| Striking: |
| Atemi |
Strike to a vital point |
| Chudan-zuki |
A punch to the abdominal region |
| Gedan-zuki |
Downward punch |
| Gyaku-uchi |
Any reverse strike |
| Gyaku-zuki |
Punching with the rear hand |
| Jodan-zuki |
Upper strike |
| Kaeshi-zuki |
Counter thrust |
| Katate-uchi |
One-handed strike |
| Men-uchi |
Strike to head |
| Mune tsuki |
Thrust toward knot on obi |
| Oi-zuki |
A step-punch |
| Shomen uchi |
Overhead strike to the head. |
| Tsuki |
In Aikido, usually a Chudan Oi-zuki |
| Uchi |
Inside; strike |
| Yokomen uchi |
Diagonal strike to the side of the
head. |
| Yoko-uchi |
A sideward strike |
| Holds: |
| Gyakute-dori |
To grasp with one's hand reversed;
to grasp and opponents right wrist with your left
hand |
| Katate dori |
One hand holding one hand. |
| Kosadori |
hand grab (katatedori ai-hanmi) |
| Morote dori |
Two hands holding one hand. |
| Kata dori |
Shoulder hold |
| Ryokata dori |
Grabbing both shoulders. |
| Ryote dori |
Two hands holding two hands. |
| Mune dori |
One or two hand lapel hold. |
| Hiji dori |
Elbow grab |
| Sode dori |
Sleeve grab |
| Ushiro eri-dori |
Neck grab from the back (usually the
collar :-) |
| Ushiro tekubi dori |
Wrist grab from the back. |
| Ushiro ryote dori |
As above from the back. |
| Ushiro ryokata dori |
As above from the back. |
| Ushiro kubi shime |
Rear choke. |
| Body Parts: |
| Hara |
The abdomen, stomach |
| Abara |
The ribs |
| Ago |
Jaw |
| Ashi |
Leg |
| Ashikubi |
Ankle |
| Atama |
Head |
| Chototsu |
Atemi point between the eyes |
| Daitai |
The thigh |
| Denko |
Atemi point at the floating ribs |
| Dokko |
Pressure point behind the ear |
| Empi |
The elbow |
| Eri |
Lapel; collar |
| Fukuto |
Atemi point just above inside of
knee |
| Ganmen |
The face |
| Gekon |
Pressure point below lower lip |
| Gokoku |
Pressure point in fleshy area
between thumb and forefinger |
| Haishu |
Back of the hand |
| Haito |
Ridgehand |
| Haiwan |
Back of forearm |
| Hiji |
Elbow |
| Hiji-zume |
Atemi point on inside of elbow |
| Hitai |
Forehead |
| Ippon-ken |
An one-knuckle fist |
| Jinchu |
Pressure point on upper lip below
nose |
| Jintai |
The body |
| Jinkai-kyusho |
Vital points on the human body |
| Juizo |
The kidney area |
| Junchu |
Atemi point on the upper lip |
| Kakato |
The heel of the foot |
| Kakuto |
Back of the wrist (for a strike) |
| Kashi |
Legs |
| Katate |
One hand |
| Keichu |
Atemi point on back of neck |
| Kenkokotsu |
Shoulder blades |
| Kikan |
Trachea |
| Koko |
Area between thumb and forefinger |
| Kote |
Wrist |
| Kubi |
Neck |
| Kubi-naka |
Atemi point at base of skull |
| Kyusho |
Vital point on body |
| Mata |
The thigh; the groin |
| Men |
Head |
| Mikazuki |
Atemi at corner of jaw |
| Mimi |
Ears |
| Morote |
Both hands |
| Mukozune |
Atemi point in middle of shin |
| Mune |
Chest |
| Murasame |
Pressure points on each side of neck
behind collar bone |
| Naike |
Pressure point on inside of ankle |
| Nukite |
Ends of stiffened fingers |
| Seika-tanden |
Lower abdomen |
| Seiken |
Front of fist |
| Seikichu |
The spine |
| Senaka |
The back of the body |
| Shintai |
The body |
| Shita hara |
Lower abdomen |
| Shomen |
Face |
| Shuhai |
Back of the hand |
| Shuto |
Edge of hand |
| Sode |
Sleeve |
| Sokei |
Groin |
| Sokuso |
Tips of toes (for kicking) |
| Sokutei |
Bottom of heel |
| Sokuto |
Edge of foot |
| Tanden |
Abdomen |
| Tegatana |
The arm as sword |
| Teisho |
Heel of the hand |
