Japanese Term Meaning
aiki ken Aikido sword exercises
aiki no michi Aikido (michi=do)
aiki taiso aiki exercises
aikibatto sword exercises, solo or paired
aikibudo budo based on the aiki principle, earlier name for Aikido
Aikido the way of harmony of the spirit
Aikido kyogi competition Aikido
Aikido toho Nishio sensei’s iaido school
Aikido ka one who does Aikido, specifically on an advanced or professional level
aikijinja the Aikido temple in Iwama
aikijo Aikido jo
aikijutsu name on the daito ryu martial art, also called aikijujutsu
aikikai organization and “label” for Ueshiba’s Aikido
aikiken Aikido sword exercises
aikinage aiki throw, throwing technique
aikiotoshi aiki drop, throwing technique
aikitaiso Aikido warm up exercises
aite partner in training
arigato thanks
arigato gozaimashita thanks for something completed
arigato gozaimasu thanks for something going on
ashi leg, foot
ashigaru samurai of lowest rank
ate hit, strike
atemi strike to the body
awase harmonizing/blending movement
ayumiashi altering steps, left and right, like normal walking
bajutsu horsemanship
barai/harai parry, ward off
batto draw the sword, also called nuki
batto (1) sword drawing
batto (2) drawn sword, naked blade
battojutsu art of sword drawing using a single cutting motion
bo staff, longer than the jo
bojutsu bo techniques
bokken wooden training sword
bokuto same as bokken
bu war, battle, fight
budo the way of war/battle, the Japanese martial arts
budoka one who does any budo, specifically on an advanced or professional level
bugei battle art, old term
bugeisha warrior, master of martial arts
bujin military man, soldier
bujutsu martial technique
bukiwaza weapons training
bushi warrior
bushido the way of the warrior
chado tea ceremony
chikara force/strength
choku direct
chokutsuki direct strike with the jo
chudan middle, compare jodan and gedan
chudan kamae guard position with a weapon at belly height
chudan tsuki strike at belly/solar plexus, with weapon or empty hand
chukyusha continuing student, with a mid-level kyu grade
dai big, also o
daisho sword pair, the long and the short sword
daito ryu aikijutsu school
dame wrong, bad
dan level, black belt grade in budo
dao/tao transcription of the Chinese word for way, do
deshi student
do way, also michi
dogi training dress, also keikogi
do-in self-massage tradition
dojo training hall
dojo cho head of a training hall
doka poem about the way
domo thanks
domo arigato gozaimas thank you so much, for something going on
domo arigato gozaimashita thank you so much, for something completed
dori take, catch, grab
dosa movement
doshu way leader, head of a budo
dozo please/by all mean
eda short stick
embukai public demonstration
empi strike with elbow
eri neck, collar
eridori collar grip by the neck
fuchi metal sleeve at the base of the handle of a katana
fudo no shisei immovable posture
fukuro shinai A bamboo bokken encased in leather
fukushidoin teacher assisting instructor. Compare shidoin and shihan
funakogi undo rowing exercise, also called torifune
furitama exercise to still ki
futaridori/futarigake two attackers
gaeshi/kaeshi returning, reversed, counter
gamae/kamae guard, basic position
gasshuku training camp, lodging together
gedan low, compare jodan and chudan
gedan gaeshi circular jo movement, aimed at lower part of uke‘s body
gedan tsuki jo thrust aimed at lower part of uke‘s body
gedanbarai low block
geiko/keiko training
geri kick
gi training suit
giri/kiri cut
go five
godan fifth degree black belt
gokyo fifth teaching, pinning technique
gomen nasai excuse me
go no sen timing a response late to an attack. ​See also Sen and Sen No Sen
gorin no sho book of five rings, by Miyamoto Musashi
goshi (koshi) hip
gotai hard body, static training, compare jutai, ryutai and kinagare
gyaku reverse, opposite
gyakuhanmi basic relation between partners: they have opposite foot forward, compare aihanmi
gyakuhanmi katatedori wrist grip, right on left or left on right, compare aihanmi katatedori
gyakutsuki strike with opposing arm and leg forward, compare oitsuki
habaki collar around the blade of a katana
