One of the questions we hear most often is, "Why do Aikido practitioners train with wooden swords and staffs if Aikido is primarily an empty-hand martial art?" The answer is simple: the principles found in Aikido's empty-hand techniques (waza) originate from traditional Japanese weapons. The bokken (wooden sword) and jo (wooden staff) are not separate disciplines—they are teachers that reveal the mechanics, timing, distancing, and movement that make Aikido effective. Although students may initially view weapons practice as something different from empty-hand training, they eventually discover that both are expressions of the same principles.

Weapons Reveal the Principles of Aikido

Aikido is often described as the art of harmony rather than collision. This principle becomes very apparent when training with the sword. Unlike what is commonly portrayed in movies, traditional Japanese swordsmanship is not based upon repeated blocking, clashing, or striking one sword against another. Every unnecessary collision creates risk. Instead, practitioners seek the safest angle that avoids the attack while creating a direct path to the opponent. Rather than opposing force with force, the practitioner moves off the line of attack, blends with the movement, and enters through an opening. These are the very same principles practiced in Aikido's empty-hand techniques. The sword simply makes those principles easier to understand.

The Importance of Angles

Success in Aikido is rarely determined by strength. Instead, it is determined by position. When the body moves to the proper angle, collision can often be avoided entirely. A slight change in footwork or body alignment can transform what appears to be a dangerous attack into an opportunity to safely enter and control the situation. Weapons training develops this understanding naturally. Students begin to recognize that efficiency comes from correct positioning rather than muscular effort. The shortest and safest path often requires less force and greater awareness.

The Concept of Shinken (Live Blade)

One of the most important concepts in traditional weapons training is Shinken, meaning "live sword" or "live blade." Although students train with a wooden sword rather than a sharpened weapon, they are encouraged to treat the bokken with the same respect they would give a real blade. This changes the student's mindset completely. The weapon is no longer viewed as a simple piece of wood. Every movement becomes intentional. Every cut has purpose. Every action carries responsibility. Students learn where the handle ends and where the blade begins. They avoid casually touching the blade portion of the bokken because it reinforces proper habits, respect, and awareness. Over time, this mindset develops discipline that carries into every aspect of Aikido practice.

The Sword Never Lies

One of the greatest teaching tools in Aikido is the bokken itself. The sword immediately exposes mistakes that may go unnoticed during empty-hand practice. If posture is poor... If distance is incorrect... If timing is off... If the hands drift away from the body's centerline... The sword reveals those mistakes immediately. In many ways, the weapon becomes an instructor. It provides constant feedback and encourages students to refine their movement until efficiency replaces unnecessary effort.

Developing Awareness of Space

Weapons training also develops an awareness that extends far beyond technique. Every practitioner must know exactly where the tip of the weapon is located throughout every movement. Equally important is maintaining awareness of training partners and the surrounding environment. Imagine raising a sword carelessly and striking a wall, a ceiling, or another student standing behind you. These situations are prevented through continuous awareness of space and respect for everyone training together. This awareness eventually becomes second nature and transfers directly into empty-hand practice.

How the Sword Improves Empty-Hand Techniques

One of the most valuable lessons taught by the bokken is proper hand movement. When practicing with the sword, the hands naturally travel vertically in front of the body along the practitioner's centerline. After enough repetition, this movement becomes part of the practitioner's natural mechanics. Without consciously thinking about it, the hands begin moving correctly during empty-hand techniques as well. Students often believe they are simply learning sword movements. In reality, they are teaching their entire body how Aikido should move. The transition from conscious effort to natural movement is one of the greatest benefits of traditional weapons practice.

More Than Learning a Weapon

At Tri City Aikido, weapons are not taught simply to learn how to use a sword or staff. They are studied because they explain the principles from which Aikido developed. The bokken and jo teach posture, distance, timing, awareness, precision, and centered movement. They help students understand why techniques work rather than simply memorizing how they look. Over time, students begin to realize that weapons practice and empty-hand practice are not separate subjects. They are two methods of studying the same art. As understanding grows, the distinction between the two gradually disappears. The principles become one, and the practitioner begins to experience Aikido as it was always intended—a unified martial art built upon awareness, efficiency, respect, and harmonious movement.

