Welcome to Northcoast Aikido! The information presented
here is meant to provide students new to the art with some basic
reference materials. There is so much to learn when beginning
your
training in Aikido; please do not feel you have to memorize all
of this information at once. Rather, refer back to it often-- it
will all make more sense as you continue your training! Also,
look for additions and improvements in the coming days and
weeks. New students (and old!) should also feel free to
email us with
questions or concerns about their training. See you on the mat!
Contents:
1.
Dojo Etiquette
2.
Common Aikido Vocabulary
3.
Basic Attacks
4.
Basic Techniques
5.
Basic Variations
6.
Numbers
7.
Common Phrases
DOJO ETIQUETTE
1) Remove shoes at the top of the stairs. Never
enter the
dojo with shoes on and never carry shoes inside.
2) Feet must be clean* and toenails and
fingernails
kept short.
Remove
jewelry.
Uncut
nails and certain types of jewelry can cause
lacerations.
3) Always bow lightly when entering or leaving the
dojo, as
well as when entering or leaving the mat area.
Keep to the rear of the dojo when crossing the mat.
4) Kneel and bow formal to the shomen when
beginning and
ending practice (the formal bow varies from dojo to dojo, so observe
custom
when visiting other places).
Never sit with your back to the shomen.
5) Maintain a straight,
alert position when the teacher is demonstrating to the class.
Although
this may be difficult for long periods of time, view it as part of
your training.
6) Respect your partner regardless of rank.
Remember that you
are practicing for mutual self‑improvement and, in a sense, all
partners are
your teachers. Always thank, your partner(s) after training and after
class.
7) Address the teacher as “sensei,” accompanied by
a light
bow when requesting assistance.
Always
thank the teacher when ever you receive personal instruction
8) Keep talking during practice to a minimum.
Aikido
requires the emergence of new sensory capabilities, and talking
interferes with
this process. It is permitted to discus points of technique, but it is
usually
possible to communicate these points nonverbally.
9) Always
inform the
teacher
if you have to leave practice
early.
10) Take personal interest in the cleaning and
maintenance
of the dojo (except the. shomen) **
11) Practice with care. Assume responsibility for
the safety
of your partner when
training.
12) Pay dues promptly.
Please be aware that, although
Aikido
practice is a positive and interesting time, it is a serious study of
budo
(martial art). Practice should always be approached with seriousness,
as one
blow in
Aikido is capable of killing
or
seriously injuring your partner. Kicking or punching are forbidden
except when
part of a demonstrated technique. You should practice as if you are
facing a
live blade.
*This is a matter of general hygiene. If you're
feet
are not clean, you will not be permitted
on the mat.
**Sweeping
the mat before and after class are
important.
Keep the dressing rooms and bathrooms clean and orderly.
The mat should be cleaned no less than once a
week. This is a definite part of training.
Please join in!
COMMON AIKIDO VOCABULARY
Aikido: Ai =
Harmony; Ki =
Spirit/Energy; Do = The way or path. The way of harmony with the spirit
of the
Universe.
Aikibojitsu: Art of the staff (bo), as developed
by the
founder of Northcoast
Aikido,
Tom
Read Sensei.
Ai‑hanmi: Mutual stance.
Partners stand facing one another with the same foot
forward, i.e., right/right.
Atemi: A strike directed toward an attacker meant
to
unbalance rather than injure.
Bo: Wooden staff.
Bokken: Wooden sword.
Budo: Warrior way. The group of disciplines that
simultaneously teach martial technique and guide mental and spiritual
development.
Bushido: Warrior’s code. The traditional rules of
the
samurai.
Dan: Black belt rank.
Deshi:
Student,
pupil, disciple.
Dojo: Training hall.
Dojo Cho: Chief instructor of a dojo.
Dosa: An exercise.
Doshu: ‘Grandmaster.’
Following the traditional Japanese custom, the position of
Doshu has
been made hereditary. The current Doshu, Ueshiba Moriteru, is the
founder's
grandson.
Gaeshi: (gah‑ee‑shi) To reverse.
Gi: Training uniform. (also called dogi)
Gyaku‑hanmi:
(gee‑yah‑koo‑hahn‑mee)
Opposite stance. Partners stand with their opposite feet forward, i.e.,
right/left (mirror image).
Hakama: A divided, pant‑like skirt (worn by
yudansha in many
dojos).
Hanmi: Triangular stance. Literally means
‘half‑body.’
Hanmi Handachi: Nage (thrower) is kneeling and uke
(attacker) approaches from a standing position.
Hara: Lower abdomen, physical and spiritual center.
Irimi: To enter; entering an attacker’s space.
Jiyu Waza: Free style practice.
Jo: Wooden staff, usually shorter than a bo.
Kaiten: To revolve or rotate.
Kamae: Ready stance.
Kata (1): Shoulder
Kata; (2): Prearranged exercise that teaches basic
forms and
principles.
Keiko: Practice session; training.
Ken:
Japanese sword.
Ki: Spirit; the vital force of the body; Universal
Energy.
Kiai: A focused vocalization that unifies all
parts of the
body and spirit.
Kihon: Basic form of a technique.
Kokyu: Breath; energy/ki flow and the motions of
the body
unified by control of the breath.
Kumi‑tachi: Sword practices done with a partner.
Kumi-jo: Jo practices done with a partner.
Kyu: Ranks below black belt.
Ma‑ai: The appropriate distance between uke and
nage.
Means ‘harmony of space.’
Men: Face, head.
Misogi: ‘Purification.’ With
purification of body
and mind,
we can remove and restore, our true selves ‑‑ O'Sensei considered all Aikido
techniques to be form of misogi.
