London Aikikai - Traditional Aikido in London

Welcome to London Aikikai - One of The Oldest Aikido Dojos in London

Counting in Japanese

A.

Ai-hanmi - Mutual stance. Partners stand facing one another with the same foot forward.

Aiki - Harmonising/Unification of ki

Ashi - Foot

Atemi - A strike, hit or blow

Awase - Blending exercise with a partner using jo or bokken

B.

Bokken - Wooden sword

C.

Chi - Earth

Chudan - Middle level e.g. chudan tsuki - strike to the abdomen

D.

Deshi - Student, pupil, disciple

Do - Way e.g. Aikido = The Way of Aiki

Dojo - Training hall

Domo arigato gozamashita - Thank you very much

Dori - Holding e.g. Katadori - holding the gi at the shoulder

Dozo - Please (used when giving permission)

E.

Etsunen-geiko - Special New Year's Eve practice

F.

Furitama - Clasped hands/tanden shaking following torifune

Futaridori - Being held by two opponents

G.

Gassho - Palms together, as if praying

Gedan - Lower level e.g. Gedan Uchi - strike to legs/lower area of body

Geiko/Keiko - Practice

Gi/Keikogi - Training suit

Giri - Cutting

Gyaku - Reverse

Gyakuhanmi - Opposite stance. Partners stand with opposite feet forward

Gyakute - "Reverse hand". Holding the jo with the palm facing downwards

H.

Hachi no ji gaeshi - Figure of eight circular movement

Haishin-undo - Back stretch exercise

Hajime - Begin

Hanmi - Oblique stance. "Half body"

Hanmi-handachi - Techniques performed with Tori (thrower) seated, Uke (attacker) standing

Happo giri - Eight direction cutting

Hara - Lower abdomen; physical and spiritual centre

Hasso - Holding jo or bokken vertically at right shoulder

Hidari - Left

Hito e mi - Basic back triangle stance. "Making the body small".

Ho - Method e.g. Kokyu ho - breathing method

I.

Irimi - Entering with the body

Irimi-ashi - "Back foot irimi"

Iriminage - Body-entering throw

J.

Jo - Staff/stick, about 4-foot long

Jodan - Upper level e.g. Jodan tsuki - strike to the face

Juji - Cross, like the Roman numeral X

Junbi undo - Warm-up exercises

Jusan no jo - The 13-count jo kata

Jutsu - Techniques

Jyunte - "Normal hand". Holding the jo with the palm facing upwards

K.

Kaiten - Turning

Kaitennage - Rotary throw

Kamae - Posture, stance

Kamiza - Place in the dojo where O-Sensei's picture is placed

Kata - Series of movements e.g. 13-count jo kata

Kata - Shoulder e.g. Katadori - holding the gi at the shoulder

Katana - Japanese sword

Katate - One hand

Katatedori - One hand held

Keiko/Geiko - Practice

Keikogi/Gi - Training suit

Ken - Sword

Kesa - The collar of the gi where it lies across the chest - a blow aimed along this line

Kesagiri - Sword cut along the line of the kesa

Ki - "Energy", "intention"

Kihon - Basic

Kiri - Cutting

Kiriotoshi - Cutting down

Kiza - Sitting on the heels, supported by the toes (in seiza, the toes lie flat on the mat)

Kohai - Junior

Kokyu - Breath

Kokyu-ho - Breathing method

Kokyunage - Breath throw

Kokyu Ryoku - Breath power

Koshi - Hip

Koshinage - Hip throw

Kote - Wrist

Kotegaeshi - Wrist out-turn

Kotehineri - Wrist twist. Another name for Sankyo

Kotemawashi - Wrist turn-in. Another name for Nikyo

Kubi - Neck

Kubishime - Neck choke

L.

M.

