Ai – Harmony, unity, blending
Aihanmi – Basic relation between partners; both have same foot forward (left or right), compare gyakuhanmi
Aiki – Blending/ uniting one’s Ki with that of the partner
Aiki taiso – Exercises for aikido arts
Aikido – The way through the life energy to harmony/ unity
Aikidoka – Person who follows the path of aikido
Arigato – Thank you
Arigato gozaimasu – Thank you for something going on
Arigato gozaimashita – Thank you for something completed
Ashi – Leg
Ashisukui – Leg sweep vacuum
Atemi – Striking techniques
Barai – Sweep
Bokken – Wooden sword
Bokuto – Wooden sword
Budo – The way of the warrior
Bujitsu – The art of war
Bushido – The warrior’s code
Choyaku – Leap/jump/slide/ glide
Chudan – Middle position
Chudan kamae – Guard position with a weapon at belly height
Chudan tsuki – Strike at belly/ solar plexus, with weapon or empty hand
Chukyu – Middle (second) kyu grade of Ki development
Chutanden – Middle position
Daijodan – Highest position
Dan – Black belt level
Deshi – Student
Do – Way
Dogi – Training clothes
Dojo – Training hall
Dojo cho – Head of a training hall
Dori – Hold
Dosa – Movement
Douchi – Cut to the trunk
Dozo – Please/ by all means
Funakogi taiso – Rowing exercise
Furikaette – Reversing direction
Futari taiso – Exercises with two people
Futarigake – Two person attack
Gake – Attack
Gasshuku – Training camp
Gedan – Low position
Getanden – Low position
Gi – Practice uniform
Giri – Cut
Gokyo – No. 5 wrist technique
Goningake – Five person attack
Gyaku – Reverse, opposite
Gyakuhanmi – Basic relation between partners: they have opposite foot forward, compare aihanmi
Hagaijime – Uke grabs nage’s elbows (usually from behind)
Hai – Yes/start
Hajime – Begin
Hakama – Traditional garment worn over the gi by senior students
Handachi – Half standing
Hanmi – A triangular stance
Hantai – Opposite
Happo taiso – Eight direction exercise in ikkyo position
Hara – Belly
Hidari – Left
Hiji – Elbow
Hijidori – Grip on elbow
Hijiuchi – Arm cut
Hikoki – Aeroplane
Hiragana – Japanese phonetic writing, compare katakana
Hitori taiso – Exercises without partner
Hiza – Knee
Ikkyo – No. 1 wrist technique
Ikkyo undo – Exercise of the basic ikkyo movement
Irimi – Entering movement
Iriminage – Entering throw
Jo – Wooden staff
Jodan – High position
Johotekubikosa taiso – High arm swing crossing at fingers
Jokyu – High (third) kyu grade of Ki development
Jotanden – High position
Juji nage – Arm twist/cross projection
Junan kenko taiso – Soft exercises for health
Kaeshi – Returning, reverse
Kahotekubikosa taiso – Low arm swing crossing at wrists
Kai – Club, association
Kaiso – Founder
Kaiten nage – Wheel/spiral projection
Kamae – Posture/stance
Kamiza – Honorary place in a dojo
Kampai – Cheers, toast
Kan so – Positive visualisation
Kata – A system of individual training exercises
Kata – Shoulder
Katadori – One-hand hold (shoulder grab)
Katakana – Japanese phonetic writing, compare hiragana
Katameru – Immobilisation/ pinning techniques
Katamewaza – Immobilization/ pinning techniques
Katana – Japanese sword
Katate – One hand
Katatedori – One-hand hold (same side)
Katatedori ryotemochi – Two-hand hold (on one hand)
Katatekosadori – One-hand hold (opposite side)
Keiko – Training
Keri – Kick
Kesa – Sword cut-from shoulder to hip
Ki – Spirit, life energy
Kiai – Spirited shout with Ki extension
Kiatsu – Pressing with Ki
Kimasubi – Tying one’s Ki to that of the partner
Kinagare/ Ki no nagare – Streaming Ki, flowing training
Kiri – Cut
Kirikaeshi – Cut and return
Kokoro – Heart
Kokoro-no-ken – Pure strikes with a live blade
Kokyu – Breath, total body extension
Kokyu dosa – Kneeling exercise of Ki extension
Kokyu ho – Breathing
Kokyu nage – Breath powered projection
Koshi – Hip
Koshin – To move back
Kote – Forearm
Kotegaeshi – Outward wrist turn
Kotodama – Spirit of words
Ku – Emptiness
Kubi – Neck
Kubishime – Neck choke
Kubiuchi – Strike to neck
Kumi Jo – Jo combinations with partner
Kumi-tachi – Sword combinations with partner
Kumi taiso – Exercises with two or more people
Kyu – Grade before black belt
Ma – Distance between training partners
Ma-ai – Harmonious balanced distance of respect between uke and nage
