Eagle Rock Aikido Language and Terms

Pronunciation
VOWEL
a
e
i
o
u

PRONOUCED LIKE
father
day
see
Ohio
food

COUNTING IN JAPANESE
English

Japanese

Meaning

hiragana

Ichi

(eech)

Ni

(knee)

San

(sahn)

Shi

(she)

Go

(go)

Roku

(rohk')

Shichi

(sheech')

Hachi

(hahch')

Ku or Kyu

(coo or queue)

Juu

(zhu)

Hyaku

(h-yack-oo)

Sen

(sen)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
100
1,000

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/numbers

The numbers from one ten are the most important to become familiar with.

HELPFUL PHRASES
Expression or saying

Japanese

(approximate pronunciation)

hiragana

Translation

douzo

please, go ahead, by all means

ohayo gozaimasu

good morning. (< 10:00 am.)

(ohio go-zah-ee-mahs)

konnichi wa

(cone-knee-chee-wah)

komban wa

(comb-bahn wah)

oyasumi nasai

(oh-yah-sue-me nah-sigh)

sayonara

(sigh-yoh-nah-rah)

arigato gozaimasu

(ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah-eemass)

arigato gozaimashita

(ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah-eemash-tah)

(dough-zhou)

hello; good day. (10:00 am >)

good evening
good night
goodbye
thank you

thank you for what you previously did

onegai shimasu

(oh-neh-guy she-mahss)

Polite phrase to ask someone to do

something

oshiete kudasai

Please teach me

(oh-shee-ay-tay koo-da-sigh)

misete kudasai

(me-se-tay koo-da-sigh)

gomen nasai

(go-men nah-sigh)

dou itashimashite

(doe e-tah-she-mash-tay)

ogenki desu ka

(oh-ghen-key des-kah)

please show me
I'm sorry or excuse me
You're welcome
How are you? (do you have good ki?)

okagesama de

(oh-kah-ghe-sah-ma day)

Im fine, thank you. (a response to "ogenki

desu ka".)
Literally, under the gods shadow

hajimemashite

How do you do? Used for introductions.

(ha-gee-may-mahsh-tay)

shitsurei shimasu

(she-tsu-ray-she-mahss)

Discourtesy, impoliteness
Expression used when performing an
action that is impolite, to mean excuse me
for being rude.

TYPES OF AIKIDO TRAINING

kihon waza

Basic Technique

tachi waza

Standing Technique

suwari waza

Technique executed from a kneeling or seated position by way of shikko

hanmi handachi waza

Technique executed with nage kneeling and uke standing

kaeshi waza

Countering techniques

henka waza

modifying or shifting to another technique during execution

jiyu waza

Free flowing, any attack, any technique

randori

Multiple attackers

tachidori

Techniques of taking an opponents sword

katai

Technique started from a static position; rigid (We normally just say static)

yawara kai

Flexible (Iwama term, not normally used in our dojo.)

ki no nagare

Flowing ki

How techniques are built and called

In Aikido, techniques are normally called by the attack, some body part or area, the desired technique, and any
modifiers like front and back. It is useful to become familiar with the building blocks of how these are built to
understand what is being called for. For example: katate dori ikkyo omote side hand grab 1st technique in front.
It is not necessary to be able to read Japanese or break these down in a detailed way. What is important is to be
able to recognize what is being asked for. This detailed breakdown is to help remove confusion for terms like kata
which can mean different things and to help students build a language repertoire. Read the kyu and dan
examination requirements and refer back to this list to build your understanding of whats required at each level.

ATTACKING TERMS
English

Japanese

Meaning

hiragana

atemi

strike to the body

osae

holding down (esp. in judo); holding technique; pinning down;

immobilizing; bringing under control

mochi

Hold; mochi and tori are interchanged in different styles of

Aikido. We use tori or dori in our dojo.

shime

choking or strangling techniques

tori

Grab, pronounced dori when used as a suffix.

Also used to denote attacker (one who grabs) in Judo and
some styles of Aikido (as opposed to uke.)

tsuki

thrust, lunge, or stab

uchi

strike

BODY
English

Japanesehiragana

Meaning

atama

head

ashi

foot

ashi

leg

eri

collar

hara

Center, both physical and spiritual; below the belly button

right around where your belt knot is

hiza

knee

hiji

elbow

kata

shoulder (not to be confused with kata side)

koshi

hips, waist

kote

forearm, literally little hand

kubi

neck

men

face, face guard, striking the head in Kendo

mi

body; see also: irimi, hanmi

mune

chest, torso

sode

sleeve

te

hand

ude

arm

Japanese

Meaning

STANCE
English

hiragana

ai hanmi

Nage and uke being in the same hanmi. Eg both left hanmi

hanmi
hidari hanmi

Han= half, mi=body. Triangular stance where one foot it

brought back on the line

Left foot forward triangular stance

gyaku hanmi

Nage and uke being in opposite hanmi.

