ATTACKS:

Katate tori = One hand holding one hand.

Kosa dori = One hand holding one hand, cross-body. (aka. Ai hanmi katatetori)

Morote tori = Two hands holding one hand.

Kata tori = Shoulder hold/grab using one hand.

Ryokata tori = Grabbing both shoulders.

Ryote tori = Two hands holding/grabbing two hands.

Mune tori = One or two hand lapel hold.

Hiji tori = Elbow grab.
Shomen uchi = Overhead strike to the head.

Yokomen uchi = Diagonal strike to the side of the head.

Tsuki = Straight thrust (punch); an attack to the midsection.

Mae geri = front kick; A straight kick to the stomach

Mawashi geri = Roundhouse kick directed towards the side of the body(ribs).

Ushiro tekubi tori (ushiro ryote tori) = Wrist grab from behind.

Ushiro ryokata tori = Shoulder grab, from behind. 

Ushiro kubi shime = Rear choke. Grabbing one hand and wrapping the neck using the other.

 

BODY POSITIONS / FOOTWORK / MOVEMENT:

Hanmi = The basic Aikido stance with the feet placed triangularly.

Migi = Right. *Migi hanmi - Right stance

Hidari = Left. *Hidari hanmi - Left stance

Ai hanmi = Mutual stance where uke and nage each have the same foot forward (right-right, left-left).

Gyaku hanmi = Opposing stance (uke: right foot forward, nage: left foot forward).

Hanmi handachi = The Nage is sitting while Uke is standing.
                           Training in hanmi handachi waza is a good way of practicing techniques as though with a significantly larger/taller opponent.

Ukemi = The art of falling in response to a technique.

Ma-ai = Basic distance; Proper distancing with respect to one's partner.

Tenkan = Turning movement; Pivot turn; turning the body 180 degrees.(Begin with left stance, end up with the same)

Tenkai = Pivot in place.

Irimi = Entering movement. The idea behind irimi is to place oneself in relation to an attacker in such a way that the attacker is unable to continue to attack effectively, and in such a way that one is able to control effectively the attacker's balance. 

Ushiro = Backwards or from behind, as in ushiro ukemi or falling backwards.

Seiza = Sitting on one's knees. Sitting this way requires acclimatization, but provides both a stable base and greater ease of movement than sitting cross-legged.

Shikko = Samurai walking ("knee walking").

Tai sabaki = Body movement

Ashi sabaki = Footwork. Proper footwork is essential in aikido for developing strong balance and for facilitating ease of movement.

Ayumi ashi = Basic step; alternating feet

Tsugi ashi = Continuous step. From hanmi stance, bring the back foot up close to front foot, and then step forward using front foot

Okuri ashi = Sending step; Step forward with the front foot and bring the back foot up, remaining in a hanmi stance. 

 

 

PEOPLE / PERSON:

Aikidoka = A practitioner of aikido.

Sensei = Teacher or Aikido instructor.

              It is usually considered proper to address the instructor during practice as "Sensei" rather than by his/her name.

Nage = The thrower; the one performing a technique (the one being attacked).

Uke = Person being thrown; The partner who "receives" the technique (the attacker)

Sempai = A student or fellow aikidoka senior to oneself. 

Kohai = A student or fellow aikidoka junior to oneself.

Kyu = Any rank below shodan; Not yet a yudansha

Yudansha = Black belt holder (black belt rank)

Shodan = First degree black belt.

               **Nidan (second degree black belt), followed by Sandan, Yondan, Godan, Rokudan, Nanadan, Hachidan, and so on)

Shihan = A formal title meaning, approximately, "Master Instructor." A title used for the highest ranking teachers.

O-sensei = Literally means "Great Teacher." A common way of referring to Ueshiba Morihei.

Ueshiba Morihei = The founder of aikido. (O-sensei)

Ueshiba Kisshomaru = The son of Morihei Ueshiba and second Aikido doshu.

Ueshiba Moriteru = The grandson of the founder and current aikido doshu.

 

 

TECHNIQUES / AIKIDO THROWS:

Ikkyo (Ude osae) = 1st basic pin. Arm pin

Nikyo (Kote mawashi) = 2nd basic pin. Wrist turn

Sankyo (Kote hineri) = 3rd basic pin. Wrist twist

Yonkyo (Tekubi osae) = 4th basic pin. Wrist pin; pressure to the artery.

