Japanese words are usually pronounced with the accent on the second syllable. With few exceptions, vowels are pronounced as follows:
a - pronounced like a in ha, or in far.
e – usually pronounced like a long a as in say. (i.e. Te is pronounced "tay", but if in the middle of a word it is pronounced like e in "set".
i - pronounced like e in key. (i.e. Ki is pronounced "key")
o - pronounced like o in totem.
u - pronounced like u in tune.
GENERAL TERMS |
|
Aiki |
To be in harmony, to join with, love, unity with... (pr. eye-kee) |
Bokken |
Wood sword. Sometimes called a "bokuto". |
Dan |
Suffix used to denote black belt rank. |
Dojo |
Training Hall. |
Domo Arigato Gozaimasu |
Thank you (for what you have done). |
Gi |
Aikido training clothing. Sometime called "dogi" |
Hakama |
Pleated pants worn over dogi. Traditionally, Hakama are worn by students of black belt rank. |
Hanmi |
Natural stance with one foot ahead of the other. |
Hara |
Center of gravity, spiritual point in the abdomen. Also called "tanden" or "center". |
Hidari |
Left (side) |
Irimi |
To enter. |
Jo |
Wood staff (with length approximately from floor to armpit). |
Kaeshi-waza |
Reversal techniques. |
Ki |
Energy, or spirit. |
Kokyu |
Breath or breath power; also refers to a specific hand movement |
Kyu |
Suffix used to denote white belt rank. (Note that some schools use brown and other colors to denote different levels of white belt rank. |
Ma-ai |
Critical distance between persons, spacing, safe distance. |
Migi |
Right (direction, or side) |
Nage |
Defender, person performing the technique. |
Omote |
From the front, or from in front of. |
Onegai Shimasu |
Let’s do this, let’s get started. (pr. O ne guy Shi mas) |
Seiza |
Sitting on your knees. (pr. say-za) |
Suwari-waza |
Techniques practiced while kneeling. |
Tachi-waza |
Standing techniques. Tachi means sword. |
Tanto |
Japanese knife. |
Tenkan |
To pivot, a turning move basic to Aikido. (pr. ten con) |
Tsuki |
Thrusting attack, usually to the stomach or face, using a fist or a weapon. (pr. ski) |
Uke |
Attacker; literally translated as “one who receives” (pr. ooki) |
Ukemi |
Rolling or falling technique used to protect oneself when being thrown or falling down. (pr. oo ke me) |
Ura |
Behind, in back of. |
Ushiro |
Behind, from behind, usually used when describing an attack from the rear. |
Zanshin |
End-position after throwing someone, also the state of mind at that time. |
NAMES OF COMMONLY USED ATTACKS |
|
Kata-dori |
To grab a person's lapel or clothing in the area of their shoulder or chest. ("Dori" is pronounced either as Tori or as Dori) |
Katate-dori |
To grab a person's same-side wrist or hand. |
Katate kosa dori |
To grab a person's opposite-side wrist or hand; a cross-hand grab Also referred to as "Katate dori hontai" |
Mune-Tsuki |
Thrust or punch to the stomach. |
Morote-dori |
To grab both hands, from the front. |
Ryote-Katate-dori |
Using both hands to grab one of your partner's hands. |
Shomen-uchi |
Strike to the forehead, or to the top of the head. |
Ushiro-tekubi-dori |
Grab both hands from behind. |
Ushiro-dori |
Bear-hug from behind. |
Yokomen-uchi |
Strike to the side of the head. |
NAMES OF COMMONLY USED DEFENSES |
|
Ikkyo |
Immobilizing technique #1 |
Nikyo |
Immobilizing technique #2 |
Sankyo |
Immobilizing technique #3 |
Yonkyo |
Immobilizing technique #4 |
Gokyo |
Immobilizing technique #5 |
Irimi-Nage |
"Entering" throw, actually a form of kokyu-Nage. |
Kaiten-Nage |
Wheel throw, uses arm as a lever. |
Kokyu-nage |
Timing throw, breath throw. This is a category which contains a large number of different throws, most of which do not have individual names. |
Koshi-nage |
Hip throw |
Kote-gaeshi |
Wrist twisting technique. Kote is the Japanese word for forearm. |
Shiho-nage |
"Four directions" throw |
Sudori |
Knee-sweep throw |
Tenshi-nage |
"Heaven & earth" throw |