MARTIAL ARTS

EXPLORER

AIKIDO TERMINOLOGY

STRIKING

 Atemi Strike to a vital point Chudan-zuki A punch to the abdominal 
region Gedan-zuki Downward punch Gyaku-uchi Any reverse strike Gyaku-zuki Punching 
with the rear hand Jodan-zuki Upper strike Kaeshi-zuki Counter thrust Katate-uchi 
One-handed strike Men-uchi Strike to head Mune tsuki Thrust toward knot on obi 
Oi-zuki A step-punch Shomen uchi Overhead strike to the head. Tsuki In Aikido, 
usually a Chudan Oi-zuki Uchi Inside; strike Yokomen uchi Diagonal strike to the 
side of the head. Yoko-uchi A sideward strike 

 
 HOLDS 

 Gyakute-dori To grasp with 
one's hand reversed; to grasp an opponents right wrist with your left hand . Katate 
dori One hand holding one hand. Kosadori hand grab (katatedori ai-hanmi) Morote 
dori Two hands holding one hand. Kata dori Shoulder hold Ryokata dori Grabbing 
both shoulders. Ryote dori Two hands holding two hands. Mune dori One or two hand 
lapel hold. Hiji dori Elbow grab Sode dori Sleeve grab Ushiro eri-dori Neck grab 
from the back (usually the collar :-) Ushiro tekubi dori Wrist grab from the back. 
Ushiro ryote dori As above from the back. Ushiro ryokata dori As above from the 
back. Ushiro kubi shime Rear choke. 

 BODY 
PARTS  

 Hara The abdomen, stomach Abara The ribs Ago 
Jaw Ashi Leg Ashikubi Ankle Atama Head Chototsu Atemi point between the eyes Daitai 
The thigh Denko Atemi point at the floating ribs Dokko Pressure point behind the 
ear Empi The elbow Eri Lapel; collar Fukuto Atemi point just above inside of knee 
Ganmen The face Gekon Pressure point below lower lip Gokoku Pressure point in 
fleshy area between thumb and forefinger Haishu Back of the hand Haito Ridgehand 
Haiwan Back of forearm Hiji Elbow Hiji-zume Atemi point on inside of elbow Hitai 
Forehead Ippon-ken A one-knuckle fist Jinchu Pressure point on upper lip below 
nose Jintai The body Jinkai-kyusho Vital points on the human body Juizo The kidney 
area Junchu Atemi point on the upper lip Kakato The heel of the foot Kakuto Back 
of the wrist (for a strike) Kashi Legs Katate One hand Keichu Atemi point on back 
of neck Kenkokotsu Shoulder blades Kikan Trachea Koko Area between thumb and forefinger 
Kote Wrist Kubi Neck Kubi-naka Atemi point at base of skull Kyusho Vital point 
on body Mata The thigh; the groin Men Head Mikazuki Atemi at corner of jaw Mimi 
Ears Morote Both hands Mukozune Atemi point in middle of shin Mune Chest Murasame 
Pressure points on each side of neck behind collar bone Naike Pressure point on 
inside of ankle Nukite Ends of stiffened fingers Seika-tanden Lower abdomen Seiken 
Front of fist Seikichu The spine Senaka The back of the body Shintai The body 
Shita hara Lower abdomen Shomen Face Shuhai Back of the hand Shuto Edge of hand 
Sode Sleeve Sokei Groin Sokuso Tips of toes (for kicking) Sokutei Bottom of heel 
Sokuto Edge of foot Tanden Abdomen Tegatana The arm as sword Teisho Heel of the 
hand Tekubi Wrist Te-no-hira Palm of hand Tento Atemi point on top of head Tettsui 
Hammer fist Te-ura Inside of wrist Ude The arm Uraken Back of fist Waki Side; 
armpit Wakikage Atemi point in armpit Yokomen Side of the head Yubi Finger Zengaku 
Forehead Zenshin The entire body Zenwan Forearm 

 COMMANDS  

 Ato Move back 
Hajime Start Hayaku Quickly Kiyotsukete Be careful Koutai Change Mate Wait Mawatte 
Turn around Mokuso Close the eyes, meditation Suwatte Sit down Tatte Raise Yame 
Stop Yoi Ready Yukuri Slow Yuru yaka ni Smooth Shinzen ni rei Bow to shrine Sensei 
ni rei Bow to sensei Joseki ni rei Bow to the high section of the dojo Kamiza 
ni rei Bow to kamiza (gods) Otagai ni rei Bow to each other Rei Bow 