Mudansha: Students of kyu grade (not
yet black
belt rank).
Musubi:
Uniting,
bonding.
Nage: Throw.
Also the
person who throws.
Obi:
Belt.
O’Sensei: “The Great Teacher.’ Morihei Ueshiba,
founder of
aikido.
Randori: Multiple person attack.
Rei: (ray) Salutation, bow.
Sempai: Senior student
Sensei: Teacher/instructor.
Seiza: Formal sitting posture.
Shihan: Master instructor.
Shiho:
Four,
directions.
Shikko: Knee walking.
Shomen (1): Front of a dojo.
Often there is a photo of the Founder.
Shomen (2): Front or top of a person's head.
Suburi:
A single
movement using the ken or jo; done as a solo practice.
Suwari Waza: Techniques done from a kneeling
position.
Tachi‑dori: Techniques of taking an opponent's
sword.
Tai-jutsu: Body arts. The techniques of
Aikido
done without weapons.
Take‑musu‑aiki: Term used by the Founder
describing the
advanced levels of aikido. The creation of aiki techniques from a
thorough
understanding of aiki principles.
Tanto:
Knife.
Tao: Chinese;
‘Do,’
the path, discipline, way. This is the same as “do” in the word Aikido.
Te: Hand.
Tegatana: Hand blade. Sword edge of the hand,
located
between the little finger and the wrist.
Tsuki: Thrust, punch.
Uchi: To strike.
Ueshiba Morihei: (Oo‑ahy‑shee‑ba,
Mor‑ee‑hay) Founder of Aikido. O'Sensei. In Japan
it is traditional for the family name to precede the given name.
Uke: ‘To Receive.’ A
person who receives a technique. Generally, ‘Uke’ refers to the person
attacking
and being thrown.
Ukemi: (oo‑kem‑ee). The art of falling. ‘To
receive through
the body.’
Ushiro: Back, behind,
rear.
Waza: Technique.
Yokomen: Side of‑the head.
Yudansha: Person holding black belt rank.
Zanshin: Unbroken spirit. The concentrated.
connection that
remains with one's partner even after the throw has been completed.
BASIC ATTACKS
Ai-dori: Cross hand grab, i.e. right to right
Hiji-dori: Elbow grab.
Kata‑dori: Shoulder grab.
Katate-dori: Wrist grab (same side)
Men‑uchi: Strike to the head.
Morote‑dori: One of nage's wrists is held with
both of uke's
hands.
Mune‑tsuki: Chest or stomach strike.
Muna‑dori: Lapel grab.
Ryote‑dori:
Both of nage's wrists
are held.
Shomen‑uchi: Strike to the top of the head.
Ushiro eri‑dori: Collar grab from behind.
Ushiro hiji‑dori: Elbows grabbed from the rear.
Ushiro kubi shimi: Choke grab from behind; with
one arm
around the neck, the other hand takes the partner's wrist.
Ushiro ryo‑kata‑dori‑ Both shoulders grabbed from
behind.
Ushiro ryote‑dori: Both wrists grabbed from
behind.
Ushiro kubi‑shimi: Choking with one hand around
the neck
from the rear.
Ushiro dori: Rear bear hug,
Yokomen‑uchi:
Strike
to the side of the head.
BASIC TECHNIQUES
Ikkyo: First pinning technique.
Nikyo: Second pinning technique.
Sankyo: Third pinning technique.
Yonkyo: Fourth pinning technique.
Gokkyo: Fifth pinning technique.
Irimi-nage: Entering technique.
Juji-nage: Crossed-arm throw.
Kaeshi waza: Reversal techniques.
Kaiten‑nage: Rotary throw.
Kokyu‑ho: Kokyu exercise.
Kokyu‑nage: Breath throw. Sometimes used for
techniques that
don’t have a specific name.
Koshi‑nage: Hip throw.
Kote‑gaeshi: Wrist‑twisting technique.
Shiho‑nage: Four direction throw.
Sumi‑otoshi: Corner drop throw.
Suwari-waza: seated techniques
Tai‑no‑henko: Basic blending practice.
Tenchi‑nage: Heaven‑and‑Earth throw.
BASIC VARIATIONS ON TECHNIQUE
Omote‑waza: Technique which goes
forward or to uke's front.
Ura‑waza: Technique which goes around or behind
uke.
Irimi: Entering.
Tenkan: Turning, a subset of ura‑waza.
NOTE: The whole name of a technique in Japanese is
formed by
the word for the attack, then the technique, then the direction or
variation.
For example:
Attack
Technique
Direction
shomen‑uchi
ikkyo
omote‑waza
katate‑dori
shiho‑nage
ura‑waza.
NUMBERS
Ichi (ee‑chee) = 1; Ni (nee) = 2; San (sahn) = 3;
Shi or Yon
(shee/yahn) = 4; Go (goh) = 5;
Roku
(Roh‑koo) = 6; Shichi or Nana (shee‑chee/nahnah) = 7; Hachi (hah-chee)
= 8; Ku
(koo) = 9; Ju (joo) = 10.
COMMON PHRASES
Dozo: Please,
go
ahead.
Domo arigato gozai‑mashita: (doh‑moh
ah-ree‑gah‑toe goh‑zah‑ee‑mah‑shee‑tah)
Thank you very much (formal).
Onegai shimasu: (oh‑neh‑guy‑shee‑mahs)
Please train with me /please have patience with me/
please treat me well. Spoken when one wishes
to practice with another person.
*You are not expected to memorize this list all at
once; it
is provided
to help you become familiar with and understand some of the things you
might
hear frequently in the dojo.