Helpful Aikido Terms and pronuciations
Along with all of the techniques you will be learning, you will also learn the names for these techniques. Below is a list of helpful Aikido terms for common defenses, attacks, and Japanese terms and their meanings. Contact us to schedule your first class!
Aikido Defenses
Name |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
Kote gaeshi |
koh-tay-guy-shee |
throw accomplished by twisting the partner’s wrist. |
Nikkyo |
Nee-kyo |
Bends partners wrist in two angles and cuts through the center of the body making him/her drop to the ground. *2nd wrist technique / control. |
Sankyo |
Saan-kyo |
*3rd wrist technique / control. |
Shiho nage |
She-hoh nah-gay |
Four direction throw. |
Sumi otoshi |
Soo-mee oh-toe-she |
Corner Drop. |
Tai no henko |
koh-tay-guy-shee |
Tenkan blending technique. |
Tenchi nage |
koh-tay-guy-shee |
“Heaven” and “Earth” throwing technique. One hand points to the heaven and the other to the ground to throw. |
Yonkyo |
koh-tay-guy-shee |
Control / Throw using pressure point near partner’s wrist. *4th wrist technique / control. |
Aikido Attacks
Name |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
Gyaku te tori |
gyah-koo-tay-toh-ree |
cross-hand grab, e.g. left to left |
Hiji dori |
hee-jee-doh-ree |
elbow grab |
Kata dori |
kah-tah-doh-ree |
shoulder grab |
Kata menuchi |
kah-tah-men-oo-chee |
shoulder grab and strike to the head |
Katate dori |
kah-tah-tay-doh-ree |
same side wrist grab, e.g. right to left |
Katate dori han tai |
kah-tah-tay-doh-ree hahn-tie |
same as gyaku te tori |
Men uchi |
men-oo-chee |
strike to the head |
Morote dori |
moh-roh-tay-doh-ree |
both hands grab partner’s wrist |
Mune dori |
moo-neh-doh-ree |
lapel grab |
Mune tsuki |
moo-neh-tskee |
first strike to chest or stomach |
Ryote dori |
ree-oh-tay-doh-ree |
two hands grab both of partner’s wrists |
Shomen uchi |
shoh-men-oo-chee |
straight strike to the top of the head |
Ushiro eri dori |
oo-shee-roh eh-reedoh-ree |
collar grab from behind |
Ushiro hiji dori |
oo-shee-roh hee-jeedoh-ree |
elbow grab from behind |
Ushiro kata dori |
oo-shee-roh kah-tahdoh-ree |
shoulder grab from behind |
Common Japanese Aikido terms
Name |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
Aikido |
eye-key-doe |
Ai = harmony, Ki = spirit, Do = The Way or Path |
Aikidoka |
eye-key-doe-kah |
A person who practices Aikido. |
Aiki taiso |
eye-key-tie-so |
Aikido exercises |
Atemi waza |
ah-tay-me wah-zah |
Striking techniques |
Bokken |
bow-ken |
Wooden sword used in practice. |
Bushido |
boo-she-do |
Warrior’s Code. The way of the warrior. |
Dan |
dawn |
Aikido grade holder, black belt rank. |
Deshi |
day-she |
Student, pupil, disciple. |
Dojo |
doe-joe |
Training hall (formally a term used by Buddhist priests in reference to their place of worship). |
Doshi |
doe-she |
Comrade, friend (used among fellow Aikidoka) |
Gaeshi |
guy-eh-she |
To reverse |
G |
ghee |
Training uniform. |
Hakama |
haw-kah-ma |
A divided, pant-like skirt. |
Hanmi |
hawn-me |
A posture in which one foot is advanced one step and the body weight is distributed equally on both feet. Triangular stance. |
Hanmi handachi |
hawn-me |
hawn-dahchee |
Nage |
nah-gay |
(thrower) is kneeling and partner (the attacker), approaches from a standing position. |