kamae

Posture, stance in martial arts

migi hanmi

Right foot forward triangular stance

MODIFIERS, DIRECTIONS, ETC

English

Japanese

Meaning

hiragana

ai

To meet, join, come together; harmony

chudan

middle

gyaku

Reverse, opposite

gaeshi

Reversal, return. Pronounced kaeshi when not used as a

suffix. Eg. kote gaeshi (forearm reversal)

gedan

low

guchi

Opening, normally kuchi, but guchi when used as a suffix.

han

Prefix meaning half

Ex: hanmi (half body) handachi (half standing). Tachi changes
to dachi when used as a suffix.

hidari

left

ho

direction

irimi

Entering. Literally means entering body.

jiyu

Free, unrestricted

jodan

high

kata

side

kaiten

Rotation, usu. Around something, revolution, turning

mae

Front, before

migi

right

moro

Both; together. Example: both hands grabbing together on

nages wrist as in moro te dori

omote

in front, face

ryo

Both, as in both hands

sho

front

soku

Side, normally used with men. Sokumen side of head

soto

Outside, normally outside both ukes arm and body

uchi

Inside, normally between ukes arm and body

ura

rear; back; behind; bottom, or another side that is hidden

from view

ushiro

back, behind

CALLED ATTACKS
English

Japanese

Meaning

hiragana

eri dori

Collar grab

kata te dori

Side hand grab

gyaku te dori

Opposite hand grab

hiji dori

Elbow grab

moro te dori

Both of nages hands grasping one hand of uke

mune dori

Grasping the chest or lapel

ryo te dori

Grabbing both of nages hands

kata dori

Shoulder grab

ryo kata dori

Both shoulder grab

sode guchi dori

Grasping the opening of the sleeve

ushiro ryo te
dori

ushiro ryo kata

dori

kubi shime

Both hands grasped from behind

Both shoulders grasped from behind
Neck strangle

ushiro kubi
shime
sho men uchi

Neck strangle from behind

Strike to top of head

yoko men uchi

Strike to side of head

gyaku men uchi

Strike to opposite side of head

kata dori men

uchi
tsuki

Shoulder grab followed by strike to the head

Punch, thrust

AIKIDO TECHNIQUES
English

Japanesehiragana

Meaning

ikkyo

1st teaching

nikyo

2nd teaching

sankyo

3rd teaching

yonkyo

4th teaching

gokyo

5th teaching

shi ho nage

Four corner/direction throw

kote gaeshi

Forearm return

irimi nage

Entering throw

kaiten nage

Rotary arm throw

koshi nage

Hip throw

kokyu nage

Breath throw

ju ji nage

Figure ten throw, locks arms against each other like in a

Japanese number 10

sumi otoshi

Corner drop

soku men irimi

nage

Entering throw where nages arm comes across the side of

ukes head

ten chi nage

Heaven (ten ) and earth (chi ) throw

ude garami

Arm entanglement

tai no henko

tai body, position, posture

no of
henko change, modification
Change of body, position, posture.
Basic blending practice. Versions are irimi and tenkan.
Normally performed katai (static) or ki no nagare (flowing
ki)

OTHER COMMON AIKIDO TERMS

English

Japanesehiragana

Meaning

abunai

(ah-boo-nai)

Dangerous, risky, hazardous, perilous; watch out!,

be careful!

Aikido

(eye-key-doe)

compound from ai (harmony), ki (spirit), and do

(Way): the Way of harmonious spirit.

aikidoka

one who practices aikido, an aikidoist.

(eye-key-doe-kah)

aiki taiso

(eye-key-tie-so)

ai uchi

(eye-oo-chi)

bokken

(bow-ken)

Aikido exercises.
Equal strike, equal kill; draw, tie
wooden sword used in practice.

bushido

(boo-she-doe)

dan

(dahn)

deshi

(deh-she)

dojo

(doh-joh)

training hall; place of the Way. In Buddhism also

refers to the place of worship.

dojo cho

Head of a dojo

(doh-joh chou)

doshu

(doh-shoo)

gambatte kudasai

(gahm-bah-te khoo-da-sai)

warriors code; the way of the warrior.

aikido grade holder, black belt rank.
student, pupil, disciple.

Chairman of the Aikikai (Aikido World Headquarters)

Keep up the good work, keep striving toward your
goals

gambarimasu

(gahm-bah-ri-mah-su)

To persevere, to persist; to keep at it; to hang on; to

hold out; to do ones best

gi

training clothing. (a synonym is keikogi.)

