"Thank you"

"finished"

harmony, unity, to join or become one with, to love

asymmetric stance (e.g. right foot to right foot)

a wrist grabbing attack, with right on right or left on left. (Compare: Gyaku-hanmi katatedori)

harmonizing or blending with energy

budo based on the aiki principle (one of the earlier names O-Sensei used for Aikido)

the way of harmonizing with the force and principle of nature

one who trains in Aikido (specifically, at an advanced or professional level)

the Akido temple in Iwama

Aikido jo-staff exercises

refers to a style of jujutsu. The term is often used in reference to Daito Ryu, a style of jujutsu in which the founder trained (Sometimes also referred to as aiki-jujutsu)

Aikido "association" or "organization" or "club"

sword exercises/forms of Aikido

aiki-throw (a throwing technique)

aiki drop (a throwing technique)

aikido warm-up exercises

leg or foot

strike

to blend/harmonize/match the timing of the attack and response

leg movement using alternating steps, right and left (similar to a normal walking gait)

sword

sword training

a longer wooden staff  (approx. 180-200cm in length)

wooden sword

wooden sword

"Martial" or "military." The Kanji character for "bu" has two components: one indicates a weapon, while the other means to stop or lay aside. Thus, bu has a different connotation than the direct English translation.

from Japanese, lit. "the way of battle" or "the way of martial arts"

one who trains in budo (specifically refers to someone who is at an advanced or professional level)

martial arts/battle arts (older usage)

person/people of a martial art tradition

(training in) weapons techniques

refers to a unity of martial and literary arts. One of the historic ideals of the Japanese samurai class

the dual paths of the martial and literary arts. One of the historic ideals of the Japanese samurai class

term referring to a classical Japanese warrior or professional martial artist (usually in a historical context)

"The Way of the Warrior." A code of ethics relating to the bushi or samurai class in ancient Japan.

referring to power, force or strength

Direct (eg. choku-zuki = direct thrust/punch)

direct, mid-level thrust with the jo or fist

Middle guard position (compare with: Jodan=upper position and Gedan: lower position)

guard position with hands or a weapon at middle (belly or solar plexus) height

a thrusting attack (with fist or a weapon) at middle height, aimed at the belly or solar plexus

refers to the pair of swords traditionally worn by samurai, consisting of a long sword (daito) and short sword (shoto)

the name of a school/lineage/style of Aiki-jujitsu

"wrong", or "bad"

blackbelt rank (lit: "step")

"A tradition", "a teaching" or, "a system" (See ryu)

student, pupil, disciple, apprentice

the "way", path, or road

a phrase describing "stillness in motion".

training uniform

training hall, place where the ‘way’ is practiced

title referring to the head/leader of a dojo (Chief Instructor)

poem about the way

much (as in: domo arigato gozaimashita)

thank you very much (for something going on in the present)

thank you so much (for something completed)

take, catch, grab

action; movement

Lit: "way master"; title referring to the leader of a Japanese martial style

"Please!"

public demonstration

elbow strike

referring to the neck or collar

collar grasp at the back of the neck

"Immovable mind". A state of mental equanimity or imperturbability. Fudoshin does not indicate a state of mind that is inflexible, but rather, refers to a mental state where one is not easily upset by internal thoughts or external factors.

a formal title with an approximate meaning of "assistant instructor" (compare with shidoin and shihan)

"rowing exercise" (also called: Torifune)

movement and breathing exercise to still/calm/settle the flow of Ki in the body

referring to two persons

attacks featuring two opponents (also see: ni-nin-gake)

reversal or change (of direction or technique)

tie up, entangle, arrest

training/seminar/camp; lit: "lodging together"

lower position (compare with: Jodan and Chudan)

block in a lower position

Kick (eg. Mae-geri = front kick)

training garments (also Do-gi or Keiko-gi)

Duty/obligation

to cut (such as with a sword or knife - eg. Kesa-giri)

the number "Five"

"Fifth technique" - a pinning technique against knife attack

"Excuse me"

refers to the timing of response to an attack: in this case a "late" or "waiting" response to an attack

static training. Compare: jutai, ryutai and ki-no-nagare

reverse, or opposite

symmetric stance (eg. Right foot to left foot). Compare with Ai-hanmi

a wrist grabbing attack, with right on left or left on right. (Compare: Aihanmi katatedori)

diagonal upward cut, from low to high position

referring to a reversed hand position

a thrusting strike with opposing arm and leg forward

refers to the cutting edge of a Japanese Sword

the number "Eight"

Meaning "In the Shadow of Leaves", is a practical and spiritual guide for a warrior, drawn from a collection of commentaries by the Japanese samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo. Tsuramoto Tashiro compiled these commentaries from his conversations with Tsunetomo from 1709 to 1716. However, it was not published until many years afterwards. Hagakure is also known as the The Book of the Samurai, Analects of Nabeshima, or the Hagakure Analects.

