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Glossary


Pronunciation of Japanese Words

Consonants and vowels in the Japanese language are pronounced the say way each time they are encountered. Thus, if you know the pronunciation of one word, you already know how the vowels and consonants will sound in another word containing those vowels and consonants. The following guide may be of help:

'a' sounds like 'a' in 'march' 'y' sounds like the 'y' in 'yet'
'e' sounds like 'e' in 'bed' 'ai' sounds like the 'i' in 'mine'
'i' sounds like 'ee' in 'kneel' 'ei' sounds like the 'a' in 'say'
'o' sounds like 'oa' in 'boat' 'g' sounds like the 'g' in 'get'
'u' sounds like the 'oo' in 'mood'  

Counting in Japanese

ICHI one ROKKU six
NI two SHICHI seven
SAN three HACHI eight
SHI (YON) four KU (KYU) nine
GO five JU (JYU) ten

Some Japanese Terms Encountered In Aikido

AI harmony, unity, to join or become one with
AI-HANMI asymmetric stance (eg right foot to right foot)
AIKI harmonizing/blending energy
AIKIDO the way of harmonizing with the force and principle of the Universe/Nature
AWASE matching the timing of movements of uke and nage
BOKKEN wooden sword
BUDO lit. "the way of martial arts"
CHUDAN middle guard position
DAN black belt rank
DESHI student, pupil, disciple
DO the "Way", path or road
DO-GI/KEIKOGI training uniform, lit "clothes of the way"
DOJO training hall, the place where the "Way" is practiced
DOSHU honorary title of the headmaster of the Art
GEDAN lower guard position
GYAKU-HANMI symmetrical stance (eg right foot to left foot)
HAKAMA pleated pant-skirt (usually worn by black belt ranks)
HANMI relaxed triangle oblique stance used in Aikido. Lit. "Half-body"
HANMI-HANDACHI-WAZA techniques performed with nage kneeling and uke in a standing position.
HARA also called 'Center'; a point in the lower abdomen corresponding to the body's center of gravity.
HIDARI left (refers to left side or movement to the left)
HOMBU Aikido world Headquarters located in Tokyo, Japan
IRIMI a (usually direct) entering movement
JO wooder staff, approx. 50"-54" long and approx 1" diameter
JODAN upper guard position
KAMAE guard stance or ready position (refering to position of the hands or position of a weapon)
KEIKO training or practice
KI spirit, life force or vital energy
KIAI the release of power in a piercing shout or scream. Lit "a meeting of the spirits"
KOHAI junior student
KOKYU breath, refers to the power released when body movement, ki flow and breath are perfectly coordinated
KOKYU-DOSA breath power exercise
KUZUSHI the act of physically and mentally unbalancing your opponent
KYU a white belt rank/grade
MA-AI the physical and psychological distance between nage and uke
MAE-UKEMI forward roll or fall
MIGI right (refers to right side or movement to the right)
MISOGI purification (refers to cleansing of the mind, body and spirit)
MUDANSHA refers to a non-blackbelt rank (ie whitebelt rank)
NAGE to throw; the person who performs the technique
O-SENSEI great teacher/revered teacher (refers to Master Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido)
OBI belt (part of the DO-GI)
OMOTE to the front (refers to movement or direction)
REI to bow, perform a salutation. Also refers generally to the etiquette and an attitude of respect
SEIZA formally sitting position on the knees (correct way to sit on the mat)
SEMPAI a senior student
SENSEI teacher, lit. ("one who was born before")
SHIHAN master teacher (title for a master teacher of at least 6th Dan rank)
SHIKKO knee walking
SUBURI (usually) refers to body/mind purification & training with the bokken
SUWARI WAZA techniques performed with both nage and uke in a kneeling position
TACHI WAZA techniques performed with both nage and uke in a standing position
TAIJUTSU empty-hand (unarmed) techniques, also called body arts
TAI-SABAKI body movement (refers to footwork and body movement)
TANDEN center (see Hara)
TANTO wooden knife
TATAMI practice mats (refers specifically to the straw bound mats which are traditionally used for Aikido training)
TEGATANA hand-blade
TENKAN turning movement
UKE one who receives; the person being thrown
UKEMI the way of receiving; the person being thrown
URA to the rear; or begind (refers to direction or movement)
USHIRO from behind (referring to attacks or techniques from behind)
USHIRO-UKEMI backware fall
WAZA techniques, way of
YUDANSHA person(s) who hold blackbelt rank
ZANSHIN position of relaxed extension and attention; Continuity of attention
ZORI sandals (footwear should ALWAYS be worn when not on the mats)


~This page was last updated on July 13, 2008 ~
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