(ghee)

hajime

(ha-gee-may)

hakama

(hock-kah-ma)

a divided, pant-like skirt: a formal Japanese garment

also worn by aikido dan-grade holders.

hai

yes, affirmative

hantai

in reverse order

(Hahn-tie)

Imperative form for begin, usually as a beginning to

formal randori.

(high)

hasso

(Ha-soh)

Posture where jo or ken is held vertically at right

shoulder

hasso gaeshi

Movement from basic stance to hasso posture

(Ha-soh-ga-eh-she)

No, negative

itai

Painful, sore, it hurts

(ee-tie)

jo

(joh)

kamiza

(kah-me-zah)

keiko

(kay-koh)

keikogi

(kay-koh-ghee)

ken

(ken)

ki

(key)

iie
(ee-eh)

wooden staff
shrine; literally "seat of the spirit(s)"
practice session; training
training clothing. (a synonym is gi)
Japanese sword
spirit: the vital force of the body; universal energy; a
stream or flow of positive energy

kiai

(key-eye)

kohai

(co-high)

kokyu

(coke-you)

kokyu dosa

(coke-you doe-sah)

a method of off-balancing and pinning your partner

with ki instead of physical power

Kokyu-Ryoku

breath power

(coke-you ree-oh-kyoo)

kyu

(cue)

ma-ai

(ma-eye)

distance between uke and nage. literally, "harmony of

space"

mate

Wait

(ma--te)

a piercing scream or cry with practical and

psychological value; literally "meeting of the spirits"
student junior to oneself; someone with a lower rank
or who attained the same rank at a later date.
(see sempai)
breath power; the coordination of ki flow with
breathing

the aikido ranks held by undergraduates, prior to

attainment of dan ranking

misogi

(me-soh-ghi)

mudansha

(moo-don-sha)

someone who has not yet attained dan ranking: an

undergraduate. (see yudansha)

mushin

No mind, a mind without ego

(moo-shin)

musubi

(moo-soo-bee)

nage

(nah-gay)

obi

(oh-bee)

Purification of body and mind, also of the

environment

Connection, blending, or harmonizing

a throw or the person who throws
belt

O'Sensei

(oh-sen-say)

Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido; literally,

"great teacher"

rei

salutation, bow

(ray)

samurai

(sam-ooh-rye)

seiza

(say-zah)

sempai

(sem-pie)

student senior to oneself; someone with a higher rank

or who attained the same rank at an earlier date.
(see kohai)

sensei

teacher, instructor; generally a title earned at 4th dan

(sen-say)

senshin

(s)

shihan

(she-hahn)

shikaku

(she-ka-koo)

shikkou

(she-kohh)

A technique of walking on the knees. Note that the

last o is held twice as long: shikkou.

shinai

Bamboo and leather practice sword used in kendo

(she-nigh)

shisei

(she-say)

shodan

(show-don)

shomen

(show-men)

1. the front or top of the head; 2. the front of the

dojo, where the kamiza is

shugyo

Rigorous daily training

(shoo-gyo)

suburi

(suh-boor-ee)

a single movement using the ken or jo, done as a solo

practice

sutemi

a hard fall; literally "casting aside one's body"

(suh-teh-me)

tachi

(tah-chee)

taijutsu

(tie-jute-sue)

body arts; the techniques of aikido performed

without weapons

tanto

dagger

(tahn-toe)

tegatana

(tay-gah-tah-nah)

tekubi

(tay-koo-be)

military retainer (from the feudal period of Japanese

history)
formal sitting posture in which the insteps and shins
rest against the floor

A purified and cleansed spirit

Master teacher, very high ranked instructor
Blind spot; dead space; dead angle, no counter
possible

Attitude, posture, stance; carriage of the body

holder of the first grade of black belt

1. Japanese sword; 2. standing (as opposed to sitting)

hand blade; sword edge of the hand

Wrist (literally hand neck)

uke

(ooh-kay)

ukemi

(ooh-ke-me)

the art of receiving the energy of a technique;

literally, "receive with the body"

waza

technique(s)

(wah-zah)

yame

(ya-may)

Imperative form for stop. Usually said to end

formal randori

yudansha

black belt grade holder(s). (see mudansha)

(you-don-sha)

zanshin

(zahn-shin)

zazen

(zah-zen)

a person who receives an attack; generally speaking,

the person being thrown

Remaining mind
Seated Zen meditation, usually in a cross legged
position or in seiza

If you are interested in learning more about the Japanese language, one excellent resource is
http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/

Online Japanese Dictionary Service: http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C

This document is compiled from different definition sources such as the links above and from our own
learned knowledge of Japanese and Aikido. As such, they are definitions of common Japanese words and
terms. If you have a definition that you would like add, to have attributed to you, or to have removed,
please contact us at eaglerockaikido@gmail.com.