Maai - Distance

Mae-ukemi -Forward ukemi

Makiwara - Object used for striking practice

Men - Strike, blow, cut

Menuchi - Same as Shomenuchi

Mi - Body e.g. Irimi - entering with the body

Migi - Right

Misogi - Purification practice

Mitori-Geiko - Learning by observing others

Morotedori - Uke (receiver) holds one of Tori's (thrower's) arms with both hands

Mune - Lapel

Munedori - Holding both lapels together, usually with one hand

Musubi - Uniting, bonding

N.

Nage - Throw or thrower

Nagewaza - Throwing techniques

O.

Obi - Belt

Omote - Front

Onegaishimasu - Please (would you do this for me)

Osae - Pin, immobilisation

Otoshi - Drop

Oyowaza - Applied techniques

P.

Q.

R.

Rei - Bow

Renzoku - Continuous

Renzoku Uchikomi - Continuous striking attack

Ryokata - Both shoulders

Ryote - Both hands

Ryotedori - Both of Tori's hands held

Ryotemochi - Holding with both hands

S.

Sabaki - Movement, motion

Sangaku or Sankaku - Triangle

Sake - Japanese rice wine

Sate - Sit down

Seiza - Sitting posture. "Good sitting"

Sempai - Senior

Sensei - Instructor, teacher

Shikko - Knee walking

Shime - Strangulation

Shimewaza - Strangulation techniques

Shihonage - Four-direction throw

Shizentai - Natural

Shomenuchi - Vertical blow to the head

Sode - Sleeve

Sodedori - Sleeve held

Sokumen - Side

Soremade - Finish

Soto - Outer, outside e.g. Sotokaiten nage

Suburi - Striking, cutting exercises with jo or bokken

Sumiotoshi - "Corner drop"

Suwariwaza - Techniques performed from a seated posture

T.

Tachi - Sword

Tachi - Standing

Tachiwaza - Techniques performed from a standing posture

Tai - Body

Taijutsu - "Body arts"

Tai no henko - Body turning

Taisabaki - Body movement

Tanden - Energy centre in the lower abdomen

Tanren Uchi Makiwara - practice with a bokken

Tanto - Knife

Tatami - Mat

Tate - Stand up

Te - Hand e.g. Katate - one hand, Ryote - two hands

Tegatana - The edge of the hand. "Hand blade"

Ten - Heaven

Tenchinage - Heaven-earth throw

Tenkan - Turning

To - Sword

Toma - A great distance

Tori - The person who throws

Torifune - "Rowing" exercise

Tsugi-ashi - "Glide-walking". "Forward foot irimi"

Tsuki - Thrust, punch

U.

Uchi - A strike

Uchi - Inner e.g. Uchikaiten nage

Uchideshi - A disciple who lives in the dojo and acts as a trainee/attendant to a master

Ude - Arm

Udegarame - "Arm entanglement"

Udekimenage - Another name for jujinage. "Arm focus throw"

Udeosae - Another name for Ikkyo. "Arm pin"

Uke - Receiver of technique

Ukemi - The art of falling. "Receiving with the body"

Ura - Behind, rear

Ura sankaku - The basic back triangle stance

Ushiro - From behind

Ushiro ukemi - Backward breakfall

Ushiro Kiriotoshi - Cutting down from behind

Ushirowaza - Techniques performed against an attack from behind

V.

W.

Waza - Technique

X.

Y.

Yame - Stop

Yokomenuchi - Circular strike to the head

Yoi - Be ready

Z.

Za - Sitting

Zafu - Firm cushion used for sitting in Zazen

Zanshin - Continuing awareness after executing a technique

Zazen - "Sitting Zen"

Zori - Straw sandals

COUNTING IN JAPANESE

Ichi - One

Ni - Two

San - Three

Shi / Yon - Four

Go - Five

Roku - Six

Shichi - Seven

Hachi - Eight

Ku - Nine

Ju - Ten

Ju-ichi - Eleven

Ju-ni - Twelve

Ni-ju - Twenty

Ni-ju-ichi - Twenty one

Ni-ju-ni - Twenty two

San-ju - Thirty

San-ju-ichi - Thirty one

etc.