Glossary

The Japanese words you will hear on the mat: stances, attacks, principles and common terms. Hover (or long-press on a phone) a Japanese term anywhere on the site to see its definition.

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A

Ai hanmi相半身

TermTori and uke stand with the same foot forward (right–right or left–left).

Ai hanmi katate dori相半身片手取り

AttackSame-side wrist grab: uke’s right hand grabs tori’s right wrist (or left to left), both in the same stance.See techniques

Aiki nage合気投げ

PrincipleBlending throw: uke is thrown by timing and leading their momentum, without a joint lock.See techniques

Aiki otoshi合気落とし

PrincipleAiki drop: tori enters beside uke, lifts uke’s legs from behind the knees and drops uke backward.See techniques

Aikido合気道

TermThe “way of harmonizing energy”, the martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba.

Atemi当身

TermA strike used to distract or unbalance uke during a technique.

C

Chudan tsuki中段突き

AttackStraight punch to the stomach.See techniques

D

Dan段

TermA black-belt grade, counting up from 1st dan (shodan).

Dojo道場

TermThe training hall.

Dori取り

TermGrab, hold. Pronounced “dori” at the end of an attack name (katate dori).

G

Gokyo五教

PrincipleFifth teaching: like ikkyo, but the wrist is held from above; used against knife attacks.See techniques

Gyaku hanmi逆半身

TermTori and uke stand with opposite feet forward (right–left).

H

Hanmi半身

TermThe basic triangular stance, one foot forward, body turned half sideways.

Hanmi handachi waza半身半立ち技

StanceHalf-standing techniques: tori kneels while uke attacks standing up.See techniques

Henka変化

TermVariation: changing from one technique to another as uke’s reaction changes.

Hiji kime osae肘極め抑え

PrincipleElbow lock pin: uke’s straightened arm is locked at the elbow to bring uke down and hold them.See techniques

I

Ikkyo一教

PrincipleFirst teaching: tori controls uke’s elbow and wrist and brings uke face down into an arm pin.See techniques

Irimi入り身

TermEntering: moving straight into and past the line of attack.

Irimi nage入り身投げ

PrincipleEntering throw: tori enters behind uke, leads uke around by the neck and throws as uke comes back up.See techniques

J

Jodan tsuki上段突き

AttackStraight punch to the face.See techniques

Juji garami十字絡み

PrincipleCrossed-arms entanglement: uke’s arms are crossed and locked against each other for the throw.See techniques

K

Kamae構え

TermReady posture, the guard taken before an exchange.

Kata型

TermForm: a set, pre-arranged sequence practiced to learn the principles of a technique.

Kata dori肩取り

AttackGrab of the keikogi at the shoulder.See techniques

Kata dori men uchi肩取り面打ち

AttackShoulder grab followed by a strike to the head with the free hand.See techniques

Katate dori片手取り

AttackOne-hand wrist grab, in gyaku hanmi: uke’s left hand grabs tori’s right wrist, or the reverse.See techniques

Kokyu呼吸

TermBreath; the coordinated power of breath and whole-body movement.

Kokyu ho呼吸法

PrincipleBreath power exercise, usually kneeling from ryote dori: tori unbalances uke with the whole body and holds them down.See techniques

Kokyu nage呼吸投げ

PrincipleBreath throw: a throw by timing, extension and whole-body movement rather than a joint lock.See techniques

Koshi nage腰投げ

PrincipleHip throw: tori lowers under uke and throws uke over the hips.See techniques

Kote gaeshi小手返し

PrincipleWrist turn-out: uke’s wrist is turned outward so uke falls backward, usually followed by a pin.See techniques

Kubi nage首投げ

PrincipleNeck throw: tori controls uke’s head and neck to throw uke backward.See techniques

Kyu級

TermA student grade below black belt. Kyus count down to 1st kyu, the last grade before shodan.

M

Ma-ai間合い

TermThe distance and timing between tori and uke.

Morote dori諸手取り

AttackTwo-hand grab on one of tori’s forearms.See techniques

Muna dori胸取り

AttackGrab of the keikogi lapels at chest height.See techniques

N

Nage投げ

TermThrow. Also another name for tori, the person who throws.

Nikyo二教

PrincipleSecond teaching: the wrist is bent and turned inward toward the elbow, then pinned.See techniques

O

Omote表

Term“Front” form: tori enters in front of uke, moving forward across uke’s line.

