A
AI: Harmony, union, unification, meeting.
AI HANMI: Identical stance.
AI HANMI KATATE DORI: One-handed grip on the opposite side.
AIKIDO: The Way of Harmony. A purely defensive martial art using various throwing, control, and immobilization techniques involving the joints. AIKIDO is the modern and peaceful form of an ancient martial art, AIKIJUTSU, itself derived from another equally ancient art: KENJUTSU, or swordsmanship.
AIKIDOGI: Aikido uniform.
AIKIDOKA: A practitioner who has achieved mastery in the art of Aikido. The correct term for a practitioner who has not yet achieved mastery is: AIKI-SHUGYO-SHA (literally: one who laboriously progresses in learning AIKI!).
AIKIJUTSU: An ancient combat technique based on the coordination between attack and defense.
AIKI OTOSHI: A throw that uses the partner's leg grab.
AIKI TAISO: Basic Aikido exercises.
AITE: Training partner.
ARIGATOO: Thank you.
ARIGATOO GOZAIMASHITA: Thank you very much.
ASHI: Foot OR leg.
ASHI BARAI: Leg sweep.
ATEMI: A strike theoretically aimed at vital points of the human body.
AYUMI ASHI: Movement in a normal walking step, one leg after the other.
B
BATTO JUTSU: The art of drawing the sword (an ancient form of IAIDO).
BO: Long staff (1.80 m).
BOJUTSU: The art or technique of the staff.
BOKKEN: Wooden sword.
BUDO: The way of war, traditional martial arts.
BUDO SEISHIN: The spirit of BUDO.
BUSHI: Warrior.
BUSHIDO: The code of honor of the BUSHI.
C
CHI: Earth.
CHUDAN: Middle level.
CHUDAN TSUKI: Punch to abdomen-solar plexus height.
D
DAN: Degree, rank.
DEAI: Initial contact, first step of the technique (literally: to harmonize by moving towards…)
DO: Way.
DOJO: Place where one studies the way, martial arts training hall.
DORI: Grasp.
DOSHU: Literally, the Master of the Way, supreme representative (technical and spiritual) of the art.
E
ERI: col
G
GAESHI: To wrap.
GAKU: Calligraphy or motto displayed on the wall of the dojo.
GEDAN: Low level.
GERI/KERI: Kick.
GI: Clothing.
GI: Technique, skill (cf. "SHIN, GI, TAI").
GOKYO: Fifth principle of immobilization.
GO NO GEIKO: Strong training, with more firmness from UKE.
GOSHI: Lateral part of the pelvis, hips; see also KOSHI.
GYAKU HANMI: Reverse stance.
H
HAKAMA: Traditional culottes worn over the GI in all classical BUDO styles. Depending on the school, it may be worn from the beginning of practice or from a certain rank (often black belt).
HANMI (HAMMI): Basic stance in Aikido, one side forward presenting half of the body.
HANMI HANDACHI: One partner standing, the other kneeling.
HARA: The center, the abdomen considered the center of life and energy.
HARAGEI: The art of developing the HARA.
HENKA: Change of posture without moving the feet.
HENKAWAZA: Variations, sequences.
HIDARI: Left.
HIJI: Elbow.
HIZA: Knee.
J
JO: Staff used in Aikido (1.28 m).
JODAN: High rank.
JOSEKI: Wall of honor in a dojo.
JU: Flexibility.
JUDO: The way of gentleness. Combat sport primarily focused on competition that uses throws and holds from the ancient Jujutsu.
JUDOGI: Judo uniform.
JUKUGEN JUTSU: The art of the bayonet.
JUJUTSU (JIU JITSU): Ancient fighting methods from which several modern martial arts are derived.
JU NO GEIKO: Gentle training.
JIYU WAZA: Free practice.
K
KAI: Association, group, school.
KAITEN: Rotation, circular movement.
KAITEN NAGE: Projection in a rotating throw.
KAKARI GEIKO: A form of continuous training where the partner(s) attack without stopping.
KAMAE: Guard, posture.
KAMIZA: Place of honor in the DOJO towards which bows are made and where the portrait of O-SENSEI is usually located.
KARATE: Martial art of unarmed combat (KARA: empty and TE: hands) based on the offensive and defensive use of the natural weapons of the human body: feet, fists, knees, etc.
KARATEGI: Karate uniform.
KATA: Prescribed forms, a set of stylized movements.
KATA: Shoulders.
KATAME WAZA: Control techniques that generally involve the joints.
KATANA: Japanese sword.
KATATE: Forearm, wrist.
KATATE DORI: Wrist grab.
KEIKO: Practice, repetition, training.
KEIKOGI: Training garment, usually white, used in most martial arts schools. Often mistakenly called KIMONO.
KEIKO HO: Forms of practice.
KENPO (KEMPO): ancient combat technique related to Chinese boxing and KARATE.
KEN: Sabre.
KENDO: Japanese fencing practiced with bamboo swords or SHINAI.
KENSEN: Imaginary line connecting the two partners and where the action takes place (lit: line of swords).
KESA GIRI: Action of cutting diagonally and from top to bottom.
KI: Energy.
KIAI: A shout, a breath, or an impulse.
KIMONO: A type of long robe worn by women or men as loungewear or for formal occasions. The kimono is not martial arts training attire. Training attire is called a keikogi.
KI MUSUBI: Connection between the two partners.
KIRI: Cut (from KIRU: to cut).
KO: Expiration.
KOBUDO: Ancient martial arts.
KOKORO: Mentality, heart and spirit.
