This document provides definitions of key terms used in aikido. It outlines important techniques like ikkyo, nikyo, and sankyo. It describes various stances, positions and directions. It also defines common attacks practitioners might face like wrist grabs, shoulder grabs and sleeve grabs. Weapon terms are presented for bokken, jo and tanto. The document aims to introduce newcomers to fundamental aikido vocabulary.

1. Aikido Terms
* Bold terms are most important to learn first. May 2010 v 2.1
Participants Morotedori Grab one forearm of opponent with two hands
Nage Person executing a technique (“thrower”) Shomenuchi Hand blade strike to top of head
Uke Person receiving a technique (“receiver”) Yokomenuchi Hand blade strike to side of jaw or neck
Tsuki Thrust, straight punch
Solo Preparation Exercises Kubishime Neck choke
Fune kogi undo Rowing the boat (kogi=row, fune=boat) Tori / Dori Grab (the term “mochi” is also used)
Ikkyo undo Raising and lowering both hand blades Randori Freestyle
together with a rowing motion. Taninjudori Multiple attackers
Zengo undo Ikkyo-undo turning both front and rear
Furi-tama undo Hand shaking (furi=shake, tama=soul) Techniques
Sayu Udefuri Undo Twisting body side to side 1. Ikkyo First control form (ude osae; arm bar)
Shiho giri Four direction cutting/extension 2. Nikyo Second control (kote mawashi; wrist turn)
Happo giri Eight direction cutting/extension 3. Sankyo Third control (kote hineri; arm twist)
Kokyu undo Breathing exercises 4. Yonkyo Fourth control (tekubi osae; forearm pin)
Tekubi furi undo Hand shaking to relax the body 5. Gokyo Fifth control form (ude nobashi; arm stretching)
Tenkan undo Body turning (tenkan) exercise Shihonage Four directions throw
Zenpo kaiten undo Forward rolling exercise Iriminage Entering throw
Ushiro ukemi undo Backward rolling exercise Kotegaeshi Wrist turn out throw
Shikko Knee walking Kokyunage Throw using atemi, timing, movement, unbalancing
Ushiro shikko Backwards knee walking Koshinage Hip throw
Shime Choke
Body Positions, Stances & Steps Katame waza Floor pinning technique
Kamae Stance
Seiza Sitting on knees (lit: correct sitting) Weapons
Tate hiza Sitting on one knee, other knee up Bokken Wooden sword (bo=wood, ken=sword)
Hanmi Half-body stance (used in most aikido schools. Iaito Iaido practice sword (non-sharpened)
Nishio ryu uses shizentai) Jo Wooden staff
Gyakuhanmi Stance opposite to opponent (opposite foot) Katana Samurai sword
Aihanmi Mutual stance to opponent (same foot) Shinken Real sword with live (sharp) blade
Shizentai Natural (neutral) body stance Tanto Knife
Irimi Entering (penetrating the opponent's defense)
Tenkan Turning (a.k.a. tai no tenkan) Weapon Actions
Shikkodachi Straddle stance (horse stance) Ken no tebiki Leading with the sword
Zenkutsudachi One foot forward stance Ken tai ken Sword vs. sword
Furikaburi Raising the sword Jodori Disarming a staff (take away)
Hanmi Handachi Uke standing, nage kneeling Jo no tebiki Leading with the staff
Suwari Waza Uke and nage both kneeling Jo tai ken Sword vs. staff
Tai sabaki Body shifting Tachidori Sword disarming (take away)
Tantodori Knife disarming
Position & Direction
Omote Front (i.e. moving to attacker’s front side) Cuts & Strikes
Ura Back (moving to attacker’s back side) Dogiri Horizontal torso cut
Hidari Left Kiriage Rising (upward diagonal) cut
Migi Right Kesagiri Downward diagonal cut
Zenpo Forward Kiriotoshi Straight downward cut
Ushiro Rear (i.e. an attack from the rear) Yokogiri Horizontal cut
Jodan Upper Tsuki Thrust
Chudan Middle Kirikaeshi Repeating cuts
Gedan Lower
Gyaku Opposite (e.g. Gyakuhanmi) Use of the Hands and Body
Ai Same, mutual (e.g. Aihanmi) Taido Empty handed technique
Soto Outside (e.g. Sotokaiten=turning outside uke's arm) Tegatana Hand blade, edge of hand (lit: “Hand sword”)
Uchi Inside (e.g. Uchikaiten=turning under uke's arm) Kaiten Turning, rotating, returning (e.g. sotokaiten,
uchikaiten; also kaeshi-, -gaeshi, kaesu)
Attacks, Grabs Kirihanashi Severing, cutting off (breaking away from opponent)
Katatedori Single wrist grab (from Gyakuhanmi or Aihanmi) Sotomakikomi Outside wrap
Ryotedori Grab both forearms of opponent Atemi Vital point strike. All aikido techniques include atemi.
Katadori Shoulder grab (usually gyakuhanmi) Gedankuzushi Breaking uke's balance forward and downward.
Ryokatadori Grabbing both shoulders Ki nagare Flowing movement
Ushiro Ryokatadori Grabbing both shoulders from behind Kuzushi Balance breaking
Sodedori Grabbing the sleeve (near the elbow) Nage Throwing (~60% of Aikido is throwing techniques)
Katadori Menuchi Front strike w/ one hand, grab sleeve w/ other hand. Osae Controlling techniques (~40% is pinning)
“Kata” means shoulder but we actually grab the
sleeve on katadori menuchi.