Vocabulary

Aikido Vocabulary List

JAPANESE

SOUND

MEANING

COMMON AIKIDO WORDS

AIKIDO

EYE-KEY-DOH

AI . . Harmony
KI . . Spirit
DO . . The Way or Path

AIKI TAISO

EYE-KEY TIE-SOH

Aikido exercises

ATEMI

AH-TEH-MEE

Strikes, blows

BOKKEN

BOH-KEN

Wooden sword used in practice

BUDO

BOO-DOH

Martial way

BUJUTSU

BOO-JOOT-SOO

Martial art

BUSHIDO

BOO-SHEE-DOH

Warrior's Code. ìThe Way of the Warriorî

DAN

DAHN

Aikido rank, Grade holder, black belt rank

DESHI

DAY-SHE

Student, pupil, disciple

DOJO

DOH-JOH

Training hall (formerly a term used by Buddhist priests in reference to their place of worship)

GAESHI

GUY-E-SHE

To reverse

GI

GEE

Training uniform

HAKAMA

HA-KAH-MAH

Skirted pants worn over the gi. Typically worn by yudansha

HANMI

HAHN-MEE

Stance with one foot forward and weight

HANMI HANDACHI

HAHN-MEE HAHN-DAH-CHE

Nage is kneeling and the opponent attacks from a standing position

HANTAI

HAHN-TIE

Reverse

HIDARI

HEE-DAH-REE

Left ( direction)

IRIMI

EE-REE-MEE

Entering technique

JIYU WAZA

EE-YOU-WAH-ZAH

Free style practice

JO

JOH

Wooden staff used in training

KAMAE

KAH-MYE

Stance or posture

KATA

KAH-TAH

Form, practice usually with a bokken or jo

KATANA

KAH-TAH-NAH

Japanese sword

KEIKO

KAY-KOH

Practice session

KEN

KEN

Japanese sword

KI

KEY

Spirit - he vital force of the body; Universal Energy; a stream or flow of positive energy

KIAI

KEY-EYE

A piercing scream or cry with practical and psychological value meaning ì Meeting of the Spiritsî

KIHON

KEY-HON

Basic form of a technique

KOHAI

KOE-HIGH

A junior student

KOKYU

KO-Q

Breath power - the coordination of ki flow with breathing

KOTAI

KO-TIE

To change turns

KYU

Q

Aikido rank before black belt

MAAI

MAH-EYE

Distance between uke and nage meaning ì Harmony of Spaceî

MIGI

MEE-GHEE

Right (direction)

NAGE

NAH-GAY

Throw - The person who throws

OBI

OH-BEE

Belt

OMOTE WAZA

OH-MOE-TEY

Entering in front of

O'SENSEI

OH-SEN-SAY

The great Teacher - Affectionate term for Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido

RANDORI

RAHN-DOH-REE

Free style - free exercise

REI

RAY

Salutation - bow

REIGI

RAY-GHEE

Etiquette

SEMPAI

SEM-PIE

Assistant teacher

SEIZA

SAY-ZAH

Formal kneeling position

SHIHAN

SHE-HAN

Title for a teacher who has ranked to at least sixth dan

SHODAN

SHOH-DAHN

Holder of the first grade of black belt

SHOMEN

SHOW-MEN

The upper seat, the shrine which houses the picture of the Founder and spirit of Aikido. Not a religious symbol, but a spiritual one

SOTO MAWARI

SOH-TOH-MAH-WAH-REE

Turning outside

SUBURI

SOO-BOO-REE

A single movement using the ken or jo in a solo practice

SUWARI WAZA

SOO-WAH-REE WAH-ZAH

Sitting technique

TACHI

TAH-CHEE

Japanese sword

TACHI DORI

TAH-CHEE DOH-REE

Technique of taking an opponent's sword and throwing him

TACHI WAZA

TAH-CHEE WAH-ZAH

Standing technique

TAIJUTSU

TIE-JOOT-SOO

Body arts - The techniques of Aikido done without weapons

TANTO

TAHN-THO

Knife

TEGATANA

TEY-CAH-TAH-NAH

Sword blade of the hand

UCHI

OO-CHEE

To strike

UCHI DESHI

OO-CHEE DEH-SHE

Live in student; personal student or the disciple

UCHI MAWARI

OO-CHEE-MAH-WAH-REE

Turning inside

UKE

OO-KAY

One who receives; the person being thrown; the attacker

UKEMI

OO-KEH-MEE

Breakfall - the art of falling

UESHIBA

OO-EH-SHEE-BAH

Morihei Ueshiba - The founder of Aikido (1883 - 1969)

