Hey guys, where do you learn all these terms? Is there like a handbook? Because my teacher said there is really no textbook, so I only know like 5 diffrent words . . .
What terms? Are you even talking about aikido? If you're talking about aikido then your teacher is wrong and that scares me. There are scores of aikido books showing the standard basic techniques that we all learn, and every one of those books has the Japanese terminology. Some of them even have a glossary.
I cant tell much from your profile, but yep there are loads a books on all martial arts all listing the terminology. So log onto Amazon UK and start spending 'O' and Get a-n-other teacher M8
There are loads of books on the various styles of Aikido, Traditional Aikido Has ikkyo nikkyo sankyo yonkyo first to fourth form. Tomiki/Shodokan Aikido describs the movement by name Ikkyo would be Oshi Taoshi ,Nikkyo would be kote mawashi, Sankyo would be tenkai kote hineri, yonkyo would be tekubi Osae. Why your instructor has led you to beleve that you can't get any written information on aikido worries me. I Have included some basic Japanese Terms. Ai Harmony Ai-gamae Matching stances. Aiki Harmony of Spirit Aikido Way of Harmony of Spirit Aikidoka Person who practises Aikido Aiki-Ken Aikido Sword techniques Ashi Leg or Foot Atemi Strike Atemi-waza Striking techniques. Barai Sweep Bokken Wooden Sword used in Aikido and Kendo training Budo Martial Ways Chudan Middle Chudan-no-kamae Basic posture Chudan-uke Middle block Dan Degree ranking for Black Belt Do The Way or Path Dojo Training Hall or Place of the Way Dori Hold or Grasp Eri Dori Collar held Furitsuki Slashing thrust (Normally with a knife) Gassho no renshu Blocking exercise with the hands joined together. Gedan Low Gedan-no-kamae Low posture Gedan-uke Low block Gi Aikidogi traditional clothing worn when training Go Five Go-no-sen Attacking after you have been attacked. Gyaku Opposite / Reverse Gyaku-gamae Opposite stances. Hachi Eight Hantai Change Hara A point in the lower abdomen. Hasso High sword posture Hidari Left Hidari-gamae Left stance with the left foot forward. Hiji Elbow Hiji waza Elbow techniques Hikitate-geiko Middle level of competition. Hyaku One Hundred Iai-do Art of Sword Drawing Ichi One Idoryoku locomotive power; the power of movement. Irimi Entering principle Irimi-nage Entering throw Jo Short staff about 4' long Jodan High Jodan-no-kamae High posture Jodan-uke High block Jujitsu Ancient Japanese martial art Ju-nana-hon waza 17 basic techniques of Tomiki Aikido. Jushin Balance / Center of gravity Jyu Ten Jyu-Ichi Eleven Jyu-Ni Twelve and so on Kakari-geiko Lowest level of competition. Kamae Stance / Posture Kansetsu Joints Kansetsu-waza Joint techniques. Kata Pre-arranged techniques, Form or Shoulder Kata-Dori-Men-Uchi Strike to the head while holding the shoulder Kata-Dori Shoulder held Katate Single hand Katate-Dori One hand held Keiko-gi Kit/Uniform Ken Sword Kendo The way of the Sword Ki Spirit or Energy Kime-waza Final locking technique Kiritsu Stand to attention Kissaki Point or Tip of the Sword Kohai Junior Student Kokyu Blending - Fitting in was a movement Kokyu-Dosa Breath Exercise Kokyu-Nage Breath Throw Koryu-no-kata Pre-arranged traditional techniques in kata form Koshi Hips or lower back Koshi-Nage Hip Throw Kotai Switch/Change Kote Wrist also called Tekubi Kote-Gaeshi Outer wrist throw - Wrist twist Ku Nine Kyu Ranking for belts below black belt. Kuzushi Break balance. Kyudo Japanese Archery Mae Forward, front. Ma-ai