Aikido techniques are responses to attacks. The defender (nage/tori) redirects the attacker’s (uke’s) energy, leading them into a throw or pin. Every technique begins with the attacker initiating.
Core throws (Nage-waza)
Technique
Japanese
Description
Entering throw
Irimi-nage
Step into the attack, blend with the attacker’s movement, redirect and throw using circular motion
Four-direction throw
Shiho-nage
Grip the wrist, lead the arm in a spiral, throw in any of four directions
Wrist turn throw
Kote-gaeshi
Redirect the attack, apply pressure to the wrist, throw outward
Rotary throw
Kaiten-nage
Lead the attacker in a circular path, throw using centrifugal force
Breath throw
Kokyu-nage
Use timing and body movement alone to throw — no grabbing, pure blending
Heaven and earth throw
Tenchi-nage
One hand leads upward, other leads downward — disrupts balance completely
Core controls (Katame-waza)
Technique
Japanese
Description
First control
Ikkyo
Control the arm from the elbow, pin face-down to the mat
Second control
Nikyo
Wrist lock — rotate the wrist inward, opponent drops to relieve pressure
Third control
Sankyo
Twisting wrist lock — rotate the wrist outward and upward
Fourth control
Yonkyo
Pressure point on the inside of the forearm — extremely painful
Fifth control
Gokyo
Wrist grip used specifically against knife attacks
Weapons techniques
Weapon
Japanese
Training Use
Wooden sword
Bokken
Teaches cutting angles, distance, and timing. Paired sword practice.
Wooden staff
Jo
4-foot staff. Teaches thrusting, striking, sweeping. 31-count and 13-count kata.
Wooden knife
Tanto
Used by the attacker in knife-defense training scenarios.
In Aikido, the attacker is as important as the defender. Being uke (the one who attacks and gets thrown) is not losing — it is learning how to fall safely, how to read body movement, and how techniques feel from the receiving end. Good ukemi is a skill that takes years to develop.
