A

ago (顎) jaw, chin

Aiki Jinja (合気神社) Aiki Shrine in Iwama, Japan

Aiki Jinja Rei Taisai (合気神社例大祭) Grand Festival of Aiki, commemoration on 29 April at the Aiki Jinja

arigatō (有り難う) thank you (informal)

arigatō gozaimashita (有り難うございました) thank you very much (formal past)

arigatō gozaimasu (有り難うございます) thank you very much (formal non-past)

ashi (足) leg, foot

ashikubi (足首) ankle

ashisabaki (足捌き) footwork

atama (頭) head

atemi (当て身) strike (to a vital point)

B

bokken (木剣) wooden sword

bokutō (木刀) wooden sword

budō (武道) martial way

budōka (武道家) someone who follows a martial way

budōkan (武道館) hall for martial arts

bujin (武人) martial person

buki (武器) weapon

bukiwaza (武器技) weapons technique(s)

bushin (武神) martial spirit

C

chūdan (中段) mid level

chūdan zuki (中段突き) mid level thrust (to chest)

D

dan (段) step, degree (black belt rank)

dō (道) way (Chinese - dao)

dōgi (道着) training uniform (literally: way clothes)

dōjō  (道場) training area (literally: place of the way)

dōjōchō (道場長) head instructor of a dōjō

dōmo arigatō (どうもう有り難う) thank you

dōmo arigatō gozaimashita (どうもう有り難うございました) Thank you very much indeed (past)

dōmo arigatō gozaimasu (どうもう有り難うございます) Thank you very much indeed (non-past)

-dori (取り) from the verb toru to take, to grasp

Dōshu (道主) Head of the Way, hereditary title within the Ueshiba family for the leader of the Aikikai

E

embu (演武) demonstration

eri (襟) collar, lapel

erijime (襟絞め) collar strangle

F

fukuro shinai (袋竹刀) bamboo and leather practice sword

fudōshin (不動心) unmoving spirit

funakogi undo (船漕ぎ運動) boat rowing exercise

G

-gaeshi/kaeshi (返し) return, reverse, turnover

ganmen (顔面) face

ganseki otoshi (岩石落とし) dropping rocks and stones (technique)

-garami (絡み) from the verb karamu to twist up or entangle

-gatame/katame waza (固め技) grappling technique

gedan (下段) low level

-geri/keri (蹴り) a kick

-giri/kiri (切り) a cut

go (五) five

godan (五段) fifth dan (black blet)

gokyū (五級) fifth kyū

gomen nasai (御免なさい) I’m sorry

gyaku (逆) reverse

H

hachi (八) eight

hachidan (八段) eighth dan

hai (はい) yes

hajime (初め) begin

hakama (はかま) pleated trousers

hanmi (半身) half body (posture); also omote sankaku

hanmi handachi (半身半立ち) one person standing and one person sitting

happō (八方) eight directions

happō giri (八方切り) cuts in eight directions

hara (腹) abdomen, belly

hassō no kamae (八相の構え) stance with the weapon held vertically at right shoulder

henkawaza (変化技) variant technique

hidari (左) left

hiji (肘) elbow

hitoemi (一重身) single body (posture); also ura sankaku

hiza (膝) knee

hyaku (百) hundred

I

ikkyō (一教) first learning (technique)

ikkyū (一級) first kyū

in (陰) yin (Chinese); negative/receptive principle

irimi (入身) entering

iriminage (入身投げ) entering throw (technique)

J

jiyū geiko (自由稽古) free training

jiyū waza (自由技) freestyle techniques

jō (杖) staff

jōdori (杖取り) staff taking/disarming

jōnage (杖投) staff retention

jōdan (上段) upper level

jōdan no kamae (上段の構え) upper level stance, stance with weapon held above forehead

jōdan zuki (上段付) upper level thrust (to face)

jū (十) ten

jūji (十字) figure ten (cross shape)

jūjinage (十字投) cross shaped throw (technique)

jūtai (柔体) flexible body

jutsu (術) art

K

kaeshi waza (返し技) reversal/counter technique

kaiten (回転) revolve, turn, spin

Kaitennage (回転上げ) revolving throw

kakato (かかと) heel

kamae (構) stance, posture, attitude

kami (神) deity

kamidana (神棚) small indoor Shintō shrine

kamiza (上座) upper seat (area near the front of the dōjō)

