Etiquette
Rei (礼) — Bow
Seiza (正座) — Sit in formal kneeling position
Mokuso (黙想) — Meditation (close eyes and reflect)
Mokuso yame (黙想やめ) — Stop meditation
Shomen-ni rei (正面に礼) – Bow to the front / to the spirit of the dojo
Sensei-ni rei (先生に礼) – Bow to the instructor
Otagai-ni rei (お互いに礼) – Bow to each other
Kyōtsuke (気をつけ) – Attention! Stand straight
Start/Stop Commands
Hajime (始め) – Begin!
Yame (止め) – Stop!
Matte (待って) – Wait / pause
Naore (直れ / なおれ) – Return to natural stance
Stance & Movement Commands
Kamae! (構え) – Take your stance / guard
Kamaete! (構えて) – Get into guard/stance now
Hanmi! (半身) – Aikido / iaido: half-body stance
Mae (前) — Forward
Ushiro (後ろ) — Back
Migi (右) — Right
Hidari (左) — Left
Tai sabaki (体捌き) – Body movement / shift
Ashi sabaki (足捌き) – Footwork
Training Drill Commands
Uchikomi (打ち込み) – Entry/impact repetition drill
Kakari-geiko (掛かり稽古) – Attacking practice / continuous offensive drill
Nagekomi (投げ込み) – Throwing practice (repetitive)
Kumite (組手) – Sparring (karate)
Randori (乱取り / 乱取) – Free practice (aikido, judo)
Kumitachi / Kumijo (組太刀 / 組杖) – Paired sword or staff forms
Courtesy/Responses
Hai! (はい) – “Yes!” / “Understood!” (common in dojo)
Osu! / Oss! (押忍) – Karate greeting/acknowledgment (NOT used in aikido/judo)
Onegaishimasu (お願いします) – “Please” / “I humbly request,” said before training with a partner = “Please train with me.”
Domo arigato gozaimashita (どうもありがとうございました) – “Thank you very much for today’s instruction.”
Weapon Class Commands
Tōrei (刀礼) – Bow to the sword
Nukitsuke (抜き付け) – Draw the sword!
Notō (納刀) – Sheathe the sword
ChiburiChiburi (血振り) is a ritual motion in Japanese sword arts representing the shaking of blood from the blade after a cut, symbolizing composure, readiness, and completion of a combative action. More (血振り) – Shake blood from blade (symbolic)
Chudan no kamae (中段の構え) – Middle guard stance
Advanced/Formal Terms
Reishiki (礼式) – Formal etiquette / ceremony
Kihon (基本) – Fundamentals
Kata (型 / 形) – Form
Bunkai (分解) – Application / analysis
Waza (技) – Technique