"Yes!"

"begin!"

pleated divided-skirt (usually worn by senior ranks in Aikido)

team leader or chairperson

basic oblique stance common to aikido

nage kneeling and uke standing

opposed

eight directions (compare: Shiho)

eight direction cutting (compare: Shiho-giri)

attention in all (eight) directions

the body's center of gravity located in the area of the lower abdomen (see also: Tanden)

a sweeping block

jo technique consisting of a sweeping block/parry, followed by a thrusting counter attack

jo technique that involves sweeping the jo through an arc to a vertical position at shoulder level

guard position with a weapon raised vertically at the shoulder level

"quickly!"

method (of training)

changing techniques during the execution of basic techniques or shifting to other techniques

Japanese phonetic writing. (Compare: Katakana)

making the body small: guard position with more angle than hanmi (see also: Ura Sankaku)

method (of training)

left (side or direction)

elbow

elbow lock (also called: Rokkyo in some dojo)

elbow power

twist

knee

headquarters dojo or organization (in Aikido this is usually used in reference to Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan)

the number "one"

"first technique" arm immobilization

"now!"

entering movement (lit: "enter body")

throw by entering (irimi) either in front of, or  behind an opponent

Free; freedom

free-style techniques

‘shorter’ wooden staff (approx. 130-135cm in length)

the way of the staff

nage (with jo) defends against/throws one or more unarmed attacker(s)

jo taking (disarming) techniques

upper guard (high) position

straight punch/thrust to the face or neck

upper position block and counter attack with the jo

Reference to position/location in the dojo position - the place of honored, or high seat, on one’s right side when facing the kamiza

soft, flexible

the number "ten"

plus sign, vertical cross (lit: "10 symbol")

crossed arm-lock throw

crossed arm-lock throw

lit: "soft skill"

strike with the same arm and leg forward, also called: oitsuki (compare: gyakutsuki)

"soft body" or smooth training.

(compare: gotai, ryutai and ki-no-nagare)

lit: "skill"; "technique" or "art"

reversal or change (of direction or technique)

technique reversals or counters (lit. reversing technique)

Turning around; revolving

rotation throw

reverse hand thrusting strike with the jo-staff. Continuous attack training (often in groups forming a line of sequential attackers). pre-defined kata (forms)

corner/angle (eg. Sankaku = triangle)

angle

Founder or originator

guard stance or ready position (also: gamae)

refers to an honorary location in the dojo: Lit. "Seat of the gods"

intuition

"cold training"; referring to a period of high intensity winter training

Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system, along with hiragana, katakana, and the Arabic numerals. The Japanese term kanji literally means "Han characters".

joint (on the body)

techniques that involve pinning/immobilization using joint locks

tie up, entangle, arrest

pre-defined forms or specific techniques

shoulder

shoulder pin

Japanese phonetic writing. (Compare: hiragana)

lit: to harden, solidify, fix, stabilize

pinning/immobilization techniques

one handed grip to one shoulder

Japanese sword

Lit: "one-side hand"

one handed grip on one wrist

one handed grip to wrist with neck choke from behind

one handed grip to one shoulder

one handed grip on one shoulder with shomen-uchi strike to the head

one handed grip on one shoulder with yokomen-uchi strike to the head

training or practice

referring to the Japanese sword

diagonal strike to the side of the neck with the intent of cutting the body

spirit, life force, or vital energy

a forceful exhalation of the breath with a sharp vocalization, shout or scream

basic (basic point, emphasis point)

training in basic techniques; can also refer to "static" practice of techniques. (also see: Kotai)

mental focus

lock/immobilization (eg. Hiji-kime: elbow immobilization)

to connect/bind the ki

series of paired sword encounter movements that build awareness of connection/ki of the partner

to flow with ki (flowing/continuous practice)

to cut

turning cutting movement with the sword

Zen training riddle

refers to older/traditional budo, or budo of the pre-modern era

one’s junior

backward, to the rear

backward turning step

backward ukemi

backward rolling exercises

"heart"

breath

seated breath power exercise

breath throw

breath exercise ("method of the breath")

breath power

"Good evening"

