The pronunciation of Japanese words is very simple in that there are only about fifty syllables in the entire language.  Consonants are usually pronounced as those in English.  The vowels are pronounced as follows

TERMS

Ashi (ahshee) – Foot or leg.

Atemi (ah-tay-me) – Punches and other sorts of strikes.

Bokken (bow-ken) – Wooden sword used in practice.

Budo (boo-doh) – The path or way of martial arts.

Chudan (chew-dan) – middle.

Dachi (dah-chee) – Stance.

Dan (dawn) – Aikido grade holder, black belt rank

Dori (dor-ee) – Grip.

Dojo (doe-joe) – The place where we practice Aikido.  “Place of the way”

Gaeshi (guy-eh-she) – To reverse.

Geri (gary) – Kick.

Gi (ghee) – Training uniform.

Gedan (gay-dan) – low.

Hakama (haw-kah-ma) – A divided, pant-like skirt.

Hanmi (hawn-me) – A posture in which one foot is advanced one step and the body weight is distributed equally on both feet.  Triangular stance.

Hanmi handachi (hawn-me hawn-dah-chee) – Nage (thrower) is kneeling and partner (the attacker), approaches from a standing position.

Hara (har-ah) – The center of existence.  Lower abdomen, physical and spiritual center.

Hidari (he-dah-ree) – Left (direction)

Hiji (he-gee) – Elbow.

Irime (ee-ree-mee) – To enter, entering. Direct entry.

Jo (joe) – Wooden staff, usually about 4 feet by 15/16” and usually made of white oak.

Jodan (joe-dan) – high

Kaiten (kie-ten) – To revolve or rotate

Kamae (kamay) – Posture, stance.

Kamae-te (kamya-tay) – Fighting stance, hands ready.

Kata (kah-tah) – A “form” or prescribed pattern of movement.  Also “shoulder”

Katate (kah-tah-tay) – One hand (left or right).

Kihon (key-hoen) – basic.

Kyotesuki (kee-yoh-tski) – attention.

Kyu (cue) – Aikido rank, class.  A mudansha or undergraduate.

Maai (mah-eye) – Distance between uke and nage, meaning “harmony of space”

Matte (mah-tay) – stop.

Men (men) – Face, head

Migi (mee-gee) – Right (direction).

Musubi (moo-sue-bee) – “Tying up” or “uniting”, blending.

Nage (nah-gay) – The person executing the technique (throw).  Also known as Tori.

Obi (oh-bee) – Belt.

Omote (oh-mo-tay) – front. Moving in front of your partner.

Randori (ran-door-ri) – Multiple attacks.  Free-style training.

Rei (ray) – Salutation, bow

Sempi (sem-pie) – Senior student.

Sensei (sen-say) – Teacher, instructor.

Seiza (say-zah) – Formal sitting position

Shiho (she-ho) – Four directions.

Shikko (she-ho) – Samurai walking. “knee walking”.

Shodan (show-dawn) – Holder of the first grade black belt.

Showmen (show-men) – Front or top of the head.  The alcove at the front of the dojo, considered a sacred space, to which we pay respect in aikido-practice .

Sutemi (sue-tay-me) – A hard fall; literally meaning to throw or sacrifice the body.

Suwari waza (sue-wah-ree wah-zah) – Sitting techniques.

Suwatte (sue-wah-tay) – Sit down.

Tachi waza (tah-chee wah-zuh) – Sanding techniques.

Tai sabaki (tie-sah-bach-key) – Strategic body movement.

Tanto (than-toe) – Wooden knife.

Te (tay) – Hand.

Tegatana (tay-gah-tah-nah) – Hand blade.  Sword edge of the hand.

Tenkan (ten-kahn) – Indirect or outside entry.  Body makes complete turn around attack.

Toi-mai (toy-my) – Distance of more than a step.

Tori (toree) – The person executing the technique.  Also known as Nage.

Uke (ooh-kay) – The attacker, receives the technique.  Also, to block.

Ukemi (ooh-kem-me) – Breakfall; the art of falling away from harm.

Ura (ohh-rah) – back; behind. Moving around or behind your partner.

Ushiro (ooh-she-row) – Back, behind, rear.

Waza (wah-zah) – Techniques or skill.

Yame (ya-may) – return to starting point after kata.

Yokomen (yoh-ko-men) – Side of the head.

Yoi (yoee) – Ready.

Yudansha (you-dawn-sha) – Black belt grade holder(s).

Zanshin (zahn-shin) – Connection.

COMMON AIKIDO ATTACKS

Hiji dori (hee-jee-doh-ree) – Elbow grab.

Kata dori (kah-tah-doh-ree) – Shoulder grab.

Katate dori (kah-tah-tay-doh-ree) – Same side wrist grab, e.g. right to left.

Morote dori (moh-roh-tay-doh-ree) – Both hands grab partner’s wrist.

Shomen uchi (shoh-men-oo-chee) – Straight strike to the top of the head.

Shomen ate (shoh-men-ah-tay) – Straight strike, palm out in front.

AIKIDO DEFENSES

Ikkyo (ee-kyoh) – (1^st wrist technique)  Controlling your partner’s center through the arm, as well as pinning the arm flat on the mat.  [Lit., first teaching or first principle].

Nikyo (nee-kyoh) – (2^nd wrist technique) Bends partner’s wrist in two angles and cuts through the center of the body making him/her drop to the ground.  [Lit., second teaching or second principle].

Sankyo (sahn-kyoh) – (3^rd wrist technique) Which holding partner’s tegatana, cuts to the empty point of the rear triangle.  [Lit., third teaching or third principle].

Yonkyo (yon-kyoh) – (4^th wrist technique) Control/throw using pressure point near partner’s wrist.  [Lit., fourth teaching or fourth principle].

Kote gaeshi (koh-tay-guy-shee) – Throwing partner by folding the hand back over the wrist.  [Lit., small hand (kote) turn over (gaeshi)].

Shiho nage (shee-hoh-nah-gay) – Four direction throw.  [Lit., four (shi) direction (ho) throw (nage).

Kaiten Nage -- throwing partner as if they were a big wheel. [Lit., rotation (kaiten) throw (nage)].

Tenchi nage (ten-chee-nah-gay) – One hand down towards the mat, the other up towards the sky.  [Lit., heaven (ten) earth (chi) throw (nage)].

Common Japanese Phrases

Arigato gozaimasita (ah-ree-gah-toe go-zye-mahsh-tah) - Thank you very much for what you did. (spoken at the end of practice)

Hai (hi) – Yes.  A convenient answer to use when Sensei gives you a correction or asks you to perform some task.

Hajime! (hah-jee-meh) - Please start. (This will be said by your teacher when he wants you to begin; often said with emphasis.)

Komban wa (comb-bahn-wah) - Good evening.

Konnichi wa (cone-ee-chee-wah) - Good afternoon.

Mokuso! (mokoo-sew) - Please come to attention; make yourself ready for keiko. meditate! (This will be said in the form of a command by your Sensei or Sempai at the beginning of class and the end of class just before the ceremonial opening and closing bow respectively.

Mawate (mah-wha-tay) – Turn.

Ohayo gozaimasu ( ohio go-zah-ee-mahs) - Good morning. (used before 10am.)

Onegai shimasu (oh-ney-guy-she-mahs) - Thank you for what we are about to do. (Spoken at the beginning of practice.)

Oyasumi nasai (oh-yah-soo-mee-nah-sigh) - Good night. (As in leaving.)