wrist each
- USHIRO-DORI
- rear "bear hug"
- USHIRO-KATATE-DORI-KUBI-SHIME
- rear choke with one wrist held
- USHIRO-RYO-HIJI-DORI
- both elbows grabbed from rear
- USHIRO-RYO-KATA-DORI
- both shoulders grabbed from the rear
- USHIRO-RYOTE-DORI
- both wrists grabbed from the rear
- USHIRO-RYO-TEKUBI-DORI
- both wrists grabbed from the rear
Techniques
- ATEMI
- diverting, defensive strike or blow
- ATEMI-WAZA
- striking techniques
- IKKYO
- First teaching
- NIKYO
- Second teaching (using wrist pressure)
- SANKYO
- Third teaching (using wrist presure)
- YONKYO
- Fourth teaching (using nerve pressure)
- GOKYO
- Fifth teaching (reverse grip of ikkyo, esp. for knife attacks)
- HANMI-HANDACHI
- nage is kneeling and uke attacks from standing
- HENKO-WAZA
- switching from one technique to another
- JO-DORI
- techniques for disarming opponent armed with JO
- JO-TAI-KEN
- training with JO paired against KEN
- JIYU-WAZA
- free-style techniques with one uke (specific or any attacks)
- KAESHI
- to return, come back (trans. of kaeru, from kaesu)
- KAESHI-WAZA
- reverse (counter) techniques
- KIAI
- focusing of spirit through sound; sharp shout created from the hara to unbalance opponent; projection of ki
- KI-NO-NAGARE
- free-flowing techniques
- OSAE-WAZA
- pinning techniques (5th pillar of aikido)
- OYO-WAZA
- techniques with practical applications in self-defense
- REPPAKU NO KIAI
- "ei"; the shout that cuts away barriers or impurities, thereby uniting opposites; symbolizing the sword of life which cuts things together, as opposed to the sword of death which further divides and separates
- RANDORI
- free-style practice with multiple attackers
- RIAI
- integrated principles of aiki-ken, aiki-jo, and taijutsu
- SUWARI-WAZA
- techniques practiced on knees
- TACHI-WAZA
- standing techniques
- TAI-JUTSU
- body techniques; empty-handed techniques (done without weapons)
- TAI NO HENKO
- "pivoting of the body"; basic blend (tenkan turn)
- TAI-SABAKI
- body movements
- TANINSU-GAKE
- free-style techniques against multiple attackers
- TANTO DORI
- techniques to disarm attacker who is using a knife
- TANREN
- striking practice with sword or bokken; the same cut is practiced over and over again; can also be done with a wooden staff
- TOBU-UKEMI
- "flying break-fall"
- USHIRO-WAZA
- rear techniques ("sixth sense") (6th pillar of Aikido)
- WAZA
- technique(s)
- YOBI-DASHI
- "calling out"; preemptive strike intended to neutralize an attack before it starts to develop
Throws
- IRIMI
- entering (2nd pillar of Aikido)
- IRIMI-NAGE
- entering throw ("20-year throw")
- JUJI-NAGE (JUJI-GARAMI)
- crossed arm (X, ten) throw
- KAITEN
- opening and turning (3rd pillar of Aikido)
- KAITEN-NAGE
- rotary throw
- KOKYU
- breath power; concentrated power; good timing (4th pillar of Aikido)
- KOKYU-HO (KOKYO DOSA)
- seated technique using ki to throw and pin partner
- KOKYU-NAGE
- "breath throw", using timing of body and spirit without applying pressure to partner's joints
- KOKYU-UNDO
- breath (air) movement exercises
- KOSHI-NAGE
- hip throw
- KOTE-GAESHI
- apply wrist reversal to throw partner
- KUBISHIME
- choke
- SHIHO-NAGE
- four-direction throw (applied at wrist) (1st pillar of Aikido)
- SUMI-OTOSHI
- four direction throw (applied at upper arm)
- TENCHI-NAGE
- heaven-and-earth throw
Ranks, Learning, and Teaching
- O'SENSEI
- great teacher; the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba (Dec 14, 1883 - Apr 26, 1969)
- KAISO
- founder (of Aikido)
- KANCHO
- supervisor, director of school
- DOSHU
- honorary title for the master of the art; the current Aikido doshu is Kisshomaru Ueshiba, 3rd son of O'Sensei
- DOJO-CHO
- head of the dojo
- SENSEI
- teacher; anyone who gives guidance along the way; literally "born before"
- DESHI
- student, pupil, disciple
- UCHI-DESHI
- devoted, personal student living in dojo with teacher
- KOHAI
- junior student; anyone who begins the study of Aikido. Advanced students should help and support them
- SEMPAI
- anyone who began the study of Aikido before you; you should respect this person's experience
- FUKU-SHIDOIN
- assistant instructor; usually 2nd dan and below
- SHIDOIN
- teacher typically with sandan rank
- SHIHAN
- master teacher with rank of 6th dan or above
- KYU
- white belt grade; undergraduate/mudansha rank (usually 6th kyu to 1st kyu)
- DAN
- black belt rank; graduate/yudansha rank (1st dan to 10th dan)
- MUDANSHA
- holder of white/colored belt degree
- SHODAN
- 1st degree black belt
- YUDANSHA
- holder of black belt degree
Greetings, Order, and Etiquette
- DOMO ARRIGATO (GOZAIMASHITA)
- thank you (very much)
- GAMBATTE
- "hang in there!"
- HAJIME
- begin!
- ONEGAISHIMASU
- please (train with me); I ask a favor
- OSU
- warrior greeting
- YAME
- quit, give up, stop (from yameru)
Parts of body
- ASHI
- foot, leg
- HARA
- stomach
- HIJI
- elbow
- HIZA
- knee
- KATA
- shoulder
- KOSHI
- hip, lateral pelvis, waist
- KUBI
- neck
- KUCHI
- mouth
- ME
- eye
- MEN
- head
- MUNE
- chest
- ROKKUTSU
- rib
- SENAKA
- back
- TANDEN
- place of "one-point"; center of body below navel
- TE
- hand
- TEKUBI
- wrist
- YUBI
- fingers
Counting
- ICHI
- 1
- NI
- 2
- SAN
- 3
- SHI (YON)
- 4
- GO
- 5
- ROKU
- 6
- SITI [SHICHI] (NANA)
- 7
- HATI [HACHI]
- 8
- KU [KYUU]
- 9
- JU [JUU]
- 10