CALL:  1 (510) 298-4222 or TEXT (510) 468-4165

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ADDRESS:  37427 Fremont Blvd., Fremont CA 94536

PARKING DIRECTIONS: Swing around to the rear of the building off of Maple Street. 

  

Aikido terminology | Aikido principles | Aikido techniques

DOWNLOAD AIKIDO VOCABULARY

There is so much here for those who train in the art of Aikido. You can quickly learn the Aikido Japanese terminology, principles, philosophy and techniques of Aikido.   [creativecontactform id="2"]

Basic Pronunciation for the Japanese language

A = AArdvArk
I = pizza
U = blue
E = somewhere between Echo and table
O = bone

Never cluster the syllables when speaking.

For example; Aikido is pronounced “Eye-key-doh”

A

ai - harmony, unity, blending

aihanmi - A stance where both people have the same foot forward

aidori - Same sided wrist grab.  Attacker/Uke uses right hand to grab Nage's right wrist

aikido - A way to spend your life harmonizing energy.  Pronounced "Eye - key - doh"

aikidoka - An Aikido practitioner

Aikikai - The world headquarters of Aikido in Tokyo Japan.  More commonly know as Hombu dojo

aikiken - aikido sword practice

aikiotoshi - More commonly known as the aiki-drop technique

aikitaiso - Specific warm up exercise for Aikido practitioners

aite - an opponent, not to be confused with Uke.

arigato - Thanks

arigato gozaimasu or gozaimashita - Thank you 

ashi - Foot

atemi - A strike to no specific region of the body

B

Bo staff - longer than the jo

bokken or bokuto - Wooden training sword

bu - a state of war, battle, fight

budo - Japanese Martial arts

bugei - another term for martial arts or battle art

bushi - warrior

bushido - the way of the warrior

C

chikara - force/strength

choku - direct energy

chudan or chudan no kamae - In weapons, the hands are typically positioned in the middle of a person

Chushin - center or center line

D

Daito ryu aikijutsu - "One" of the parent arts of Aikido

dan - A black belt grade in the budo arts

deshi - Aikido student

do - The "Way or Path"

dogi - Uniform better known as a gi

dojo training hall or place of enlightenment

dojo cho - Chief instructor of a dojo

doka - poem about the way

domo arigato gozaimashita - Thank you very much.  The nicest way to say thank you

dori - take or grab

dosa - movement

doshu - The leader of the Aikikai or Aikido world headquarters

dozo - please

E

embukai - a public demonstration

empi - a strike with the elbow

eri - lapel or collar

eridori - lapel grab

F

fukushidoin - a qualified teaching instructor

funakogi - The rowing exercise in the Shin kokyu practice.  Sometimes referred as torifune

G

gaeshi -  A returning of the force

gamae/kamae - A martial stance or on-guard

gasshuku - Seminar 

gedan - A reference used in weapons where the hands and weapons are positioned low

geri - a kick.  Nonspecific

gi - Uniform

giri/kiri - a sword or knife cut

go - 5 

gokyo - The fifth principle teaching in Aikido

gomen nasai - I am sorry.  Apologetic.  

gyaku - the reverse or opposite.  Usually describing the feet in a stance.

