Beginners Guide
The following are terms that will prove useful to anyone who had recently begun to practice aikido. It is not necessary to remember these in order to practice aikido in the dojo and they given here as a guide to those who seek to understand more about their practice of aikido.
Gi
Aikido and the dojo
Term |
Meaning |
Aikido |
Japanese Martial Art founded by Morihei Ueshiba |
Ai |
Harmony, love, to love, to meet, to unify |
Ki |
Inner spirit, the universe, energy |
Aikidoka |
One who practises Aikido |
O Sensei |
"The great teacher", referring to Morihei Ueshiba |
Sensei |
Teacher |
Sempai |
A senior student |
Kohai |
A junior student |
Onegaishimasu |
Please (teach me) |
Domo arigato gozaimashita |
Thank you very much |
Rei |
Bow |
Budo |
Martial way, or "way of the samurai" |
Dojo |
Training hall or any place where a practitioner of budo focuses the mind and body to practice the way |
Gi |
Training uniform |
Hakama |
Divided skirt worn by Aikidoka |
Kamiza |
Upper seat, the central focus of the dojo, defining the front of the dojo's training area. Usually a picture of O Sensei |
Shomen |
Front of the dojo |
Tatami |
Matting - providing a safe area for training |
Bokken |
Wooden sword |
Jo |
Wooden staff |
Tanto |
Knife |
Uchi deshi |
A live-in student |
Yudansha |
Black belt holder (any rank) |
Zori |
Sandals worn when off the mat to help keep the mat clean! |
Counting in Japanese
Term |
Meaning |
Ichi ("itch") |
One |
Ni ("knee) |
Two |
San |
Three |
Shi ("she") |
Four |
Go |
Five |
Roku ("rock") |
Six |
Shichi ("sitch") |
Seven |
Hachi ("hatch") |
Eight |
Ku |
Nine |
Jyu |
Ten |
Japanese Terms used in Aikido
Term |
Meaning |
Tori |
One who is performing a technique |
Uke |
One who is receiving a technique |
Hajime |
Begin |
Yame |
Stop |
Kamae |
Posture / triangular stance |
Hanmi |
Half forward stance |
Ai Hanmi |
Mutual / same stance |
Gyaku Hanmi |
Opposite / Mirror image stance |
Hitoemi |
Side profile stance (Literal translation: one-line-body) |
Seiza |
Formal sitting position (kneeling on both calves) |
Tachi |
Standing |
Waza |
Technique |
Atemi |
Strike to a vital point |
Hanmi Handachi |
Tori is seated and uke is standing |
Happo undo |
Eight directional exercise |
Happo giri |
Eight directional cut / pivoting turn |
Hara |
Centre |
Irimi |
Entering movement |
Kokyu |
Breath or breathing |
Ma Ai |
The distance between uke and tori |
Nage |
Throw |
Omote |
In front (of uke) |
Shikkou |
Knee walking |
Tenkan |
Turning movement |
Tai Sabaki |
Body movement |
Ukemi |
Breakfall |
Ura |
“Rear.” A class of aikido techniques executed by moving behind the attacker. |
Ushiro |
Backwards or behind, as in ushiro ukemi or falling backwards. Also refers to the class of attacks wherein uke goes behind nage, usually to grab. |
Zanshin |
Awareness |
Zori
