Here are some terms that you might find helpful. Obviously, this glossary is far from complete, since I'm still working on it. For a much more comprehensive list of terms, visit the Aikiweb Vocabulary Page, by Eric Sotnak

Aikido - Aikido is made up of three Japanese characters: "Ai" means harmony, "ki" means spirit, mind, or universal energy, and "do" means Way. Put them all together, and you get "the Way of Harmony with Universal Energy."

Bokken - A wooden practice sword. While aikido does not focus a lot on attacking with weapons, the bokken is still useful as a way to focus and project ki, usually through kata.

Dojo - "Place of the Way." The place where aikido is practiced. Normally, traditional etiquette dictates that one must bow to the "shomen," or front of the dojo, when entering.

Hanmi - Triangular stance. "Right hanmi" means to stand with the right foot pointing forward and the left foot behind and to the left. "Left hanmi" is the opposite. "Even hanmi" means to stand with neither foot in front of the other.

Hantai - An attack similar to yokomen, except utilizing a cross-body strike. When starting from right hanmi, the right hand is used to deliver the attack. Like a right-hanmi yokomen strike, the hand begins to the left of the head (except that it's the right hand, and not the left) and targets the right temple of the nage. Unlike yokomen, the hand remains horizontal throughout the strike.

Ikkyo - The first form, an "arm pin." In ikkyo, the nage is behind the uke and to one side. If the nage is in back and to the right of the uke, he has the uke's right hand in his right hand. The uke's hand is twisted clockwise, when looking from his right, and his arm is slightly bent.

Irimi - "Entering." From the Aikiweb Vocab page: "The idea behind IRIMI is to place oneself in relation to an attacker in such a way that the attacker is unable to attack effectively, and in such a way that one is able to control effectively the attacker's balance."

Jo - A wooden staff about 4' to 5' in length. Like the bokken, the jo is primarily used in exercises to focus ki.

Kata - Either a "form" or pattern of prescribed movements, or the shoulder.

Katate tori - An attack where the uke attempts to grab one of the nage's wrists. The right hand is used to grab the left wrist, and vice versa.

Ki - Spirit, life-force, intention. In a sense, aikido is the practice of ki manipulation.

Kubi Shime - A choke. e.g. ushiro kubi shime (choke from behind).

Nage - The thrower, or the one who practices the technique.

Seiza - Sitting on one's knees. Sort of like a cross between sitting cross-legged and kneeling. There should be about two fists' worth of space between the knees, and the hands should rest on the top of the thighs, pointing towards each other.

Sensei - "Teacher." The aikido instructor should be addressed as "Sensei ."

Shomen - The front of the dojo. Also a vertical chop. For example, when in right hanmi, the right arm is raised vertically, with the hand positioned over the head. The attack consists of a slide forward (so that you maintain the same hanmi) and a downward chop. The target of the shomen strike is the nage's forehead, so be sure to stop the strike where his/her forehead would be.

Tanto - A dagger. Unlike the bokken or the jo, the tanto is not really used for ki exercises. Rather, the tanto is mostly integrated into attacks (usually yokomen or hantai). Techniques against tanto strikes are similar to techniques against unarmed yokomen or hantai strikes, with particular emphasis on keeping from getting cut and relieving the uke of the tanto.

Tenkan - A turning movement, usually involving turning the body 180 degrees. The turn is accomplished by pivoting around the front foot. For example, a tenkan turn is executed from right hanmi by sweeping the left foot behind the right. One eventually ends up facing the opposite direction, with the same hanmi.

Tsuki - A punch, aimed at the solar plexus of the nage. A lunge tsuki involves stepping forward with the foot on the same side as the fist, and a reverse tsuki involves stepping forward with the foot on the opposite side as the fist.

Uke - The attacker, or the person being thrown.

Ukemi - the art of falling in response to a technique. From the Aikiweb Vocab page: "Just as standard aikido techniques provide strategies for defending against physical attacks, so does UKEMI practice provide strategies to defend against falling (or even against the application of an aikido or an aikido-like technique!)."

Ushiro - Backwards, or from behind.

Yokomen - A sideward chop to the head. For example, when starting in right hanmi, the left hand is positioned similarly to the attacking hand in a shomen strike, except that it is not above the head, but to the side. When attacking, step forward with the rear foot (you end up reversing hanmi) and strike with the hand on the same side at the temple of the nage. The strike should be with a nearly horizontal hand, not with a tilted hand. Be sure to stop the strike at the temple.