Mae – Front
Maekeri – Front kick
Makikaeshi – Wrist roll down, up in circular movement and return
Mawashi – Revolving, turning
Mawashikeri – Roundhouse kick
Men – Head
Menuchi – Attack to face
Migi – Right
Misogi – Purification breathing
Mochi – Hold/ grip, also called dori
Mu – Nothing/ Empty
Muki – Vacuum
Mune – Chest
Munetsuki – Punch to stomach or chest
Mushin – Empty mind
Muso – Dream, Vision
Musubi – Blending of breath and process of unification between partners
Nagare – Flow, streaming
Nage – Person executing the technique
Nidan – Second dan level
Nikyo – No. 2 wrist technique
Nodo – Throat
Obi – Belt
Onegai shimasu – Thank you for what we are about to do, or I place myself under your teaching
Otoshi – Drop
Randori – Freestyle defence
Rei – Bow
Renzoku – Continuing movement
Ritsurei – Standing bow
Ryo – Both
Ryokatadori – Two hands hold shoulders
Ryotedori – Two hands hold two hands
Ryotemochi – Two-hand hold
Ryu – School
Sakate – Reverse
Sakate mochi – Reverse hold or backhand grip
Sandan – Third dan level
Sankyo – No. 3 wrist technique
Sanningake – Three person attack
Sayu taiso – Arm swing to left and right
Sei-chu-sen – Centre line of the body also considered a spiritual centre
Seika tanden – Dynamic point of mental focus
Seiki – Life energy
Seiretsu – To form a line
Seishi – Living calmness
Seiza – Formal kneeling posture
Sempai – Senior grade
Senaka – Back
Senaka awase – Two ukes collide back to back
Sensei – Teacher
Shidoin – A senior teacher/ 4th-5th dan, properly used within the school only, when outside, use sensei
Shihan – A very senior teacher/ 6th dan and up, properly used within the school only, when outside, use sensei
Shihonage – Four direction turn and projection
Shikaku – Blind spot
Shikko – Knee walking
Shimoza – Lower seat coordination/unification
Shin – Mind, body, spirit
Shin shin toitsu – Mind body coordination/unification
Shinken – A live blade
Shizentai – A natural posture, feet apart
Shodan – First dan level
Shokyu – Beginning Kyu grade of Ki development
Shomenuchi – Straight blow to centre of head
Suburi – Basic exercises with sword or staff
Sudori – Uke passes through without stopping
Suikomi – Suction/drawing up
Suki – Opening
Sukui – Vacuum
Sumi otoshi – Corner drop
Suwaisho – Relaxed arms
Suzu – Bell
Tachiuchi – Crossing swords
Taiso – Exercise/ practice/ training-all done with Ki extension
Taigi – Movement
Tanden – One point/centre
Taninzugake – Multiple attack
Tanto – Knife
Tatami – Mat
Te – Hand
Tegatana – Hand blade
Tekubi – Wrist
Tenchi nage – Heaven and earth projection
Tenkan – Turning movement
Tobikomi – Plunging in
Toitsu – Coordination/ unification
Tori – Hold
Tsuki – Thrust/strike
Tsukikaeshi – Thrust and return
Uchi – Strike
Uchideshi – Student living in the dojo
Uchiwa – Fan
Uchiwa kubikiri – Fan cut to the neck
Uchu – Universe
Ude – Arm
Ude mawashi – Circular arm swing
Udefuri – Side arm swing
Uke – Person initiating the attack
Ukemi – The art of defensive falling
Undo – Exercise/ practice/ training – all done with Ki extension
Uragaeshi – To move uke to face away from nage
Ushiro – Back/behind
Ushiro ukemi taiso – Backward roll
Ushirodori – Held from behind (bear hug)
Ushirokubishime – Choke from behind
Ushiromuki – Back vacuum
Ushiromuki furikaette yokomenuchi – Nage draws uke into a vacuum and then reverses the direction and projects uke with a yokomen-style throw
Ushiroryokatadori – Both shoulders held from behind
Ushirotekubidori – One or two wrists held from behind
Wakazashi – Short sword
Waza – Exercise/ practice/ training – all done with Ki extension
Yame – Stop
Yokobarai – Side sweep
Yokomenuchi – Circular blow to side of head
Yoningake – Four person attack
Yonkyo – No. 4 wrist technique
Yudansha – Students who have reached black belt level
Yurei – Graceful swan-like bow
Zagi – Both partners kneeling
Zagihandachi – One kneeling, one standing
Zanshin – Calm awareness
Zen – Front
Zengo taiso – Two direction exercise in ikkyo position
Zenpo kaiten taiso – Forward roll
Zenpo nage – Forward projection
Zenshin – To the front
Zenshin koshin taiso – Extending Ki to the front while hopping back