"Good day"

to cross over or pass

cross hand grasp to the wrist, the same as Ai-hanmi katate-tori

referring to the hip(s) or lower back

hip throw

static training. Compare: jutai, ryutai and ki-no-nagare

wrist/forearm

wrist/palm turning throw

twisting of the wrist (eg. Sankyo)

turning of the wrist (eg. Nikyo)

the number "nine"

neck

neck choke

group/set

jo-staff techniques/encounters, practiced jo against jo

sword exercises/encounters, practiced sword against sword

to break the balance

rank, grade, level (also: term for a white belt rank/grade)

"distance" or "spacing" between two or more persons

(In a martial context this is used in reference to physical distance between two parties. May also be used in reference to "psychological" or "psychic" distance)

front kick

forward roll or fall

"True Victory is Self-Victory" - a principal tenet of AIKIDO

"stop!"

to turn around or rotate

Referring to the face or head

a way of using/focusing the eyes (referring to: eye focus)

a "Way", "road" or "path"

right. Refers to right side - eg. Migi-hanmi = right foot forward stance (Compare: hidari)

self purification

training with the eyes (observing training)

grasp (eg. katate-mochi)

Silent meditation or concentration

two handed grip, both on one wrist

nothing/empty

practitioner below dan grade (lit: "no rank person")

(compare: Yudansha)

chest or lapel

one handed grip on lapel

one handed grip on lapel

empty mind

name of a style/school of Iaido

to tie together

(eg. "ki musubi", meaning: "to bind/tie-up Ki")

the person who performs the technique (also: shite or tori)

from the Japanese verb "Nagaru" - to flow

throwing techniques

the number "seven"

purity/unity of mind

the number "two"

"second technique" arm control technique applied with a wrist/hand turn

two person attacks/training (see also: Futari-tori)

belt

a strike with same arm and foot forward

also called jyuntsuki

to the front (movement or direction)

lit. "I make a request"

(as in: "Please", when asking for something)

control (eg. ude-osae = arm control)

controlling techniques

"great teacher" or "revered teacher" (in Aikido this title is most often used in reference to Master Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido)

drop (as in a technique, eg. Sumi-otoshi= corner drop)

applied techniques, modified for efficiency

free-style practice or sparring, often freestyle with multiple-attacker. Lit. "messy striking"

term meaning "veneration" or "respect". Also refers to the etiquette and the formal bow or salutation,  in the context of showing respect

Etiquette/manner of respectful conduct - in the context of showing veneration or respect

"training": to prepare or train the body through repetition

continuous

jo-staff exercise

standing bow

"Sixth teaching": a technique which applies a bar or pin to the elbow (See: hiji-kime/hiji-jime osae)

the number "six"

both

two handed grip, one on each wrist

two handed grip, one to each shoulder

two handed grip, one on each wrist

school or tradition

"to flow"

flowing/fluid training.

(compare: jutai, ryutai and ki-no-nagare)

(body) movement (eg. Tai-sabaki or Ashi-sabaki)

the number "three"

triangle

lit: "triangle body" refers to the positioning of the feet in hanmi to make a triangular shape

movement similar to ikkyo with added outward twisting of the hand/palm

three person attacks/training

three person attacks/training

sword scabbard

refers to the sliding movement of the scabbard around the hip, while drawing a Japanese sword

enlightenment (in reference to meditation/Zen training)

middle "ready" position with tachi or bokken

"line up!"

formal sitting position on the knees (correct/preferred way to sit on the mat in the dojo)

a senior student

back stretch

the back (of the body)

refers to the timing of response to an attack: in this case countering/responding as an attack is initiated

refers to the timing of response to an attack: in this case countering/responding before an attack is initiated or formulated

teacher, lit. "one who was born before"

the number "four"

