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AIKIDO GLOSSARY

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Aikido uses Japanese terminology to preserve the art's authenticity and connect practitioners worldwide through a shared language. This glossary explains the words and phrases you'll hear in training at Zenshin Aikido Amsterdam—from basic greetings to technical terminology.

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DOJO ETIQUETTE & BASIC PHRASES

These are the essential words you'll use every class.

  • Aikido (合気道): "The way of harmonizing energy." The name of our martial art.

  • Dojo (道場): "Place of the way." The training hall where aikido is practiced. More than just a gym—the dojo is a space of focused learning and mutual respect.

  • Tatami (畳): Traditional Japanese mat. In aikido, we train on tatami or similar padded mats for safety during falls and throws.

  • Kamiza (上座): "Upper seat" or "place of honor." The front of the dojo, traditionally where a photo of O'Sensei (aikido's founder) is displayed. We bow toward kamiza when entering and leaving the mat.

  • Rei (礼): "Bow" or "respect." A formal bow showing respect to the dojo, your instructor, and training partners.

  • Onegaishimasu (お願いします): "Please" or "I ask for your guidance." Said when bowing before practicing with a partner. Expresses humility and willingness to learn.

  • Domo arigato gozaimasu (どうもありがとうございます): "Thank you very much." Said when bowing after practicing with a partner. Shows gratitude for their help in your learning.

  • Sensei (先生): "Teacher" or "one who has gone before." The respectful term for your instructor. Never use sensei to refer to yourself.

  • O'Sensei (大先生): "Great Teacher." The title reserved for Morihei Ueshiba, aikido's founder.

  • Senpai (先輩): "Senior student." A more experienced practitioner who helps guide newer students.

  • Kohai (後輩): "Junior student." A less experienced practitioner.

  • Uke (受け): "Receiver." The person who attacks and receives the technique. Uke's role is to attack sincerely and fall/blend safely with the technique.

  • Nage (投げ) / Tori (取り): "Thrower" or "executor." The person performing the technique on uke.

  • Hai (はい): "Yes" or "I understand." A respectful acknowledgment.

  • Matte (待って): "Wait" or "stop." Used by the instructor to pause training.

  • Yame (やめ): "Stop." Signals the end of a drill or technique practice.

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POSITIONS & STANCES

Body positions used in aikido training.

  • Seiza (正座): Formal kneeling sitting position. Used during meditation, watching demonstrations, and formal bowing. Sit on your heels with back straight, hands resting on thighs.

  • Kamae (構え): "Stance" or "posture." Your ready position before a technique begins.

  • Hanmi (半身): "Half-body" stance. Standing position with one foot forward, body angled approximately 45 degrees. The foundational stance in aikido.

  • Migi hanmi (右半身): Right hanmi. Right foot forward stance.

  • Hidari hanmi (左半身): Left hanmi. Left foot forward stance.

  • Ai-hanmi (相半身): "Matching stance." When both partners have the same foot forward (both right or both left).

  • Gyaku-hanmi (逆半身): "Reverse stance." When partners have opposite feet forward (one right, one left).

  • Suwari-waza (座り技): "Seated techniques." Both uke and nage practice from seiza position.

  • Hanmi-handachi-waza (半身半立技): "Half-seated techniques." Nage is in seiza while uke attacks from standing.

  • Tachi-waza (立ち技): "Standing techniques." Both partners practice from standing position.

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MOVEMENT & FOOTWORK

How we move in aikido—the foundation of all techniques.

  • Tai-sabaki (体捌き): "Body movement." The fundamental footwork and body positioning used to blend with an attack. Often described as "getting off the line" of attack.

  • Irimi (入り身): "Entering." Moving directly into an attacker's space, often behind their center line. One of aikido's two fundamental movements.

  • Tenkan (転換): "Turning" or "changing direction." Pivoting movement, often 180 degrees, to redirect an attacker's force. The second fundamental aikido movement.

  • Shiho (四方): "Four directions." Refers to movement or throwing in four cardinal directions.

  • Happo (八方): "Eight directions." Expanded directional awareness—front, back, sides, and corners.

  • Shikko (膝行): "Knee-walking." Moving while in seiza position by shifting weight from knee to knee. Develops hip movement, balance, and leg strength.

  • Ma-ai (間合い): "Harmonious distance." The optimal spacing between you and your partner—close enough to engage, far enough to respond.

  • Tsuki (突き): "Strike" or "thrust." Often a straight punch toward the chest or face.

  • Kokyu (呼吸): "Breath." The coordination of breath with movement—essential for timing, power, and mental focus.

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ATTACKS (UKE'S ROLE)

The strikes and grabs uke uses to initiate techniques.​

STRIKES:

  • Shomen-uchi (正面打ち): "Front strike." Overhead strike to the top of the head, like swinging a sword downward.

