Takemusu Glossary of Techniques
Glossary
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Agastsu
victory over self
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Ai hanmi
both partners have the same foot forward to begin a technique
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Aiki
uniting ki with partner/attacker
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Aikido
the way of harmonizing life’s energy
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Aikidoka
person who practices aikido
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Aiki jinja
shrine dedicated to the Aiki spirit
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Aiki jo
short staff used as part of Ri-ai. The length is approximately 4 ft. 2 inches long
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Aikikai
organization for Aikido under the Ueshiba Family
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Aiki ken
wooden sword used in Aikido as part of Ri-ai
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Aiki no michi
alternate term for Aikido. (michi=do)
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Aiki otoshi
aiki drop; throw
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Aiki taiso
aikido related exercises/warm ups
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Aite
depending on kanji written…could be partner, but classically meant opponent
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Ai uchi
mutual strike; it is striking (kendo) without the fear of being hit
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Ashi
leg or foot
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Atemi
strike or feint to a weak point or area
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Awase
blended/harmonious movement (same character as Ai in Aikido)
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Barai/harai
parry or warding off
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Bo
6 foot long staff; used in karate/kobudo
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Bokken
wooden training sword – used for Aiki-ken. Also known as bokuto
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Bukiwaza
weapons training/techniques
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Butsu karu
colliding vs awaseru (harmonizing) with your attacker
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Chikara
strength/force
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Choku
direct
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Choku tsuki
direct thrust
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Chudan
middle position; compared to jodan-high position; gedan-low position
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Dai
great/important. ex.-Dai Ikkyo
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Dame
wrong; incorrect
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Dan
level, black belt rank
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Deshi
student; disciple
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Do
the way; can be read as michi
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Dogi
clothes used when training; also keikogi
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Dojo
training hall; lit. hall of the way
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Dojo cho
head of the training hall or dojo
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Dori
same as tori; to grab or hold or catch
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Dosa
kokyu dosa; sitting way: do=path or way; sa/za=sitting
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Doshu
leader of the way; head of the Aikikai
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Embukai
public demonstration of martial arts
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Fudo myoo
Buddhist guardian, patron saint of marital arts; also known as Acala
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Fudo shin
immovable mind
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Fukushidoin
assistant instructor; aikido 2 to 3 dan minimum
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Funakogi
undo-rowing exercise, as if pushing and pulling a Japanese oar. Ame noTorifune
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Futari dori/
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futari gake
two persons holding/attacking
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Gaeshi/kaeshi
returning/reversed
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Gasshuku
training camp. Retreat or camp where everyone lives eats and trains together
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Gedan
low (position)
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Gokyo
fifth teaching
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Goshin
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Jitsu
self defense techniques
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Gyaku
reverse, opposite
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Gyaku hanmi
partners have the opposite foot forward
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Hajime
begin; start
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Hanmi
means ‘half body’. Common usage refers to the triangular stance
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Handachi
Nage is sitting (shikko-style) and uke is standing and attacking
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Happo
eight directions
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Harai/barai
sweep or parry
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Henka waza
variation of a technique
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Hidari
left (vs. right)
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Hiji
elbow
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Ibaragi
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Shibu dojo
formerly known as the ‘Iwama’ dojo. Shibu means branch.
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In
Japanese term for yin in Chinese
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Irimi
‘enter body’…the body enters into the attack
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Iwama
name of the town where Morihei Ueshiba lived and had his dojo. The Aiki Shrine is across the street from his home/dojo
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Jiyu waza
free style techniques/techniques done without being pre-set
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Jo
short staff about 4ft 2 inches in length and about 1 inch in diameter
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Jodan
high position
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Jo dori
jo taking or disarming attacker from empty hands
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Ju
ten (number)
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Ju/jiu/jyu
soft (vs ‘hard’)…different kanji than “ten”, but same sound
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Jujigarami
figure ‘ten’ entwining throw
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Jujinage
same technique as above. The meaning is: ‘figure ten throw’
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Kaeshi/gaeshi
returning/reversing
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Kaeshi waza
counter or reversal techniques
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Kaiso
founder (of Aikido…Morihei Ueshiba)
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Kakari geiko
attackers line up and come in one at a time
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Kakudo
angle
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Kamae
‘en guard’ position
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Kami
divinity; gods/spirits of Shinto
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Kamiza
honorary place in the dojo; usually in the ‘front’. Compare to shomen
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Kampai
cheers; a toast
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Kan
intuition
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Kangeiko
winter training on the coldest days of the year
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Kanji
Chinese ideograms for the Japanese language
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Kansetsu
joint (in body)
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Kata
form (movements)
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Katachi
form
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Katadori
grabbing the do-gi at the shoulder
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Katadori
grip at the shoulder, then nage ‘calls out’ the uke in shomen uchi
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Menuchi
form
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Katame waza
pinning techniques; controlling techniques
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/Gatame waza
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*** Should Katai be here (ie.. solid practice info?)
