| Japanese word or term |
(Phonetic Pronunciation) |
Definition |
| Ai | (eye) | Harmony, unity to join or become one with |
| Ki | (key) | Spirit, life force or vital energy, the essence of universal creative energy |
| Do | (doe) | the way or the path |
| Dojo | (doe-joe) | the place where the way is revealed |
| Gi | (ghee) | white training uniform |
| Hanmi | (hawn-mee) | the relaxed, triangular stance of Aikido |
| Hara | (hah-rah) | the lower abdomen |
| Hidari | (hee-dar-ree) | Left (direction) |
| Irimi | (ee-ree-mee) | enter |
| Kamae | (kah-mye) | a posture or stance of readiness |
| Keiko | (kay-koe) | study or practice |
| Kyu | (kyoo) | white belt grade |
| Migi | (mee-ghee) | Right (direction) |
| Nage | (nah-gay) | to throw, the person who throws |
| Obi | (oh-bee) | belt (part of the gi) |
| Omote | (oh-moe-tay) | to the front |
| O-Sensei | (oh-sen-say) | Great Teacher - The title used for the Founder of Aikido |
| Rei | (ray) | to bow |
| Seiza | (say-zah) | formal sitting position |
| Sensei | (sen-say) | Teacher |
| Shikko | (shi-koh) | knee walking |
| Tenkan | (ten-kawn) | to turn |
| Uke | (oo-kay) | to receive, the person being thrown |
| Ukemi | (oo-keh-me) | technique of falling; The first and most important step to developing good Aikido techniques is
learning to take ukemi. |
| Ura | (oo-rah) | to the back or around |
| Waza | (wah-zah) | technique |
| Japanese word or term |
(Phonetic Pronunciation) |
Definition |
| Abunai! | (ah-boo-nye) | Watch out! Be careful! |
| Arigato Gozaimashita! | (ah-ree-gah-toe go-zye-mahsh-tah) | Thank you for what you did! |
| Do itasimasite! | (doe ee-tahsh-ee-mahsh-teh) | You're welcome! Don't mention it. |
| Dozo! | (doe-zoe) | Please! - as in Go ahead! (This may be an instruction from your teacher when they
want you to begin practice after they have demonstrated a technique.) |
| Gomen nasai! | (goe-mehn nah-sigh) | I'm sorry! Forgive me. |
| Yame. | (yah-meh) | Please stop. |
| Konban wa. | (con-bahn wah) | Good evening. |
| Konnichi wa. | (con-ee-chee wah) | Good afternoon |
| Mokuso! | (moke-sew) | Please come to attention; make yourself ready for keiko; Meditate! |
| Ogenki desuka? | (oh-gehn-key dehs-kah) | How are you? |
| Ohayo gozaimasu! | (oh-high-oh go-zye-mahs) | Good morning. |
| Onegaishimasu! | (oh-neh-guy-she-mahs) | Thank you for what you are about to do; Let's practise |
| Oyasumi nasai | (oh-yah-soo-mee nah-sigh) | Good night. |
| Sayonara | (sigh-oh-nah-rah) | Good bye |