Correct distance Marui Circular / Round Men Sword cut to the center of the head. Me-tsuke Eye contact, one focuses on the opponent's eyes. Migi Right Migi-gamae Right posture with the right foot forward. Mochi Grasp or hold with hands Morote Dori One hand held by two hands Mu-gamae Without stance. Mushin Without emotion Mune Chest Nage Throw / Technique Nana-hon nage kuzushi Kuzushi training exercise comprised of seven throws. Ni Two Ni-Jyu-Ichi Twenty one Ni-Jyu-Ni Twenty two and so on. Obi Belt worn over the Gi. Omote Front O-Sensei Great Teacher (Reference to the Founder) Otoshi Drop Randori Freeplay Randori-no-Kata Basic 17 techniques in the Tomiki system of Aikido Rei Bow Ritsu-rei Standing Bow Rokku Six Ryo-Kata-Dori Both shoulders held Ryote-Dori Both hands held San Three Seichu-Sen Center line of one's body Seiza Sitting Properly Sempai Senior Student Sen Initiating an attack slightly before your opponent Sensei Teacher Sensei-ni-rei Bow to the teacher Sen-sen-no-sen Sensing and preparing for your opponent's attack. Shi Four Shiai Tournament, Competition Shichi Seven Shichihon-no-kuzushi Balance breaking Shihan A master teacher/ teacher of teachers. Shiho-nage Four Directional Throw Shikko Knee walking Shime Lock Shinkokyu Deep breathing exercise at the end of practice. ****e Defender also called Tori Shizentai Natural standing position. Shomen Front also called Omote Shomen ni rei Bow to the front Shomen-Uchi Strike to top of the head Shotei-awase Tension exercise Sode Sleeve Suwari-waza Sitting Techniques from Seiza position Tachi-waza Standing techniques. Tai-sabaki Evasion of an attack by avoidance. Taiso Warm-up calisthenics. Tandokuo-undo Foot and hand movements exercises Tanto Knife Te Hand Tegatana Hand blade Tegatana-awase Hand blade exercise. Tekubi Wrist also know as Kote Tekubi waza Wrist techniques. Tenkan Absorption principle Tentai Hip-turn Tori The defender / Person doing the technique. Tsugi Thrust Tsugi-ashi Sliding feet Uchi Hand strike Uke Attacker / Person being thrown Ukemi Break falls Uki-waza Floating or timing techniques. Ura Back Uraken Back fist Unsoku Foot movements (Avoidance) exercises Ushiro Backward, behind. Waza Technique Waki-gamae Low Sword posture Yoi Prepare Yoko Side Yokomen Temple area of the face Yokomen-uchi Side strike to the opponent¹s temple. Zanshin Awareness Za-rei Sitting bow
ok, my mistake . . . my school does teach terminology, they were just holding off for a while so i wouldn't freak out over vocab & so I could get used to basic stuff . . . now I know some words & technique names . . .
Ok I thought the list above was very helpful so I made this thread a sticky. Some of the termanology changes somewhat depending on style. So if your posting something it might be a good idea to tell us which style of Aikido it comes from.
Just to add on to the terminology: More often than not, all tecniques in aikido starts with the types of attack, whether it is katate tori (katate mochi in Yoshinkan) followed by the defensive technique such as shiho-nage then followed by the inside or outside gate, omote, ura (ichi, ni in Yoshinkan). In some techniques, the stance will be mentioned first, such as ai hanmi, gyaku hanmi, suwari etc. Example include: Ain hanmi katate dori shiho nage omote or ai hanmi katate mochi shiho nage ichi depending on which version of Aikido you are practising. Although the terms look different, the basics of the terms remain. It will not be difficult to remember once you are used to them.
