Glossary

mutual oblique position/stance take up by nage & uke

harmony with ki (spirit), a principle applied in the execution of technique, similar in character to ju (see ju)

a name used to describe Morihei Ueshiba’s aikido before World War 2

unarmed self-defence systems utilising the principle of aiki

sport aikido

a committed practitioner of aikido

striking or impact applied against physiological weaknesses

to blend with the opponent’s direction of movement and manner of attack

corresponding to ordinary walking

wooden sword, corresponding in shape to a katana, or samurai sword, used in aikido training

martial; pertaining to military combat

martial way

central alignment

degree/ranking designation for black belt grades

way; a spiritual path to follow

a place for teaching the ‘way’; a training hall for teaching the martial ‘ways’

chief instructor of a dojo

'Way Leader', used to describe the head of the Aikikai Foundation and the international movement of traditional aikido, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the Founder’s son and heir

a term used in Tomiki Aikido to describe the competitive performance of a sequence of aikido techniques (kata) by tori and uke, acting in partnership

to seize the initiative at the instant of attack and deliver a counter-attack

self-defence

reverse oblique position/stance take up by nage & uke

physical/spiritual exercise

divided skirt-like trousers, worn as an item of traditional Japanese clothing by aikido dan (black belt) grades

aikido techniques applied when nage is seated and uke is standing

the 'belly', the centre of gravity within the body located in the lower abdomen and said to to be the seat of ki and inner strength. Also described by the Buddhist term tanden.

left

techniques that attack the elbow joints, and are applied against a stretched arm, or when the arm is entangled and the arm bent

the headquarters dojo of a school of the martial arts or 'ways'

'first teaching', the first katame waza, or pressure/joint locking technique and applied against the elbow

an entering movement designed to bring nage, in close to uke’s, body without meeting in a head-on clash

a wooden staff used in aikido training

the upper side of the dojo

the principle of gentleness, suppleness, flexibility, pliability

the art of applying the principle of flexibility; unarmed methods of self-defence

to enter and turn in combination

the application of the throw (nage), or joint-lock (katame waza), where uke is thrown to the ground and subdued

a body position/posture taken up when facing an opponent

a small Shinto altar or shrine

upper seat

where nage’s shoulder is seized and held by uke

aikido techniques whereby uke is controlled by nage by means of anatomical pressure on the wrist, elbow and shoulder joints

where one of nage’s hand is seized and held by uke

a training suit

sword

samurai arts of swordsmanship intended for combat

the invisible force that animates the universe and gives power to life

literally ki pressure, a form of finger pressure therapy used in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido

basic or fundamental techniques

the principle that there can be no separation between defence and offence in combat

an aikidoka that is junior to another in rank and/or length of experience in the practice of aikido

backward rolling ‘breakfall’

‘breath’

breath power

‘wrist turn, outward’, where, as a result of turning the wrist, uke’s balance is broken to the rear

‘wrist twist, inward’, where, as a result of this twisting, uke’s balance is broken to the front

grade awarded to an aikidoka below the rank of shodan (1st dan)

combative distance, where space is controlled to deny or gain advantage

front kick

circular motion

side kick

a smashing eye-blow

a period of meditative calm, conducted in seiza before and after an aikido class

where nage’s arm is seized and held by uke with two hands

‘no-posture’

‘no-mind’

the defender, and the executor of the decisive technique in an aikido exchange; also tori (Tomiki Aikido), sh’te (Yoshinkan Aikido)

where uke is thrown to the ground by nage

‘great teacher’, used to describe the Founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba

‘free’ or open practice of techniques; where tori (nage) spontaneously responds to attacks from uke with freely chosen techniques

forms of ceremony and etiquette

a standing bow

where both nage’s hands are seized and held by uke

grasped hands heaven and earth throw

the aristocratic warrior class of pre-Meiji Japan

natural standing position

transcending thought about life or death

sitting on the knees folded beneath you

an aikidoka that is senior to another in rank and/or length of experience in the practice of aikido

teacher, literally ‘born before’

a contest bout

‘four direction’ throw

walking on the knees

the lower side of the dojo

‘new budo’; martial arts created after the restoration of the Emperor Meiji in the late 19th Century

posture

neutral stance of the body

first dan, the first black belt grade in Japanese (Shin Budo) martial arts

‘head’, the wall that serves as the front ‘head’ or focus of the dojo

a strike with the knife hand, tegatana, to the centre of the head

‘after class exercises’, used in Yoshinkan Aikido

aikido techniques applied where both nage and uke are seated in seiza

aikido techniques applied where both nage and uke are standing

body change movement

body movement

a form of competitive practice, where a number of set techniques are demonstrated within a time limit and marked for performance used in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido

body positioning to avoid attack and accompanied by a manoeuvre to make an effective counter response

physical exercises

alcove space

the ‘one point’ located to 2cm below the navel and said to be the centred point of the body from which ki can be located and drawn out

knife

a ‘contest’ bout where two players each take it in turn to use and to defend (with aikido technique) against attacks with a rubber ‘knife’. Successful striking with the knife or application of aikido technique is awarded points to determine the winner.

mats, the mats covering the dojo floor

hand-blade

techniques that attack vulnerable points in the wrist joints

‘heaven and earth throw’

is a movement by which nage, the defender, pivots away from the incoming path of uke’s attack

a ‘contest’ bout where two players attempt to apply aikido technique against each other freely. Successful application of aikido technique is awarded points to determine the winner.

glide walking

a punch or thrust to the stomach, chest or face

‘structuring’, whereby the skilful use of eye-contact (metsuke), posture, hand movements and unbalancing (kuzushi), are combined to enable the aikidoka to throw or control an opponent

a student who lives with his teacher in a close apprentice to master relationship

the aikidoka who takes the fall or receives the control; effectively the ‘loser’ in a martial encounter

‘breakfalls’: the art of controlled falling so as not to cause harm to the body

Foot movements

where nage is seized and held from behind by uke

harmony

techniques

‘breakfalls’ to the side

a strike with the knife hand, tegatana, to the side of the head, migi (right) or hidari (left)

‘lingering spirit’, where nage focuses his concentration and ‘remaining’ posture over his fallen opponent , subduing uke’s will to resist further

a seated bow

forward rolling breakfall