Glossary

• Ai

  means 'matching'.

• Aigamae

  Consits of two parts. Ai which means 'matching' and gamae which means 'stance'. Aigamae therefore means that the defender displays the same stance as the attacker (i. e. both left foot forward or both right foot forward).

• Aigamae ate

  Strike from same posture / stance.

• Aigamae katate dori

  This term is usually used to refer to a range of techniques. The first part, aigamae which refers to the stance from which the techniques are performed and means that uke and tori have a matching stance (mirror each other). The second part, katate refers to the actual attack, in this case it is a single handed wrist grab. The final part, dori means 'grab'.
  So Aigamae katate dori refers to a number of techniques which are performed against attacks that come in the form of single handed wrist grabs performed to the diagonal wrist (same stance - so right hand grabs right wrist or left hand grabs left wrist).

• Atemi

  Strike.

• Atemi Waza

  Striking Techniques.
  In Shodokan Aikido this refers to a group of 5 techniques:

  • Shomen ate: Strike from the front
  • Aigamae ate: Strike from same posture
  • Gyakugamae ate: Strike from reverse posture
  • Gedan ate: Strike from low level
  • Ushiro ate: Strike from behind

• Dori

  Grab.

• Gamae

  Stance.

• Gatame

  Means 'hold' and is used for holding techniques.

• Gyaku

  Means 'reverse'.

• Gyaku gamae

  Consits of two parts. Gyaku which means 'reverse' and gamae which means 'stance'. Gyaku gamae therefore means that the defender displays the opposite stance as the attacker (i. e. attacker left foot forward, defender right foot forward and vice versa.

• Koho ryote dori

  Both hands grab both wrists from behind.

• Koho Ukemi

  Backwards breakfalls.

• Numbers

  1 - ichi	5 - go	9  - ku
  2 - ni	6- roku	10 - ju
  3- san	7 - shichi	11 - ju-ichi
  4 - shi	8 - hachi	12 - ju-ni

• Ryote dori

  Both hands grab both wrists.

• Seiza

  A kneeling position that was considered polite in traditional Japanese culture and today forms the starting point for a number of martial arts techniques. At the begin of each class, the formal bowing and greeting is performed from seiza position.

• Shikko

  Literally translated this means 'knee-movement' and refers to a way of walking from seiza, a kneeling position.

• Shomenate

  This word consits of two parts. shomen means front and ate means 'striking'. Somenate therefore refers to a technique that is a strike from the front.

• Tanto

  Literally translated this means "short sword". It refers to a knife traditionally used in battle which was typically less than 30 cm in length. In training, we use rubber or stuffed knifes to simulate knife attacks without being in danger to get injured.

• Tori

  In martial arts training, this refers to the person executing the technique which is then received by uke.
  In more complex training scenarios with counters to techniques, strictly speaking the terms tori and uke would change between both persons. For the purpose of training though, tori is the one that practices his technique with uke being the one 'accepting' that technique.

• Uke

  In martial arts training, this refers to the person 'receiving' the technique which is performed by tori.
  In more complex training scenarios with counters to techniques, strictly speaking the terms tori and uke would change between both persons. For the purpose of training though, uke is the one through which tori is able to practice his technique.

• Ukemi

  This refers to the art of falling in martial arts and includes beakfalls as well as rolls.
  Correct ukemi will ensure students suffer the least amount of damage possible from a fall. If done correctly, the force of hitting the ground will be spread out along non-critical parts of the body.

• Waza

  Technique.

• Yoko ukemi

  Sideward breakfall.

• Zenpo kaiten ukemi

  A forward roll from the leading foot's shoulder to the hip on the opposite side.