glossary of frequently used Japanese terms

• Aikikai Foundation *- commonly referred to as “the Aikikai" — the main overarching umbrella organization, located in Japan

• dan - black belt level, e.g. César’s rank, 3rd dan, is third degree black belt

• dojo - a place of study and practice — modern usage typically refers to a school of martial arts (for a deep dive: ijf.org)

• domoarigato gozaimasu/gozaimasita - “thank you very much” (see linked usage guide video)

• dozo! - “please!” (asking to start or continue something)

• hai! - “yes,” “understood,” or “here!” (depending on context)

• hakama - the blue/black wide-legged pleated pants worn as part of the training uniform

• Hombu Dojo - headquarters of the Aikikai Foundation

• keiko - practice/training

• keikogi - training uniform — alternate terms: “dogi,” or just “gi”

• kihon - basic form (of a given technique)

• kohai - someone who has less experience than you, never used as a form of address

• kyu - non black belt level, i.e. the ranks preceding black belt

• mudansha - those without black belt ranks (alt. yukyusha)

• nage - the person executing a technique (a.k.a. tori)

• O’Sensei - “great teacher” — used to refer to Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), the founder of Aikido

• onegai shimasu - “please” — in the dojo we use it to mean, “please, help me learn” or “please, let’s learn together”

• rei **- (command) bow

• senpai ***- someone who has more experience than you, often used as a form of address

• sensei ***- a title/honorific commonly translated as “teacher” — It is also used to refer to people who are experts in their respective fields

• shihan - “master instructor” — in Aikido: an honorific title/position granted by the Aikikai Foundation that confers the authority to award dan promotions

• shomen - the head of the room, marked by some sort of display that usually includes but is not limited to: an image of the founder and the Japanese calligraphy for Ai-Ki-Do, 合氣道

• tatami - a straw mat used as a flooring substance — the mats we train on are meant to emulate tatami

• tori - the person executing the technique (a.k.a. nage)

• uke **** - the person attacking and subsequently receiving the technique, i.e. the person being thrown/pinned

• ukemi - the act of receiving a technique — commonly thought of as the act of falling

• yudansha - those with black belt ranks

* while Oakland Aikido is not affiliated with any intermediary federation/organization (e.g. CA Aikido Association, Shimbokukai, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba, etc.), we are connected to the Aikikai Foundation via our direct relationship to Jan Nevelius Shihan of Vanadis Aikido in Stockholm, Sweden.

** about bowing, from our friends at Naka Ima Aikikai

*** At Oakland Aikido we operate on first-name terms, including the teachers. We express respect for our partners through our behavior, not via forms of address. This is not the case everywhere: When visiting another dojo it is always a good idea to check in with someone about this and other matters of etiquette.

**** “On Uke Etiquette” — a strongly recommended deep dive into the role of uke, written by our friend, Sonja Sauer Sensei of Aikido im Hof