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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The following is a list of Japanese terms which you will often hear used in your training. It  is essential that you study and learn these terms, not only for practical reasons, but also to help you discover the many aspects of Aikido training.
 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 
   
Agura Sitting cross-legged.
Ai Harmony, coming together, unification.
Ai (love) The spirit of love is the spirit of harmony.  Not selfish, limited affection for a particular person or group, but all-embracing compassionate love for all things.
Ai-hanmi Mutual stance - When both partners have the same foot forward (right/right).
Aikido -Ai-Harmony, union with, oneness.
  -Ki- The essential Life Force, the fundamental creative energy.
  -Do-The Way or Path.
Aiki-ken Swordsmanship according to the principles of Aikido.
Aiki taiso Ki development exercises.  A series of exercise used as "building blocks” for Aikido techniques.
Atemi A distracting blow used to change the Ki of your partner, i.e. to put him or her off balance so a technique can be applied.  It is not meant to inflict injury.
Atemi waza  Striking or hitting technique.
Bokken Wooden training sword.
Bokken-dori Sword taking.  Techniques used to disarm a partner armed with a sword.  (See tachi-dori)
Budo    Bu-Military, martial
              Do-The Way or Path.
Budoka  Martial way practitioner.
Bushido- The ways which fighting nobles, knights, samurai should observe in their life as well as in their vocation; "the precepts of knighthood."  Code of moral principles which the samurai were required or instructed to observe.
Choyaku The exercise where one hops or steps as one executes a movement.
Chudan Middle level.  Sword (or hands) held at a lower level.
Daito-ryu A traditional system of Aikijutsu.  One of the foundation arts in O-Sensei’s early training.
Dan Black belt rank.  There are ten stations of Dan, as follows:
Shodan 1 st dan (beginning dan)
Nidan 2 nd dan
Sandan 3 nd dan
Yondan 4 nd dan
Godan 5 nd dan
Rokudan 6 nd dan
Nandan 7 nd dan
Hachidan 8 nd dan
Kudan 9 nd dan
Judan 10 nd dan
Do In Japan, any art that is practiced to develop both technical and spiritual maturity is considered a do, a “way” or “path” of development
Dogi Training uniform - usually white canvas or muslin material.  The padded type (judo) is best for beginners.
Dojo The training hall.  the place where the way to harmony with the fundamental life force (Ki) is practiced.
Fudoshin Immovable mind.
Fudotai Immovable body.
Funakogi A rowing motion.
Gedan Lower level.  Sword (or hands) held at a lower level.
Gokyo Number five technique.
Gyaku-hanmi Mirror stance.  When both partners have opposite feet advanced (toe-to-toe).
Gyosho Aikido arts done with a full blend at the instant of contact, but not necessarily at full speed (i.e. cursive writing).
Hakama  A black (sometimes dark blue) split, pleated skirt/pants worn over the dogi by people who have earned the privilege
Hanmi The triangular stance.  This position is meant to be relaxed, comfortable, and natural, and should in no way look or feel artificial or stiff.  From the correct hanmi position, one can move readily in any direction.
Hanmi handachi Techniques where nage and uke are sitting.
Happo Eight Directions.
Hara Belly (see itten)
Honbu Dojo Headquarters Training Hall.  The International Ki Society Honbu is referred to as “Ki no Sato” and is located in Tochigi Prefecture near Utsunomia, Japan.
Iki Breath.  Iki refers more to the physical act of respiration, while kokyu signifies a deeper meaning relevant to the topic of breathing.
Ikkyo Number one technique.
Irimi Moving to the inside, or moving into.  (Compare with tenkan.)
Irimi nage Entering throw.
Itten The central balance point in the human body, located below the navel.  All coordinated movement originates from this one point in the lower abdomen
Jo Wooden training staff.  The correct length is indicated by the distance between the palms of one's outstretched hands or from the armpit to the floor.
Jodan Upper level.  Sword (or hands) held at an upper level.
Jo-dori Jo taking.  Techniques for disarming a partner armed with a Jo.
Juji-nage Crossed arms throw.  A throw executed when one's partner's arms are crossed at right angles.
Kagura In Sokushin no Gyo, the 2 persons that assist, and are seated opposite to the Osa.
Kaisho Aikido arts done from a stationary position (i.e. block writing, printing).
Kaiten Wheeling, turning.
Kaiten-nage The spin throw which makes the partner's body revolve once before he is led down.
Kami The divine in all things or that all things in nature are divine.  The Japanese concept of kami has no direct parallel in Western religious terminology.
Kata Fixed form.  Predetermined sequences in set forms.  Used in the martial arts as a learning technique.  In Ki-Aikido we describe them as taigi.
Katana The long sword worn by the Japanese samurai.
Kata-tori Shoulder grab.
Katate-tori Single-hand grab.
Ki Ki, the life-force of the Universe Itself, which has no English equivalent.  An essential element of all aspects of eastern culture -- philosophy, medicine, art, physical training -- the full significance of ki only becomes clear through firsthand experience.
Kiai Literally "harmonizing ki," this is a penetrating expression originating in the one point.  On the physical plane, kiai is manifest as a piercing shout emanating from the depths of one's being.  On the spiritual plane, it is manifest as the intrinsic connection between you and your partner.  There are 4 basic forms of the Kiai, as follows:
EI
-
YAH
-
TOH
-
IEI
-
Kiatsu Ryoho Personal Ki Therapy through Ki connection.
Koho-tento waza Rolling Exercise.
Kokoro Heart/Mind/Spirit (depending on context).
Kokyu Literally "breathing," or "breath," this refers to the Ki-power generated through the Hara, or one point in the lower abdomen.  The concept of kokyu is similar to the Hindu idea of prana, "life breath of the cosmos."  When one's kokyu is full and deep, one is in tune with the workings of the universe.
Ki no Kokyu-ho Ki Breathing.  A special set of meditation and development techniques aimed at calming the spirit and establishing true kokyu.
Ki no Ishi-ho Ki meditation as is taught by Tohei Sensei.
Kokyu-nage Breath or rhythm throw.
Kokyu-ryoku Breath-power.  The irresistible power that emanates from true kokyu.
Kotegaeshi Back of hand turning technique.  We now refer to these techniques as koteoroshi.
Koteoroshi Formerly kotegaeshi – name has been changed to reinforce the idea that this technique is a downward motion not a twisting motion.
Koshinage Hip throw
Kubi-shime Holding the neck.
Kyu Ranks prior to Shodan.  (5th kyu, 4th kyu, etc.)
Maai The correct distance to be maintained between yourself and your partner; the immediate surroundings and one's own position determine this spacing.
Misogi (Purification.)  Any type of purifying exercise can be referred to as misogi.  In the International Ki Society, through misogi purification of body and mind, we can remove impurities and restore our true balance and health.  Although misogi rites usually involve water purification (e.g. in a waterfall), one can consider all Aikido techniques to be a form of misogi.  In the Ki Society, we practice a form of misogi adapted from the Ichikukai dojo, now referred to as Sokushin no Gyo
Muna-tsuki Strike to the chest/front.
Nage A throw, one who throws, or executes a technique.
Nikyo  Number two technique.
Osa The instructor who leads Sokushin no Gyo,  seated on the front or right.
O Sensei Great, or original teacher.  In Aikido, refers to Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of modern Aikido.
Otomo Attendant to an Instructor.  Serving as otomo represents an opportunity for shugyo (“cultivation” 24 hours a day) instead of mere keiko (“practice”) in the dojo Otomo service is the practice of selflessness in daily life.
Randori Free style nage against multiple attack - usually improvisational.
Rei Bow, the command to bow.  The formal gesture of respect and gratitude used by Aikido practitioners.
Reiseishin The spirit that is one with the spirit of the Universe.
Ryokata-tori Grabbing both of the shoulders.
Ryote-dori Both hands held.
Samurai One who follows the way.  A warrior, knight; one charged with the protection of society.  See budo, bushido.
Sankyo Number three technique.  
Sayu Term indicating left and right direction.
Seiza Sitting on both knees with the back straight.
Sensei Teacher.  One who gives instruction.  More importantly, one who leads the way.  Literally, Sensei means “one step ahead.”
Shihan Exemplary teacher - A title used for the highest ranking teachers.  (usually 5th dan and above.)
Shiho-nage Four-way throw.
Shikko Moving from a kneeling position.  Also called "samurai walk."
Shin Mind, spirit, heart.
Shinshin Toitsu  
Aikido Aikido with Mind and Body Unified founded by Koichi
Tohei Soshu.  .  
Shomen Literally – Front side.  The honored symbol of Ki and picture of Soshu (founder) Tohei mounted in the forefront of the training area.  In other traditions this is referred to as the kamiza (upper seat).
Shomen-uchi Strike to the center of the head.
Shokushu A brief, uplifting statement used prior to training.  Tohei Sensei has composed 22 of these Ki Sayings which are read and repeated phrase by phrase before each class.  Used to center oneself, prepare oneself for training and create a plus atmosphere before class.
Sokuboku Soku = breath;  boku = wood.  The wooden clappers used to signify the changes in controlled breathing and meditation.
Sokushin no Gyo Breath -(Voice)- Mind (Unification) training.  The act of purifying mind and body.  A side-training discipline in Aikido. (see misogi)
Sosho Aikido arts done at full speed with a strong leading of Ki (i.e. "grass" writing).
Soshu Founder – This is the title we use to refer to Master Koichi Tohei.
Soto-mawari Turning out.  Movement to the side of one's partner.
Suwariwaza Techniques from the sitting position.
Tai Body, form, sometimes style.
Tachi-dori Sword taking.  Techniques used to disarm a partner armed with a sword.  
Taigi Body art, technique.  A kata-like grouping of arts performed by two people (usually) to a specific rhythm and time.  There are International Taigi Competitions held in Japan every four years.
Tai-jutsu Body techniques.  Techniques performed without weapons.
Tanto/tanken Wooden training knife.  All wooden training weapons are treated as if they were actually sharp steel.  The idea here is to train as though the wooden weapon is steel.
Tegatana Hand Sword.  Since many Aikido techniques are based on sword movements, the hand, with the fingers actively projecting Ki, should function as a sword.
Tekubi-kosa Crossed wrists.
Tenkan Turning outside or away.
Ude-furi Arm swinging.
Uke One who is thrown, one who follows.
Ukemi The art of falling without injury.  It is said that one's ability to throw is only as good as one's ability to fall.
Uchideshi Literally "inside-student" - a student that lives, trains, and teaches at the Headquarters or dojo.
Undo Exercise.
Ushiro Back or behind.
Ushiro-kata-tori Grabbing the shoulder's from behind.
Ushiro-tori Bear-hug from behind.
Waza Technique or system of techniques.
Yokomen-uchi Strike to the side of the head.
Yudansha Those who hold the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt) and above.
Zempo-kaiten Foward roll.
Zengo Term indicating forward and backward direction.
Zagi handachi Techniques where nage is sitting and uke is standing.
Zanshin Continuing mind, the mind that stops at, or on, nothing.
   

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