KOSHI: Lateral side of the pelvis, hips (GOSHI).
KOTE: Wrist.
KOTE GAESHI: External action and twisting on the wrist.
KUBI: Neck.
KUBI SHIME: Strangulation.
KUMI: Group.
KUMI TACHI: Two-person sword training.
KUMIJO: Working with two people on the JO.
KOKYU: Breathing, exchange, alternation of full and empty moments, rhythm, coordination.
KOKYU HO: KOKYU exercise.
KOKYU NAGE: Breath projection.
KOKYU RYOKU: Strength developed through proper use of KOKYU.
KUBI: Neck.
KYU: Inspiration.
KYU: Grade awarded before DAN.
KYUDO: The Way of Archery.
M
MA: Interval, distance, relationship between the two partners.
MA-AI: Managing distance and relationship.
MAE: Front.
MAE GERI: Straight front kick.
MAE UKEMI: Forward fall.
MAWASHI GERI: Roundhouse kick.
MEN: Head.
MI: Body.
MICHI: Way, DO.
MIGI: Right.
MORIHEI UESHIBA: Name of the founder of Aikido.
MU: The world of invisible energy, emptiness.
MUKSO: Concentration.
MUNE: Chest.
MUNE DORI: Grabbing the lapel of the jacket.
N
NAGE: The one who performs the technique. Also called TORI or SHITE.
NAGE WAZA: Throwing techniques.
NAGINATA: A type of curved spear, slash. Naginata is also a martial art practiced primarily by women.
NANAME: At an angle.
NIKKYO: Second principle of immobilization, wrist twist.
O
OBI: Belt.
OMOTE: Positive, in front, facing forward.
ONEGAI SHIMASU: A phrase used when greeting someone, literally meaning: I have a request for you, please.
OSAE WAZA: Control techniques, immobilizations, for example: IKKYO.
O-SENSEI: Literally Grand Master, refers to the founder, Morihei Ueshiba.
R
RANDORI: Free and continuous practice.
REI: Bow.
REISHIKI: Etiquette, rules of conduct in the DOJO.
RITSU REI: Standing bow.
RYO KATA: Two shoulders.
RYO KATATE: Two wrists.
RYOTE: Two hands.
RYU: School of martial arts.
S
SAMURAI: Warrior, member of the military class in the feudal era.
SANKAKUTAI: Guard stance. Feet at right angles so that the heel-to-toe lines form a triangle. Geometric figure of stability and movement.
SANKYO: Third principle of immobilization, action on the shoulder.
SEISHIN: Spirit.
SEIZA: Kneeling position, sitting on the heels.
SENPAI (SEMPAI): Senior student.
SENSEI: Teacher, instructor, or anyone who is highly respected.
SHIAI: Competition.
SHIHAN: High-ranking instructor. Grand Master.
SHIHO: Four directions.
SHIHO GIRI: Cutting action in the four directions.
SHIHO NAGE: Throw in the four directions.
SHIMOSEKI: Lower part of the mat, opposite the JOSEKI.
SHIN: Spirit, heart.
SHINAI: Sword made of four bamboo strips used in KENDO.
SHIN GI TAI: Union of mind, technique, and body. The ideal to strive for.
SHINTO: The national religion of Japan based on ancestor worship.
SHISEI: Correct attitude or posture.
SHITE: The one who performs the technique (also called TORI or NAGE).
SHIZENTAI: Basic natural stance.
SHO: Beginning.
SHODAN: First Dan (beginner's Dan).
SHOMEN: From the front.
SHOMEN UCHI: Direct strike to the head.
SODE: Sleeve.
SOKUMEN: From the side.
SOTO: Outside.
SUBURI: Individual exercise of repetitive cuts with the Ken (sword).
SUMO: Japanese wrestling.
SUWARI: On their knees.
T
TACHI: Standing.
TAI: The body.
TAIJUTSU: Unarmed combat techniques.
TAI SABAKI: Body movement (often a combination of "Irimi-tenkan").
TAISO: Gymnastics, drills, warm-up.
TAMBO: Short stick.
TANTO: Knife.
TANTO DORI: Techniques against a knife.
TATAMI: Thick straw mat found in Japanese homes and dojos; by extension, the dojo mat.
TE: Hand.
TEGATANA: Edge of the hand, the sword hand.
TEKUBI: Wrist.
TEN: Sky.
TENKAN: Pivoting movement around the front foot.
TE NO UCHI: Inside of the hand.
TOKONOMA: Place where an elevated portrait of O-SENSEI is located.
TORI: The one who performs the technique. Also called NAGE or SHITE.
TSUDE: Sleeve at the elbow.
TSUGI ASHI: Movement by sliding the feet without passing one leg in front of the other.
TSUKI: Direct, frontal strike (fist, sword or staff).
U
UCHI: Inside.
UCHIDESHI: Student training to become a teacher and residing permanently in the dojo during their instruction.
UDE: Arm.
UKA: Negative, outside, back, hidden side.
UKE: The one who attacks and falls.
UKEMI: Fall.
URA: Negative, outside, back, back, hidden side.
USHIRO: Back.
USHIRO UKEMI: Back fall.
Y
YARI: Spear.
YOKO: Side.
YOKOMEN: Side of the head.
YONKYO: Fourth principle of immobilization.
YUDANSHA: Practitioner holding a DAN rank.
YUMI: Japanese bow.
Z
ZANSHIN: The attitude of control and vigilance that follows the execution of a technique.
ZAREI: A kneeling bow.
ZOORI: Sandals