URA WAZA

OO-RAH WAH-ZAH

To the rear

WAZA

WAH-ZAH

Techniques

YUDANSHA

YOU-DAHN-SHAH

Black belt grade holder(s)

ICHI

EE-CHEE

1

NI

NEE

2

SAN

SAHN

3

SHI

SHEE

4

GO

GOH

5

ROKU

ROH-KOO

6

SHICHI

SHEE-CHEE

7

HACHI

HAH-CHEE

8

KU

KOO

9

JU

JOO

10

JU ICHI

JOO-EE-CHEE

11

NI JU

KNEE-JOO

20

SAN JU

SAHN-JOO

30

SAN JU ICHI

SAHN-JOO-EE-CHEE

31

COMMON PHRASES

KONNICHI WA

KOHN-NEE-CHEE WAH

Hello, Good day (used after 10:00 a.m. until evening)

OHAYO GOZAIMASU

OH-HAH-YOH GOH-ZAH-EE-MAHSS

Good Morning (used before 10:00 a.m.)

KOMBAN WA

KOHM-BAHN WA

Good Evening

OYASUMI NASAI

OH-YAH-SOO-MEE NAH-SIE

Good Night

SAYONARA

SAH-YOH-NAH-RAH

Good-bye

DOZO

DOH-ZOH

Please; go ahead . . .

DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA

DOH-MOH AH-REE-GAHTOH GOH-ZAH-EE-MAH-SHEE-TAH

Thank you very much

ONEGAI SHIMASU

OH-NAY-GUY-SHEE-MAHSS

Spoken when on wishes to practice with a fellow student

GOMEN NASAI

GOH-MEN HAH-SIE

I'm sorry, excuse me

DO ITASHIMASHITE

DOH EE-TAH-SHEE-MAH-SHEE-TAY

Don't mention it; you're welcome

ABUNAI!

AH-BOO-NIE

Watch out! Be careful!

OGENKI DESU KA?

OH-GEHN-KEY-DAY-SOO-KAH

How are you?

SHITSUREI SHIMASU

SHE-T-SOO-RAY-SHE-MAH-SOO

Excuse me

ITAI!

EE-TIE

Ouch!

AIKIDO TECHNIQUES

GOKKYO

GOH-KYOH

Defense against knife attack, similar to Ikkyo; 5th technique

IKKYO

EEK-YOH

Technique where you turn your partner's arm over and take him down on his stomach to the ground; 1st technique

IRIMI NAGE

EE-REE-MEE NAH-GEH

Technique where you enter behind your partner and throw by breaking his balance backwards

JUJI GARAMI

JOO-JEE GAH-RAH-MEE

Throw where you cross partners arms in a ì + ì and throw

KAITEN NAGE

KAI-TEN NAH-GEH

Technique where you revolve your partner's arm and body to throw him

KOKYU DOSA

KOHK-UYOO DOH-SAH

Seated exercise which uses ki extension to throw and pin partner

KOKYU NAGE

KOHKYOO NAH-GEH

Throw in which, without applying pressure to partner's joint, you use the timing of body and spirit to throw

KOSHI NAGE

KOH-SHEE NAH-GEH

Hip throw

KOTE GAESHI

KOH-TEH GAH-EH-SHEE

Throw accomplished by twisting partner's wrist

NIKKYO

NEEK-YOH

Technique where you bend your partner's wrist, making him drop to the ground; 2nd technique

SANKYO

SAHN-KYOH

Technique where you twist your partner's arm and wrist, making him drop to the ground; 3rd technique

SHIHO NAGE

SHEE-HOH NAH-GEH

Four direction throw; You spin under your partner's arm to twist it and throw

TAI NO HENKO

TIE NOH HEN-KOH

Basic blending practice

TENCHI NAGE

TEN-CHEE NAH-GEY

Heaven and earth throw; one hand points to heaven, he other to earth to throw

YONKYO

YON-KYOH

Throw accomplished by pressing nerves in the arm; 4th technique

AIKIDO ATTACKS

GYAKU TE TORI

GEE-YAH-KOO TEH TOH-REE

Cross hand grab, i.e. right to right

HIJI DORI

HEE-JEE DOH-REE

Elbow grab

KATA TORI

KAH-TAH-TOH-REE

Shoulder grab

KATATE TORI

DAH-TAH-TEH TOH-REE

Wrist grab (same side)

