A
AIHAMMI: Direct stance (mutual): UKE and TORI have the same side forward (left –left for example)
AIHAMMI KATATE DORI: Type of attack where Uke’s left hand grab Tori’s left hand (or right hand to right hand)
AIKIKAI: Aiki-kai (lit. the aiki-organization), name of the organization created by OSENSEI, to develop Aikido (also called HOMBU DOJO). Since O SENSEI’ s death, the AÏKIKAI is lead by Ueshiba family (Ueshiba Kishomaru then Ueshiba Moriteru)
AIKI-TAISO: Basic moves to prepare the body for the practice (quite often translated by “warm-up”)
B
BOKKEN (or KEN): Wooden replica of a Japanese sword (KEN)
C
CHUDAN: Mid-level (for an attack), i.e the belly.
CHUDAN TSUKI: Type of attack where Uke strikes Tori’s belly
D
DOJO: DO-JO lit. « place of the way », means at the same time the place where the practice is held but also the group of student who practices
G
GEDAN: Low-level (for an attack), i.e the leg for example
GOKYO: 5th principle of immobilization (Uke using a knife or TANTO)
GYAKU HAMMI: « Cross» stance: UKE and TORI have the opposite side forward (left –right for example), like the reflection in a mirror.
GYAKU HAMMI KATATE DORI: Type of attack where Uke grabs Tori’s opposite hand (left –right for example)
H
HAMMI: Stance
HANMI HANDACHI WAZA: Way of practice where Uke stands and Tori sits on his knees.
HIJI KIMEOSAE: Arm lock on the elbow (HIJI)
I
IKKYO: 1st principle of immobilization (pin on Uke’s elbow)
IRIMI-NAGE: Throwing practice (NAGE) made by entering into Uke’s movement (IRIMI)
J
JODAN: Upper level (for an attack), i.e the face
JO DORI: Way of practice where Uke strikes Tori with a wooden stick (JO)
JO NAGE: Way of practice where Tori using a wooden stick, throw Uke trying to get the stick back
JO ou JYO: Wooden stick (mid-size, approx. 1,20 m in height, the height of the plexus)
JODAN TSUKI: Type of attack where Uke strikes Tori’s face
JYU WAZA: «Free practice », way of practice where the focus is put on spontaneity : Uke attacks Tori who applies the technics that are the most adequate to the situation (different from the regular way of practice where Tori does his best to reproduce the technic shown by the teacher).
K
KAITEN-NAGE: Throwing technic (NAGE) by rotating movement (KAITEN)
KAMIZA (ou SHOMEN): The most honorific spot in a dojo where is located usually a picture from OSENSEI, a set of weapons (bokken, jo, tanto), a mirror, a replica of a shinto temple, a vase with flowers or a mix of these things. The Kamiza is the place in front of which the students line up and bow towards at the beginning and at the end of the class.
KATA DORI: Type of attack where Uke grab (DORI) Tori’s shoulder (KATA)
KATA DORI MENUCHI: Type of attack where Uke grab (DORI) Tori’s shoulder (KATA) and strike Tori’s face with the other hand.
KATATE RYOTE DORI: Type of attack where Uke grab (DORI) Tori’s arm with his two hands.
KOHAI: Reverse aspect of the SEMPAI (see definition), the KOHAI is the name the students give to the less advanced members of the dojo.
KOKYU-NAGE: Generic name used for the throwing technics using the effect of KOKYU (breath in/out). This term is used usually to name all the throwing technics that do not work on constraint on articulations but on leading Uke out of his balance
KOSHI-NAGE: Generic name used for the throwing technics using hips (relatively similar to judo way of hip-throwing)
KOTE-GAESHI: Wrist (KOTE) out turn throw
M
MUNA DORI: Type of attack where Uke grab (DORI) Tori’s collar
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N
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NAGE WAZA: Generic name for throwing technics
NIKYO: 2nd principle of immobilization (pin on Uke’s wrist)
O
O SENSEI: Literally « Great Teacher », this term is used exclusively to name the founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei.
