How many types of wazas are there?

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[Brian22]

I know that kihon waza means basic techniques,swari waza is a set of seated techniques, and jo waza means techniques with or to take away the jo. But how many types of wazas are there and what are they for?
:ai: :ki: :do:

[Erick Mead]

Well, consider the source: B: How many techniques are there in Aikido?

O Sensei: There are about 3,000 basic techniques, and each one of them has 16 variations . . . so there are many thousands. Depending on the situation, you create new ones.

[Brian22]

But is jiu waza (jiyu waza) considered a technique?:confused:

[Janet Rosen]

Brian, it seems to me that waza in the sense of your intial query really has no answer because there is no set number of anything common to all aikido.
The term "waza" in suwariwaza or jowaza does not imply a given set of techniques or number of techniques. It means that whatever techniques are being done, are being done FROM sitting, or WITH a jo, is all.
Hope this helps clarify the usage of the terms, at least as I understand them...

[eyrie]

I know that kihon waza means basic techniques,swari waza is a set of seated techniques, and jo waza means techniques with or to take away the jo. But how many types of wazas are there and what are they for?
:ai: :ki: :do: Oh golly gee... waza 技 simply means "technique" (also skill; art; craft; ability; feat; performance; vocation; arts). So jiyu waza means free (as it pleases you) technique.

How many types? What exactly do you mean by "types"? What they are for kinda depends on what "type".

How I would categorize "type" would be according to function... e.g. atemi waza (hitting techniques), osae komi waza (controlling techniques), kansetsu waza (breaking techniques), etc...

[Brian22]

How I would categorize "type" would be according to function... e.g. atemi waza (hitting techniques), osae komi waza (controlling techniques), kansetsu waza (breaking techniques), etc...

This is exactly what I would like to know. I have never heard of kansetsu waza or osae komi waza. I just recently heard of kaeshi waza.
:ai: :ki: :do:

[Timothy WK]

Fundamentally, you have 2 "types" of techniques:

--Throws
--Controls (Joint locks and pins)

You also have 2 basic strategies:

--Irimi
--Tenkan

You then have multiple ways to execute those techniques:

--Kneeling
--You kneeling them standing
--Standing face to face
--Standing them behind you
--With a Sword
--Against a sword
--With a Knife
--Against a Knife
--With a Jo
--Against a Jo

The following "techniques" are usually integrated into larger, formal techniques:

--Reversals
--Weapon disarms
--Strikes

I guess you could also classify weapon techniques, but not every school teaches weapon training as an end to itself.

--Sword
--Knife
--Jo

Exactly what is taught is going to vary from style to style.

[Brian22]

I appreciate the breakdown, Timothy. Do you happen to know the traditional names of these wazas?
I have compiled a list of the types of wazas I have heard of with a loose definition of each...
oyo waza ( unclear in definition)
henka waza (unclear on definition)
kaeshi-waza (reversal techniques)
atemi waza (hitting techniques)
nage waza (throwing techniques)
kihon waza (basic forms of techniques)
osae komi waza (controlling techniques)
kansetsu waza (breaking techniques)
jiyu waza (free form technique application)
suwariwaza (seated techniques)
jowaza (jo techniques)
Hanmi Handachi [waza] (seated nage standing uke techniques)
buki-waza (weapons techniques)
toshu-waza (empty handed techniques)

My Sensei rarely uses the names of different wazas and I am very sincere in my desire to ask approriate questions with the proper aikido vocabulary to visiting some Sensei.
:ai: :ki: :do:

[Timothy WK]

Brian, are you just looking for terminology? Or...?

The thing is that those "types" you listed above have a certain amount of overlap.

For example, "suwari shiho-nage" and "taich-ai shiho-nage" are the same technique (shiho-nage), one is just practiced from kneeling (suwari) and one is practiced from standing (tachi ai).

So, what are you looking for here?

[Brian22]

Exactly, I would like to learn the terminology, but if anyone has any insight into the topic I would not be opposed to learning more than terminology.

[eyrie]

oyo waza (applied technique)
henka waza (technique variation)

[Dirk Hanss]

I appreciate the breakdown, Timothy. Do you happen to know the traditional names of these wazas?
I have compiled a list of the types of wazas I have heard of with a loose definition of each...
let me add:
tachi waza (standing techniques)
ne-waza (lying techniques, rarely used in aikido, but more in judo and submission fights)
ken waza (sword techniques)
and for every exercise, you can find a waza-name, eg katatedori waza means all techniques and exercices starting with katatedor as attack.

and don't forget
WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Waza National Park in Kameroun
and
Wasabröd :D :D

Regards Dirk

[charyuop]

I might be wrong, but the only difference I would mention in a technique is Omote or Ura.
That you do it kneeling or versus the weapon the principle of each technique is the same, maybe slightly carried out differently.
IMHO opinion the real difference is if you carry out the technique facing the opponent or not, thus Omote or Ura is the only real cathegory that matters.

[Gerardo Torres]

I appreciate the breakdown, Timothy. Do you happen to know the traditional names of these wazas?
I have compiled a list of the types of wazas I have heard of with a loose definition of each...
oyo waza ( unclear in definition)
henka waza (unclear on definition)
kaeshi-waza (reversal techniques)
atemi waza (hitting techniques)
nage waza (throwing techniques)
kihon waza (basic forms of techniques)
osae komi waza (controlling techniques)
kansetsu waza (breaking techniques)
jiyu waza (free form technique application)
suwariwaza (seated techniques)
jowaza (jo techniques)
Hanmi Handachi [waza] (seated nage standing uke techniques)
buki-waza (weapons techniques)
toshu-waza (empty handed techniques)

My Sensei rarely uses the names of different wazas and I am very sincere in my desire to ask approriate questions with the proper aikido vocabulary to visiting some Sensei.
:ai: :ki: :do:Some Aikido styles also have sutemi-waza (sacrifice techniques) and renzoku-waza (continuous flowing techniques).

Yoseikan Aikido waza listing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoseikan_Aikido

Example of renzoku-waza (I've seen this type of practice at some Aikikai dojo):
http://members.tripod.com/~jakarta_aikikai/hal2.htm

henka-waza, as I was taught, is when you change one technique into another because either uke manages to stop/block your initial technique or a better outcome can be achieved by switching to a different technique.

[SmilingNage]

Dont forget,
waza up

[ElizabethCastor]

I am personally SHOCKED that nobody brought up the famous-much-beloved-after-practice BEER-WAZA!
:rolleyes: :D :D :D :rolleyes: