A-D

• ai-hanmi - mutal stance; both partners have the same foot forward
  
• agatsu - victory over self; O-Sensei's second principle of aikido
  
• atemi - strike; defensive blow used to neutralize the ki of your partner, i.e., put him/her off balance so a technique can be effectively applied. It is not meant to inflict injury.
  
• bokken - wooden sword with two edges, or generically, any sword.
  
• bukuto - wooden sword with one edge.
  
• bu - martial ardor; in Aikido, Bu signifies valor and indomitable spirit, not contention and strife. Aikido is the ultimate expression of Bu, which originally meant to prevent two weapons from coming together.
  
• budo - martial ways; ways originating in the martial arts.
  
• budoka - martial arts practitioner
  
• dan - level, black belt rank
  
• deshi - student or disciple
  
• do-gi - training uniform
  
• dojo - training hall; Buddhist temples and any training hall where a Way is practiced.
  
• Doshu - grand master; following traditional Japanese custom, the position of Doshu has been hereditary.
  

E-J Top

• gokyo - number five pinning technique
  
• gyaku-hanmi - reverse stance; opposite feet advanced; mirror image
  
• hai - yes
  
• hakama - a dividied, skirt-like pant. In most USAF dojos, it is black or dark blue and is worn by men of yudansha rank and women of all ranks.
  
• henkawaza - switching from one technique to another.
  
• hanmi - half open body; the basic triangular stance of aikido.
  
• hanmi-handachi - techniques done when nage is kneeling (seiza) and uke attacks from a standing position
  
• hantai - opposite or reverse
  
• hara - center or "one point" in the lower abdomen. This is also, reputedly, the physical center of the body.
  
• hidari - left
  
• hiji - elbow
  
• hiza - knee
  
• Hombu dojo - Headquarter training hall; the headquarters of both the Japanese and International Aikido Federatios. It is located in Tokyo.
  
• ikkyo - number one pinning technique
  
• irimi - to enter; entering
  
• jo - wooden staff about shoulder high in length
  
• jo-tori - jo take away; techniques for disarming an opponent armed with a jo.
  
• juji-nage - crossed arms throw; throw executed when uke's arms are crossed at right angles.
  
• jyuwaza - free style throwing
  

K-N Top

• kaeshi-waza - counter techniques. Uke applies the initial technique to nage.
  
• kaiten - open and turn; to revolve or turn.
  
• kakari-geiko - hard practice; repetition of the same technique with many uke.
  
• kanji - Japanese or Chinese written characters
  
• kata - fixed form; predetermined sequences of movements used as a learning techniquein martial arts. Also, shoulder.
  
• Katsu haya hi - victory faster than light; O'Sensei's third principle of Aikido.
  
• keiko - practice session or training
  
• kiai - full of ki; 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 a steady outpouring of vital energy.
  
• kohai - junior student
  
• kokyu - animating breath; when one's kokyu is full and deep, one is in tune with the workings of the universe
  
• kokyu dosa - an exercise to develop your ki/breathing without using strength.
  
• kokyu-ho - breath-meditation; special set of meditation and development techniques aimed at calming the spirit and establishing true kokyu.
  
• koshi-nage - hip throw; techniques throwing uke over your hips.
  
• kubi - neck
  
• ma-ai - distance; the proper space between two partners; varies with the height of the partners and whether or not they are holding weapons.
  
• masa-katsu - correct style of victory; O'Sensei's first principle of aikido.
  
• men - face or head
  
• migi - right
  
• misogi - purification; rites of breathing or water used to purify body and mind; to remove various impurities and restore our true image. O-Sensei considered all aikido techniques to be forms of misogi.
  
• mune - chest
  
• nage - throw or the person who throws
  

O-Z Top

• omote - forward; techniques done moving forward or in front of uke.
  
• onegai shimasu - "I make a request; please do me this favor."
  
• O-Sensei - great teacher; common way of referring to the founder, Ueshiba Morihei.
  
• rei - respect; the formal gesture of respect and gratitude used by aikido practitioners.
  
• reigi - etiquette or courtesy
  
• ryo - both
  
• seiza - correct or calm sitting; most formal and classic sitting style in Japan; sitting on knees with feet flat; back straight.
  
• sempai - senior student
  
• sensei - teacher; title used for instructor
  
• shihan - teacher of teachers; honorary title awarded to some of the highest ranking teachers
  
• shiho - four directions
  
• shikaku - dead corner
  
• shikko - knee walking
  
• shisei - position, posture, attitude; both physical and mental
  
• shomen - front or top of head; also the front of a dojo
  
• soto - out/outside; movement outside of uke's arm
  
• yudansha - person holding black belt rank
  
• zanshin - unbroken concentration; the "follow through" of a technique. One is connected to uke even after the throw in an unbroken flow of ki, simultaneously ready to receive any new attack. A moment of settling and stillnes at the completion of a technique