  • Yokomen-uchi (横面打ち): "Side strike." Diagonal strike to the side of the head or neck.

  • Tsuki (突き): Straight thrust or punch to the midsection or face.

GRABS (KATATE-DORI - WRIST GRABS):

  • Katate-dori (片手取り): "Single-hand grab." Uke grabs one of nage's wrists with one hand.

  • Gyaku-hanmi katate-dori (逆半身片手取り): "Same-side grab." Uke grabs same-side wrist (right hand to left wrist).

  • Ai-hanmi katate-dori (相半身片手取り): "Cross-hand grab." Uke grabs opposite wrist (right hand to right wrist).

  • Morote-dori (諸手取り) / Ryote-dori (両手取り): "Two-hand grab." Uke grabs one of nage's forearms with both hands.

  • Ryote-dori (両手取り): "Both-hands grab." Uke grabs both of nage's wrists simultaneously.

  • Kata-dori (肩取り): "Shoulder grab." Uke grabs nage's shoulder.

  • Mune-dori (胸取り): "Chest grab." Uke grabs nage's gi/lapel at the chest.

  • Eri-dori (襟取り): "Collar grab." Uke grabs nage's collar.

  • Ushiro-ryote-dori (後ろ手首取り): "Rear wrist grab." Uke grabs both wrists from behind.

  • Ushiro-eri-dori (後ろ襟取り): "Rear collar grab." Uke grabs the collar from behind.

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BASIC TECHNIQUES

Core aikido techniques you'll learn as a beginner.​

PINS & CONTROLS:

  • Ikkyo (一教): "First teaching" or "first principle." A fundamental arm pin controlling the elbow and shoulder. Forms the foundation for all other pin techniques.

  • Nikyo (二教): "Second teaching." Wrist control technique applying pressure to the wrist joint.

  • Sankyo (三教): "Third teaching." Wrist twist technique that spirals the arm and controls through wrist rotation.

  • Yonkyo (四教): "Fourth teaching." Pressure-point control on the inner forearm/wrist.

  • Gokyo (五教): "Fifth teaching." Elbow control technique, often used against knife attacks.​

THROWS:

  • Shiho-nage (四方投げ): "Four-direction throw." A throw that can be executed in any direction by controlling uke's wrist and elbow overhead.

  • Irimi-nage (入り身投げ): "Entering throw." A throw executed by entering deeply behind uke's center and using arm position to guide them down.

  • Kote-gaeshi (小手返し): "Wrist turn-out." A throw executed by twisting uke's wrist outward, causing them to fall backward.

  • Tenchi-nage (天地投げ): "Heaven and earth throw." One hand extends upward (heaven), the other downward (earth), creating a throw through opposing forces.

  • Kaiten-nage (回転投げ): "Rotary throw." A dynamic throw where nage rotates uke's body and throws them forward or backward.

  • Kokyu-nage (呼吸投げ): "Breath throw." A category of throws emphasizing timing, breath, and flowing movement rather than specific technique structure.

  • Koshi-nage (腰投げ): "Hip throw." Using hip position to lift and throw uke. Similar to judo's hip throw but executed with different mechanics.

  • Juji-nage (十字投げ): "Cross throw" or "X throw." A throw controlling both of uke's arms in a crossed position.

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UKEMI - THE ART OF FALLING SAFELY

Essential skills for safe training.​

  • Ukemi (受け身): "Receiving body." The art of falling, rolling, or blending safely with a technique to avoid injury.

  • Mae-ukemi (前受け身): "Front roll" or "forward roll." Rolling forward over the shoulder to disperse the impact of a forward throw.

  • Ushiro-ukemi (後ろ受け身): "Back roll" or "backward roll." Rolling backward over the shoulder when thrown backward.

  • Yoko-ukemi (横受け身): "Side fall." Falling to the side and slapping the mat with your arm to absorb impact.

  • Koho-tento-ukemi (後方転倒受け身): "Back breakfall." Falling straight backward and slapping the mat with both arms to break the fall safely.

  • Tobi-ukemi (飛び受け身): "Flying fall" or "high fall." An advanced ukemi where uke leaps into the air during a throw. Dramatic but requires significant experience.

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WEAPONS (BUKI-WAZA)

Traditional Japanese weapons used in aikido training.​

  • Buki (武器): "Weapon." General term for training weapons.

  • Bukiwaza (武器技): "Weapon techniques." Practice with traditional weapons.

  • Bokken / Bokuto (木剣 / 木刀): "Wooden sword." A solid wooden training sword representing the Japanese katana.

  • Jo (杖): "Staff" or "walking stick." A wooden staff approximately 128 cm (4'2") long. Used for strikes, thrusts, and defensive movements.

  • Tanto (短刀): "Short sword" or "knife." A wooden training knife used to practice defense against blade attacks.