kangeiko (寒稽古) cold training, midwinter training

kansetsu (関節) joint

kansetsu waza (関節技) joint technique

kata (形) form, shape (prearranged sequence of movements)

kata (片) single

kata (肩) shoulder

katadori (肩取り) shoulder grab

katame waza (固技) grappling/imobilising/pinning technique

katana (刀) sword

katate (片手) one hand

katatedori (片手取り) single hand grab

keiko (稽古) training

keikogi (稽古着) training clothes

ken (剣) sword

keri (蹴り) kick

kesagiri (袈裟切) to cut diagonally along the lapel

ki (気) universal energy (Chinese - chi)

kiai (気合) assembled energy (often expressed as energetic vocalisation)

kihon (基本) basic

kimusubi (気結び) tying together of energy

ki no nagare (気の流れ) flowing with ki (fluid performance of techniques)

kiri (切) a cut

kiru (切る) to cut

kissaki (鋒) tip of the sword blade

kiza (起坐) kneeling on heels with toes curled under

kodachi (小太刀) small sword

kohai (後輩) junior

kokoro (心) heart, mind, spirit

kokoro gamae (心構) attitude

kokyu (呼吸) breath; in aikidō a particular sort of whole-body power

kokyuhō (呼吸方) breath method/exercise

kokyunage (呼吸投) breath throw (technique)

koryū (古流) old school

koryū bujutsu (古流武術) old school martial arts (pre 1863 Japan)

konbanwa (こんばんは) good evening

konnichiwa (こんにちは) good day 

kōsadori (交差取り) cross-hand grab

koshi (腰) waist, hip, lower back

koshi ita (腰板) back-plate of hakama

koshinage (腰投) hip throw (technique)

kotai (固体) solid

kōtai (交代) change roles

kote (小手) wrist

kotegaeshi (小手返) wrist reversal (technique)

kotodama (言霊) Japanese study of or belief in the mystical power of language

kū (空) emptiness, void

kubi (首) neck, head

Kubinage (首投) neck/head throw (technique)

kuchi (口) mouth

kudasai (下さい) please

kūden (口伝) oral transmission, secret spoken instruction

kumijō (組杖) paired staff routine

kyū (九) nine

kyū (級) level (pre black belt rank)

kyusho (急所) vital point

M

maai (間合) spacing

mae (前) front

mae ukemi (前受身) forward roll

maki (巻き) wrap

massugu (真っ直ぐ) straight

men (面)face

menkyo （免許) license

migi (右) right

mimi (耳) ear

misogi (みそぎ) purification

mō ichidō onegaishimasu (もう一同お願いします) once more please

mokusō (黙想) concentration, meditation

morotedori (諸手取り) two hands grabbing one

mudansha (無段者) someone who does not have a black belt

munadori (胸取り) chest grab

mune (胸) chest

musubi (結び) tie up, knot, unite

mute (無手) without hands

N

nagare (流れ) flow

nage (投) a throw, the person who throws

nageru (投げる) to throw

naka (中) inside, during

nana (七) seven

nanadan (七段) seventh dan

naname (斜め) diagonal

newaza (寝技) ground techniques

ni (二) two

nidan (二段) second dan

nikai (二回) twice

nikyō (二教) second learning (technique)

nikyū (二級) first kyū

O

obi (帯) belt

okuden (奥伝) deep (secret) transmission

omote (表) front

omotewaza (表技) techniques performed towards the front, techniques that may be revealed in public

onegaishimasu (お願します) please help me

osaeru (押さえる) to hold down, to restrain

osaewaza (押さえ技) pinning technique

otagai ni rei (お互い礼) bow to one another

otosu (落とす) to drop

owarimasu (終わります) to finish

oyasumi nasai (お休みなさい) good night

ōyōwaza (応用技) applied technique

R

randori (乱取り) random attacks

rei (礼) bow

reigi (礼儀) etiquette

riai (理合) integrated principles

ritsurei (立礼) standing bow

roku (６) six

rokkyō (六教) sixth learning (technique)

rokkyū (六級) sixth kyū

rokudan (六段) sixth dan

ryōkata (両肩) both shoulders

ryōkatadori (両肩取り) both shoulders grabbed

ryōte (両手) both hands

ryōtedori (両手取り) both hands grabbed

ryū (流) school, style

ryūtai (流体) fluid

S

sabaki (捌き) action, motion

san (三) three

sandan (三段) third dan

sankaku (三角) triangle

sankakujime (三角絞め) triangular strangle (technique)

sankyō (三教) third learning (technique)