H

hachi - 8 

hai - yes.  Usually, there is enthusiasm/ positive tone when agreeing with someone.   

hajime - to begin

hakama - traditional Japanese wide pants typically worn by yudansha

hanmi handachi - A starting position between 2 practitioners: 1 standing while the other is on his knees or where 1 person is half the stance of the other

happo - eight directions, compare shiho

hara - A place located a few inches below the navel.  The place where your ki is greatest.  

harai - Usually a foot sweep

henka waza - The ability to change techniques when engaged with an attacker

hidari - left 

hiji - elbow

hijidori - elbow grab

hiza - knee

Hombu dojo - headquarters for the Aikikai Aikido association in Tokyo

I

ichi - 1

ichiban - first or best

iie - no

ikkyo - The first principle of Aikido

irimi - to enter or move forward

iriminage - classic entering throw used in Aikido

Iwama - A place in Japan, where O'sensei had a dojo and a home

J

jiyu waza - free form sparring with 1 person

jo - the short staff

jodan no kamae- A position in weaponry where the high hands or weapons is high

jodan tsuki - a strike to the head

jodori - the taking of the short staff from an attacker

ju - 10 it also means "Soft" as in ju jitsu

juji nage - a throw in Aikido where the forearm take on the character for 10 (+)

K

kaeshi - same as gaeshi returning, reverse

kaeshi waza - Reversals or counters to techniques

kai - school or club

kaiten nage - A rotary throw in Aikido

Kamae/gamae - A stance or guard position

kami - The Divine

kamiza - Usually depicting a spiritual place place in a dojo

kampai - cheers, toast

kanji -  Chinese characters or writing

kata - forms.  In Aikido, usually in weapons practice only.  

kata - the shoulder

kata dori - shoulder grab

kata dori menuchi - shoulder grab followed by a strike to the face

katame waza - pinning techniques like Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, etc...

katana - the Japanese sword, also known as a ken

katate dori - a wrist grab.  Right on left or vice versa

katate ryote dori - 2 wrists are grabbed by the Uke/attacker

keiko - training

ken -  Japanese sword

kendo - Japanese sport sword 

kesa giri - diagonal sword cut

ki - spirit, life energy

kiai - A loud sound/shout that a martial artist makes to gather or create additional internal forces for power

kihon waza - basic techniques

kime - focusing

kimusubi - tying one's ki to that of the partner

ki no nagare- the flowing energy of Aikido

kiri - to cut

kiri kaeshi - a returning cut in kenjitsu

kohai - a junior practitioner 

kokoro - heart, will or mind.  Not to be confused with the organ.

kokyu - a coordination of the mind, body and breath of the cosmos

kokyu ho - a basic seated Aikido exercise to produce a throw

kokyunage - breath throw

koshi nage - hip throw

kote - wrist

kote gaeshi - a technique where the attackers wrist is reversed back into them.  

kotodama or kototama - spiritual sounds and or words used in Japanese mysticism.  

ku or kyu- 9

kubi - neck

kubishime - neck choke

kuzushi - a principle used in Aikido.  The off setting of one's balance that precedes technique.  

kyu - a non black belt grade

M

ma-ai - The understanding of space between 2 people

mae - front or forward

mae geri - front kick

maru - circle

mawashi geri - roundhouse kick

me - eye

men - the head

migi - right 

misogi - the purification or cleansing process practiced in Aikido

mochi - to grip

mokuso - meditation

morote dori -  when attacker grabs an arm with both hands.  Much like that of holding a baseball bat.  

mushin - a very advanced place where the mind is empty of thought

mudansha - a non-black belt practitioner of Aikido.  Still in the kyu grade system.  

mune - middle area of the body.  Usually the abdomen

mune dori - same as eri dori

musubi - to bring together.  This can be used in many different contexts.

N

nage - the person receiving the attack in practice

nana - 7 also pronounced shichi

ni - 2 

Nihon - the Japanese language

nikyo - the second principle of Aikido.  A pinning technique

ninin dori - two attackers who grab

Nippon - Japan

O

o - big or great

obi - belt

ocha - tea

omote - the front 

onegai shimasu - a very polite way of requesting something.  Will you train with me?