  WORDS 

 Arigato 
Thank you (informal) Domo Thanks (informal) Domo arigato Thank you (formal) Dozo 
Please go ahead Gomen nasai Excuse me, I'm sorry Sumimasen Excuse me (to attract 
attention) Hai Yes Iie No Wakarimasu I understand 

 
DIRECTIONS 

 Mae Forward Migi Right 
Hidari Left Ushiro Rearward, behind Omote Front Ura Back Uchi Inside Soto Outside 
Jodan High Chudan Middle Gedan Low Chokkaku Right angles Heiko Parallel Massugu 
Straight ahead Naname Diagonal Otoshi Dropping Shomen Straight ahead Ue Up Yoko 
Horizontal, to the side Asoko Over there Gyaku Reverse, opposite, inverted Hantai 
The other way around Kiku Lower Komi Coming close or drawing near. Soko There, 
that position Hantai-ni In the opposite direction Happo The eight sides; in all 
directions Ichimonji A straight line Chokusen A straight line Naka Center Naka 
ni To the center Waki Side; armpit Zenpo Front 

 
 General  

 Uchi deshi A live-in 
student Budo Martial way Aikido The way of harmony with ki Zanshin lit remaining 
spirit, balanced and aware state Satori Enlightenment Misogi Purification ceremony 
Musubi Ending, conclusion, union Shugyo Training, pursuit of knowledge Tatami 
Mat Uke Receiver of the technique (attacker) Nage Doer of the technique (defender) 
Bokken Wooden sword Bokuto Wooden sword Jo Short staff (~130 cm length) Shinai 
Bamboo sword Enten-jizui Moving and turning freely Genshin Intuition Giri Duty; 
What you have to do Happo-baraki To be totally aware of ones surroundings Hiki 
Pull; tug Hineri A twist Hito-e-mi Blending with motion of attack Ido Movement 
Idori Techniques practiced from seiza Ikki-ni In one breath; instantly Ima Now 
Irimi Entering Kaiten Rotation Kaiten-juki The axis of rotation of a technique 
Kan Intuition Karame To tie up; to arrest Karami An entanglement Karui-geiko Light, 
easy practice Kashaki-uchi Continuous attack Kihon Fundamental Kokoro Spirit, 
will, heart, intuition, mood Kokoro-gamae Mental attitude Kokutsu Backward leaning 
Koryu Old style Kujiki Strain Kushin Springing in to attack Kusshinuke To dodge 
an attack Maai Combat engagement distance Maki Wrapped around Mawashi A turn; 
a rotation Moku roku A catalog of techniques Mokuso Meditation Munen mushin Striking 
without conscience Munen muso The goal of zazen Nagashi Flow Ninjo What you have 
to do Nuki Pull Oji A response Osae Press; push; to immobolize Randori Free style 
Ritsurei A standing bow Sabaki Body motion Saho The left direction Sankaku Triangle 
Seme-guchi An opening for an attack Semete Attacker Shi A (samurai) person Shiki 
Ceremony, style, form Shikko On one's knees Shinshin Mind and body Shinshin shugyo 
Mind and body training Shinshin toitsu Mind and body unified Shita Down Shizoku 
Safe spot Sho Small Shoshin Beginners mind Shuchu Concentration Shugeki Attack 
Sudori Momentum Sukui Scooping Tai-atari Body contact Tai-chikara External power 
(muscle) Taisabaki Body motion Tanin-geiko Practicing with multiple attackers 
Taoshi To tip over Tateki Multiple attackers Tateki-geiko Practicing with multiple 
attackers Tateki-uchi Fighting with multiple attackers Tenkan Pivot Tsukami To 
seize (and immobilize) Uchima Distance where you can strike by taking a single 
step Uchimata The inside of the throw Uchite The attacker Uki Floating 

 Postures 

 
Hanmi Half forward stance. Hitoemi Equal stance, feet parallel forward Iai goshi 
Hips lowered, stable position. Iai hiza, Tate hiza Kneeling on one calf. Kamae 
Posture, stance. Kiza Kneeling, but up on the toes. Seiza Kneeling on both calves. 
Tachi Standing. Kasumi Arms crossed over to hide technique (mountain mist). Kongo 
Blade vertical in front of face.