Hantai |
iawn-tie |
In reverse order. |
Hara |
har-ah |
The center of existence. Lower abdomen, physical and spiritual center. |
Hidari |
he-dah-ree |
Left (direction). |
Hiji |
he-gee |
Elbow. |
Irime |
ee-ree-mee |
To enter; entering. |
Jiyu |
gee-you |
Free style. |
Jiyu waza |
gee-you wah-zah |
Free style techniques/practice. |
Jo |
joe |
Wooden staff, usually about 4 feet by 15/16″ and commonly made of white oak. |
Kaiten |
kie-ten |
To revolve or rotate. |
Kata |
kah-tah |
Shoulder. Also means ‘form’ practice of prearranged exercises(s). |
Katate |
kah-tah-tay |
One hand (left or right). |
Keiko |
kay-ko |
Practice session; training. |
Ken |
ken |
Japanese sword. |
Ki |
key |
Spirit…the vital force of the body; Universal Energy; a stream or flow of positive energy. |
Kiai |
key-eye |
A piercing scream or cry with practical and psychological value meaning – “Meeting of the Spirits”. |
Kokyu |
coke-you |
Breath power…the coordination of ki flow with breathing. |
Kokyu dosa |
coke-you doe-sah |
A method of off-balancing and pinning your partner with your ‘ki’ instead of with your physical power. |
Koshi |
ko-shee |
Hips, waist (also spelled Goshi). |
Kubi |
coo-bee |
Neck. |
Kyu |
cue |
Aikido rank, class. A mudansha or undergraduate. |
Maai |
mah-eye |
Distance between uke and nage, meaning “harmony of space.” |
Men |
men |
Face, head |
Migi |
mee-ghee |
Right (direction). |
Nage |
nah-gay |
Throw…the person who throws. |
Obi |
oh-bee |
Belt. |
O’Sensei |
Oh-sen-say |
The great teacher. (Morehei Ueshiba) |
Randori |
ran-door-ri |
Multiple attack. |
Rei |
ray |
Salutation, bow. |
Ryote |
ree-oh-tay |
Both hands. |
Samurai |
sa-mu-rye |
Military retainer (feudal period). |
Sempai |
sem-pie |
Senior student. |
Sensei |
sen-say |
Teacher, instructor. |
Seiza |
say-zah |
Formal sitting posture. |
Shiho |
she-ho |
Four directions. |
Shimi |
she-me |
To choke. |
Shodan |
show-dawn |
Holder of the first grade black belt. |
Shomen |
show-men |
Front or top of the head. |
Shugyo |
shoe-gyoo |
Hardship. |
Suburi |
sue-boo-ree |
A single movement using the ken or jo, done as a solo practice. |
Sutemi |
sue-tay-me |
A hard fall…literally meaning to throw or sacrifice the body. |
Suwari waza |
sue-wah-ree wah-zah |
Sitting techniques. |
Tachi |
tah-chee |
Japanese sword. |
Tachi-dori |
tah-chee doe-ree |
Techniques of taking an opponents’ sword. |
Taijutsu |
tie-jut-sue |
Body arts. The techniques of Aikido done without weapons. |
Tai no henko |
tie-no-henko |
Basic blending practice. |
Tanto |
tahn-toe |
Wooden knife. |
Te |
tay |
Hand. |
Tegatana |
tay-gah-tah-nah |
Hand blade. Sword edge of the hand. |
Te kubi |
tay-koo-be |
Wrist. |
Tenchi |
ten-chee |
Ten=heaven, chi=earth. A position of the hand, one high (up) and one low (down). |
Tsuki |
tski |
Thrust. |
Uchi |
ooh-chee |
To strike. |
Uke |
ooh-kay |
A person who receives an attack. Generally speaking. |
Ukemi |
ooh-kem-me |
Breakfall. The art of falling away from harm. |
Ushiro |
ooh-she-row |
Back, behind, rear. |
Waza |
wah-zah |
Techniques. |
Yokomen |
yoh-ko-men |
Side of the head. |
Yudansha |
you-dawn-sha |
Black belt grade holder(s). |
Aikido Federation Links
Japanese Aikido Federation
South Korean Aikido Federation