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Aikido & Martial Arts Vocabulary
The emphasis is on the bold syllable
Japanese |
Meaning |
Pronunciation |
Notes |
O-Sensei |
Founder of Aikido |
Oh-Sen-say-e |
Morihei Ueshiba |
Ai |
Harmony or Love |
Eye |
|
Ki |
Spirit or internal energy |
Key |
|
Do |
Way or path |
Doe |
|
Ai-Ki-Do |
Way of spiritual harmony |
Eye-key-doh |
|
Kata |
Shoulder |
Ka-tah |
|
Kate |
Wrist |
Ka-tay |
|
Mune |
Chest |
Moo-nay |
|
Ashi |
Foot |
Ah-she |
|
Koshi |
Hips |
Koh-she |
|
Te |
Hand |
Tay |
|
Tai |
Body |
Tie |
|
Sabaki |
Movement |
Sah-bah-key |
|
Bokken |
Wooden sword |
Boh-ken |
|
Joh |
Short wooden staff |
Joe |
|
Katate-Dori |
Same side grab |
Kah-tah-tay-doe-ri |
|
Kosa-Dori |
Cross hand grab |
Koh-sah-doe-ri |
|
Ryote-Dori |
Two wrist grab |
Rea-yo-tah-doe-ri |
|
Morote-Dori |
Two handed wrist grab |
Moh-roh-tay-doe-ri |
|
Shomen-Uchi |
Over-head knife-hand strike |
Show-men-u-chi |
|
Yokomen-Uchi |
Side of head knife-hand strike |
Yoh-Koh-men-u-chi |
|
Irimi |
Enter in |
ee-rea-me |
|
Tenkan |
Turn |
Ten-kahn |
|
Waza |
Technique |
Wah-zah |
|
Kokyu (kokyu-ho) |
Breath (breathing) |
Koh-cue |
|
Hara |
Central breathing point |
Hah-Rah |
|
Ushiro |
Behind (back) |
ooh-she-roh |
|
Omote-Waza |
Technique moving in front |
Oh-moh-tay |
|
Ura-Waza |
Technique with tenkan (turning) |
ooh-rah-wah-zah |
|
Nage-Waza |
Technique with throw |
Nah-gay-wah-zah |
|
Uke |
Attacker or partner |
ooh-kay |
|
Nage |
Receiver of attack |
Nah-gay |
|
Ukemi |
Falling or rolling to avoid injury |
ooh-keh-me |
|
Sensei |
Teacher |
Sen-say-e |
|
Senpai |
Senior-student |
Sen-pie-e |
|
Kohai |
Junior student |
Koh-hi-e |
|
Tsuki |
Punch |
Tzu-key |
|
Keri |
Kick |
Keh-ree |
|
Rei |
Bow |
Ray |
|
Onegaishemasu |
“Please” |
Oh-nah-guy-she-mas |
say when bowing |
DomoArigatoGozaimashita |
Thank you very much |
Doe-moe-ah-rea-gah-to |
Go-zeye-mash-ta |
KoKyu |
Breathe in/Breathe out |
Koh-Cue |
Breath Power |
Aikidoka |
Aikido Practitioner |
Eye-key-doh-ka |
|
Shomen ni Rei |
Bow to the Shomen (front of dojo) |
Sho-men-knee-ray |
|
Dozo |
Please do (go ahead) |
Doh-zoh |
|
| Hai |
Yes |
Hi |
Said with emphasis |
| Jozu |
Well done |
Joe-zoo |
|
| Shihan |
Master- teacher |
She-hanh |
6th Dan and above |
| Ichi |
1 |
Each |
|
| Ni |
2 |
Knee |
|
| San |
3 |
San |
|
| Shi (yon) |
4 |
She |
|
| Go |
5 |
Go |
|
| Roku |
6 |
Rowk |
|
| Shichi (nana) |
7 |
Sheach |
|
| hachi |
8 |
Hach |
|
| Kyu (ku) |
9 |
Cue |
|
| Ju(ichi)(ni)(san) |
10, 11, 12, 13… |
Jew, Jew-each, jew-knee |
|
| Niju(ichi)(ni)(san) |
20, 21, 22, 23… |
Knee-jew-each |
|
| Seiza |
Traditional sitting style |
Say-zah |
|
| Mukso |
Ready – sitting meditative posture |
Mook-so |
|
| Shodo |
Japanese calligraphy |
Show-doh |
|
| Nihon (nippon) |
Japan |
Knee-hone |
|
| Nihongo |
Japanese language |
Knee-hone-go |
|
| Chikara |
Physical power |
Chee-kah-rah |
|
| Moto |
More |
Moh-toh |
|
| Hidari |
Left |
He-dar-ee |
|
| Migi |
Right |
Me-gee |
|
| Suwarte Kudasai |
Please sit down |
Sue-war-tay-koo-dah-sa- |
|
| Hajime |
Begin |
Hah-ji-may |
|
Owari
(masu)(mashita) |
Complete, completing, completed |
Oh-wa-ri-ma-su |
|
| Hito |
Person |
He-toh |
|
| Onaji |
Same |
Oh-nah-ji |
|
| Tomodachi |
Friend |
Toh-moh-dah-chi |
|
| Iidesu |
I like it (it’s a very good thing) |
ee-des-u |
|
| Moiidesu |
Better |
Moh-ee-des-u |
|
| Kokoro |
Mind, spirit, heart, will |
Koh-koh-roh |
|
| Kokoroe |
Knowledge, rules, directions |
Koh-koh-roh-eh |
|
| Undo |
Exercise |
Oon-doh |
|
| Junbitaiso |
Warm ups (exercises) |
Jume-Bee-Tie-soh |
|
| Suburi |
Sword cutting |
Sue-bu-ri |
|
| Kyo |
Today |
Kyo(u) |
|
| Ashita |
Tomorrow |
Aash-tah |
|
| Kinou |
Yesterday |
Key-know-ooh |
|
| Desu |
Is (are) |
Des(u) |
|
| Deshita |
Was |
Desh-tah |
|
| Dame |
Not allowed |
Dah-may |
|
| Bushido |
Code of the warrior |
Boo-she-doe |
|
| Budo |
Martial arts |
Boo-doh |
“Stop the spear” |
| Dogi or Gi |
Uniform |
Doh-gee or Gee |
|
| Obi |
Belt |
Oh-bee |
|
| Dojo |
Place to learn the way |
Doe-joe |
|
| Misogi |
Purify |
Me-soh-gi |
|
| Shugyo |
Dedication, to endure |
Shoo-gyo |
|
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