I'd like to clarify the 'stance' aspect. Ai-hanmi and Gyaku-hanmi are not "stances" adopted by Tori who, actually takes up either Migi or Hadira hanmi, it is in fact uke which determines either Ai-hanmi or Gyaku-hanmi, and only when this is in relation to an arresting movement on either the left or right wrist of tori. Essentially Ai or Gyaku-hanmi only exist when two people are in connection with each other. Regards
err......can you expand on that please Dave. Even though i'm not sure i fully understand what you mean, your 'fact' imho has to be 'opinion', or 'experience', cos in our system it is tori who adopts posture first, almost in a way of enticing uke to commit to a certain attack. This is pobably more of an advanced method of thinking as it employs the concepts of sensen no sen, go no sen etc, which to be honest i don't think many aikidoka actually realise this and just do as they're told. Indeed it took me probably 6-7 years to start to undertsand this, and am still struggling with it, lol. But to me, having studied other arts and experiencing similar concepts, it makes great sense (albeit not easy to grasp). Is this something any of you experienced guys keep in mind at all? This is probably in the wrong thread, but i'd be mighty interested to hear of your thoughts (maybe a mod can split and start a new thread for us). Dave, can you still explain to me what you meant by your quote. i aint disagreeing with ya, i just don't get what you mean by arresting movement. Cheers
If someone can explain what sensen no sen means i don't see a need for a split. Sorry we don't have a lot of Japanese termanology where I train. Although my teachers trying to bring it back. In my experience tori also dictates posture in training at least until he/she reaches a more advanced level where tori should be able to deal with an attack regardless of posture. From a training perspective tori is inviting uke to provide a particular attack so that tori may practice a specific range of techniques. Other than that it is a strategic move. Tori dictates his/her own posture to give uke a narrower range of targets.
Well.. Yes I do see what you’re saying however, if you are by yourself, how do you make Ai-hanmi or Gyaku-hanmi posture ? You either adopt migi or hadira hanmi and it is the person attacking you (for what ever reason or opening they see) which determines the 'postures between you' If it they attempt to arrest your wrist when you are in left posture (and they adopt left posture as they do so) this is Ai-hanmi. (and visa versa of course) if you are again in left posture and they arrest your wrist in RIGHT posture, this is Gyaku-hanmi (and visa versa of course) Lets look at what Ai-hanmi and Gyaku-hanmi means bearing in mind that with correct ma-ai uke will need to take 'at least' one step forward to achieve his/her intention (to grab a wrist) "Ai" in this context means to be "mutual" IE MUTUAL STANCE you both have the same leading leg forward "Gyaku" in this context means to be "reversed" IE REVERSED STANCE you both have opposite leading legs So, when you face off against uke, you can't essentially make either Ai-hanmi or Gyaku-hanmi (Yes you can encourage uke to take either of course) but your posture will either be migi or hadira hanmi. Ai-hanmi and Gyaku-hanmi only describe the contextual nature of two people's stances when in connection with each other. It is impossible to make either of these two postures when standing by one's self or, when not in contact with another person. Regarding "arresting" relating to the wrist. Why does Katate dori exist ? Essentially (and to simplify) it was born from the need to restrict the ability of a sword or knife user from easily drawing those weapons from the belt and using them against you. This was partly acheived by grasping (arresting) the wrist (normally the right) which would make effective drawing of the sword or knife that much harder however; tenkan overcomes this arresting. When I teach Kihon Dosa I explain the reasons why we do things in a particular way, why wrist grabs exist for instance. This way students understand why they train in this manor before looking at different applications. These methods of training represent both a continuation of a tradition and, a basis of training (very basic) where two people make contact with each other. Regards
Yeah thats the way we've always trained, but now that Dave has explained what he meant and thus 'reminded' me of the definition, which to be honest, we take for granted and tend to let the meaning become lost on us its clearer.....and obvious really. Anyways, a couple of concepts explained: SEN NO SEN This is the timing necessary to take the combative initiative away from an opponent who has begun an attack but before he has completed his action against you. SEN SEN NO SEN This is the timing to take the initiative before the opponent moves but at a point he has mentally committed to a specific action. This increases the chance that the enemy’s mind will be fushin or frozen in his action. GO NO SEN This timing takes advantage of a suki or weak point perceived in the opponent’s attack whilst he is carrying out that attack. In order to spot this your mind needs to be fudoshin or free and uncommitted. This is possibly better understood through the use of the sword (i study iaido and kendo and it makes sense), but i'm sure you can see its meaning when applied to aikido as well. It can mean a lot more during, say, randori; your posture and action/inaction can determine the outcome of the attack if you employ the above concepts. We were always told that during randori approach the uke you want to receive from first. To me this can put uke in a fushin (frozen mind) state and reveal his suki (weak points), this could be 'sen sen no sen'. just your kigurai (demeanor) can offset uke from his intended attack. our style of aikido is 'mushinkan' and it focuses on these type of concepts, attempting to promote an empty or subconsicous mind.....ish!