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Katai
aka Katai-Keiko or Kihon – attack starting from a static or solid position
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Katana
Japanese sword-also called ken, to, or tachi
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Katate
one handed
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Katatedori
uke holds the wrist with one hand in gyaku hanmi
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Katsu Hayabi
right now; this moment
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Keiko
training, bringing historic teachings forward
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Keiko gi
training uniform or outfit.
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Ken
sword; also called katana, to or tachi
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Kesa giri
cutting along the line of the lapel; diagonal cut
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Ki
energy; life energy
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Kiai
a piercing shout in martial arts
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Kihon
basics
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Kihonwaza
basic training or basic techniques, starting from a static position (not in motion)
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Kime
focus
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Kimusubi
unifying one’s ki with the attacker
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Kimusubi
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No Tachi
sixth kumitachi; the bokken do not make contact during the form; also otonashi no ken (silent sword)
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Ki-No- Nagare
Japanese sword-also called ken, to, or tachi
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Kogeki
attack
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Kokoro
heart, mind, will; also shin
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Kokyu
breath
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Kokyu ryoku
spiral (breath) strength; breath power
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Kokyu-ho
breath training
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Kokyu nage
breath throw
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Kosa
cross over (gyakute, aihanmi, katatedori)
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Koshi
hip, back
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Koshinage
hip throw, nage and uke’s bodies form a cross at the hip
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Kotegaeshi
reversed wrist, throw
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Kototama
Sometimes ‘kotodama’. Sound mysticism/ cosmology. ‘Sound creates reality’
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Ku
nine (number);sometimes pronounced kyu
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Kubi
neck
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Kubishime
choking the neck
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Kuden
oral teaching/tradition, also Okuden
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Kumi
group or set
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Kumi jo
jo vs jo exercise (10)
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Kumi tachi
bokken vs bokken exercise (6)
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Kuzushi
breaking the balance (unbalancing direction)
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Kyo
for instance, Ikkyo; kyo means lesson or teaching or principle-ikkyo is first principle or teaching
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Kyu
grade or level before black belt or dan
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Ma
distance or space between attacker and receiver
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Ma-ai
harmonious space between training partners
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Mae
front, forward vs. ushiro
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Mae ukemi
front rolls or falls
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Masakatsu
true victory
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Me
eye
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Men
top of head
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Michi
the way, path or road; also do
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Migi
right (hidari, left
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Misogi
purification, cleansing
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Mokuso
meditation
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Moro
both
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Moro-te dori
grasping the forearm with two hands
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Muna
from the traditional name munamotodori or grasping the lapel of the kimono
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Mune
chest, same as above; used interchangeably
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Munedori
gripping the lapel at the chest level; same as munadori
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Musubi
binding together; for instance in ki musubi no tachi
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Nagare
flow
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Nage
throw; the thrower…the person doing the technique-tori
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Nage waza
throwing techniques
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Nin
person
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Ni nin dori
two attackers holding
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Ni nin gake
two person attack
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O
big, great
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Obi
Japanese belt
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Omote
(in front) front, vs. ura
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Osae
press or pin down
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O’Sensei
in the Aikido world, it is Morihei Ueshiba
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Otagai ni rei
bow to each other
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Otoshi
drop; such as aiki otoshi, sumi otoshi or ganseki otoshi
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Oyo waza
application of the basics; often modified for efficiency
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Randori
multiple attackers; means ‘grabbing hold of chaos’ or controlling chaos
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Rei
bow
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Reigi
etiquette
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Renshu
training or practice. See-Keiko
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Riai
movement and principles are the same whether using bokuto, jo or body arts
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Ritsurei
standing bow
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Ryo
both
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Ryo-te dori
uke holds both wrists with both hands
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Sabaki
management or control
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Sankaku
triangle
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Seiza
sitting Japanese style on the knees
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Sensei
teacher-literally the one who has gone before
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Shiboru
to wring or squeeze (a towel)
