| Japanese Word |
Approximate Pronunciation |
Approximate Meaning |
| Aikido |
eye-key-doe |
Ai=harmony, Ki=spirit, Do=The Way or Path |
| Aiki Taiso |
eye-key tie-so |
Aikido exercises |
| Atemi Waza |
ah-teh-mee Wah-zah |
Striking techniques |
| Bokken |
Bow-ken |
Wooden sword used in practice |
| Bushido |
Boo-she-doe |
Warrior's Code. The way of the warrior |
| Dan |
Dahn |
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 aikidoists) |
| Gaeshi |
Guy-eh-she |
To reverse |
| Gi |
Gee |
Training costume |
| Hakama |
Haw-kah-ma |
A divided, pant-like skirt |
| Hanmi |
Han-me |
A posture in which one foot is advanced one step and the body weight is distributed equally on both feet |
| Hanmi Handachi |
Hawn-me Han-dah-chee |
Nage (thrower) is kneeling and opponent (the attacker), approaches from a standing position |
| Hantai |
Han-tie |
Reverse |
| Hara |
Ha-rah |
Lower abdomen, physical and spiritual center |
| Hidari |
He-dah-ree |
Left (direction) |
| Hiji |
He-jee |
Elbow |
| Irimi |
Ee-ree-me |
Entering |
| Jiyu |
Jee-you |
Free style |
| Jiyu Waza |
Jee-you Wah-zah |
Free style techniques/practice |
| Jo |
Joe |
Wooden staff |
| Kaiten |
Kai-ten |
To revolve or rotate |
| Kata |
Kah-tah |
Shoulder. Also means "form practice of pre-arranged exercise(s)" |
| Katate |
Kah-tah-tay |
One hand (right or left) |
| 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 |
| Kokyu |
Co-kyuh |
Breath power, the coordination of ki flow with breathing |
| Kokyu Dosa |
Co-kyuh Doe-sah |
A method of off-balancing and pinning your partner with your "ki" instead of with your physical power |
| Koshi |
Koh-she |
Hips, waist |
| Kubi |
Coo-bee |
Neck |
| Kyu |
Cue |
Aikido rank, class. One who is not yet a black belt. |
| 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, or the person who throws |
| Obi |
Oh-bee |
Belt. |
| O-Sensei |
Oh-sen-say |
The great teacher, Morehei Ueshiba |
| Randori |
Ran-doh-ri |
Multiple attack |
| Rei |
Ray |
Salutation, bow |
| Ryote |
Ryou-tay |
Both hands |
| Samurai |
Sa-moo-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 |
| Shime |
She-may |
To choke |
| Shodan |
Show-dahn |
Holder of the first grade black belt |
| Shomen |
Show-men |
Front or top of the head |
| Suburi |
Sue-boo-ree |
A single movement using the ken or jo, done as a solo practice |
| Sutemi |
Sue-teh-me |
A sacrifice throw |
| Suwari Waza |
Sue-wah-ree Wah-zah |
Sitting techniques |
| Tachi |
Tah-chee |
Japanese sword, or "standing" |
| Tachi-Dori |
Ta-chee Doe-ree |
Techniques of taking an opponents sword |
| Taijutsu |
Tie-ju-tsoo |
Body arts. The techniques of aikido done without weapons |
| Tai No Henko |
Tie-no-hen-ko |
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-bee |
Wrist (literally, "neck of the hand") |
| Tenchi |
Ten-chee |
Ten=heaven, Chi=earth. A position of the hands, one high (up) and one low (down) |
| Tsuki |
Tsu-kee |
Thrust |
| Uchi |
Oo-chee |
To strike |
| Uke |
Oo-kay |
A person who receives an attack. Generally speaking, "uke" refers to the person being thrown |
| Ukemi |
Oo-ke-me |
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-dahn-sha |
Black belt grade holder(s) |
| Numbers |
| ichi |
ee-chee |
one |
| ni |
knee |
two |
| san |
sahn |
three |
| shi |
she |
four |
| go |
goh |
five |
| roku |
roh-ku |
six |
| shichi |
she-chee |
seven |
| hachi |
hah-chee |
eight |
| kyu |
cue |
nine |
| ju |
jyu |
ten |
| Helpful Phrases |
| Ohayo gozaimasu |
Ohio go-zah-ee-mahs |
Good morning(before 10am) |
| Konnichi wa |
Kone-knee-chee wah |
Hello! Good day (after 10:00 am) |
| Komban wa |
Comb-bahn wah |
Good evening |
| Oyasumi nasai |
Oh-yah-sue-me nah-sigh |
Good night (before bedtime) |
| Sayonara |
Sihh-yoh-nah-rah |
Good-bye |
| Arigato gozaimasu |
Ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah-ee-mahss |
Thank you |
| Sensei, domo arigato Gozaimashita |
Sen-say, doe-moe ah-ree gah-toe go-zah-ee-mah-she-tah |
Sensei (teacher), thank you very much for what you have done. (spoken by students at the end of aikido class.) |
| Onegai Shimasu |
Oh-nigh-guy she-mahss |
I make a request. (spoken when one wishes to practice with a fellow student or teacher) |
| Gomen Nasai |
Go-men nah-sigh |
I'm sorry, excuse me |
| Do itashimashite |
Doe ee-tah-she-mah-she-tay |
Don't mention it. You're welcome |
| Ogenki Desu ka |
Oh-ghen-key des-kah |
How are you? |
| Okagesama de |
Oh-kah-ghe-sama day |
Fine, thank you |
| Hajimemashite |
Haji-may-mah-she-tay |
Nice to meet you |
