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Japanese to English Translation

Included in this page are:

  1. General Terms
  2. Counting
  3. Aikido Techniques
  4. Japanese Phrases

For terms/translations not covered, please see:
[ Dictionary 1 | Dictionary 2 ]

This is currently a work in progress. We put this here now for your use until it is in full working order. Translating Japanese to English, and vice versa, has always been somewhat difficult. Since the Japanese language doesn't use our alphabet, and the method of pronunciation is different, Americans have tried to phoneticaly spell Japanese words. For this reason you may see Japanese words spelled differently between reference books. As we do more research, we are clarifying and correcting our spelling and definitions.

In the Japanese lannguage, a word does not change in the plural as it does in American. For example "kata" may mean one kata or five kata. It is incorrect to say "katas".

 

Aikido Techniques

Japanese

English

Ikkyo

First Technique - the most basic of the aikido ways to grip an opponent's arm.

Nikkyo Second Technique - a method of gripping your partner's arm.
Sankyo Third Technique - a method of gripping your partner's arm.
Yonkyo Fourth Technique - a method of gripping your partner's arm.
Gokyo Fifth Technique.
Hanmi Handachi Uke standing, nage sitting.
Irimi Without changing your direction you apply your technique on an opponent who is moving straight toward you; you must be careful to lead and to avoid a direct collision with his strength.
Jotori Jo disarming.
Kaiten Nage A technique in which you force your partner to revolve his body once before you down him.
Katate Tori One hand grab to wrist. Your opponent attacks by seizing one of your arms.
Kata Tori One hand grab to the shoulder. Your opponent attacks by seizing your shoulder.
Koho Tento A method of falling to the rear.
Kote Nage

A throw in which, without applying pressure to any of your partner's joints, you use the timing of both your body and your spirit to throw him.

Kote Gaeshi A throw accomplished by twisting your partner's wrist.
Ma Ai The distance between you and your partner.
Men Uchi Your partner attacks by striking your face.
Morote Tori Two hands on one.
Mune Tsuki Your partner attacks by thrusting to your chest.
Ryote Mochi Your partner attacks by holding one of your hands in both of his.
Ryote Tori Both wrists grabbed from front. Your partner attacks by taking both your hands in both of his.
Shiho Nage Four directions; you throw your partner in four directions before he falls.
Sudori Your partner, in effect, throws himself with an excess of power.
Shomen Uchi Strike to forehead. Your partner attacks by striking your face.
Suwari Waza Technique from sitting position.
Tachi Tori Bokken disarming.
Tanto Tori Knife disarming.
Tekubi Kosa Crossed wrists.
Tenchi Nage

A pose in a throw; one of your hands raised as if you were pointing to the sky, the other down as if you were pressing on the earth.

Tenkan

You turn your body from your opponent's line of attack, cause his strength to flow off wasted , move your body to a place where his strength is inactive and lead him.

Tsuki Thrust or punch.
Ude Furi Arm shaking.
Ushiro Hiji Shime Your partner attacks by taking both your elbows from behind.
Ushiro Kata Tori Your partner attacks by taking both of your shoulders from behind.
Ushiro Katate Tori Your partner attacks by taking both of your hands from behind in one of his.
Ushiro Kubi Shime Choke from behind with free hand grabbing wrist. With the other hand he tries to choke you.
Ushiro Ryokata Tori Both shoulders grabbed from behind.
Ushiro Tekubi Tori Both wrists grabbed from behind. Your partner attacks by taking both your wrists in his hands from behind.
Ushiro Ude Tori Your partner is controlling both of your arms from behind with both of his.
Ushiro Waza Any attack from behind.
Waza Techniques. In Aikido, techniques are not considered "written in stone" as in some martial arts (Jeet Kune Do is one major exception), Aikido students are taught the fundementals and expected to pick what works best, for them, the situation and the uke.
Yokomen Uchi Strike to the side of the head. Your partner strikes the side of your face.
Zempo Kaiten A method of falling to the front.
Zengo Backward and forward.
( Top)
Japanese Aikido Terminology - Techniques
Martial Arts - Journaled.com
Modified: April 2, 2001
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