aikido vocabulary and footwork review videos for beginning aikido students
useful aikido vocabulary terms
BASICS
uke
ukemi
nage
onegai shimasu
arigatō gozaimashita
shomen ni rei
BODY MOVEMENT
tai-sabaki
tai no henkō
shizentai
hanmi
ai hanmi
gyaku hanmi
irimi
tenkan
tenshin
ma-ai
ATTACKS
katate-tori
kōsa-dori
ryōte-tori
shōmen-uchi
tsuki
yokomen-uchi
the person who offers an attack and receives the technique
the art of falling in response to a technique
the person who performs a technique in response to an attack
[lit "I make a request"] Said to one's partner when starting: 'Please, let's train together.'
[lit "Thank you very much"] To thank those with whom you have trained.
[lit “bow towards the shomen (front of the dojo)] said by instructor when opening class
Basic body movement and footwork
Basic blending practice involving turning 180 degrees
Natural stance, with feet about shoulder-width apart
Basic triangular stance. Often characterized by "right" or "left" foot forward.
Stance where uke and nage each have the same foot forward
Stance where uke and nage have opposite foot forward
Entering movement, usually to side of partner
Turning movement, especially turning the body 180 degrees
A movement where nage steps 45 degrees away from the attack
Proper distancing or timing with respect to one's partner
single-hand wrist grab (your right grabs their left. your left grabs their right.)
cross-hand wrist grab (your right grabs their right. your left grabs their left.)
two-hand wrist grab (one hand on each wrist)
overhead strike to partner’s head
straight punch
diagonal strike to side of head
weeks 1 & 2 - Body Movement and footwork review videos
Note: In all these videos you will notice that the various forms all start from and return to a relaxed, natural hanmi ready position.
weeks 1 & 2 - aikido training and fundamental techniques
Four Basic Principles of Aikido Training (adapted from Ki Society and Kokikai Aikido organizations)
1. Keep one point
2. Relax completely
3. Keep Weight Underside and Maintain Correct Posture
4. Keep a Positive Mind and Extend Ki
Keep One Point
The one-point in the lower abdomen, also referred to in Japanese as Seika Tanden or Seika No Itten, is a very important part of practice. Focus your weight on your center of balance, which is about three finger widths below your navel. This helps you maintain balance and stability.
In Aikido training when someone says move from your centre they are talking about a movement that starts from your one-point.
The one-point is a focal point for the mind and not just a focal point for physical movement. One way to imagine the one-point is by picturing a large sphere around the body centred on the one-point and to then progressively shrink that sphere by half and half again until it becomes the one-point.
Relax Completely
Try to relax as much as possible while performing techniques. A relaxed stance is more fluid and alive, while a tense stance is immobile. To relax completely, as we use the term, means to release the tension in our body without collapsing.
As we progress in our training our self-awareness grows and we recognise elements of previously unrecognised tension in our mind and body and so discover the opportunity to work on releasing that tension and improving our overall level of relaxation.
Keep Weight Underside and Maintain Correct Posture
If our body is relaxed but powerful, we lack excess tension. This permits weight to settle on the “underside” of the limbs. Weight underside is a concept closely linked to relax completely. Allowing the weight to fall to its lowest natural point is usually accomplished by relaxing the muscles while maintaining the correct posture. Maintain good posture and continually correct it.
Keep a Positive Mind and Extend Ki
Ki is a Japanese concept which is very similar to the Chinese concept of Qi (Chi) and the Yogic concept of Prana.
In many ways our bodies are an expression of our minds. If we are angry others can see that in our face in our posture. Likewise if we are happy it can be perceived by others. This is an aspect of our Ki. Positive or negative, our state of mind is expressed through our bodies and our actions. Try to maintain a positive, happy feeling throughout practice.
Intention and attention are also important aspects of our Ki. In the exercise we call unbendable arm, you raise your arm up and in a relaxed manner, if your training partner was to bend you arm so that your wrist is brought back to your shoulder it would be easily bent. If you extend your attention to a distant target, as if your arm is gently reaching out towards that target, it will be much harder for your partner to bend your arm.
quotes and thoughts on training
"You must relax everything and it is precisely what is so scary because without strength in your arms, you have nothing left apart from your motion. It goes completely to the opposite of what your instinct tells you.”
— Henry Kono Sensei
"As your training progresses, always remember that the key to gaining the ability for spontaneous and creative technique lies in good ukemi."
— Mitsugi Saotome Sensei
