Basic Vocabulary S - Z
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[S - Z]
Seiza (say-zah)
proper kneeling position, sitting on heels, back straight
Sempai (sem-pie)
students senior to you
Sensei (sen-say)
teacher – to be used when speaking or referring to teaching staff
Shihan (she-hahn)
Teacher of teachers (6th dan or above)
Shidoin (she-doe-in)
Certified instructor
Shiho (she-ho)
four directions
Shikko (she-koe)
knee walking
Shodan (show-dahn)
First degree black belt
Shomen (show-men)
Upper seat of kamiza housing spirit of Aikido;
also: front or top of head
Soto-Deshi (soe-toe-desh-ee)
Outside student
Suburi (sue-boar-ree)
Single movement using sword or staff in solo practice
Suburito (sue-burr-ito)
Heavy wooden training bokken
Suwari Waza (sue-war-ee-wah-zah)
Seated techniques
Tachitori (tah-chee-to-ree)
Sword taking/ attacking
Tachi waza (tah-chee-wah-zah)
Standing techniques
Tai No Henko (tie-no-henk-ko)
Pivoting of the body
Tai-sabaki (tie-sah-bak-ki)
Body movements
Tanden (than-den)
One-point, center of body below navel
Tanto (tahn-toe)
Knife
Tanto tori (than-toe-tor-ree)
Techniques to disarm attacker using a knife
Te (tay)
Hand
Tegatana (tay-ga-tah-nah)
sword edge or blade of hand
Tekubi (tay-cu-bee)
Wrist
Uchi (oo-chee)
Inside
Uchi-deshi (oo-chee-desh-ee)
Devoted, personal student; apprentice to the chief
instructor who lives in and cares for the dojo
Uke (oo-kay)
person who attacks; the one who is being thrown
Ukemi (oo-kem-me)
receiving technique and falling away from harm
Ura (oo-rah)
to the rear
Waza (wah-zah)
techniques
Yame (yah-may)
quit, give up, stop
Yubi (you-bee)
fingers
Yudansha (you-dahn-sha)
holder of a black belt degree
Zanshin (zan-sheen)
“follow-through” of a technique, solid stance, unbroken concentration
Zazen (zah-zen)
meditation posture and practice
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[S - Z]