Aikido Terms

Ai	Harmonising.
Aiki	Harmonising of Ki.
Aikidoka	One who participates in Aikido.
Bokken	Sword.
Chudan	Middle position.
Dachi	Stance.
Do	The Way.
Dojo	Training hall.
Doshu	Leader of the way, world Aikido leader, head of budo.
Gedan	Lower position.
Hajime	Begin.
Hanmi	The basic aikido stance, half body, as in facing forward with left or right foot forward.
Hara	One point (lower abdomen, approximately 50mm below navel) physical & spiritual center.
Hidari	Left.
Jiyu waza	Free style practice.
Jo	Staff.
Jodan	Upper position.
Ki	Vital force of Mind, Body and Spirit.
Kohai	Junior.
Kumi jo	Staff practices with a partner.
Kumi tachi	Sword practices with a partner.
Kyu	Kyu grade students, before reaching Dan grade.
Ma ai	Attack intervals. One must keep the proper attack intervals.
Matte	Stop.
Metsuke	Gazing at the distant mountains. This means to focus the eyes at a distance.
Migi	Right.
Nage	The person performing the technique.
O'Sensei	"The Great Teacher", Founder of Aikido - The Late Morihei Ueshiba.
Rei	To bow.
Seiza	Formal kneeling position.
Sempai	Senior.
Sensei	Teacher, instructor.
Shihan	Master, instructor (6th Dan & above).
Shomen	Front of a dojo, often there is a photo of the Founder, also front or top of head.
Tanto	Knife.
Tatami	Japanese straw mat.
Uke	The person receiving the technique.
Ukemi	The way of receving techniques.
Waza	Technique.
Yame	Finish.
Yudansha	Dan grade students.
Zanshin	Remaining mind or heart. Even after an aikido technique has been completed, one should remain in a balanced and aware state.

Ayumi ashi	Altering step, left and right, like normal walking.
Funakogi undo	Rowing boat exercise, standing up.
Hai shin undo	Back stretch.
Hidari	Left.
Irimi	Entering move.
Kaiten	Rotation move or turning move.
Mae ukemi	Front roll or break-fall.
Migi	Right.
Okuri ashi	Sliding step, front leg slide and back leg follow.
Shiho giri	Cutting in four directions.
Shikko	Knee walk.
Soto	Outside.
Tai no tenkan	Body turns.
Tenkan	Turning move or changing direction.
Tsugi ashi	Following step, back foot following and not passing front foot.
Uchi	Inside.
Ukemi	General term for break-fall techniques.
Ushiro ukemi	Back roll or break-fall.

Ai hanmi	Same foot forward stance.
Atemi	Strike.
Eri dori	Collar grip by the neck.
Gyaku hanmi	Opposing stance.
Hanmi handachi	Nage kneels, uke standing.
Hiji dori	Elbow grab.
Jo tori	Defense against Jo attacks.
Kamae	Stance.
Kata dori	Shoulder grab.
Kata men uchi	Shoulder grab and execute a straight frontal strike to the top of the head with the other hand.
Katame waza	Immobilization techniques.
Katate dori	Wrist grab.
Mae geri	Front kick.
Morote dori	Both hands grab partner's wrist.
Mune tsuki	Thrust, straight punch to chest or stomach.
Omote	Positive move, entering to the front of the partner.
Ryo hiji dori	Two hands grab both of the partner's elbows.
Ryo kata dori	Two hands grab both of the partner's shoulder.
Ryote dori	Two hands grab both of the partner's wrists.
Shomen tsuki	Thrust, straight punch to the face.
Shomen uchi	Straight strike to the top of the head.
Suwari waza	Knee techniques.
Tachi tori	Defense against Bokken attacks.
Tachi waza	Standing techniques.
Taiho jutsu	Arrest techniques.
Tanto tori	Defense against Tanto attacks.
Ura	Negative move, entering to the rear or behind of the partner.
Ushiro	From the rear or behind.
Ushiro hiji dori	Two hands grab from behind both of the partner's elbow.
Ushiro kubi shime	Rear or neck choke with one hand from behind and grab at the wrist with the other hand.
Ushiro ryo kata dori	Two hands grab from behind both of the partner's shoulder.
Ushiro ryote dori	Two hands grab from behind both of the partner's wrists.
Yokomen uchi	Strike to the side of the head or neck.

Irimi nage	Entering throw.
Juji garumi	Crossed arm throw.
Kaiten nage	Rotary throw.
Kokyu nage	Breath throw.
Kokyu-ho	Method for using breath.
Koshi nage	Hip throw.
Kote gaeshi	Wrist throw or outer wrist twist.
Shiho nage	Four directions throw.
Sumi otoshi	Corner drop throw.
Tenchi nage	Heaven and Earth throw.

Basic Terms