hachi eight
hachi no ji jo movement based on the Japanese character for eight
hachidan eighth degree black belt
hagakure hiding the leaves, classic samurai book from the 18th century
hai yes
hajime begin
hakama traditional wide pants, used in Aikido
hanbo stick, 3ft staff
handachi half standing
hanmi standing posture
hanmi half body
hanmi gamae angled guard position
hanmi handachiwaza sitting versus standing
hanmi hantachi one sitting, one standing
hanshi sword master of high rank
hanshi title in kendo, from 8th dan
hantai opposed
happo eight directions, compare shiho
happo giri eight direction cut
hara stomach, centre
harai/barai sweep away, parry
harakiri cut belly, ritual suicide, also called seppuku
hasso gamae guard with weapon at shoulder level
hasso no kamae posture with ken or jo vertical at the right shoulder
hassogaeshi jo staff technique
henka waza changing techniques, variations on basic techniques, also shifting from one technique to another
henke blending
hidari left (right: migi)
hidari hanmi left posture
hiji elbow
hiji jime (shime) elbow lock
hijidori grip on elbow
hijikimeosae pinning technique, sometimes called rokkyo
hiki pull
hineri twist
hiragana Japanese phonetic writing, compare katakana
hiriki elbow power
hito e mi making the posture small
hito e mi making the body small, guard position with more of an angle than hanmi
hiza knee
ho direction
ho method
hombu head quarters
hombu dojo head dojo, used for Aikido ‘s head dojo in Tokyo
iai swordplay
iaido modern art of drawing the sword from its scabbard
iaito training sword, usually not sharpened
ichiban first, best
ichigeki issatsu one blow, one kill
iie no
iki will power
ikkajo older term for ikkyo
ikki one ki, bottoms up, toast
ikkyo first teaching, pinning technique
ikkyo undo exercise of the basic ikkyo movement
in japanese for the chinese concept yin, compare yo
ippan geiko general training
ippon one point
ipponken strike with one knuckle
irimi entering (movement)
iriminage inward throw, throwing technique
iro obi coloured belt
iwama japanese town, where O sensei had a dojo and a home
iwama ryu Saito sensei’s Aikido style
jiyuwaza free training
jo stick, 4ft staff
jo awase jo staff exercises
jodan high, compare chudan and gedan
jodan gaeshi circular jo strike to upper part of uke‘s body
jodan kamae guard with weapon over head
jodan no kamae upper stance
jodan tsuki strike at head
jodanuke high block
jodo the way of the staff
jodori defence against jo
jokyusha advanced student, with a higher kyu grade, compare chukyusha
joseki place where honoured guest is seated in the dojo
jotori staff taking (defense against jo attacks)
ju soft
ju ten
ju no ri principle of gentleness
judan tenth degree black belt
judo the soft way, or the way to softness
jujigarami/jujinage crossed arm throw
jujutsu the soft art
juken bayonet
jumbitaiso aikitaiso warm up exercises
juntsuki strike with the same arm and leg forward, also called oitsuki, compare gyakutsuki
jutai soft body, smooth training, compare gotai, ryutai and kinagare
jutsu technique/art
kaeshi/gaeshi returning, reverse
kaeshitsuki reverse strike with jo staff
Kaeshi waza counter techniques
kagami biraki Japanese new year celebration, held January 11th
kai association
kaiso founder
kaiten open and turn
kaitennage rotation throw, throwing technique
kaitenosae rotation pinning technique
kakaedori embrace
kakarigeiko attackers in line, one after the other
kakudo angle
kakutogi combative art
kamae/gamae guard position
kami deity, divine being
kamigakari divinely inspired person
kamiza honorary place in a dojo, compare shomen and shinzen
kampai cheers, toast
kan intuition
kangeiko mid winter training
kanji ideograms, the Chinese writing
kanren linked, connected
kanrenwaza linked techniques, one technique followed by another, compare renzokuwaza
kansetsu joint (on body)
kansetsu waza joint techniques
kansha gratitude
karatedo the way of the empty hand, or the way through the hand to emptiness
kashima shintoryu traditional sword school
kata form, pre decided movements
kata shoulder