| Tekubi |
Wrist |
| Te-no-hira |
Palm of hand |
| Tento |
Atemi point on top of head |
| Tettsui |
Hammer fist |
| Te-ura |
Inside of wrist |
| Ude |
The arm |
| Uraken |
Back of fist |
| Waki |
Side; armpit |
| Wakikage |
Atemi point in armpit |
| Yokomen |
Side of the head |
| Yubi |
Finger |
| Zengaku |
Forehead |
| Zenshin |
The entire body |
| Zenwan |
Forearm |
| Commands in the dojo: |
| Ato |
Move back |
| Hajime |
Start |
| Hayaku |
Quickly |
| Kiyotsukete |
Be careful |
| Koutai |
Change |
| Mate |
Wait |
| Mawatte |
Turn around |
| Mokuso |
Close the eyes, meditation |
| Suwatte |
Sit down |
| Tatte |
Raise |
| Yame |
Stop |
| Yoi |
Ready |
| Yukuri |
Slow |
| Yuru yaka ni |
Smooth |
| Shinzen ni rei |
Bow to shrine |
| Sensei ni rei |
Bow to sensei |
| Joseki ni rei |
Bow to the high section of the dojo |
| Kamiza ni rei |
Bow to kamiza (gods) |
| Otagai ni rei |
Bow to each other |
| Rei |
Bow |
| Words: |
| Arigato |
Thank you (informal) |
| Domo |
Thanks (informal) |
| Domo arigato |
Thank you (formal) |
| Domo arigato gozaimasu |
Thank you very much (very formal)
(for something that is happening) |
| Domo arigato gozaimas'ta |
Thank you very much (very formal)
(for something that has just ended) |
| Dozo |
Please go ahead |
| Gomen nasai |
Excuse me, I'm sorry |
| Onegaishimasu |
Please (when asking for something,
usually as in Please lets practice together) |
| Sumimasen |
Excuse me (to attract attention) |
| Hai |
Yes |
| Iie |
No |
| Wakarimasu |
I understand |
| Directions: |
| Mae |
Forward |
| Migi |
Right |
| Hidari |
Left |
| Ushiro |
Rearward, behind |
| Omote |
Front |
| Ura |
Back |
| Uchi |
Inside |
| Soto |
Outside |
| Jodan |
High |
| Chudan |
Middle |
| Gedan |
Low |
| Chokkaku |
Right angles |
| Heiko |
Parallel |
| Massugu |
Straight ahead |
| Naname |
Diagonal |
| Otoshi |
Dropping |
| Shomen |
Straight ahead |
| Ue |
Up |
| Yoko |
Horizontal, to the side |
| Asoko |
Over there |
| Gyaku |
Reverse, opposite, inverted |
| Hantai |
The other way around |
| Kiku |
Lower |
| Komi |
Coming close or drawing near. |
| Soko |
There, that position |
| Hantai-ni |
In the opposite direction |
| Happo |
The eight sides; in all directions |
| Ichimonji |
A straight line |
| Chokusen |
A straight line |
| Naka |
Center |
| Naka ni |
To the center |
| Waki |
Side; armpit |
| Zenpo |
Front |
| General: |
| Uchi deshi |
A live-in student |
| Budo |
Martial way |
| Aikido |
The way of harmony with ki |
| Dojo |
Lit. "way place" |
| Zanshin |
lit. "remaining spirit", balanced
and aware state |
| Kiai |
A shout delivered for the purpose of
focussing all of one's energy |
| Satori |
Enlightenment |
| Misogi |
purification ceremony |
| Musubi |
Ending, conclusion, union |
| Shugyo |
Training, pursuit of knowledge |
| Tatami |
Mat |
| Uke |
Receiver of the technique (attacker) |
| Nage |
Doer of the technique (defender) |
| Bokken |
Wooden sword |
| Bokuto |
Wooden sword |
| Jo |
Short staff (~130 cm length) |
| Shinai |
Bamboo sword |
| Enten-jizui |
Moving and turning freely |
| Genshin |
Intuition |
| Giri |
Duty; What you have to do |
| Happo-baraki |
To be totally aware of ones
surroundings |
| Hiki |
Pull; tug |
| Hineri |
A twist |
| Hito-e-mi |
Blending with motion of attack |
| Ido |
Movement |
| Idori |
Techniques practiced from seiza |
| Ikki-ni |
In one breath; instantly |
| Ima |
Now |
| Irimi |
Entering |
| Kaiten |
Rotation |
| Kaiten-juki |
The axis of rotation of a technique |
