• Concepts, Principles and Spirituality
• AI harmony; coming together; integration; unification; unity
• AI (different written character) love
• AME-NO-MURAKUMO-KUKI-SAMUHARA-RYU-O guardian kami (spirit) of O'Sensei ("Heavenly, Awesome, Enlightened Dragon King")
• AME-NO-UKIHASHI "Floating bridge of heaven", symbolizing connection between eartly and spiritual realms of existence
• KI spirit; life force; vital energy; strength; sensitivity
• DO the Way or Path
• AIKI O-KAMI Great Spirit of Aiki; supreme symbol of AIKIDO ideals
• AMATERASU OKAMI Great Spriit Shining in the Heavens - the Sun - symbolizing Love
• BUJUTSU technical fighting
• BUDO the way of the warrior arts; the way of protection, of society, strength and honor in peace
• BUSHIN highest level of spiritual communion
• BUSHIDO warrior's code, "the way of the warrior"
• CHINKON-KISHIN calm the spirit - return to the divine spirit (soura)
• TEN-NO-KOKYU "breath of heaven" posture in chinkon-kishin
• CHI-NO-KOKYU "breath of earth" posture in chinkon-kishin
• DOKA "Songs of the Way", didactic poems of O'Sensei
• FUDO-SHIN "steadfast spirit", unassailable presence of mind
• FUDO-NO-SHISEI immovable (firm and steady) posture
• FURU-TAMA to shake up, cleanse, polish the soul itself
• GASSHUKU seminar, workshop (literally "lodging together")
• HARAGEI the art of developing the hara
• KIIAI release of physical and spiritual power in form of a piercing shout originating in the hara; literally "the meeting of spirits"
• IKI breath; physical act of respiration
• JIN-NO-KOKYU the breath of human beings; third stage in breath meditation
• JU principle of flexibility; the willow aspect of Aikido techniques and philosophy
• KAMI fire and water; deity (natural gods and goddesses); spirit of the universe; the divine
• KANGEIKO "cold training"; intensified winter training
• KANSHA deep and heartfelt gratitude
• KATA "fixed form"; predetermined practice patterns used as learning vehicle
• KEI respect
• KIKAI TANDEN physical and spiritual center of human being
• KIMUSUBI linking of ki; blending of energies
• KOGI-FUNE-UNDO "rowing the boat"; warmup exercise adopted from Misogi-ritual
• KOKYU power of breath and life force; coordination of ki flow and breathing
• KOTODAMA the spiritual function of sound; every one-syllable sound has its own spiritual vibration
• KU emptiness; the void
• KUDEN secret teachings, imparted by word of mouth
• KUMANO ancient district in Wakayama prefecture, O'Sensei's birthplace and the site of many pilgrimages
• MA-AI distance of time and space between uke and nage; the direction and movement of mind and spirit, along with physical distance, determine the balance of power and proper usage of space
• MAKOTO sincerity, truth
• MAKOTO-NO-KOKYU "true breath"; third stage of breath meditation
• MASAKATSU AGATSU "True Victory is Self-Victory" - principal tenet of AIKIDO
• KATSUHAYABI "victory right here, right now"; "speed which transcends time and space"; principal tenet of AIKIDO
• MISOGI purification of mind, body and spirit, realized by keiko, cleaning, fasting or other exercises
• MUSHIN no mind; a mind without ego; a mind that reflects and does not judge; state of absolute clarity and absence of thoughts
• MUSUBI spiritual connection
• NAGARE flow; unbroken flow of KI during execution of technique
• NAI KAN GYO silence and action; training teaching us to still the mind and look inside
• OMOIYARI a mind of concern for other's feelings and safety
• REI (command) to bow; salutation
• RITSUREI standing salutation
• REIGI proper etiquette, respecting the creative force and spirit in all of us; literally "holy spirit"
• SANGEN triangle (pyramid), circle (sphere), square (cube) - the three most perfect proportions in geometry
• triangle - body, mind, spirit; past, present, future; heaven, earth, humankind; signifies ki flow, creation of energy and initiative
• circle - unity, serenity, perfection; signifies liquid dimension, source of unlimited techniques
• square - earth, water, fire, air; signifies solid dimension, applied control based on form and solidity
• SENSHIN purified and cleansed heart and spirit; enlightened attitude
• SHINBU FUSATSU "divine techniques do not kill"; principal tenet in AIKIDO philosophy
• SHIN KOKYU divine or spirit breath
• AMATERASU NO OMIKAMI sun goddess, repres SHIN Faithfulness, Trustfulness enting the divine, impartial love;
• O'HARAIDO NO OMIKAMI spirit of purification and cleansing
• AME NO MINAKANUSHI NO OMIKAMI spirit of the universal center
• SHIN SHIN TOITSU unification of mind and body
• SHINTO "way of the gods"; traditional religion of Japan
• SHUGYO intensive training (spiritual, mental, physical, ascetic); the "day-to-day struggle"; lifelong discipline; the work of education to refine and purify the quality of life
• SUKI opening gap; vulnerability; moment of carelessness or inattention
• TAKEMUSU AIKI "courageous and creative living"; motto of AIKIDO
• TANREN "forging the body and mind"; especially intensive training
• TEN-CHI heaven-earth; the whole universei
• TEN-NO-KOKYU "breath of heaven"; first stage of breath meditation
• UCHI-GATAME "pounding the body with the fists"; warm-up exercise used to stimulate the skin and muscles
• WAJUTSU the technique of coordination
• ZANSHIN continuity; remaining aware and prepared for the next attack; calm awareness; retention of the mind; unbroken concentration
• ZAZEN meditation posture and exercise
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• The Training Place and Appearance
• DOJO place of the Way; a place for strengthening and refinement body, mind and spirit; training hall
• SHOMEN in the dojo the upper seat with the shrine housing the picture of the founder and the spirit of Aikido (not a religious, but rather a spiritual symbol); also: front or top of head
• JOSEKI upper side of mat, opposite the shimoseki
• KAMIZA upper seat on the mat, opposite the shimoza
• SHIMOZA lower seat on the mat
• SHIMOSEKI lower side of the mat
• GI or KEIKOGI or DOGI white training uniform
• OBI belt (part of gi)
• KURO-OBI "black belt"
• HAKAMA wide-skirted pants worn over gi; symbol of the samurai culture and typically worn by Aikido yudansha (black belts)