o' sensei - Morihei Ueshiba known as the great teacher

R

randori - multiple attackers

rei - to bow

ritsurei - a standing bow

rokkyo - the sixth principle in Aikido.  An elbow pin

roku - 6 

ryo - both

ryote dori - gripping both wrists

S

sabaki - the moving or action of something

samurai - Japanese warrior class

san - 3 

sankakutai - a triangle shape stance not used in our dojo

sankyo - the third principle in Aikido.  A wrist joint lock technique

sannin dori - a 3 person attack where they initially grab

satori - enlightenment in zen

seichusen - Centerline

seiza - the kneeling seated position

sempai - a senior student

sen no sen - The ability to perceive the attackers intent to harm and respond instantly, neutralizing the action as it begins.  In short, the attackers intention becomes action, triggering a simultaneous move.

sensei - teacher

shi - 4 or yon

shichi - 7 or nana

shidoin - instructor, middle title for aikido teacher, 4-5 dan, compare fukushidoin and shihan

shihan - Master instructor

shiho nage - four directional throw technique

shikaku - a place where the attacker finds themselves without advantage

shiki - courage

shikko - knee walking

shime - choke

shin - heart, will or mind

shinai - a bamboo sword

shinken - a principle used in Aikido that pertains to the sharpness of the Japanese sword intended to elevate the mental alertness of the practioner.  

shinto - the way of the gods, Japanese religion

shisei - a principle practice that corrects posture both physically and energetically.  Without proper shisei, you cannot truly advance.   

shizentai - a natural body posture.  The starting place for Aikido training

shodan - first grade or dan in black belt ranking

shodo - calligraphy

shomen - front or head piece of the dojo

shomen ni rei - bow to head place of the dojo

shomenuchi - a vertical cut with a sword or blow to head

shu ha ri - The 3 stages of learning; Mimic, engrain and then let go or forget 

soto - outside or side

sumi - corner

sumimasen - excuse me

suri ashi - gliding or sliding of the feet on the ground

sutemiwaza - sacrifice throws where one will lose one's own balance to throw another

suwari waza - seated training

T

tachidori - Sword taking practice or technique

tachi waza - training standing up

tai - body

tai no henko - body changing and blending practice

tai sabaki - to move the body in aikido

taiso - exercises

takemusu aiki - improvised demonstration of technique.  Without premeditated thought, the creative spirit of aikido takes over.  

tameshi - test

tanden - same as hara

tanto - Japanese knife

tantodori - defense against knife

tao/dao - same as "Do" or path, way

tatami - practice mats originally made of bound straw

te - hand

tegatana - hand blade

tekubi - wrist

tenchinage - heaven & earth throw

tenkan - to turn, change or transform

toitsu ryoku - unified power

tsuba - sword guard

tsuka - sword hilt

tsuki - to strike, with a weapon or empty hand.  This also means, "Openings" or vulnerability.

tsunagu - to connect

U

uchi - to hit

uchikomi - to hit repeatedly

uke - the attacker in aikido

ukemi - the art of falling

ura - the backside or rearward action

ushiro - behind or rear

ushiro geri - backward kick

ushiro ukemi - backward fall

ushiro waza - attacks from behind

W

waki o shimeru - the closing of the armpits

wakizashi - short sword

waza - technique

Y

yamei - stop

yari - spear

yoko - side, sideways, horizontal

yoko geri - side kick

yoko giri - horizontal cut

yokomen uchi - strike to the side of the head with the hand blade

yonkyo - the fourth principle in Aikido.  A pressure point pinning technique

yudansha - Black belt status

Z

za - seated, sit

zanshin - unbroken concentration 

zazen - sitting meditation, also called mokuso

zen - a form of Buddhism

zori - sandals

Numbers & Counting

1 ichi

2 ni

3 san

4 shi / yon

5 go

6 roku

7 shichi / nana

8 hachi

9 ku

10 ju, 11 ju ichi, 12 ju ni, 13 ju san

20 niju, 21 niju ichi, 22 niju ni, 23 niju san

30 san ju

40 yon ju

50 go ju

100 hyaku, 200 nihyaku, 300 sanbyaku, 400 yonhyaku, 500 gohyaku 

1000 sen, 2000 nisen, 3000 sanzen, 4000 yonsen, 5000 gosen