Glossary of Aikido Terms

People
O Sensei - Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido
Kohai – junior student
Sempai – senior student
Sensei – teacher (literally “the one who is born before” for the transmission of an
art or craft through physical means from generation to generation
Shihan – master instructor
Shidoin – instructor
Fukushidoin – assistant instructor
Deshi – apprentice
Soto Deshi – “outside” trainee
Uchi Deshi – “live-in” trainee
Nage – defender (person who throws or does technique)
Uke – attacker (person who falls)
Yudansha – black belt level students, addressed as a group
Kenshusei – teacher-trainee program
Positions
Hanmi-handachi - nage sitting, uke standing
Seiza - formal kneeling position, sitting upright with focused attention
Swari-waza - techniques done from kneeling position
Tachi-waza - techniques done from standing position
De-ai - timing of meeting ("the now" of each encounter)
Ma-ai - space or distance ("the past")
Zanshin - continuation of energy and awareness ("the future")
Stances
Ai-hanmi - right-to-right or left-to-left ("criss-cross")
Hanmi - triangular stance
Gyaku-hanmi - left-to-right or right-to-left ("toe to toe")
Kamai – stance
Movement
Henka - to change
Kaeshi - twist or reverse
Kaiten - rotate ("wheel")
Tai-sabaki - body movement
Irimi - entering, forward movement
Tenkan - turning, pivoting on front foot
Uchi - inside
Soto – outside
Ukemi - protective falling and following
Omote - movement in front
Ura - movement behind
Ushiro – behind
Attacks
Chudan - middle aspect
Gedan - lower aspect
Jodan - upper aspect
Dori - grab
Kata-dori - shoulder grab
Katate-dori - one-hand grab
Morote-dori - grab one forearm with both hands
Mune-dori - one hand grab to front of gi
Ryote-dori - grab both wrists
Sade-dori - one hand sleeve grab
Shomen-uchi - strike to center of head (on top)
Tsuki - punch
Atemi - strike
Tegetana - edge of hand ("knife hand")
Yokomen-uchi - strike to side of head (temple)
Techniques
Ikkyo Shihonage Kaiten-nage
Nikkyo Iriminage Tenchi-nage
Sankyo Kokyu-nage Sumi-otoshi
Yonkyo Kokyu-ho Juju-nage
Gokyo Kokyu-dosa Ude-garame
Rokyo Kotegaeshi Kata-gatame
Miscellaneous
Ai - blending, harmony
Bokken - wooden sword
Chochu-geiko - hot weather practice
Dan - black belt ranks
Domo-arigato-gozai-mashita - "thank you very much"
Do - a path a way
Dojo - school, place of The Way
Geiko - practice
Gi - dojo practice uniform
Hakama - black or blue split pants, worn over gi pants
Hara - physical center (of body)
Jyo, Jo - wooden staff
Kan-geiko - cold weather practice
Kata - form
Katana - sword
Keiko - practice
Keiko-gi - practice uniform
Ki - energy, spirit, breath
Kyu - basic level (grade), white belt ranks
Misogi - Purification or cleansing of body, mind and spirit through special
practice

Obi - belt
O-negai-shimasu - "please practice with me"
Roshi - Zen master
Tanto - wooden knife
Waza - technique
Zabuton - flat meditation cushion
Zafu - meditation pillow
Zazen - formal Zen meditation
Zen - meditation discipline
Zendo - meditation hall
Numbers
Ichi – one
Ni – two
San – three
Shi – four
Go – five
Roku – six
Shichi – seven
Hachi – eight
Ku – nine
Ju – ten