• The Five Steps to Enlightenment

• KAIRIMIRU reflection
• HAJIRU repentance
• KUIRU feeling of shame
• OSORU feeling of fear
• SATORI enlightenment

• The Six Pillars of Aikido

(cf. M. Ueshiba: "Budo"; John Stevens: "The Essence of Aikido")

• SHIHO-NAGE four direction throws
• IRIMI-NAGE entering throws
• KAITEN open-and-turn movements
• KOKYU-HO breath-power techniques
• OSAE-WAZA pinning techniques
• USHIRO-WAZA rear techniques

• The Meaning of Hakama Pleats

• JIN Benevolence
• GI Justice
• REI Courtesy, Manners, Respect
• CHI Wisdom
• SHIN Faithfulness, Trustfulness

• Roles, Postures, Directions and Movements

• AITE partner
• AME NO FURITAMA standing squarely, left hand resting (palmdown) on top of right hand (palmup); hands are gently shaken to relieve all tension in the body
• AME NO TORI-FUNE "rowing movements" in hanmi position; practice to cleanse the mind and spirit; in a metaphorical sense, row your boat through the spiritual levels of heaven towards purification
• AWASE blending
• CHOKUSEN-NO-IRIMI direct entering behind attack
• CHUDAN middle position
• CHUDAN middle-level position (of hands, sword etc.)
• GAESHI to reverse
• GEDAN low position
• HANMI relaxed triangular (T-)stance , "half-body" (sankakutai)
• HANTAI reverse, opposite
• HAPPO GIRI (UNDO) eight corner cutting/extension movement
• HIDARI left
• IRIMI front technique, entering, moving into and through the line of attack
• JODAN high position
• KAITEN to revolve, rotate; wheel, round; "open and turn"
• KAMAE posture or stance of readiness; there are different stances, each with different positions for the hands or weapon
• KATA a prescribed set of movements (often in solo practice)
• KEIKO study or practice; reflection and refinement, returning to the origin and discovering reality
• KIHON-DOSA basic movements
• MIGI right
• NAGE "thrower"; defender; the person applying a technique
• OMOTE to the front
• SANKAKU-IRIMI triangular entering (ISSOKU-IRIMI, one-step irimi)
• SAHO etiquette used in performing bows, handling JO and KEN etc.
• SEIZA formal sitting position; the only proper sitting on the mat
• SHIHO GIRI (UNDO) four corner cutting/extension movement
• SHIHO four directions
• SHIKKO knee-walking
• SHIME to squeeze/choke
• SHIZENTAI basic, natural posture
• SUBURI single movement using sword or staff (bo/jo) in solo practice; suburi is traini ng as opposed to kumi tachi, which is study (keiko)
• SUTEMI hard (high) fall; literally "to throw away or sacrifice the body"
• TAI-SABAKI two-step turn, body-turning
• TANDEN center (of being)
• TENKAN/URA-WAZA "back" technique, turning
• TORI "the one who takes" (alternate term for NAGE)
• UCHI to strike
• UCHI inside
• UCHI-DESHI live-in disciple who trains full time under senior instructor
• UKE "receiver"; the person providing the attack and falling
• UKEMI the art of receiving/taking actions as uke/falling
• URA rear, back
• URA to the rear/back
• YOKO (to the) side

