Glossary of Terms:

Aikido : AI – Harmony, Love, Unification, Integration, Coming Together

KI – Spirit

DO – The Way or Path

AiHanmi – Mutual Stance

Aiki – Blending and Perfect Harmony

Aiki Budo – Name used to describe O’Sensei Morihei Ueishiba’s Art in the Pre-War era

Aikidoka – Aikido Practitioner

Aiki Jinja – Aiki Shrine O’Sensei Built at Iwama

Aiki Jo – Staff Techniques according to Aikido Principles

AikiJujutsu/AikiJutsu – Martial Art Systems based on Aiki timing and control

Aikikai – Largest Aikido Organization by O’Sensei

Aiki Ken – Swordsmaship according to Aikido Principles

Aiki O’Kami – Great Spirit of Aikido

Aiki Taiso – Aikido Warm-up Exercise

Ainuki – Simultaneous Escape, Mutual Preservation, the goal of Aikido

Aiuchi – Simultaneous Striking, Mutual Destruction, the Negation of Aikido

Ame No Murakumo Kuki Samuhara Ryu O – The Name of Morihei Ueishibas Guardian Angel the Heavenly, Awesome and Enlightened Dragon Kind; Morihei himself as an Idealized Spirit

Ame No Ukihashi – Floating Bridge of Heaven; symbol of the link between Material and Spiritual realm of existence

Arigato Gozaimasu – Thank You Very Much, greeting between Aikidoka after training

Ashi – Leg or Foot

Atemi – A Strike (Striking Technique)

Awase – Blending, drawing out ones partner by initiating the technique

Bokken – Wooden Sword

Budo – Warrior Way

Chinkon Kishin – Calming the Spirit and Returning to the Source an Aikido Meditiaiton Technique

Daito Ryu – A Martial Art System taught by Sokaku Takeda

Dan – Black Belt Rank

Deguchi,Onisaburo (1871-1947) – O’Moto Kyo Leader and Shinto Shaman who was O’Sensei Ueishibas main Guru

Deshi – Student, Pupil, Disciple

Do – A Way of Life or Path

Dogi – Training Uniform by Martial Artists

Dojo – Training Hall

Doka – Songs of the Way the Didactic poems of Morihei Ueishiba

Dosa – An Exercise

Fuku Shidoin – First Level Instructor

Gaeshi – To Reverse

Gedan – Lower Level Position

GI – Training Uniform

Gyaku Hanmi – Opposite Stance

Hakama – A Divided Pant Like Skirt

Hanmi – Triangular Stance

Hanmi Handachi – Nage is Kneeling and Uke Attacks Standing

Hantai – Opposite or Reverse

Hara – Lower Abdomen

Henka Waza – Techniques Exploring Possible Variations

Hombu Dojo – Main Headquarter Dojo

Iaido – The Art of Drawing or Cutting with the Sword

Iki – The Physical Act of Respiration

Irimi – To Enter

Iwama – Location of Aiki Shrine in Japan

Jiyu Waza – Free Style Practice

Jo – Wooden Staff

Jodan – Upper Level Position

Jujutsu – Japanese Unarmed Fighting Systems

Kaiten – To Revolve or Rotate

Kamae – Stance

Kami – God, Deity, Divine Spirit, Holy Inspiration, Guardian Angel, Enlightened Human Being

Kamiza – The Front of the Dojo where the Scrolls, Photographs of the Founder and so on are displayed

Kansha – Deep and Heartfelt gratitude

Kata – Pre Arranged Exercise

Keiko – Practice Session, Training

Ken – Japanese Sword

Kendo – Japanese Sword Art

Ki Spirit – The Vital Force of the Body

Kiai – A Piercing Scream that Unifies the Body and Spirit

Kihon – Basic Form of a Technique

Ki No Nagare – Fluid form of a Technique

Kohai – Junior or the one with less Aikido Experience

Kokyu – Breath of Energy in Harmony with the Motions of the Body

Kokyu Ryoku – The Power Harnessed through practice of Kokyu

Kumi Tachi – Advanced Sword Practices done with a Partner

Kumi Jo - Advanced Jo Practices

Kuro Obi – Black Belt

Kyu – Ranks Below Dan

MaAi – The Appropriate Distance Between Uke and Nage Harmonic Space

Men – Face or Head

Misogi – Purification of Body and Mind

Musubi – Uniting Bonding

Nage – Throw; the person who throws

Obi - Belt

O’Sensei – “The Great Teacher “ Morihei Ueshiba founder of Aikido

Oyo Waza – Variations on Basic Technique

Randori – Multiple Person Attack

Rei – Salutation Bow

Reigi – Etiquette

Riai – Common Unified Principles of Sword, Staff and Body Techniques

Saho – Etiquette used in performing bows, handling the Jo and Ken etc.

Samurai – Military Retainer (Feudal Period)

Sempai – Senior Student more Experience

Sensei – Teacher, Instructor

Seiza – Formal Sitting Posture

Shidoin – Senior Instructor or Teacher

Shihan – Master Instructor

Shiho – Four Directions

Shikko – Knee Walking for Legs and Hips Strenght exercise

Shomen – Front of Dojo also means front of the Head

Shugyo – Intensive Training, Life long Discipline

Soto - Outside

Suburi – A Single Movement using the Ken or Jo done as a Solo Practice

Suwari Waza – Techniques done from sitting position

Tachi Dori – Techniques of taking an Opponents Sword

Tai Jutsu – Body Arts

Takeda, Sokaku (1859-1943) – Grand Master of the Daito Ryu and Principal Budo Teacher of Morihei Ueishiba

Take Musu Aiki – Term Used by O’Sensei for Advanced level of Aikido Understanding

Tanto – Knife

Tao – Chinese : Do: Path Discipline

Te – Hand

Tegetana – Hand Blade Sword Edge of the Hand

Tsuki – Thrust, Punch

Uchi – To Strike

Ueshiba Morihei – The Founder of Aikido, O’Sensei

Uke – To Receive, A person who receives the Technique or the one being Thrown

Ukemi – The Art of Falling

Ushiro – Back, Behind, Rear

Waza – Technique

Yokomen – Side of Head

Yudansha – Person holding Black Belt Rank

Zanshin – Unbroken Spirit, Concentrated Connection that remains even after the Technique has been done between the Uke and Nage

Zen – A Buddhist Meditation System Emphasizing Direct Realization

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