Osae抑え

TermPin, immobilization on the ground.

Otoshi落とし

TermDrop: a throw that brings uke straight down.

R

Ryokata dori両肩取り

AttackUke grabs both of tori’s shoulders from the front.See techniques

Ryote dori両手取り

AttackUke grabs both of tori’s wrists from the front, one with each hand.See techniques

S

Sankyo三教

PrincipleThird teaching: the wrist is twisted so the lock spirals up the arm to the shoulder, then pinned.See techniques

Seiza正座

TermFormal kneeling position, sitting on the heels.

Shiho nage四方投げ

PrincipleFour-direction throw: tori raises uke’s arm, turns under it and cuts down, throwing uke backward.See techniques

Shikko膝行

TermKnee walking, the way of moving in suwari waza.

Shomen uchi正面打ち

AttackVertical strike down onto the top of the head with the edge of the hand, like a sword cut.See techniques

Sode dori袖取り

AttackGrab of the sleeve, near the elbow.See techniques

Sokumen irimi nage側面入り身投げ

PrincipleSide entering throw: tori enters at uke’s side and throws uke backward with an arm across the chest.See techniques

Soto kaiten nage外回転投げ

PrincipleOutside rotary throw: tori moves outside uke’s arm, bends uke forward and throws uke into a forward roll.See techniques

Soto kaiten sankyo外回転三教

PrincipleSankyo entered by turning outside uke’s arm (outside turn).See techniques

Sumi otoshi隅落とし

PrincipleCorner drop: uke is unbalanced diagonally backward, toward their weak “corner”.See techniques

Suwari waza座り技

StanceKneeling techniques: tori and uke both work on their knees, moving in shikko.See techniques

T

Tachi waza立ち技

StanceStanding techniques: tori and uke are both on their feet.See techniques

Tai sabaki体捌き

TermBody movement: the turns and steps that take tori off the line of attack.

Tenchi nage天地投げ

PrincipleHeaven-and-earth throw: one hand rises while the other goes down, splitting uke’s balance.See techniques

Tenkan転換

TermTurning: pivoting around to blend with uke’s movement.

Tori取り

TermThe person who performs the technique (also called nage).

Tsuki突き

TermThrust or straight punch.

U

Uchi打ち

TermStrike, usually with the edge of the hand.

Uchi kaiten nage内回転投げ

PrincipleInside rotary throw: tori passes under uke’s arm, bends uke forward and throws uke into a forward roll.See techniques

Uchi kaiten sankyo内回転三教

PrincipleSankyo entered by passing under uke’s arm (inside turn).See techniques

Ude garami腕絡み

PrincipleArm entanglement: a lock on uke’s bent arm that controls the elbow and shoulder.See techniques

Ude kime nage腕極め投げ

PrincipleArm-lock throw: uke’s straightened arm is locked at the elbow to throw uke forward.See techniques

Uke受け

TermThe person who attacks and receives the technique.

Ukemi受身

TermThe art of receiving a technique safely: rolls and breakfalls.

Uki otoshi浮き落とし

PrincipleFloating drop: uke is drawn forward and dropped as tori lowers their center.See techniques

Ura裏

Term“Back” form: tori moves behind uke, turning (tenkan) to lead uke around.

Ushiro後ろ

TermBehind. Ushiro attacks come from behind tori.

Ushiro eri dori後ろ襟取り

AttackUke grabs the back of tori’s collar from behind.See techniques

Ushiro katate dori kubishime後ろ片手取り首絞め

AttackFrom behind, uke holds one of tori’s wrists and chokes tori with the other arm.See techniques

Ushiro kiri otoshi後ろ切り落とし

PrincipleRear cutting drop: from behind uke, tori cuts down across the shoulders and drops uke backward.See techniques

Ushiro ryohiji dori後ろ両肘取り

AttackUke grabs both of tori’s elbows from behind.See techniques

Ushiro ryokata dori後ろ両肩取り

AttackUke grabs both of tori’s shoulders from behind.See techniques

Ushiro ryote dori後ろ両手取り

AttackUke grabs both of tori’s wrists from behind.See techniques

W

Waza技

TermTechnique.

Y

Yokomen uchi横面打ち

AttackDiagonal strike to the side of the head or neck with the edge of the hand.See techniques

Yonkyo四教

PrincipleFourth teaching: pressure on a nerve point of the forearm controls uke down to the pin.See techniques