katadori shoulder grip
katadori menuchi shoulder grip followed by shomenuchi
katakana japanese phonetic writing, compare hiragana
katamewaza pinning techniques
katana the japanese sword, also ken, to and tachi
katasujinken life giving sword
katate one hand technique
katate dori one hand grab
katate ryotedori grip with both hands, also called morotedori
katatedori wrist grip
katori shintoryu traditional sword school
keiko/geiko training
keikogi training dress, also dogi
ken firm, strong
ken sword, also katana, to and tachi
ken no kamae posture when holding sword of bokken ready
kendo japanese fencing
kenjutsu combative sword arts or techniques
keppan blood oath
ki spirit; mind; heart; energy
ki Aikido Tohei sensei’s Aikido style
ki no kenkyukai Tohei sensei’s Aikido school, also shinshin toitsu
ki no musubi uniting your ki with that of your opponent
ki no nagare ki, or energy flow
kiai gathered ki, usually used for shout in budo
kihon basics
kihon waza basic technique
kikai tanden the ocean of ki in the body’s center
kime focusing
kimusubi tying one’s ki to that of the partner
kinagare/ki no nagare streaming ki, flowing training, compare gotai, jutai and ryutai
kiotsukete to stand to attention
kiri/giri cut
kirikaeshi turning cut, sword exercise
kiritsu to stand up
koan riddle in zen
kobudo traditional or pre
kobudo older budo
kobujutsu traditional martial arts
kogeki attack
kogekiho attack techniques
kohai one’s junior, compare sempai
kojiki religious Japanese book from the 8th century
kokoro heart, will, mind, also pronounced shin
kokyu breath power
kokyu nage throwing with breath power
kokyu ryoku breath power
kokyuho breathing exercise, throwing technique
kokyunage breath throw
kosa cross over, pass
kosadori cross over grip, same as aihanmi katatedori
koshi hip
koshi nage hip throw
kote wrist
kote gaeshi outward wrist twist
kotegaeshi reversed wrist, throwing technique
kotehineri twisted wrist, sankyo
kotemawashi turned wrist, nikyo
kotodama/kototama spirit of words, Japanese sound mystique and cosmology
ku emptiness
ku nine
kubi neck
kubishime neck choke
kuden oral teaching
kumi group, set
kumijo jo staff exercises, jo against jo
kumitachi sword exercises, sword against sword
kumite empty handed fight
kumiuchi ancient Japanese wrestling in full armour
kuzushi break balance, destabilise
kyo principle, learning
kyoju dairi teaching assistant
kyoshi title in kendo, 6/7 dan
kyu grade before black belt, compare dan
kyudan ninth degree black belt
kyudo the art of Japanese archery
ma ai harmonious, balanced distance between training partners
mae front, forward, compare ushiro
mae ukemi forward fall
maegeri straight kick
makiwara target for hitting practice in karatedo
maru circle
marui circular
masakatsu agatsu correct victory, victory over self
mawashi revolving, turning
mawashigeri roundhouse kick
mawate turning
me eye
meiji martial ways
men head
menkyo teaching license
menkyo kaiden certificate of advanced proficiency
menuchi head strike
metsubushi ‘smashing the eyes’
metsuke eye
michi way, also do
migi right (left: hidari)
migi hanmi right posture
misogi purification, cleansing
mo ikkai do again
mochi hold/grip, also called dori
mochikata gripping attacks
mokuroku catalogue or list
mokuso meditation, also called zazen
moro both
morotedori grip with both hands, also called katate ryotedori
mu nothing, empty
mudansha trainee without dan grade, compare yudansha
mune chest
munedori collar grip by the chest
musha shugyo knight errantry
mushin mugamae empty or open mind/stance
musubi tie together, bind, join
nagare flow, streaming
nage throw, also used for the one doing the Aikido technique, compare tori
nagewaza throwing techniques
naginata halberd, traditional weapon sometimes as long as 10 feet
nakaima here and now
nana seven, also pronounced shichi
nanadan seventh degree black belt
nen the purity and unity of the mind
ni two
niban leading from one into another
nidan second degree black belt
nihon/nippon japan
nihongi religious Japanese book from the 8th century
nikajo older name for nikyo
