Sensei
“Sensei” is the Japanese word for the teacher on the mat.
The instructor is referred to as Sensei
The founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba, is known as “O-Sensei” or great teacher
Salutations
“O ne gai shi mas” – At the beginning of class we bow to “O-Sensei”, then bow to the Sensei on the mat and say this greeting which means “please’ – in this context “please practice”
“domo arigato gozaimashita” – At the end of class we bow to “O’Sensei”, then bow to Sensei and say a very polite “thank you” (generally, the longer a phrase is the more polite it is)
Practice and Posture
When practicing with a partner we bow to each other before and after training together as a mark of respect.
Tori is the person performing the technique.
Ukei is the person receiving the technique (usually the attacker).
Kamae is posture
Hanmi – half body posture
Migi – Right
Hidari – Left
Tai Sabaki (body movement)
Irimi – Entering body (step forward)
Tenkan – Pivot on the front foot
Tsugi ashi – Following feet (move the front foot forward, draw the rear foot up
Behind)
Ukemi (receiving body) – break fall which can be Mae (forwards) Yoko (sideways)
Ushiro (backwards
Shikko – knee walking
Introduction to techniques
An aikido technique is described by the attack, followed by the name of the technique. Sometimes it is specified whether the technique should be sitting or standing. Most techniques have two forms.
- Omote – in front, positive, irimi
- ura – behind, negative, tenkan
- Suwariwaza – sitting techniques
- Tachi waza – standing techniques
- Hanmi handachi – sitting technique, standing attack
- Katatedori – wrist held by one hand
- Aihanmi – (agreeing posture) right takes right or left takes left
- Gyakuhanmi – right takes left or left takes right
- Katadori – shoulder holding
- Ryotedori ryotemochi – both wrists held
- Morotedori – one wrist held by two hands
- Ushiro – behind
Strikes
- Shomenuchi – vertical cut down
- Yokomenuchi – side cut down
- Tsuki – punch
- Jo dan – upper level (punch to face)
- Chu dan – middle level (punch to the knot on the belt
- Ge dan – lower level
Weapons
Jo– stick / staff
Bokken – wooden sword
Tanto – wooden knife
Techniques
- Ikkyo – first technique (circling arm)
- Nikyo – second technique (wrist twist)
- Sankyo – third technique (turning wrist and forearm)
- Yonkyo – fourth technique (cutting forearm while applying pressure to a nerve)
- Gokyo – fifth technique (applied to the wrist)
- Rokyo – sixth technique (applied to the elbow)
- Iriminage – entering body throw
- Kotegaeshi – little wrist turn
- Shihonage – four direction throw
- Kaitennage –body turn throw Uchi inside (under) Soto outside
- Tenchinage – heaven and earth throw
Aikido Concepts
Tegatana (hand blade)
Ki – energy
Tanden – centre, point below the navel which is the centre of ki
Kokuho – breath power
Atemi-strike to distract uke
Ma ai – distance, space or being in the right place at the right time
Zanshin – finishing, spirit at the end of the technique
Counting
- Ichi
- Ni
- San
- Shi (or Yon)
- Go
- Rokkyu
- Shichi
- Hachi
- Kyu
- Ju