KATATE TORI HANTAI

DAH-TAH-TEH TOH-REE HAHN-TIE

Same as gyaku te tore

MEN UCHI

MEN-OO-CHEE

Strike to the head

MOROTE DORI

MOH-ROH-TEH DOH-REE

Partner attacks by grabbing on wrist with both hands

MUNE TSUKI

MOON-EH TSKEE

Chest or stomach strike

MUNE DORI

MOON-AH DOH-REE

Lapel grab

RYOTE TORI

REE-OH-TEH TOH-REE

Partner attacks by grabbing both wrists

SHOMEN UCHI

SHOH-MEN OO-CHEE

Strike to the top of the head

USHIRO ERI DORI

OO-SHEE-ROH EH-REE DOH-REE

Rear collar grab

USHIRO HIJI TORI

OO-SHEE-ROH HEE-JEE TOH-REE

Elbow grab form the rear

USHIRO KATA TORI

OO-SHEE-ROH KAH-TAH-TOH-REE

Rear shoulder grab

USHIRO KATATE TORI

OO-SHEE-ROH KAH-TAH-TEH TOH-REE

Rear wrist grab

USHIRO KUBI SHIME

OO-SHEE-ROH KOO-BEE SHEE-MEH

Choking with one hand around the neck form the rear

USHIRO TORI

OO-SHEE-ROH TOH-REE

Rear bear hug

YOKOMEN UCHI

YOH-KOH-MEN OO-CHEE

Side of the head strike

DIRECTIONS OF AIKIDO TECHNIQUES

IRIMI

EE-REE-MEE

Entering (same an Omote waza)

TENKAN

TEN-KAHN

Turning (same as Ura waza)

OMOTE WAZA

OH-MOH-TEH WAH-ZAH

Technique which goes to your partner's front

URA WAZA

OO-RAH WAH-ZAH

Technique which goes to your partner's rear

PARTS OF THE BODY

ASHI

AH-SHEE

Foot or leg

ASHI KUBI

AH-SHEE-KOO-BEE

Ankle

ATAMA

AH-TAH-MAH

Head

HANA

HAH-NAH

Nose

HIJI

HEE-JEE

Elbow

HIZA

HEE-ZAH

Knee

KATA

KAH-TAH

Shoulder

KOSHI

KOH-SHEE

Hip

KUBI

KOO-BEE

Neck

KUCHI

KOO-CHEE

Mouth

ME

MAY

Eye

MIMI

MEE-MEE

Ear

MUNE

MOON-EH

Chest

ONAKA

OH-NAH-KAH

Stomach

SENAKA

SAY-NAH-KAH

Back

TSUMASAKI

T-SOO-MAH-SAH-KEY

Toe

YUBI

YOU-BEE

Finger

PARTS OF THE DOJO

DENKI

DEHN-KEY

Lights

ENGAWA

EN-GAH-WAH

Veranda

GENKAN

GEHN-KAHN

Formal entranceway

ISHI-DORO

EE-SHEE-DOH-ROH

Stone lantern

KAGAMI

KAH-GAH-MEE

Mirror

KAMIDANA

KAH-ME-DAH-NAH

A shelf for a Shinto shrine

KAIDAN

KAI-DAHN

Steps

KOISHITSU

KOE-EE-SHEE-T-SOO

Dressing room

MENJO

MEN-JOE

Certificate or license

MOMIJI

MOE-MEE-GEE

Japanese Maple

NAFUDA

NAH-FOO-DAH

Name board

NIWA

KNEE-WAH

Garden

NOREN

NO-REHN

Hanging screen or curtain

OTEARAI

O-TEH-AH-RYE

Bathroom

ROJI

ROH-JEE

Garden path

SHOJI

SOH-JEE

Translucent sliding door

TATAMI

TAH-TAH-ME

Straw mat

TENJO

TEN-JOE

Ceiling

TOKEI

TOE-KAY-EE

Clock

TOKO-BASHIRA

TOE-KOE-BAH-SHEE-RAH

Alcove pillar

TOKONOMA

TOE-KOE-NOH-MAH

Alcove

TSUKUBAI

T-SOO-KOO-BYE

Water basin