nikyo second teaching, pinning technique
nin person
ninindori two attackers, also called futaridori
ninja courier and spy in old Japan
nippon/nihon japan
nito ichiryu/niten ichiryu school of two swords/two heavens, Musashi’s sword school
noto return the sword to the scabbard
nuki draw the sword, also called batto
nukite strike with fingertips
o big, also dai
o sensei great teacher (Morihei Ueshiba)
obi belt
ocha tea
oi centre; abdomen
oitsuki strike with same arm and foot forward, also called jontsuki
omote front, surface, compare ura
omotokyo shintoistic society
onegai shimasu please, asking for something
orenai te unbendable arm
osae press down, pinning
osensei great teacher, in Aikido Morihei Ueshiba
otagai ni rei bow to each other
otoshi drop
oyo turn
oyowaza applied techniques, modified for efficiency
randori rough grabbing, refers to free style practise
rei bow
reigi etiquette, also called reishiki
renshi title in kendo, 4-6 dan
renshu practice; training
renzoku continuous
renzoku uchikomi jo staff exercise
renzokuwaza consecutive techniques, a series of techniques
rikaku taisei techniques used when standing apart form uke
ritsurei standing bow
rokkyo sixth teaching, pinning technique, see hijikime osae
roku six
rokudan sixth degree black belt
ryo both
ryokata dori two shoulder grab
ryote two hands
ryotedori gripping both wrists
ryu style; school
ryutai flowing body, fluid training, compare gotai, jutai and kinagare
sabaki movement
sake rice wine
samurai to serve, Japanese warrior class
san three
sandan third degree black belt
sankajo older term for sankyo
sankaku triangle
sankakutai triangle shape, position of the feet in hanmi
sankyo third teaching, pinning technique
sannindori/sanningake three attackers
sanpo three directions
satori spiritual awakening or realization
satsujinken killing sword
saya scabbard
seika no itten the one point below the navel, the body centre, also called tanden
seika tanden central point of stomach, slightly below the navel
seiki life energy
seiza formal sitting position
seiza ho moving into a formal sitting position
sempai one’s senior, compare kohai
sen no sen timing a response so that both attack and defence happen at the same time. ​See also Go No Sen and Sensen No Sen
sensen no sen timing a response to an attack early so the defender takes the initiative. ​See also Go No Sen and Sen no sen
sensei teacher
sensen no sen before the attack, a leading initiative
seppuku cut belly, ritual suicide with sword, also called harakiri
shi four, also pronounced yon
shiai competition
shiatsu massage
shibucho branch director
shichi seven, also pronounced nana
shichidan seventh degree black belt
shidoin instructor, middle title for Aikido teacher, 4/5 dan, compare fukushidoin and shihan
shihan expert example, high title for Aikido teacher, from 6 dan, compare fukushidoin and shidoin
shiho four direction
shiho giri four direction cut with the sword
shihonage four directions throw, throwing technique
shikaku dead angle, square
shiki courage
shikko knee walking
shime choke
shimozo lower seat of the dojo
shin heart, will, mind, also pronounced kokoro
shinai kendo sword of bamboo
shindo musoryu jodo school
shinken sharp authentic Japanese sword
shinshin toitsu Tohei sensei’s Aikido school, ki no kenkyukai
shinto the way of the gods, Japanese religion
shinzen seat of the gods, in a dojo usually a position on the wall farthest from the entrance, compare kamiza and shomen
shisei posture
shite the one leading, defender in Aikido, also called tori or nage
shizentai natural posture or stance
sho first, beginning
shodan first degree black belt
shodo calligraphy
shodokan Tomiki sensei’s Aikido school
shomen front of the head
shomen head place of the dojo, compare shinzen and kamiza
shomen ni rei bow to head place of the dojo
shomenuchi cut or blow to head
shoshinsha beginner
shumatsu dosa fixing movements
shuto hand ridge strike
sode sleeve
sode dori sleeve grab
sodeguchidori grip on the cuff of the sleeve
sokumen side
soto outside, outer, compare uchi
sotodeshi student who lives outside the dojo, compare uchideshi