I have tried to explain in an Aikido context, although I am not sure if all these principle are used in the more traditional styles. Sen No Sen both Uke and tori meet but uke does not attack so Tori takes the initiative. A per Tomiki Aikido Randori no Kata. Sen No Sen can also be used to great effect when practising Toshu Hikitategeiko. Go No Sen Uke attacks Tori, Tori evades and applies technique. Sen Sen No Sen The ulitimate art of timing when Tori attacks during the split second that Uke has decided mentally to attack but the body has not started. used in Aikido Tanto Hikitategeiko and competitions. As The Dammed stated these are priciples used in Kendo. This is related to Tomiki/Shodokan Aikido as was the terminology list I posted. Shaun Hoddy
Ah right I see. I understand. It's just all the Japanese that confuses me. What you're talking about here is quite a large part of what we mean by Ki in Ki Aikido.
Interesting discussion thus far.. I think the confusion stem from the actual Japanese meaning especially the hidden meaning. This is added from the fact that each school has its own definition of the term of each technique, albeit the basis of each technique is similar. I suppose we non-Japanese speaking will have to learn step by step. Keep this discussion up,..the more terms and concept we learn the better we are. As for myself, when I first started reading about Aikido, I was confused between Tori, stuff and Nage i.e. the person receiving the technique as different schools define it. I suppose it will take time to figure out what the actual meaning translated from Japanese is. Sometimes I wonder, perhaps it may be because of different dialect in certain region in Japan which gives rise to the meaning of each technique. Again my 2 cents/pence/yen worth Edit: Please don't swear. It's a breach of the rules. MAP Terms Of Service
Within my style of Aikido (Tomiki) we use the terms Tori & Uke, maybe this is because Kenji Tomiki when forming the various kata into a logical curriculum based these on the principles of Judo and used the same names. I think that Tomiki/Shodokan style is unique in having set kata at all levels of practise. Although I am not sure on this as there are many styles out there and I have not been exposed to them all.
Some corrections from within the link posted above "Ukemi The art of falling without injury. It is said that one's ability to throw is only as good as one's ability to fall." Ukemi literally means "to receive" the act of making a breakfall as a result of technique is only a very small part of what ukemi actually is. The ability to throw is preceded by one's ability to fall however, ukemi as a skill has as much to do about attitude toward one's training partner and a desire to help that person develop, as it has with the physical falling to the mat. Tai-sabaki Body movement. Body movement in Aikido should be free flowing, natural, and prudent. Tai-sabaki is in fact one's management of posture. Whilst it is commonly associated with the means of turning as a movement, one should be more concerned with the quality of posture during the turn rather than, just turning. Shihan Exemplary teacher - A title used for the highest-ranking teachers. Usually 6th dan and above - but not exactly a function of rank. Shihan is a title awarded by the Aikikai, just because one may reach the rank of 6th dan and above, does not automatically entitle one to "use" the term "Shihan" Indeed Shihan means teacher. Sensei Teacher. One who gives instruction. More importantly, one who leads the way. Sensei literally means "Born before" and has no direct relationship to being a teacher of anything. When it is used in the context of martial arts instruction (or indeed any subject) we are acknowledging the person providing the instruction has something to offer us, the use of the word does not imply expertise. Doshu Grandmaster. Following the traditional Japanese custom, the position of Doshu has been made hereditary. Doshu does not mean "Grandmaster" it is literally translated as "Keeper of the way" Hamni The triangular stance. This position is meant to be relaxed, comfortable, and natural, and should in no way look or feel artificial or stiff. From the correct hamni position, one can move readily in any direction. "Hamni" is an obvious typo. The correct term is "Hanmi" Regards