sankyū (三級) third kyu

satori (悟り) awakening, enlightenment

saya (鞘) scabbard

sayōnara (さようなら) good bye

sayū (左右) right and left

seigan no kamae (正眼の構え) pure-sight stance; with butt of weapon at centre and tip at chin height

seika tanden (臍下丹田) point at the centre of gravity in the lower abdomen

senaka (背中) back

seiza (正座) kneeling

sempai (先輩) senior

sensei (先生) teacher

shi (四) four

shidōin (指導員) instructor

shihō (四方) four directions

shihōgiri (四方切り) four directional strike

shihōnage (四方投) four directional throw (technique)

shihan (師範) master teacher

shikkō (膝行) knee walking

shimeru (絞める) to strangle

shimewaza (絞め技) strangulation techniques

shinai (竹刀) bamboo sword

shinsaiin (審査員) examiner(s)

shita (下) down

shizen (自然) natural

shizen tai (自然体) natural stance, feet shoulder width apart

shodan (初段) first dan

shōmen (正面) front

shōmenuchi (正面打ち) strike to the centre of the head

shoshinsha (初心者) beginner

shugyō (修業) intensive training

shuriken (手裏剣) throwing blade

sode (袖) sleeve

sodeguchi (袖口) cuff

sōke (宗家) headmaster of particular koryū (classical Japanese martial arts)

soto (外) outside

sotodeshi (外弟子) student living outside dojo

suburi (素振り) solo weapons exercise

sumimasen (済みません) excuse me

sumiotoshi (済み落とし) corner drop (technique)

sutemiwaza (捨身技) sacrafice technique

suwariwaza (座り技) seated technique

T

tachi (太刀) sword

tachidori (太刀取り) sword taking/disarming techniques

tachiwaza (立ち技) standing techniques

taijutsu (体術) body art (unarmed techniques)

tai no henko (体の変更) body change (exercise)

tai sabaki (体捌き) body movement

tanden (丹田) three focal points for energy; in the lower abdomen, the chest and the forehead

taninzu gake (多人数) multiple attacks

tanken (短剣) short sword or dagger

tankendori (探検取り) knife taking/disarming techniques

tanren (鍛練) forge, discipline

tanren uchi (鍛練打ち) forging the body through striking a resilient target

tantō (短刀) short sword or dagger

tantōdori (短刀取り) knife taking/disarming

tate no kamae (立の構え) stance with jō standing vertically in front of the body

tekubi (手首) wrist

te (手) hand

te no hira (掌) palm of hand

tegatana (手刀) blade of hand

ten (天) heaven

tenchinage (天地投げ) heaven and earth throw (technique)

tenkan (転換) pivot

tenugui (手拭) hand towel

tobu ukemi (飛ぶ受身) flying fall, high fall

tori (取り) take, hold, the person performing a technique

tsuba (鍔) hand guard of sword

tsuki (付き) thrust

tsuki no kamae (付きの構え) thrust stance, stance with staff horizontal at centre height

U

uchi (内) inside

uchi (打ち) strike

uchideshi (内弟子) inside-aprrentice, student living in the dōjō

ude (腕) arm

udejime (腕絞め) arm bar

ue (上) up

uke (受け) person who receives a technique

ukemi (受身) “receiving-body”, safe falling skills

ura (裏) rear

ushiro (後ろ) back

ushiro ukemi (後ろ受身) backward roll

ushirowaza (後ろ技) techniques against attacks from behind

W

wakarimasen (わかりません) [I] don’t understand

wakarimashita (わかりません) [I] understand

wakizashi (脇差) short companion sword

waki no kamae (脇の構え) stance with sword at right side, tip to rear

waza (技) technique

Y

yame (やめ) stop

yari (槍) spear

yawara (柔) old term for grappling/throwing

yō (陽) yang, (Chinese) positive/active principle

yodan (四段) fourth dan

yōi (用意) prepare

yoko (横) side

yoko ukemi (横受身) side roll

yokomen (横面) side of head, temple

yokomenuchi (横面打ち) strike to side of head/neck

yonkyō (四教) fourth learning (technique)

yonkyu (四級) fourth kyū

yubi (指) finger

yukkuri (ゆっくり) slowly

Z

zanshin (残心) remaining spirit, continuous open awareness

zarei (座礼) seated bow

zazen (座禅) seated meditation

zengo (前後) front and back

zengo giri (前後切り) cutting front and back

zenshin (全身) whole body