soto gawa outside place
sotokaiten outer rotation, compare uchikaiten
sotouke block from outside, compare uchiuke
suburi solo practice of individual jo or bokken movements
suki opening
sumi corner
sumikiri sharpness of body and mind
sumimasen excuse me
sumitoshi corner drop
sumo traditional Japanese wrestling
suri rub, scrape
suri ashi gliding the feet
sutemiwaza techniques with losing one’s own balance
suwariwaza seated training, also called suwate
suwate seated training, also called suwariwaza
tachi stand
tachi sword, also to, ken and katana
tachi dori sword taking
tachidori defence against sword
tachiwaza training standing up
tai body
tai jutsu body techniques performed without weapons
tai no henko body turn, also called tai no tenkan
tai no tenkan body turn, also called tai no henko
taijutsu body techniques, unarmed techniques
taisabaki body move, evasive movement in Aikido
taiso exercises
takemusu improvised martial art
takemusu aiki improvised martial art through the principle of aiki
tameshi test
tameshigiri cutting test with sword
tameshiware hitting test in karatedo
tanbo short staff
tanden body centre, compare seika no itten
taninzugake several attackers
tanken short sword
tanren drill techniques
tanren uchi bokken practise for developing the centre
tanto/tanken knife
tantodori defence against knife
tao/dao Chinese for do
tatami mat
tate stand up
te hand
tegatana hand sword, hand ridge in swordlike movements
tekubi wrist
tekubiosae pinned wrist, yonkyo
tenchinage heaven earth throw, throwing technique
tenkai stepping move with turn
tenkan turning move with step
tettsui hammer strike
to eye contact without focusing on a single point
tobigeri jump kick
tobikoshi fall over hip, break fall
toma at a great distance
tomauchi jo staff technique
tori the one who takes, defender in Aikido, also called nage and shite
torifune rowing exercise, also called funakogi undo
tsuba sword guard
tsugiashi following step, back foot following and not passing front foot
tsuka sword hilt
tsuki punch; thrust
tsuki no kamae posture holding the jo at readiness to thrust
uchi strike; blow
uchi inside, within, inner, compare soto
uchi gawa Inside place
uchi mawari to step inside your partners arm
uchideshi student living in the dojo, compare sotodeshi
uchikaiten inner rotation, compare sotokaiten
uchikata striking and hitting attack forms
uchikomi hitting repeatedly
uchiuke block from inside, compare sotouke
ude arm
udegaraminage bent arm throw
udekimenage arm lock throw
udenobashi extended arm, gokyo
udeosae pinned arm, ikkyo
uke block, parry
uke the one receiving, attacker in Aikido
ukemi breakfall
undo exercise
ura back; reverse
ura sankaku back triangular stance
uraken backhand strike
ushiro behind, backwards, compare mae
ushiro kiriotoshi rear cutting drop, throwing technique
ushiro ukemi backward fall
ushiro waza techniques applied when attacked from behind
ushirogeri backward kick
ushirowaza attacks from behind
waka sensei young teacher, used in Aikido for successor of doshu
waki side
wakizashi short sword
ware break, split
waza technique, skill, training method
yame stop
yang sunny side, heavenly, in Japanese yo, compare yin
yari spear
yawara old jujutsu
yin shady side, earthly, in Japanese in, compare yang
yo Japanese for yang
yodan fourth degree black belt
yoko side, sideways, horizontal
yoko ukemi side fall
yokogeri side kick
yokogiri horizontal cut
yokomen side of the head
yokomenuchi strike to the side of the head
yon four, also pronounced shi
yondan fourth degree black belt
yonkajo older term for yonkyo
yonkyo fourth teaching, pinning technique
yoseikan Mochizuki sensei’s Aikido school
yoshinkan Shioda sensei’s Aikido school
yudansha dan graded, compare mudansha
za seated, sit
zaidan hojin aikikai aikikai foundation
zafu meditiation cushion used for zazen
zanshin awareness; unbroken spirit
zarei kneeling bow
zazen sitting meditation, also called mokuso
zen a form of buddhism
zengo around, forward and back, front and rear
zori sandals

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