• Weapons

• BOKKEN wooden sword
• BO long wooden staff
• JO short wooden staff (48" - 55" long and 3/4" - 1" thick)
• JUKEN bayonet
• KATANA (medium length japanese) sword, blade
• KEN sword
• KOSHI-ZORI deepest curvature of ken towards handle
• TORII-ZORI curvature of ken greater in middle of blade
• SAKI-ZORI greatest curvature towards end of blade
• NAGINATA spear with knife at end
• SHINAI split bamboo practice sword
• SUBURITO heavy wooden training bokken to refine sword practice
• TACHI (japanese long) sword; can also mean "from standing position"
• TANTO (wooden) knife
• TEGATANA "hand-sword"; edge of hand
• WAKIZASHI (short japanese) sword
• YARI spear

• Attacks

• AIUCHI "mutual strike"; position in which both partners can strike
• TSUKI thrusting strike
• (SHO)MEN-UCHI strike to (top of) head
• SHOMEN-TSUKI strike (thrust) to the face
• MUNE-TSUKI strike to chest or stomach
• YOKOMEN-UCHI side of the head (diagonal) strike
• SHIME to squeeze/choke
• TACHI-DORI attack with bokken, sword taking
• TANTO-DORI attack with knife, knife taking
• BO-DORI long staff taking
• JO-DORI short staff taking
• Top

• Grabs and Holds

• AI(GYAKUTE)-DORI cross hand grab
• HIJI-DORI elbow grab
• KATA-DORI shoulder grab
• KATATE-DORI single-wrist grab
• MOROTE-DORI (RYOTE MOCHI) both hands grabbing one wrist
• MUNADORI chest grab
• RYOTE both hands
• RYOTE-DORI both hands grabbing one wrist each
• USHIRO-DORI rear "bear hug"
• USHIRO-KATATE-DORI-KUBI-SHIME rear choke with one wrist held
• USHIRO-RYO-HIJI-DORI both elbows grabbed from rear
• USHIRO-RYO-KATA-DORI both shoulders grabbed from the rear
• USHIRO-RYOTE-DORI both wrists grabbed from the rear
• USHIRO-RYO-TEKUBI-DORI both wrists grabbed from the rear

• Techniques

• ATEMI diverting, defensive strike or blow
• ATEMI-WAZA striking techniques
• IKKYO First teaching
• NIKYO Second teaching (using wrist pressure)
• SANKYO Third teaching (using wrist presure)
• YONKYO Fourth teaching (using nerve pressure)
• GOKYO Fifth teaching (reverse grip of ikkyo, esp. for knife attacks)
• HANMI-HANDACHI nage is kneeling and uke attacks from standing
• HENKO-WAZA switching from one technique to another
• JO-DORI techniques for disarming opponent armed with JO
• JO-TAI-KEN training with JO paired against KEN
• JIYU-WAZA free-style techniques with one uke (specific or any attacks)
• KAESHI to return, come back (trans. of kaeru, from kaesu)
• KAESHI-WAZA reverse (counter) techniques
• KIAI focusing of spirit through sound; sharp shout created from the hara to unbalance opponent; projection of ki
• KI-NO-NAGARE free-flowing techniques
• OSAE-WAZA pinning techniques (5th pillar of aikido)
• OYO-WAZA techniques with practical applications in self-defense
• REPPAKU NO KIAI "ei"; the shout that cuts away barriers or impurities, thereby uniting opposites; symbolizing the sword of life which cuts things together, as opposed to the sword of death which further divides and separates
• RANDORI free-style practice with multiple attackers
• RIAI integrated principles of aiki-ken, aiki-jo, and taijutsu
• SUWARI-WAZA techniques practiced on knees
• TACHI-WAZA standing techniques
• TAI-JUTSU body techniques; empty-handed techniques (done without weapons)
• TAI NO HENKO "pivoting of the body"; basic blend (tenkan turn)
• TAI-SABAKI body movements
• TANINSU-GAKE free-style techniques against multiple attackers
• TANTO DORI techniques to disarm attacker who is using a knife
• TANREN striking practice with sword or bokken; the same cut is practiced over and over again; can also be done with a wooden staff
• TOBU-UKEMI "flying break-fall"
• USHIRO-WAZA rear techniques ("sixth sense") (6th pillar of Aikido)
• WAZA technique(s)
• YOBI-DASHI "calling out"; preemptive strike intended to neutralize an attack before it starts to develop

