JAPANESE TERMS USED IN AIKIDO

PRONUNCIATION KEY

You can enjoy pronouncing (and understanding) the Japanese terms used in the dojo if you get off to a good start in learning the sounds.  The pronunciation of Japanese words is very simple.  Basically every sound used in Japanese is either one of the five Latin or Spanish vowels, or a syllable combing a consonant with such a vowel.  The only free standing consonant sound is the nasal letter "n".  The consonants of Japanese are generally pronounced as those of English accept for the legendary "R & L" problem.  The English "L" sound is much closer to the correct sound than our "R" so we recommend pronouncing an "L" when reading the letter "r" in the standard transliteration systems.  The vowels are pronounced as follows:

A
E
I
O
U

- "ah"
- "eh"
- "ee"
- "oh"
- "oo"		as the A in father
as the E in met
as the I in marine
as the O in oboe
as the U in rule

In the following list, an easy-to-follow but unorthodox pronunciation guide uses English sounds to help you get a feel for the proper pronunciation of Aikido technical jargon and other useful Japanese words.

COUNTING
Sino-Japanese Counting
ichi
ni
san
shi
go		(ee-chee)
(nee)
(sahn)
(shee) or (yoh)
(goh)		one
two
three
four
five		roku
shichi
hachi
ku
ju		(low-koo)
(shee-chee) or (nana)
(hah-chee)
(koo)
(joo)		six
seven
eight
nine
ten

Native Japanese Counting

hi
fu
mi
yo
i		(he)
(fwho)
(me)
(yoh)
(ee)		one
two
three
four
five		mu
na
ya
ko
to		(moo)
(nah)
(yah)
(koh)
(tow)		six
seven
eight
nine
ten

Japanese Phrases That Are Used in the Dojo
arigato gozaimasu(Ah-lee-gah-toh  Goh-zah-ee-mahss):Thank you
arigato gozaimashita(Ah-Lee-Gah-Tow  Goh-zah-ee-mah-shee-tah):Thank you very much for what you have done.
This is said to the teacher by all the students at the end of each class.
onegai shimasu(Oh-nay-guy-ee  Shee-mahss):I request your favor.  i.e. Would you practice with me?
Spoken when one wishes to practice with another student.
abunai(Ah-boo-nah-ee):"Danger!", Look out!,  Be Careful!
hajime(Hah-jee-may):Begin! Start, execute (imperative)
yame(yah-may):Stop!, Cease! (imperative)
   
DIRECTIONS OF AIKIDO TECHNIQUES
irimi(Ee-lee-mee):Entering (common in Omote Waza)
tenkan(Ten-kahn):Turning (common in Ura Waza)
omote waza(Oh-moh-tay Wah-zah):any technique which goes in front of uke.
ura waza(Oo-rah  Wah-zah):any technique which goes behind uke.
   
BASIC AIKIDO TECHNIQUES - Movements for the 'Nage' (thrower) Side
gokyo(Goh-kyoh):"5th technique"  Defense against an overhead knife attack.  Similar to Ikkyo.
Formal Name:  Ude Nobashi - Arm Stretch
ikkyo(Eek-kyoh):"1st technique"  Basic pinning technique of rolling the arm over  forward from below to the front, pinning uke face down.
Formal Name:  Ude Osae - Arm Pin
irimi nage(Ee-lee-mee  Nah-gay):Technique where you enter behind uke and throw him by breaking his balance backward.
juji-gatami nage(Joo-jee  Gah-lah-mee):A throw done by crossing uke's arms in an 'x' and then throwing.
kaiten nage(Kah-ee-ten  Nah-gay):Technique where uke's arm and body is revolved for a throw.
kokyu dosa(Koh-kyou  Doh-sah):Seated exercise used to develop ki extension and body coordination.
kokyu nage(Koh-kyou Nah-gay):A class of timing throws involving little or no pressure to uke's joints.
koshi nage(Koh-she Nah-gay):Hip throw; a judo-like throw using the hip as a fulcrum.
kotegaeshi(Koh-tay-Gah-ee-shee):Throw accomplished bending uke's wrist inward, vertically against inside of forearm.
nikyo(Nee-kyoh):"2nd technique"  Bending uke's wrist outward and horizontally against inside of forearm.
Formal Name:  Kote Mawashi - Wrist Turn
sankyo(Sahn-kyoh):"3rd technique"  Technique that twists uke's wrist and arm along the central axis of the arm.
Formal Name:  Kote Hineri - Wrist Twist
shiho-nage(Shee-hoh Nah-gay):The "four way throw".  Nage leads uke's arm up over his head, taking uke's hand back to his shoulder for the throw or pin.
tai no henko(Tie Noh Hen-koh):"Body Changing", turning exercise, basic blending practice. (see footwork diagrams)
tenchi nage(Ten-chee Nah-gay):Heaven and Earth throw.  Nage takes one hand downward as the other moves up to throw uke in a manner similar to Irimi Nage.
yonkyo(Yoh-n-kyoh):"4th technique"  Arm pin accomplished by pressure on nerves on the inside of uke's wrist.
Formal Name:  Kote Osae - Wrist Pin
   

AIKIDO TRAINING ATTACKS - Movements from the 'Uke' (receiver) Side
 

ai-hanmi katate-tori(Ah-ee Hahn-mee Kah-tah-tay Tow-Lee):one wrist grasped from matching stance,
i.e. uke's left grasping nage's right or visa versa [see kosa tori]
daki-jime(Dah-key Jee-may):bear hug, usually from the rear
ganmen tsuki(Gahn-men Skee):punch with fist to nage's face; also sometimes simply men tsuki
hiji tori(Hee-jee  Tow-lee):elbow grab
kata tori(Kah-tah Tow-lee):shoulder grab
katate tori(Kah-tah-tay Tow-lee):one hand grab; left hand grasping right wrist or visa versa
kosa tori(Koh-sah Tow-lee):cross hand grab; left hand grasping left wrist or visa versa
[see ai-hanmi katate-tori ]
men tsuki(Men Skee):punch or thrust to the head or face; also called ganmen tsuki
men uchi(Men Oo-Chee):strike to the head
morote tori(Moh-low-tay Tow-lee):both hands grasping; uke grabs one wrist with both hands
mune tsuki(Moo-neh Tsue-key):strike with fist to nage's abdomen; also sometimes simplytsuki
muna dori(Moon-ah  Doh-lee):lapel grab
ryohiji tori(Lee-yoh-hee-jee Tow-lee):both elbows grasped; uke takes one of nage's elbows in each hand
ryote tori(Lee-yoh-tay Tow-lee):both hands grasped; uke takes one of nage's wrists in each hand
shomen uchi(Sho-men Oo-chee):front strike to top of nage's head
ushiro-eri dori(Oo-shee-low Eh-lee Doh-lee):collar grab from the rear
ushiro hiji tori(Oo-shee-low Hee-jee Tow-lee):elbow grab from the rear
ushiro kubi-shime(Oo-shee-low Koo-bee She-may):choking with one arm around the neck from the rear, and the other hand usually grasping a wrist
ushiro ryokata tori(Oo-shee-low Lee-yoh-kah-tah Tow-lee):both shoulders grabbed from the rear
ushiro ryote tori(Oo-shee-low Lee-yoh-tay Tow-lee):both wrists grabbed from the rear
ushiro tori(Oo-shee-low  Tow-Lee):grasping from the rear; also rear bear hug [see daki jime]
yokomen-uchi(Yoh-koh-men Oo-Chee):oblique strike to the side of nage's head