Aikido Terminology Guide
Basic Terms · Attacks · Techniques · Daily Phrases
← Back to HomeAIKIDO TERMINOLOGY
| Ai | Ai (harmony / blending) |
| Ki | Ki (life energy / spirit) |
| Do | Do (the way / path) |
| Aiki | Aiki (blending with the opponent's energy) |
| Aikidoka | Aikidoka (Aikido practitioner) |
| Dojo | Dojo (training hall) |
| Rei | Rei (bow / salutation) |
| Budo | Budo (martial way) |
| Bujin | Bujin (martial artist) |
| Kyu | Kyu (class rank, below black belt) |
| Yudansha | Yudansha (black-belt holder) |
| Sensei | Sensei (teacher / instructor, 4th dan or above) |
| Shihan | Shihan (master instructor, 6th dan or above) |
| O'Sensei | O'Sensei (the Founder of Aikido — Morihei Ueshiba) |
| Fuku shidoin | Fuku Shidoin (assistant instructor, 2nd dan or above) |
| Shidoin | Shidoin (instructor, 3rd dan or above) |
| Hakama | Hakama (pleated skirt worn by ranked students) |
| Keiko | Keiko (training / practice) |
| Kiai | Kiai (spirited shout; uniting ki and power) |
| Sempai | Senpai (senior student) |
| Kohai | Kohai (junior student) |
| Ma ai | Ma ai (proper distance / interval) |
| Waza | Waza (technique) |
| Seiza | Seiza (formal sitting posture) |
| Shikko | Shikko (knee walking) |
| Bokken | Bokken (wooden sword) |
| Jo | Jo (wooden staff) |
| Tatami | Tatami (straw training mats) |
| Danten | Tanden (lower abdomen; center of energy) |
| Omote | Omote (front-side technique) |
| Ura | Ura (back-side technique) |
| Kamae | Kamae (stance / posture) |
| Aihanmi | Aihanmi (same-side stance) |
| Gyaku hanmi | Gyaku hanmi (opposite-side stance) |
| Katate dori | Katate dori (single-hand grab to wrist) |
| Morote dori | Morote dori (both hands grab one wrist) |
| Ryote dori | Ryote dori (both hands grab both wrists) |
| Shomen uchi | Shomen uchi (frontal strike to head) |
| Yokomen uchi | Yokomen uchi (side strike to head) |
| Kata dori | Kata dori (shoulder grab) |
| Ryo kata dori | Ryo kata dori (both-shoulder grab) |
| Katadorimenuchi | Katadori men uchi (shoulder grab + head strike) |
| Munadori | Munadori (chest grab) |
| Tsuki | Tsuki (punch to the abdomen) |
| Shomen tsuki | Shomen tsuki (straight punch to the face) |
| Ushiro ryotedori | Ushiro ryote dori (rear both-hand grab) |
| Ushiro Ryokatadori | Ushiro ryokata dori (rear both-shoulder grab) |
| Ushiro Ryohijidori | Ushiro ryohiji dori (rear both-elbow grab) |
| Zagi | Suwari waza (sitting techniques) |
| Zagi shomenuchi | Suwari waza shomen uchi |
| Zagi Tsuki | Suwari waza tsuki |
| Zagi Yokomenuchi | Suwari waza yokomen uchi |
| Hanmihandachi | Hanmi handachi (half-standing techniques) |
| Kubishime | Kubishime (chokehold) |
| Nage | Nage (thrower) |
| Ukemi | Ukemi (breakfall / safe rolling) |
| Maeukemi | Mae ukemi (forward roll) |
| Ushiroukemi | Ushiro ukemi (backward roll) |
| Yokoukemi | Yoko ukemi (side roll) |
| Tobiukemi | Tobi ukemi (aerial / jump roll) |
| Ikkyo | Ikkyo (first control) |
| Nikyo | Nikyo (second control) |
| Sankyo | Sankyo (third control) |
| Yonkyo | Yonkyo (fourth control) |
| Gokyo | Gokyo (fifth control) |
| Shiho nage | Shiho nage (four-direction throw) |
| Irimi nage | Irimi nage (entering throw) |
| Kotegaeshi | Kotegaeshi (wrist turn-out throw) |
| Kaiten nage | Kaiten nage (rotary throw) |
| Kokyu ho | Kokyu ho (breath method) |
| Sumi otoshi | Sumi otoshi (corner drop) |
| Aiki otoshi | Aiki otoshi (aiki drop) |
| Tenbin nage | Tenbin nage (balance-scale throw) |
| Jyuji nage | Juji nage (crossed-arm throw) |
| Koshi nage | Koshi nage (hip throw) |
| Tenchi nage | Tenchi nage (heaven-and-earth throw) |
| Kokyu nage | Kokyu nage (breath throw) |
| Jiyu waza | Jiyu waza (free-style techniques) |
| Niningake | Ninindori (techniques against two attackers) |
| Suburi | Suburi (weapon solo practice) |
| Aiki-sword | Aiki-ken (Aikido sword) |
| Aiki-jo | Aiki-jo (Aikido staff) |
| Tanto Dori | Tanto dori (knife disarm) |
| Ichi | One |
| Ni | Two |
| San | Three |
| Shi / Yon | Four |
| Go | Five |
| Roku | Six |
| Shichi | Seven |
| Hachi | Eight |
| Kyu | Nine |
| Ju | Ten |
| Onegaeshimasu | Onegaishimasu (please teach me — said before class) |
| Domo arigato gozaimashita | Domo arigato gozaimashita (thank you very much — said after class) |
| Ohayo / Ohayo gozaimasu | Ohayo / Ohayo gozaimasu (good morning / polite good morning) |
| Konnichiwa | Konnichiwa (good afternoon / hello) |
| Konbanwa | Konbanwa (good evening) |
| Do itashimashite | Do itashimashite (you're welcome) |
| Sumimasen | Sumimasen (excuse me / sorry) |
| Mokuso | Mokuso (meditation / silent sitting) |