Gokyo (Ude nobashi) = 5th basic pin. Arm extension.

Irimi nage = Entering throw.

Juji nage (juji garami) = Arm entwining throw. Figue "+".

Kaiten nage = Open and turn / Rotary throw. uchi and soto

Kokyu nage = Breath throws.

Koshi nage = Hip throw.

Kote gaeshi = Wrist turn-out; Wrist turning throw.

Shiho nage = "Four direction" throw.

Sumiotoshi = "Corner drop." omote and ura (irimi and tenkan).

Tenchi nage = "Heaven and earth" throw.

Aiki otoshi = aiki drop

 

Waza = Techniques

Osaewaza = Pinning techniques.

Suwari waza = "Seated techniques." Techniques executed with both uke and nage in a seated position. These techniques have their historical origin (in part) in the practice of requiring all samurai to sit and move about on their knees while in the presence of a Daimyo (feudal lord). In theory, this made it more difficult for anyone to attack the daimyo.

Tachi waza = Standing techniques. 

 

Omote = "The front," thus, a class of movements in aikido in which nage enters in front of uke. 

Ura = "Rear." A class of aikido techniques executed by moving behind the attacker and turning. Sometimes ura techniques are called tenkan (turning) techniques. 

Soto = "Outside." Thus, a class of aikido movements executed, especially, outside the attacker's arm(s).

Uchi = "Inside." A class of techniques where nage moves, especially, inside (under) the attacker's arm(s).

 

 

TRAINING / DOJO:

Dojo = Literally "place of the Way." Also "place of enlightenment." A place or training hall where martial arts (Aikido) is practiced.

Kamiza = A small shrine, frequently located at the front of a dojo, and often housing a picture of the founder, or some calligraphy. One generally bows in the direction of the kamiza when entering or leaving the dojo, or the mat.

Keiko = Training. The only means to make your Aikido life successful.

Ken = Sword.

Bokken = bokuto = Wooden training sword.

Jo = A wooden staff about 4'-5' in length. The jo is usually used in advanced practice.

Tanto = A dagger/knife.

Hakama = Divided skirt usually worn by black-belt ranks. In some dojo, the hakama is also worn by women of all ranks. 

Gi (dogi or keiko gi) = Training attire. Judo-style or karate-style gi are acceptable in most dojo, but they must be plain white.

Jiyu waza = Free-style practice of techniques. This usually involves more than one attacker who may attack Nage in any way desired. 

Randori= Free-style "all-out" training. Sometimes used as a synonym for jiyu waza. Although aikido techniques are usually practiced with a single partner, it is important to keep in mind the possibility that one may be attacked by multiple aggressors.

Obi = A belt.

 

 

OTHERS:

Rei = "bow," The formal gesture of respect and gratitude used by Aikido practitioners.

Domo arigatou gozaimasu = Japanese for "Thank you very much." At the end of each class, it is proper to bow and thank the instructor and those with whom you've trained.

Onegai shimasu = "I welcome you to train with me," or literally, "I make a request." This is said to one's partner when initiating practice.

Kokyu = Breath or "breath power." This is the coordination of breathing with movement. 

Hara = One's center of mass (located about 2" below the navel). Aikido techniques should be executed as much as possible from or through one's hara. 

Reigi = Ettiquette. Observance of proper ettiquette at all times is as important as the practice of techniques.

Uchi deshi = A live-in student. A student who lives in a dojo and devotes him/herself both to training and to the maintenence of the dojo (and sometimes to personal service to the sensei of the dojo).

Atemi = A strike to an opening. Strike directed at the attacker for purposes of unbalancing or distraction. "Atemi" should be delivered to a vulnerable target and with sufficient force as to eliminate the attacker's ability or willingness to continue the assault.

Kaeshi waza = Technique reversal. (uke becomes nage and vice-versa). This is usually done in advanced practice

Henka waza = Varied technique. You begin with one technique then change to another in mid-execution and/or ends with another technique. 

 

Sources: http://www.aikiweb.com; Best Aikido: The Fundamentals - Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Moriteru Ueshiba trans. by J. Stevens ©2002; http://www.aikido-of-slo.com; Aikido: The Way of harmony - J. Stevens under the direction of Shirata Rinjiro ©1985