| Kan |
Intuition |
| Karame |
To tie up; to arrest |
| Karami |
An entanglement |
| Karui-geiko |
Light, easy practice |
| Kashaki-uchi |
Continuous attack |
| Kihon |
Fundamental |
| Kokoro |
Spirit, will, heart, intuition, mood |
| Kokoro-gamae |
Mental attitude |
| Kokutsu |
Backward leaning |
| Koryu |
Old style |
| Kujiki |
Strain |
| Kushin |
Springing in to attack |
| Kusshinuke |
To dodge an attack |
| Maai |
Combat engagement distance |
| Mae-no-sen |
Taking the initiative; Attacking the
instant your opponent thinks about it |
| Maki |
Wrapped around |
| Mawashi |
A turn; a rotation |
| Moku roku |
A catalog of techniques |
| Mokuso |
Meditation |
| Munen mushin |
Striking without conscience |
| Munen muso |
The goal of zazen |
| Nagashi |
Flow |
| Ninjo |
What you have to do |
| No |
Possessive particle of speech |
| Nobashi |
Stretched out |
| Nuki |
Pull |
| Oji |
A response |
| Osae |
Press; push; to immobolize |
| Randori |
Free style |
| Reigi |
Etiquette; also reishiki |
| Renshu |
Hard work on basics |
| Ritsurei |
A standing bow |
| Sabaki |
Body motion |
| Saho |
The left direction |
| Sankaku |
Triangle |
| Seme-guchi |
An opening for an attack |
| Semete |
Attacker |
| Sen |
The initiative; also 1000 |
| Senjutsu |
Tactics |
| Sen-no-sen |
Seizing initiative just as opponents
initiates attack |
| Sente |
The person who takes the initiative |
| Shi |
A (samurai) person |
| Shiki |
Ceremony, style, form |
| Shikko |
On one's knees |
| Shinshin |
Mind and body |
| Shinshin shugyo |
Mind and body training |
| Shinshin toitsu |
Mind and body unified |
| Shita |
Down |
| Shita-no |
Of the lower part |
| Shizoku |
Safe spot |
| Sho |
Small |
| Shoshin |
Beginners mind |
| Shuchu |
Concentration |
| Shugeki |
Attack |
| Sudori |
Momentum |
| Sukui |
Scooping |
| Tai-atari |
Body contact |
| Tai-chikara |
External power (muscle) |
| Taisabaki |
Body motion |
| Taijutsu |
Body art |
| Tai-no-henko |
Reversing the body's position |
| Tanin-geiko |
Practicing with multiple attackers |
| Taoshi |
To tip over |
| Tateki |
Multiple attackers |
| Tateki-geiko |
Practicing with multiple attackers |
| Tateki-uchi |
Fighting with multiple attackers |
| Tenkan |
Pivot |
| Tsukami |
To seize (and immobilize) |
| Uchima |
Distance where you can strike by
taking a single step |
| Uchimata |
The inside of the throw |
| Uchite |
The attacker |
| Uki |
Floating |
| Yo |
Positive principle of nature |
| Yoko-furumi |
Sideward motion |
| Yumi |
A bow (archery) |
| Zentai |
Total |
| Fukushiki-kokyu |
Abdominal breathing |
| Ibuki |
A breathing method featuring a long
exhalation, followed by a short cough to clear lungs |
| In-ibuki |
Internal (quiet) breathing |
| Nogare |
Breathing method featuring long
exhalation with sharp gasp |
| Ritsuzen |
Standing meditiation |
| Yo-inbuki |
External (power) breathing |
| Postures: |
| Hanmi |
Half forward stance. |
| Hitoemi |
Equal stance, feet parallel forward |
| Iai goshi |
Hips lowered, stable position. |
| Iai hiza, Tate hiza |
Kneeling on one calf. |
| Kamae |
Posture, stance. |
| Kiza |
Kneeling, but up on the toes. |
| Seiza |
Kneeling on both calves. |
| Tachi |
Standing. |
| Chudan |
Middle kamae, sword in middle,
seigan is a chudan gamae. |
| Gedan |
Lower level, sword pointed down. |
| Hasso gamae |
Figure 8 stance, sword by side of
head. Usually hasso hidari, sword on right, left
foot forward. |
| Jodan |
Upper level, sword above head.
