A | B | D | G | H | I | J | K | M | N | O | R | S | T | U | W | Y | Z
| A | |
| Ai | Harmony, to join or become one with |
| Ai hanmi | Asymmetric stance, (ex: both uke and nage line up right foot to right foot) |
| Aiki | Harmonizing or blending with energy |
| Aikido | The way of harmonizing energy |
| Aikikai | Aikido association. Usually refers to the Aikido association headed by the Ueshiba family |
| Arigato gozaimashita! | Thank you very much! |
| Atemi | Strike (usually used by nage to catch uke off guard) |
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| B | |
| Bokken | Wooden sword used in Aikido practice |
| Bu | “Martial” or “Military” |
| Budo | Lit. “The way of martial arts” |
| Bushido | “The way of the Warrior.” Ethical code relating to the samurai class in ancient Japan. |
| Dan | Blackbelt rank |
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| D | |
| Do | The “way” or path |
| Do-gi | Training uniform |
| Dojo | Training facility, Lit. “Way place” |
| Dojo cho | leader of dojo (chief instructor) |
| Dori | grabbing attack |
| Doshu | Title referring to leader of martial style |
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| G | |
| Gaeshi | Reversal or change |
| Gasshuku | training seminar |
| giri | sword cut |
| Go | Five |
| Gokyo | The fifth technique |
| Gyaku | Reverse or Opposite |
| Gyaku Hanmi | Symmetric stance (eg. right foot to left foot). Uke and nage stand in mirror image |
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| H | |
| Hachi | Eight |
| Hai | Yes! |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Hakama | Traditional Japanese pleated pants |
| hanmi | stance, literal “half stance” |
| Hanmi Handachi | Uke (attacker) is in standing position, nage (receiver) is in kneeling position |
| Happo | Eight directions |
| Happo giri | Eight direction cutting |
| Hara | Center of the body, located right below navel |
| henka waza | Changing or shifting to another technique in mid execution |
| Hiji | Elbow |
| Hiji tori | Grab at elbow |
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| I | |
| Ichi | One |
| Ikkyo | The first technique |
| Irimi | Entering throw |
| Irimi nage | Entering throw |
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| J | |
| Jiyu | Free, freedom |
| Jiyu waza | Multiple attackers attack nage |
| Jo | Shorter staff, approximately 4′ long, used in Aikido practice. |
| Ju | Ten |
| Ju Jitsu (also Jiu jitsu) | Literally “Soft Skill” |
| Judo | The way of gentleness |
| Juji | Vertical cross, (10 symbol) |
| Juji Garami | Cross arm throw |
| Juji Nage | Cross arm lock throw (same as Juji garami) |
| Jutsu (also jitsu) | Skill or art |
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| K | |
| Kaeshi (also Gaeshi) | Reverse or change |
| Kaeshi waza | counter techniques |
| Kaiten | turn around, revolve |
| Kaiten nage | Turning thow |
| Kamae | Ready position |
| Kamiza | Honorary location in dojo |
| Karami (also garimi) | Entangle, tie up |
| Kata | 1. Shoulder Grab 2. pre defined form or technique |
| Kata tori | one handed grab onthe shoulder |
| Kata tori men uchi | One hand grabs the shoulder, the other strikes with shomen uchi strike. |
| Katate Tori | one handed wrist grab |
| Keiko | training, practice |
| Ken | Japanese sword |
| Ki | Universal life force, vital energy |
| Ki musubi | To connect energetically |
| Ki-no-nagare | techniques performed with movement |
| Kiai | sharp shout or yell |
| Kihon | Basic |
| Kihon waza | Basic.training. Techniques are done from static. |
| Kohai | Junior member |
| Kokoro | Heart |
| Kokyu | Breath |
| Kokyu dosa | Seated throwing practice |
| Kokyu ho | Breath exercise (can also referred to breath throw) |
| Kokyu nage | breath throw |
| Konban wa | Good evening |
| Konnichi wa | Good afternoon |
| Kosa | cross over |
| Kosa tori | Cross hand grasp to the wrist |
| Koshi | referring to hips or lower back |
| Koshi nage | Hip throw |
| Ku | Nine |
