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Japanese Terms used in Daily Practice

The following terms are commonly used in Aikido training, and in the standard techniques tested during Aikikai examinations for a higher rank. The names of Aikido techniques (waza) consist of two parts: Examples: mune tsuki + ikkyo, katate tori + shiho nage, shomen uchi + irimi nage.

Thus the first two parts of the table are Attacks and Throws. Any attack combines with any throw to become a waza: For example, a partner can attack with mune tsuki and be thrown with ikkyo, shiho nage, kote gaeshi, irimi nage or one of many kokyu nage.

Aikido Term
 Definition Examples or Description
1. ATTACKS
hanmi handachi half sitting, half standing Standing uke attacks seated nage
kata tori shoulder grab kata tori ikkyo, ushiro kata tori sankyo
katate tori one hand grab (same side, as in left hand grabs partner's right wrist) katate tori shiho nage
katate kosa tori one hand grab (opposite side) As in, left hand grab of partner's left wrist
katate( tori ) ryotemochi grab one wrist with both hands katate tori ryote mochi kokyu nage
mune tsuki punch or thrust to the chest munetsuki kotegaeshi
ryote tori grab both hands ryote tori tenchi nage
shomen uchi direct strike to the face or front of the head shomen uchi ikkyo
ushiro ( ryo )-kata tori grab (both) shoulder(s) from behind ushiro kata tori sankyo
ushiro tekubi / hiji / kata tori grab wrists / elbows / shoulders from behind ushiro tekubi tori kotegaeshi, ushiro hiji tori, ushiro kata tori
yokomen uchi strike to the side of the face or head yokomen uchi shiho nage
2. THROWS
ikkyo ( omote and ura ) first "form" throw also, nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo, gokyo for second through fifth form, resp.
irimi nage "entering" throw  
jo nage ( or jo tori ) throwing with, or taking away, the jo (wooden staff) Set of throwing techniques with a jo
jiyu waza "free" style Basic: perform any throw against ryotetori (two-hand grab) attack;
Advanced: any throw against any attack
kaeshi waza "reversal" throw Techniques for countering nage's throw
kaiten nage ( omote and ura ) "revolution" throw Turn of the wheel "revolution", not overthrowing governments
kokyu nage breath throw Throws that rely on timing, body movement and attacker's speed and strength, rather than joint locks
kote gaeshi wrist turn throw  
randori attack by multiple, usually 4, uke Lit., "manage chaos"
shiho nage ( omote and ura ) four directions throw  
sumi otoshi ( omote and ura ) "corner" throw  
tachidori ( bokken tori ) sword waza Deal with (wooden) sword attacks
tanto tori knife waza Deal with (wooden) knife attacks
suwari waza seated techniques Waza executed while kneeling
tenchi nage ( omote and ura ) heaven-earth throw  
udekime nage
 armpit / upper-arm throw  
3. EXERCISES
fune kogi undo rowing exercise  
hojo walk posture, moving and breathing exercise during warmups  
koho tento back roll practice  
kokyu ho ( kokyu dosa ) breath exercise Done in a kneeling position (seiza) at the end of every class
misogi ( okinaga ) purification breathing Breathing exercise at the end of class
sayu undo left-to-right exercise Preparation for one kokyu nage
shikko samurai, or knee, walking Preparation for suwari waza
tai no henko turning exercise, with or without a partner Turning the body while staying on balance and keeping one or both arms extended in front of the body
4. Japanese Words + Phrases used in Day-to-Day Practice
arigato Thank you Two versions:
  • arigato gozaimasu (present tense) - Thanks for something right now
  • arigato gozaimashita - Thanks for something completed or finished, like thank Sensei when bowing out
    		•
    ashi hakobi move the feet Martial way of walking by sliding the feet to keep contact with the earth, rather than stepping
    bokken wooden sword tachi or katana, generic name for a (real) sword
    hara center of the body, just below the navel  
    hanmi stance Lit., half body, as in facing forward with left or right foot forward, in left or right hanmi, respectively
    hanmi handachi half standing techniques with standing uke attacking a kneeling nage
    jiyu waza freestyle throwing Usually rytotetori kokyunage techniques
    jo wooden staff Originally a thrusting spear
    kaiten pivot 180o in place Turn 180o without moving the feet
    kamae stance Formal posture for attacking or awaiting attack
    kiai energy  
    kohai junior student, i.e. one having less experience than a senpai See also senpai
    kokyu breath or breathing kokyu nage, kokyu ho
    kyu & dan rank, level or grade in martial arts: kyu - colored belts, 6th or 5th through 1st kyu (descending)
    dan - black belts, shodan (1st), nidan (2nd), sanda (3rd), yondan (4th), godan (5th), etc. through 10th dan
    ma'ai interval Managing space; the proper distance between nage and uke for attack and defense
    men face or head  
    metsuke eye line Keep head erect and focus eyes on the middle distance
    mochi hold, have ryote mochi: hold with both hands
    nage throw or person throwing shiho nage, irimi nage
    onegai shimasu please, a request As in, "please work (train) with me"
    omote or irimi front entry shiho nage, omote
    ryo both ryote tori, ryote mochi
    sabaki body alignment Align all or part of the body, e.g. ashi sabaki ( align the feet )
    seiza formal Japanese sitting, on the knees  
    senpai senior student, i.e. having more experience See also kohai
    sensei teacher Head instructor is Sensei; all other instructors are only addressed as Sensei when they are teaching and on the mat
    shiho giri four directions cut, also happo giri: 8 directions cut Cutting & parrying practice with the bokken
    tanto knife, lit. short sword tanto tori waza deal with knife attacks
    te hand  
    tekubi wrist  
    tenkan turn Pivot (kaiten) and step back
    tori take, grasp katate tori, ryote tori
    uchi strike shomen uchi, yokomen uchi attacks
    uke receive, i.e. person being thrown, the attacker  
    ukemi the art of attacking, following and taking the fall "Partner's ukemi is good"; "we have to work on our ukemi
    ura, ushiro entry to the back ikkyo ura, ushiro tekubi tori
    waza technique  
    zanshin connection or focus Maintain zanshin with your partner throughout the waza or training session

    Notes: For correct pronunciation some vowels, especially "o" and "u", are doubled ("oo" is pronounced as in low, not book)

    The words from the list that are affected:
    arigatoo, kokyuu hoo, doosa, koohai, shikkoo, ryoo, joo, shihoo nage, undoo, jiyuu waza, tantoo, koohoo, tentoo, sayu, kyuu (the rank). The rest of the words are pronounced phonetically, except pronounce the following words without the "u": onegai shimass (not "shimasoo"); munetski (not "munetsooki")

    See also An English-Japanese Aikido Lexicon for a similar exercise from a different perspective, the words broken down to individual meanings.

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