• Throws

• IRIMI entering (2nd pillar of Aikido)
• IRIMI-NAGE entering throw ("20-year throw")
• JUJI-NAGE (JUJI-GARAMI) crossed arm (X, ten) throw
• KAITEN opening and turning (3rd pillar of Aikido)
• KAITEN-NAGE rotary throw
• KOKYU breath power; concentrated power; good timing (4th pillar of Aikido)
• KOKYU-HO (KOKYO DOSA) seated technique using ki to throw and pin partner
• KOKYU-NAGE "breath throw", using timing of body and spirit without applying pressure to partner's joints
• KOKYU-UNDO breath (air) movement exercises
• KOSHI-NAGE hip throw
• KOTE-GAESHI apply wrist reversal to throw partner
• KUBISHIME choke
• SHIHO-NAGE four-direction throw (applied at wrist) (1st pillar of Aikido)
• SUMI-OTOSHI four direction throw (applied at upper arm)
• TENCHI-NAGE heaven-and-earth throw
• Top

• Ranks, Learning, and Teaching

• O'SENSEI great teacher; the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba (Dec 14, 1883 - Apr 26, 1969)
• KAISO founder (of Aikido)
• KANCHO supervisor, director of school
• DOSHU honorary title for the master of the art; the current Aikido doshu is Kisshomaru Ueshiba, 3rd son of O'Sensei
• DOJO-CHO head of the dojo
• SENSEI teacher; anyone who gives guidance along the way; literally "born before"
• DESHI student, pupil, disciple
• UCHI-DESHI devoted, personal student living in dojo with teacher
• KOHAI junior student; anyone who begins the study of Aikido. Advanced students should help and support them
• SEMPAI anyone who began the study of Aikido before you; you should respect this person's experience
• FUKU-SHIDOIN assistant instructor; usually 2nd dan and below
• SHIDOIN teacher typically with sandan rank
• SHIHAN master teacher with rank of 6th dan or above
• KYU white belt grade; undergraduate/mudansha rank (usually 6th kyu to 1st kyu)
• DAN black belt rank; graduate/yudansha rank (1st dan to 10th dan)
• MUDANSHA holder of white/colored belt degree
• SHODAN 1st degree black belt
• YUDANSHA holder of black belt degree

• Greetings, Order, and Etiquette

• DOMO ARRIGATO (GOZAIMASHITA) thank you (very much)
• GAMBATTE "hang in there!"
• HAJIME begin!
• ONEGAISHIMASU please (train with me); I ask a favor
• OSU warrior greeting
• YAME quit, give up, stop (from yameru)

• Parts of body

• ASHI foot, leg
• HARA stomach
• HIJI elbow
• HIZA knee
• KATA shoulder
• KOSHI hip, lateral pelvis, waist
• KUBI neck
• KUCHI mouth
• ME eye
• MEN head
• MUNE chest
• ROKKUTSU rib
• SENAKA back
• TANDEN place of "one-point"; center of body below navel
• TE hand
• TEKUBI wrist
• YUBI fingers

• Counting

• ICHI 1
• NI 2
• SAN 3
• SHI (YON) 4
• GO 5
• ROKU 6
• SITI [SHICHI] (NANA) 7
• HATI [HACHI] 8
• KU [KYUU] 9
• JU [JUU] 10
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