Basic Techniques

The following are a sample of the basic or widely practiced throws and pins. Many of these techniques derive from Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, but some others were invented by Morihei Ueshiba. The precise terminology for some may vary between organisations and styles, so what follows are the terms used by the Aikikai Foundation. Note that despite the names of the first five techniques listed, they are not universally taught in numeric order.

• First technique (一教 ikkyō) a control using one hand on the elbow and one hand near the wrist which leverages uke to the ground. This grip also applies pressure into the ulnar nerve at the wrist.
• Second technique (二教 nikyō) a pronating wristlock that torques the arm and applies painful nerve pressure. (There is an adductive wristlock or Z-lock in ura version.)
• Third technique (三教 sankyō) a rotational wristlock that directs upward-spiraling tension throughout the arm, elbow and shoulder.
• Fourth technique (四教 yonkyō) a shoulder control similar to ikkyō, but with both hands gripping the forearm. The knuckles (from the palm side) are applied to the recipient's radial nerve against the periosteum of the forearm bone.
• Fifth technique (五教 gokyō) visually similar to ikkyō, but with an inverted grip of the wrist, medial rotation of the arm and shoulder, and downward pressure on the elbow. Common in knife and other weapon take-aways.
• Four-direction throw (四方投げ shihōnage) The hand is folded back past the shoulder, locking the shoulder joint.
• Forearm return (小手返し kotegaeshi) a supinating wristlock-throw that stretches the extensor digitorum.
• Breath throw (呼吸投げ kokyūnage) a loosely used term for various types of mechanically unrelated techniques, although they generally do not use joint locks like other techniques.
• Entering throw (入身投げ iriminage) throws in which nage moves through the space occupied by uke. The classic form superficially resembles a "clothesline" technique.
• Heaven-and-earth throw (天地投げ tenchinage) beginning with ryōte-dori; moving forward, nage sweeps one hand low ("earth") and the other high ("heaven"), which unbalances uke so that he or she easily topples over.
• Hip throw (腰投げ koshinage) aikido's version of the hip throw. Nage drops his or her hips lower than those of uke, then flips uke over the resultant fulcrum.
• Figure-ten throw (十字投げ jūjinage) or figure-ten entanglement (十字絡み jūjigarami) a throw that locks the arms against each other (The kanji for "10" is a cross-shape: 十).
• Rotary throw (回転投げ kaitennage) nage sweeps the arm back until it locks the shoulder joint, then uses forward pressure to throw.