aikido
Harmony-based defense art
Aikido is a Japanese martial art focused on redirecting an attacker's energy rather than meeting force with force.
Practitioners use joint locks, throws, and circular movements to neutralize aggression without causing unnecessary harm.
The discipline emphasizes harmony and self-defense over combat: She's been studying aikido for years.
Unlike karate or taekwondo, aikido has no competitive sparring—training partners take turns as attacker and defender.
Vital life energy
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- unityWholeness through cohesion
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
- nonviolencePrincipled rejection of force
reconciliation · connection · mutual · cooperation · resolution · centeredness · calm · integration
Japanese word for teacher
Unbroken forward movement
- circularForming a closed curve
- spiralCurve winding around center
- pivotPoint of rotation
- blendCombine into mixture
center · extension · relaxation · grounding · breathing · posture · stance · roll
Freedom from disturbance
- nonviolencePrincipled rejection of force
- self-improvementEnhancing oneself deliberately
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
humility · mindfulness · spirituality · ethics · self-mastery · growth · awareness · intention
Send in new direction
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- blendCombine into mixture
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- restraintControl over impulses
control · counter · protection · deescalation · nonresistance · absorb · deflect · unbalance
Miniature Hawaiian guitar
- toriMultiple ring-shaped surfaces
- shiteBritish vulgar term
- partnerOne who shares activity
- attackerOne who strikes first
defender · instructor · student · practitioner · founder
"So much" in scores
- disarmRemove capacity to harm
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- iaidoMartial art of drawing swords
- swordsmanshipSkill with bladed weapons
ki
Vital life energy
nonviolence · reconciliation · connection · mutual · cooperation · resolution · centeredness · calm · integration · synchronization
sensei
Japanese word for teacher
flow
Unbroken forward movement
blend · center · extension · relaxation · grounding · breathing · posture · stance · roll · flexibility
peace
Freedom from disturbance
- nonviolencePrincipled rejection of force
- self-improvementEnhancing oneself deliberately
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
perseverance · humility · mindfulness · spirituality · ethics · self-mastery · growth · awareness · intention · budo
redirect
Send in new direction
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- blendCombine into mixture
- evasionAct of escaping detection
restraint · control · counter · protection · deescalation · nonresistance · absorb · deflect · unbalance · immobilize
uke
Miniature Hawaiian guitar
attacker · defender · instructor · student · practitioner · founder
tanto
"So much" in scores
- East AsiaChina, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Korea
- fightingboxing, kickboxing, MMA, karate, taekwondo
- Japanese culturesamurai, kabuki, sumo, origami, tea ceremony
- Japanese wordsanime, bento, bonsai, futon, geisha
- martial artskarate, taekwondo, kung fu, kickboxing, jujitsu
- Asian gamesgo, karate, kendo, mahjong, sumo
aikidokarate
Japanese unarmed combat discipline
taekwondo · kickboxing · boxing · MMA · combatives
aikidostriking back
Retaliating against an aggressor
counterattack · retaliation · preemptive strike · fighting back · fighting fire with fire