Usually hidari jodan, left foot forward. |
| Karuma |
like waki gamae, blade horizontal. |
| Kasumi |
Arms crossed over to hide technique
(mountain mist). |
| Kongo |
Blade vertical in front of face. |
| Seigan |
Natural step, fundamental kamae. |
| Waki gamae |
Sword pointed down and back, for a
sutemi (sacrifice) waza. Usually sword on right side
(migi waki gamae), left foot forward. Other purpose
- hiding length of sword, especially in case of a
broken one. |
| Principles: |
| Ikkyo |
1. principle = oshi taoshi, ude osae |
| Nikyo |
2. principle = kote mawashi,
kotemaki |
| Sankyo |
3. principle = kote hineri,
shibori-kime |
| Yonkyo |
4. principle = tekubi osae |
| Gokyo |
5. principle = kuji-osae |
| Rokkyo |
6. principle = hiji-kime-osae or
waki-katame or ude-hishigi. |
| Nanakyo |
7. principle = Yonkyo applied to
back of wrist |
| Hakyo |
8. principle = kote-ori-kakae-kimi,
kuji-dori = Nikyo in which his elbow is in your
armpit and his hand is pulled forward; Pinning their
hand with your foot |
| Kukyo |
9. principle = Inverted nanakyo |
| Throws: |
| Irimi nage |
Entering throw ("20 year technique") |
| Juji nage, juji garami |
Arm entwining throw ("No. 10 throw",
since the arms form the japanese sign for 10 "+".
arms crossed, elbows locked) |
| Kaiten nage |
Rotary throw. uchi-kaiten nage and
soto-kaiten nage (inside and outside) |
| Kokyu ho |
morotetori kokyu nage or ryotemochi
kokynage ude-oroshi irimi |
| Kokyu nage |
Breath throw (There are a zillion of
these in Aikido. Most of them just variations of the
basic techniques) |
| Koshi nage |
Hip throw |
| Kote gaeshi |
Wrist turn-out |
| Shiho nage |
Four direction throw |
| Tenchi nage |
Heaven and earth throw |
| Aiki otoshi |
entering more deeply and picking up
uke's off-side leg |
| Maki otoshi |
nage ends up down on one knee,
having thrown uke over nage's shoulder |
| Sumi gaeshi |
corner throw |
| Sumi otoshi |
Corner drop |
| Tai-atari uchi otoshi |
from yokomen-uchi, entering and
blocking.,uke gets thrown backwards |
| Ushiro udoroshi |
pull down from behind |
| Kokyu dosa |
Breath-power movement (from seiza) |
| Ganseki otoshi |
Arm bar with elbow braced over
shoulder |
| Katagatame |
A variation of Kaiten nage where you
lock your opponents shoulder and bring him directly
to the ground in a lock |
| Ranks and titles: |
| Kohai |
Junior student |
| Sempai |
Senior student |
| Sensei |
Instructor |
| Shihan |
A senior teacher, properly used
within the school only, when outside, use sensei |
| Kyu |
Student grade, from 10 up to 1, the
highest: jukyu, kukyu, hachikyu, nanakyu, rokyu,
gokyu, yonkyu, sankyu, nikkyu, ikkyu |
| Dan |
More advanced grades, from 1 to 10:
shodan, nidan, sandan, yondan, godan, rokudan,
nanadan, hachidan, kudan, judan |
| Yudansha |
Members with dan grades |
| Mudansha |
Members with kyu grades |
| Hanshi |
Highest title from ZNKR, must be 55
or older and 8 dan. |
| Kyoshi |
Middle title from ZNKR, must be 7th
dan. |
| Renshi |
Title bestowed from ZNKR in addition
to Dan ranks. |
| Soke |
Head of style (actually head of
family, unifier of gods and lineage) |
| Doshu |
Head of the way (currently
Kisshomaru Ueshiba) |
| Kaicho |
"Owner" of school (organization) eg.