"death" or "dead"

competition or tournament

the number "seven"

a formal title with an approximate meaning of "instructor"

a formal title meaning, approximately, "master instructor" or "teacher of teachers" (usually only given to professional instructors of 6th dan rank or above)

four directions

four direction cutting

four direction throw

a square; fourth corner (also: ‘dead corner’)

courage

knee walking

squeeze or strangle (as in a joint lock, or application of a choke)

refers to a location or position in the dojo.  Lower place or lower seat (on the left side when facing the kamiza)

refers to position in the dojo.  Lower seat (the side of the dojo opposite the kamiza)

mind/heart

sharp authentic Japanese sword; a "live-blade"

a ridge on the rear lateral side of a sword/bokken

posture

thrower, throwing side; protagonist

natural body posture

first; beginning

lit: "first step". Refers to the first "dan" or black belt grade

directly in front; Lit: "straight face" (referring to the front of the dojo, or to an attack to the head/face)

an attack to the head/face

"rei/bow to the shomen of the dojo!"

vertical strike to the center of the head with the hand blade

beginner

hand blade

sleeve (at the elbow)

one handed grip to the sleeve (near the elbow)

a side entering throw with the arm across the partners chest (also: Kokyuho)

outside; eg: as in "soto-tenkan" (outside body turning movement)

outside turning/rotation

Turning/rotating to the outside

a basic movement of repetitive body/mind purification training (often with a weapon)

referring to a physical or mental "opening"; undefended point

corner drop

Lit: "to throw away/sacrifice the body"

"sacrifice" techniques that involve intentionally losing one's own balance

To rub, graze, scrape, abrade to slide

to slide the legs/feet (a method of walking by sliding the feet)

techniques performed from a kneeling position

sword taking (disarming) techniques

techniques performed from a standing position

body arts; empty-handed (unarmed) techniques

lit: "change of the body"; body changing/turning exercise

body movement

Body exercises

center (also see: hara)

drill/exercise

knife (usually smaller than 25-30cm)

knife taking (disarming) techniques

traditional Japanese mat made of bound-straw

referring to hand/hands (eg. Tegatana = "hand blade")

hand-sword/hand-blade (see also: Shuto)

method of moving the hand to detach a katate-tori grip

wrist

"heaven and earth" throw

turn around, conversion, change body pivoting/turning movement

take, hold, take away; thrower, throwing side;

person who executes a technique (see also: shite and nage)

a Japanese gate

sword guard

the handle of a Japanese sword

a strike with the "butt" or handle of a bokken or Japanese sword

following step; a sliding step where the front foot slides and the back foot follows without passing the front foot

a straight thrust or punch

"Rowing exercise" (also called: Funakogi Undo)

lit: "far mountain attention" or "far mountain eyes; refers to the way/method of focusing the eyes during training

referring to "inside", as in uchi-tenkan (inside body turning movement)

a strike (eg. shomen-uchi)

live-in student or inside student

arm

arm-lock throw

high (referring to location)

one who receives; the person being thrown

block or parry (eg. Jodan uke= block or parry overhead)

receiving a technique; falling

exercise

rear; back (direction)

toward/from the back/rear

back kick

two handed attack: one hand grasps each shoulder from behind the nage (left hand grasps left shoulder, right hand grasps right shoulder)

two handed attack: one hand grasps each wrist from behind the nage (left hand to left wrist, right hand to right wrist)

backward turning step

backward/rearward fall

techniques involving attacks from behind the nage

Technique (singular or plural); skill; training method

"young teacher"; used in aikido in reference to the successor of the Doshu

side (of the body)

side guard position, where the sword is held to the rear of the body in a low position

a posture where the arm pits are kept closed (or in tension)

Japanese short sword

"stop!" or "finish!"

refers to a historical style of jujutsu

side, sideways, horizontal

side kick

diagonal cut (typically with a sword)

Falling to the side in ukemi

side of the head

diagonal strike to the side of the opponent's head with the handblade

sideways fall

"fourth teaching" ikkyo with application of pressure to a point on the wrist

refers to person(s) who hold blackbelt rank

seated position

Aikikai Foundation

refers to a bow from the seated or seiza position

lit: "remaining mind"; extension of continuous attention and awareness

sitting meditation (see also: mokuso)

to the rear, backward (eg. "zempo-kaiten")

refers to a form of Buddhism

cloths used for washing the dojo floor

Japanese-style open sandals. Traditionally made from rice straw or lacquered wood

see: "tsuki"