| Kumi | Group or set |
| Kumi jo | Jo partner practice (set of exercises) |
| Kumi tachi | Sword partner practice (set of exercises) |
| Kyu | Rank or grade prior to black belt designation |
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| M | |
| Ma-ai | Distance between two or more persons. (could refer to physical or energetic distance) |
| Matte | Stop! |
| Men | Face or head |
| Misogi | Purification of self |
| Morehei Ueshiba | Founder of Aikido. Referred to as O Sensei (Great teacher). |
| Morote tori | two handed wrist grab on one wrist |
| Mu | Nothing or empty |
| Mudansha | practitioner below dan grade |
| Mune | Chest |
| Musubi | To tie together |
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| N | |
| Nagare | To flow |
| Nage | The person performing the technique (also Tori) |
| Nana | Seven (also shichi) |
| Ni | Two |
| Nikkyo | Second technique |
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| O | |
| O Sensei | Great teacher (In Aikido we refer to the founder of the art, Morihei Ueshiba, as O Sensei) |
| Obi | Belt |
| Omote | Front side |
| Onegai shimasu | Please (when asking for something). Normally a request to train with another. |
| Otoshi | Drop (eg. Sumi otoshi, corner drop) |
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| R | |
| Randori | Free style practice or sparring. Often done with multiple attacks. |
| Rei | Respect, also refers to formal bow at beginning and end of class. |
| Rokku | Six |
| Rokkyu | The sixth technique |
| Ryo | Both |
| Ryote tori | Both hands grab both wrists |
| Ryu | School or tradition |
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| S | |
| Sabaki | Body movement |
| San | Three |
| Seiza | Formal and preferred sitting position |
| Sempai | Senior student |
| Sensei | Teacher |
| Shi (also yon) | Four |
| Shichi (also nana) | Seven |
| Shidoin | Formal title “instructor” |
| Shihan | Formal title, “Master instructor” |
| Shiho | Four directions |
| Shiho nage | Four direction cut |
| Shikko | Knee walking |
| Shite | Thrower, also tori or nage |
| Shizentai | Natrual body posture |
| Sho | First or beginning |
| Shodan | first step, referring to first black belt grade |
| Shomen uchi | Strike to the head. The hand is raised and lowered straight down. |
| Suburi | Basic repetitive movement, often performed with a weapon |
| Sumi Otoshi | Corner drop |
| Sutemi | Literally: Sacrifice the body |
| Sutemi waza | Techniques involving nage losing balance |
| Suwari waza | Techniques performed when both uke and nage are in kneeling position |
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| T | |
| Tachi tori | Sword disarming techniques |
| Tachi waza | Techniques performed when both uke and nage are in standing position |
| Tai sabaki | Body movement |
| Tai-no henko | Body turning exercise |
| Taijutsu | Body arts, unarmed techniques |
| Tanto | Knife |
| Tanto tori | Knife disarming techniques |
| Te | Referring to hand/hands |
| Tekubi | Wrist |
| Tenchi nage | Heaven and earth throw |
| Tsuki | Straight punch |
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| U | |
| uchi | strike, as in shomen uchi |
| Uchi | Inside; also strike |
| Uke | One who receives a technique |
| Ukemi | Receiving a technique, also art of falling. |
| Ushiro | Behind |
| Ushiro ryokata tori | Two shoulders grabbed from behind |
| Ushiro ryotekubi tori | two hands grab two wrists from behind. (also ushiro ryote tori) |
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| W | |
| Wakizashi | Japanese short sword |
| Waza | Technique or training method |
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| Y | |
| Yoko | Side, sideways or horizontal |
| Yokyo | The fourth technique |
| Yudansha | Referring to person or persons who hold the rank of blackbelt |
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| Z | |
| Zanshin | Literal: Remaining mind. Continuous attention and awareness |
| Zen | Form of Buddhism |