Sei Do Kai |
| Kancho |
"Owner" of school (building, hall)
eg. Yugen Kan |
| Dojo-cho |
"Leader" of a dojo |
| O Sensei |
Great Teacher (Ueshiba, Morihei) |
| Techniques: |
| Ukemi |
Lit. "receiving with the body" |
| Kumitachi |
Sword partnership practice |
| Kumijo |
Staff partnership practices |
| Tachi dori |
Sword takeaways |
| Tanto dori |
Knife takeaways |
| Atemi-waza |
Techniques to strike a vital point |
| Hanashi-waza |
Techniques from escaping from holds;
also known as hazushi-waza |
| Hanmi-handachi waza |
One person standing, one person
sitting techniques |
| Henka waza |
Varied technique. Especially
beginning one technique and changing to another in
mid-execution |
| Hitori waza |
"invisible partner practice" |
| Jiju waza |
Free-style practice of techniques.
Usually a set of attacks or techniques. It is
different from Randori where everything is allowed. |
| Kaeshi-waza |
Counter techniques |
| Kansetsu-waza |
Dislocation techniques |
| Katame-waza |
Grappling techniques; consisting of
osae waza, kensetsu waza, and shime waza |
| Kihon-waza |
Fundamental techniques |
| Nagashi waza |
Flowing from one technique to next |
| Ne waza |
Grappling techniques |
| Oji waza |
To block and then counterattack |
| Omote waza |
Techniques that are revealed to the
public |
| Osae waza |
Pinning techniques. |
| Shi waza |
A counter technique |
| Sukashi waza |
Techniques performed without
allowing the attacker to complete a grab or to
initiate a strike. |
| Sutemi waza |
a technique accomplished by
sacrificing your body |
| Suwari waza |
Techniques executed with both uke
and nage in a seated position. |
| Tachi waza |
Standing techniques. |
| Te-waza |
Hand techniques (as opposed to
weapons) |
| Uchi-waza |
Striking techniques |
| Ushiro-waza |
Techniques from rear attacks |
| Uke-waza |
Blocking techniques |
| The uniform: |
| Tenugui |
Small hand cloth to wipe face. Also
worn under the helmet in kendo. |
| Keiko gi, do gi, gi |
Practice uniform. |
| Embu gi |
Demonstration top / uniform. |
| Kesa |
Lapel / part of monk's costume
hanging from left shoulder. |
| Mon |
Family crests on uniform |
| Montsuki |
Wide sleaved top with mon on chest,
sleeve and back. |
| Sode |
Sleeve, on practice top. |
| Tanomo |
Large sleeves on formal tops. |
| Uwa gi |
Practice top. |
| Zekken |
Chest patch embroidered with own
name and dojo name. |
| Obi |
Belt (White belt , Black belt) |
| Hakama |
Split skirt, wide legged pants. |
| Hera |
Peg in back of hakama. |
| Matadachi |
Split in side of hakama. |
| Koshiita |
Back plate on hakama. |
| Tabi |
Japanese sock-slippers used in dojo. |
| Zori |
Japanese sandals for use outside
dojo. |