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Shidoin
instructor as awarded by Aikikai hombu dojo. Minimum 4th or 5th dan plus has own dojo
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Shihan
master instructor. Minimum 6th dan
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Shikko
knee walking
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Shite
the one leading, defender in Aikido…also called tori or nage
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Shomen
front of the dojo; straight ahead
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Shomen uchi
straight overhead strike
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Sode
sleeve of do-gi
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Sode dori
grasping the sleeve. Some styles call it hiji dori
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Sode guchi
sleeve opening
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Sode guchi
grasping the cuff of the sleeve
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Soto
outside
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Suburi
basic movement of bokken and jo
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Sumi
corner
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Sumikiri
sharpness of mind and body
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Suwari waza
seated training
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Tachi
sword
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Tachi
stand/standing
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Tachi dori
taking a sword (bokken) empty handed
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Tachi waza
standing techniques
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Tai
body
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Tai jutsu
body techniques, empty handed techniques
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Tai no henko
body turn; the Founder always started practice with tai no henko
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Tai sabaki
evasive body movement; lit. body management
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Taiso
exercises
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Takemusu
highest principle of Aikido, spontaneous techniques arise when attacked
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Tanken
see tanto
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Tanren
forging techniques
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Tanto/tanken
Japanese knife
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Tanto/tanken
empty handed knife takeaway
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Te
hand
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Tegatana
hand sword; basic hand position
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Tekubi
wrist
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Tenkan
turning
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To
sword-compare to ken, katana, tachi
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Tobu ukemi
leaping break fall
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Tori
person who ‘takes’ or ‘grabs’ the attack. Compare to Nage, Shiite
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Tori fune
rowing exercise. Lit. ‘bird boat’ the heavenly boat that traversed the skies from
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Tsubame Giri
swallow (bird) cut-a continuous cut down then up diagonally; the famous cut by Sasaki Kojiro who fought Miyamoto Musashi
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Tsuka
sword hilt
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Tsuki
thrust
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Uchi
hit
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Uchi
inside, also implies hidden or ‘house’ teachings
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Uchi desshi
student living in the dojo
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Ude
arm
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Uke
one receiving the technique; the attacker
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Ukemi
the one who takes falls and pins after the attack
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Undo
earth to heaven and back again. Also funakogi undo
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Ura
back or behind. Vs. omote
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Ushiro
behind. Vs. mae or in front
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Ushiro ukemi
backward falls
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Waka Sensei
young master; designated next Doshu
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Waza
technique
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Yamabiko
calling out the ‘ki’ of an attack or inviting (sasoi); Saito Sensei called it-Yamabiko no Michi
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Yame
stop
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Yawarakai
letting attacker gently attach to you, while in motion (vs
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Yoko
side
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Yokomen
strike to side of the head
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Yudansha
black belt
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Za
seated
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Zaho
same as suwari
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Zanshin
continued concentration after the technique
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Zengo
turning one direction then another…front then back
Aikido Philosophy
Aikido is primarily a self-defense art. One of its philosophical pillars is the notion of being in Harmony with your attackers rather than being in conflict with them. The ideal of Aikido is not to think of overpowering, competing or defeating an opponent. Instead the focus is to harmonize with them both spiritually and physically. To apply no more of a response than is necessary to protect yourself or others. This gives you options so that you can deal with the conflict at hand, without causing undue harm.
During practice sessions, partners work in harmony with each other, learning when and how to yield, how to lead and guide another person’s movements and how to control an opponent through non-resistive techniques.
Most people find that because of this deeply held philosophy, they can apply the principles learned in the dojo, in their every day lives with profound results.
Movements and Techniques
Aikido techniques express elements of philosophy, psychology, and physics. As we practice the movements, we will, at the same time, train our minds, improve our health and develop self-confidence. Through the physical practice of the self-defense techniques, the Aikido student comes to appreciate and understand the mental and spiritual aspects of Aikido.
Aikido movements emphasize flexibility, balance, and circular motions. The aim of the Aikidoist is to have their mind and body unified and to maintain a calm, alert posture and spirit. Aikido movement originates at the hips and expresses itself through the arms and hands as a dance-like graceful, spherical flowing motion. The beauty of Aikido movements comes from the coordinated motion of the entire body–each part contributing to the integrated sequence of movement.The joint locking techniques, such as those applied to the wrist or elbow, flex the joints in the direction of natural bending. They result in no permanent damage to the joint or tissues even though the techniques are effective and can be painful.