A
ai joining together, harmony
aigame regular facing posture
aikidoka a student of aikido
aikijujutsu old style combat oriented art from which aikido originated
ate to hit or strike a certain point
atemi to hit the body
ato no sen the moment of initiative taken in response to the attack
ashi foot or leg
ayumi ashi normal walking with feet alternating
B
budo study of martial arts as away of life so as to cultivate character
budoka a student of budo, implies a great understanding of martial arts
bujutsu study of martial arts as a form of practice for combat, military science
bushin “martial spirit” transcendental level of martial arts
C
chudan middle level, area from the hips to the shoulders
chushin center line of the body
D
Daito ryu style of aiki-jujutsu passed down by the Takeda clan in Aizu prefecture, antecedent to Aikido
dan a degree of rank in black belt
do the way, a path of refinement, practice and study
dojo “way place” a training hall for study of the martial arts
G
gaeshi (kaeshi) reversal
gamae (kamae) posture or stance
gatame (katame) lock
gedan low position, hip level
Geis, Karl (1933-) important martial arts teacher and innovator, who
introduced judo, aikido and jodo to thousands of practitioners in the
go five
godan fifth degree black belt
gokui deep intuitive understanding of the fundamental principle of an art
gokyo five teachings, groups of techniques in Judo
gokyu fifth grade before black belt, orange belt
goshi (koshi) hip
guruma (kuruma) wheel, in a throw, to rotate horizontally as well as vertically
H
hachi eight
hanasu to escape, to obtain release from
Hanasu no Kata the eight releases, related to old style shichi hon no kuzushi
hando no kuzushi the pendulum like quality of balance and off balance
hanmi half-stance, front foot forward and back foot and hips angled 30-45 degrees
hara abdomen
hazumi force generated by the unified action of ones whole body movement
hiji elbow
hiki to pull
hineri twist
hon main, normal, standard, book, origin, also counter suffix for numbers or cylindrical objects
I
ichi one
ikioi force generated by isolated muscular strength, “using muscle”
ikkyu first grade before black belt, brown belt with black collar
irimi entering into opponent’s attack
irimi entering stance (front foot forward, back foot and hips angled 90 degrees)
itten one spot, center of gravity just below the navel
J
jodan high position, shoulder level and above
jodo way of the short staff, a traditional weapons art
ju ten
ju gentleness, yielding, softness
ju quick aggressive clawing attack like a bird of prey (name of 3rd tanjo technique)
Ju Nanahon Kata Seventeen standard forms, also called randori no kata
ju no ri principle of gentleness
ju yoko go sei suru old saying “ soft controls hard”
judo martial art derived from jujutsu by Jigoro Kano, the preeminent throwing and grappling art in the world
K
kake to execute a throw
kansetsu joint technique
kata formal exercise to demonstrate principles
kata shoulder
ki spirit, energy, feeling, the nature of something
kiotsuke attention (lit, attach the spirit)
kime focus of power applied during execution of a technique
Kito ryu ancient school of martial arts that emphasized throwing and off balance, antecedent to Judo and Tomiki Ryu Aikido
kohai the junior grade in any pair of training partners
koryu kata ancient forms preserved for advanced study
kote wrist
ku (kyu) nine
kubi neck
kuzure no jotai forms of off balance
kuzushi the disruption of posture and breaking of balance
kyu grades of rank before black belt
M
ma-ai distance of engagement and reaction
mae front
mae ukemi forward fall
masayume “correct dream”, i.e., the dream that comes true
mawashi to turn
metsuke eye contact
Miyake, Tsunako (1926-) a profound master of several martial arts including, aikido, judo and jodo, who was instrumental in the development of many of the katas
mizu no kokoro mind clear and reflective like water
mugame empty posture, no special stance, just natural
Musashi, Miyamoto (1584-1645) great swordsman and martial arts genius who wrote The Book of Five Rings
N
nagashi no ri principle of flowing
nage throw
nanadan seventh degree black belt
ni two
nikyu second grade before black belt, brown belt
nidan second degree black belt
O
omote-mi front-stance, both feet pointed forward with hips square (see shizentai)
oshi push
osu to push
otoshi drop
Owaza Ju Pon the big ten defensive throws
R
randori free exercise, both partners simultaneously attacking and defending
randori no kata old name for Ju Nana Hon Kata
ri principle
riai “principle harmony” underlying logic of a kata or technique
roku six
rokudan sixth degree black belt, red and white belt
rokkyu sixth grade before black belt, yellow belt
S
san three
sandan third degree black belt
sankyu third grade before black belt, brown belt
sempai senior grade in any pair of training partners
sen the moment of initiative occurring simultaneously with the attack
sen-sen no sen seizing the initiative just as the attack is about to begin
sensei teacher, usually 4th dan or above
shi four (also “yon”)
shiai contest
shichi seven (also “nana”)
shichihon no kuzushi seven balance breaks, early form of Hanasu no Kata
shihan honorific title, “a leader of men,” a teacher of 6th dan or above
shiho four directions
Shindo Muso Ryu classical weapons art based on the Jo (stick), developed by samurai of the Kuroda clan in Fukuoka
shizen hon tai natural upright body posture (feet even)
shizen no ri principle of natural posture
shizentai natural upright body posture (one foot forward)
shizumi sinking or dropping
shodan first degree black belt
shomen front
shugyo hard training
soto outside
suigetsu solar plexus (lit, water moon)
suki an opening, weakness in body structure or movement
sumi corner
T
tai sabaki body movement, esp. evasion
taiso warm up exercises
Takeda, Sokaku (1860-1943) famous Daito ryu teacher who taught Ueshiba aikijujitsu.
tanto knife
taoshi to tip over
te hand or arm
tegatana “hand sword” unbendable arm
Tegatana no kata the walking kata
tekubi wrist
Tenjin Shinyo Ryu ancient style of jujutsu emphasizing strikes and jointlocks, antecedent to Judo
tenkai rotation, turning around
tenkai kotegaeshi alternative name for shihonage
tenkan to turn around and reverse direction
tobu ukemi jumping fall, an elevated forward rolling breakfall, a flip
tokui waza favorite technique (comes not necessarily by choice but tends to develop naturally)
Tomiki, Kenji (1900-1980) menkyo kaiden from Ueshiba, 8th dan judo, founder of Tomiki ryu
Tomiki ryu style of aikido emphasizing a logical curriculum and effective technical standards
tori the person who applies the technique
toshu randori hand randori
tsugi ashi following step, sliding steps with same foot leading
tsukuri to fit in with body position
U
uchi inside
ude arm
Ueshiba, Morihei (1883-1969) founder of aikido, also referred to as O Sensei by many
ue-shita up/down, body rise and body drop
uke the person who receives the technique
ukemi art of falling or receiving techniques in a safe and efficient manner
uki floating
unsoku footwork
ushiro behind
ushiro ukemi back falls
W
waki side of the body, armpit
waza technique
Y
yoko side
yoko ukemi side fall
yondan fourth degree black belt
yonkyu fourth grade before black belt, green belt
Z
zanshin state of ready awareness; without concept or distraction
zempo kaiten ukemi forward rolling break fall