  • Suburi (素振り): "Basic strikes." Solo practice swinging the bokken or jo to develop proper form, power, and focus.

  • Ken-tai-jo (剣体杖): "Sword-body-staff." The principle that weapon movements and empty-hand movements mirror each other—training with weapons improves empty-hand technique.

  • Kumitachi (組太刀): "Paired sword practice." Prearranged sword kata practiced with a partner.

  • Kumijo (組杖): "Paired staff practice." Prearranged jo kata practiced with a partner.​

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TRAINING CONCEPTS & PRINCIPLES

Philosophical and technical ideas that guide practice.​

  • Ki (気): "Energy," "spirit," or "life force." The fundamental energy that flows through all living things. In aikido, we learn to extend and unify our ki with others.

  • Kokyu-ryoku (呼吸力): "Breath power." Power generated through proper breathing coordinated with movement. Not muscular strength, but full-body coordination.

  • Zanshin (残心): "Remaining mind" or "continuing awareness." Maintaining alertness and readiness even after a technique is completed.

  • Musubi (結び): "Connection" or "tying together." The moment of initial contact and blending with your partner's energy.

  • Masakatsu-agatsu (正勝吾勝): "True victory is self-victory." O'Sensei's teaching that the real battle is mastering yourself, not defeating others.

  • Takemusu-aiki (武産合気): "Martial creativity through harmony." The spontaneous creation of technique in the moment, without premeditation. An advanced concept representing complete internalization of aikido principles.

  • Kuzushi (崩し): "Breaking balance." Disrupting uke's equilibrium to make the technique effective. Essential timing and positioning skill.

  • Awase (合わせ): "Blending" or "harmonizing." Moving with your partner's energy rather than opposing it.

  • Shu-ha-ri (守破離): "Protect-break-separate." The three stages of learning: Shu - Follow the forms precisely (beginner); Ha - Break from the forms, explore variations (intermediate); Ri - Transcend forms, create spontaneously (mastery).

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RANKS & PROGRESSION

The grading system in aikido.

  • Kyu (級): "Grade" or "class." The student ranks before black belt, numbered from 6th kyu (beginner) down to 1st kyu (advanced student).

  • Rokukyu (六級): 6th kyu - First rank, white belt.

  • Gokyu (五級): 5th kyu

  • Yonkyu (四級): 4th kyu

  • Sankyu (三級): 3rd kyu

  • Nikyu (二級): 2nd kyu

  • Ikkyu (一級): 1st kyu - Highest student rank before black belt.

  • Dan (段): "Step" or "level." Black belt ranks, numbered from 1st dan upward.

  • Shodan (初段): 1st degree black belt.

  • Nidan (二段): 2nd degree black belt.

  • Sandan (三段): 3rd degree black belt.

  • Yondan (四段): 4th degree black belt.

  • Godan (五段): 5th degree black belt.

  • Rokudan (六段): 6th degree black belt.

  • Shichidan (七段): 7th degree black belt.

  • Hachidan (八段): 8th degree black belt.

  • Kudan (九段): 9th degree black belt.

  • Judan (十段): 10th degree black belt - The highest rank, rarely awarded.

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EQUIPMENT & TRAINING ATTIRE

What you'll wear and use in training.

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  • Gi / Dogi (着 / 道着): "Training uniform." The traditional aikido outfit consisting of jacket (uwagi) and pants (zubon), typically white or off-white.

  • Uwagi (上着): The jacket portion of the aikido uniform.

  • Zubon (ズボン): The pants portion of the aikido uniform.

  • Obi (帯): "Belt." Colored belts indicate rank in many martial arts. In aikido, most practitioners wear white belts until black belt (though some schools use colored belts for kyu ranks).

  • Hakama (袴): Traditional pleated pants worn over the gi by advanced students (typically from 1st kyu or shodan onward). Originally samurai clothing, the seven pleats symbolize seven virtues.

  • Zori (草履): Traditional Japanese sandals worn when walking to and from the mat. Keeps the tatami clean and shows respect for the training space.

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NUMBERS IN JAPANESE

Counting is essential for following along in class.​

  • Ichi (一): One

  • Ni (二): Two

  • San (三): Three

  • Shi / Yon (四): Four (yon preferred, as "shi" means death)

  • Go (五): Five

  • Roku (六): Six

  • Shichi / Nana (七): Seven (nana preferred in counting)

  • Hachi (八): Eight

  • Ku / Kyu (九): Nine

  • Ju (十): Ten

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Understanding these terms is just the beginning. The real learning happens on the mat—through practice, repetition, and guidance from experienced instructors and training partners.

 

Don't worry about memorizing everything at once. You'll naturally absorb these words through consistent training. When in doubt, watch, listen, and follow along. Your body will learn even faster than your mind.

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