OMOTE: Usually translated by « Positive » (YANG), the OMOTE forms (not a specific technic) are characterized by a pressure on Uke (usually in front of him) before the attack is fully done (by anticipating the attack).
OSAE WAZA: Generic term for immobilization technics
R
RANDORI: Way of practice where Tori faces with several Ukes simultaneously
RYOKATA DORI: Type of attack where Uke grab (DORI) Tori’s both shoulders
RYOTE DORI: Type of attack where Uke grab (DORI) Tori’s both wrists.
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S
SANKYO: 3rd principle of immobilization (pin on the wrist through the edge of Uke’s hand)
SEMPAI: Name given by the students to the more advanced members of the dojo. Aikido teaching is given by the teacher of course but also by the attention the sempai give to the kohai (guiding them)
SENSEI: Teacher. Literally « the one who is born first ». The word SENSEI is not dedicated only to the martial arts but for every kind of teaching in Japan.
SHIHO-NAGE: Throwing technic (NAGE) using the four directions (SHI-HO)
SHIKKO: Way of moving sitting on the knees
SHOMEN UCHI: Type of attack where Uke strikes Tori’s head vertically from the top to the bottom
SUWARI WAZA: Way of practice where Uke and Tori sit on their knees
T
TACHI DORI: Way of practice where Uke uses a BOKKEN and Tori’s unarms him.
TACHI WAZA: Way of practice where Uke and Tori stands up
TAISABAKI: Move of the body (« Taï »). Usually this term is used for the move IRIMI + TENKAN (Enter/Move Fwd + Turn)
TANTO: Wooden replica of a japanese knife (usually a single edge)
TANTO DORI: Way of practice where Uke uses a TANTO and Tori’s unarms him
TENSHI-NAGE: Throwing technics (NAGE) Ground-Sky (TEN-SHI)
TORI: Name coming from the verb « Toru », « take », « TORI » is used to name the partner who do the technic (being attacked by UKE)
U
UDE KIME-NAGE: Throwing technics (NAGE) using the leverage effect on the arm (UDE)
UKE: Name coming from the verb « Ukeru », « to recieve ». The UKE, reflection of TORI is the one who will receive the technic and so, will be at the initiative of the movement, the one who will attack TORI and will roll at the end of the technic.
UKEMI: Rolling technic, is coming from the verb « Ukeru », « to recieve ». the UKEMI is the way of recieving the technic from Tori (receive not suffer)
URA: Usually translated by « Négative» (YIN), the URA forms (not a specific technic) are characterized by an extension of Uke`s initial movement (usually in the back of the partner).
USHIRO ERI DORI: Type of attack where Uke, on Tori`s back (USHIRO), grab (DORI) Tori’s collar (ERI).
USHIRO KATATE DORI KUBISHIME: Type of attack where Uke, in TORI`s back (USHIRO), grab (DORI) one Tori’s wrist and struggle him at the same time.
USHIRO RYOHIJI DORI: Type of attack where Uke, in TORI`s back (USHIRO), grab (DORI) both Tori’s elbows (HIJI)
USHIRO RYOKATA DORI: Type of attack where Uke, in TORI`s back (USHIRO), grab (DORI) both Tori’s shoulders (KATA)
USHIRO RYOTE DORI: Type of attack where Uke, in TORI`s back (USHIRO), grab (DORI) both Tori’s wrist (TE)
USHIRO WAZA: Way of practice where Uke attacks coming form the back of Tori
Y
YOKOMEN UCHI: Type of attack where Uke strikes Tori`s head laterally (with an angle from the top to the bottom)
YONKYO: 4th principle of immobilization (pin on the wrist of the partner, quite similar to sankyo but located on the wrist, no more on the edge of Uke`s hand)
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