The following is a guide to Japanese words and phrases commonly used in the dojo.
Pronunciation
The Japanese language contains five basic vowel sounds. They can be approximated by the following:
| a | like “ah” |
| e | like the “ay” in “pay” |
| i | like the “ee” in “speed” |
| o | like “o” in “so” |
| u | like the “oo” in “mood” |
Aikido Terminology
Counting
| Ichi | One |
| Ni | Two |
| San | Three |
| Shi/Yon | Four |
| Go | Five |
| Roku | Six |
| Shichi/Nana | Seven |
| Hachi | Eight |
| Kyu/Ku | Nine |
| Ju | Ten |
Phrases and Words
| Onegaishimasu | Can be translated as “please do this for me.” Spoken when asking for a favour. This is perhaps the most used phrase in Aikido practice. We say this to Sensei at the beginning of class and to our partners before training with them. |
| Arigato gozaimashita | A relatively formal form of “thank you.” gozaimashita may be dropped for more informal thanks. |
| Domo arigato gozaimashita | A very formal form of thanks – “thank you very much.” Spoken at the end of class to Sensei. |
| Hai | Yes, affirmative reply |
| Sensei | Teacher, lit. “one who has come before” |
| Shihan | Master teacher. Title given to certain teachers ranked 6th Dan and above |
| Doshu | Master of the way. Most often used to refer to the hereditary head of the Aikikai Foundation. Currently Moriteru Ueshiba, grandson of O’Sensei. |
| Sempai | One higher in rank than oneself – a senior student. |
| Tori/Nage | One who executes the technique – the partner who pins or throws. |
| Uke | One who receives the technique – the partner who is pinned or thrown. |
| Budo | Martial way |
| Bushido | Way of the Samurai, way of the warrior |
| Rei | Respect, Bow |
| Takemusu Aiki | Spontaneously arising technique; the highest form of Aikido |
| Ki | Vital energy; The life-stuff of the universe |
| Kiai | The manifestation of Ki; Physically it is a piercing shout; Spiritually it is a steady outpouring of vital energy. |
| Ki no Nagare | lit. “The flow of Ki.” Refers to techniques practiced in a blending motion |
| Hara | The centerpoint of the body. Located just below the navel. |
| Kokyu-ryoku | Breath power; flows from the hara outwards. |
| Te-gatana | Hand blade; holding Ki in the hands; a manifestation of Kokyu-ryoku. |
| Dojo | lit. “Place of the Way”; space where training takes place |
| Keiko | Practice |
| Gi | Outfit worn while training |
| Kyu | Ranks preceding black belt |
| Dan | Black belt ranks |
Stances and movement
| Hanmi | Lit. “Half-body”. One foot forward, one foot back. The stance of Aikido. |
| Tai Sabaki | Body movement |
| Tenkan | Pivot. Pivot your back foot behind yourself to turn to face the other direction. |
| Irimi | Entering movement. A step or shuffle-step forward. |
| Shikko | Knee-walking |
| Ai Hanmi | Mutual stance. Both partners have their left or right foot forward. |
| Gyaku Hanmi | Opposite stance – partners mirror each other |
| Hanmi Handachi | One partner standing, one partner sitting |
| Suwari | Both partners sitting |
Exercises
| Funakogi Undo | Boat rowing exercise |
| Menuchi ikkyo undo | Blocking exercise |
| Sayu undo | Left and right exercise |
| Tai sabaki tenkan | Body pivots |
| Kokyu-ho undo | Breathing method exercise |
| Kokyu-dosa | Breathing movements |
| Misogi | Purification – deep breathing exercise |
Falling
| Ukemi | The art of protecting oneself (with rolls and falls). |
| Mae Ukemi | Forward Roll/Fall |
| Ushiro Ukemi | Back Roll |
| Yoko Ukemi | Side Roll/Fall |
| Tobi Ukemi | High Fall/Breakfall |
Attacks
| Katate Dori | Same-hand grab (eg. right hand grabbing left wrist) |
| Tagaite Dori | Cross-hand grab (eg. right hand grabbing right wrist) |
| Ryote Dori | Both hands grab both wrists |
| Morote Dori/Ryokatate Dori | Both hands grab one wrist |
| Kata Dori | Shoulder grab |
| Sode Dori | Sleeve grab |
| Mune (Muna) Dori | Grabbing front of gi |
| Shomen Uchi | Overhead strike to the top of head |
| Yokomen Uchi | Strike to the side of the head |
| Tsuki | thrust/punch |
| Sode Dori Shomen Uchi | Grabbing sleeve and striking head |
| Ushiro Ryote Dori | Grabbing both wrists from the rear |
| Ushiro Ryosode Dori | Grabbing both sleeves from the rear |
| Ushiro Ryokata Dori | Grabbing both shoulders from the rear |
| Ushiro Kubishime | Rear chokehold |
Techniques
| Omote Waza | Techniques where tori moves in front of uke |
| Ura Waza | Techniques where tori moves behind uke |
| Tachi Waza | Standing techniques |
| Suwari Waza | Seated techniques |
| Hanmi Handachi Waza | Seated techniques against a standing opponent |
| Ushiro Waza | Techniques from the rear |
| Kaeshi Waza | Counter techniques |
| Henka Waza | Changing techniques, technique variations |
| Kihon Waza | Basic techniques |
| Oyo Waza | Applied (advanced) techniques |
| Atemi | Vital strike |
| Ikkyo (Ude Osae) | First Teaching (arm bar) |
| Nikyo (Kote Mawashi) | Second Teaching (wrist turn) |
| Sankyo (Kote Hineri) | Third Teaching (wrist twist) |
| Yonkyo (Tekubi Osae) | Fourth Teaching (wrist pin) |
| Gokyo | Fifth Teaching (reverse grip ikkyo) – used in defense against weapons |
| Shiho Nage | Four Direction Throw |
| Irimi Nage | Entering Throw |
| Kaiten Nage | Rotary Throw |
| Kote Gaeshi | “Reversed wrist.” Throwing technique |
| Tenchi Nage | Heaven and Earth Throw |
| Koshi Nage | Hip Throws |
| Juji Nage | Figure Ten Throw |
| Tenbin Nage | Balancing Scale Throw |
| Kokyu Nage | Breath Throws (a large collection of techniques) |
Weapons
| Aikiken/Aikijo | The sword and staff of Aikido |
| Kenjutsu | Art of the sword |
| Iaijutsu | Art of sword-drawing |
| Bokken | Wooden sword |
| Jo | Staff |
| Tanto | Knife |
| Iaito | Sword with a dull blade – used to practice drawing |
| Suburi | Basic movements: 7 for ken and 20 for jo. |
| Kumijo | Paired jo kata – ten in total |
| Kumitachi | Paired ken kata – five in total |
| Ken tai Jo | Ken versus jo kata – seven in total |
| Awase | Flowing |
| Tanto Dori | Lit. knife taking – empty hand v. knife |
| Tachi Dori | Empty hand v. sword |
| Jo Dori | Empty hand v. staff |