Common Japanese Terms

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo are modern decedents of the original Japanese martial art developed in feudal Japan for unarmed combat. As a result, many techniques practiced on the feet and the ground have Japanese names.

Many of these techniques also have names in English, so why bother with the Japanese? A few reasons include:

1. The naming system in Japanese (in many cases) is structured and logical.

2. Receiving instructions from your coach in a foreign language can provide an advantage in competition.

3. It’s an opportunity to learn something challenging and new, which is fun and rewarding on its own.

Here is a list of common phrases, techniques, and positions you’ll encounter in BJJ class at Ground Rules Academy. (Sources: Judo Terms and Nihongodict.com)

General

• jiujitsu - the gentle art

• judo - the gentle path

• dojo - school

• sensei - teacher

• jiujitsuka/judoka - student of jiujitsu/judo

• dan - black belt rank

• seiza - sitting on knees

• kiotsuke - attention

• rei - bow

• hajime - start

• matte - stop

• kuzushi - unbalancing

Ukemi - The art of falling

• ushiro ukemi - backwards breakfall

• ushiro kaiten ukemi - backwards rolling breakfall

• mae ukemi - forward breakfall

• zempo kaiten ukemi - forward rolling breakfall

• yoko ukemi- side breakfall

Nage waza - throwing techniques

• o soto gari - big outside reap

• o uchi gari - big inside reap

• ko soto gari - small outside reap

• ko uchi gari - small inside reap

• ko uchi maki komi - small inside winding pull

• uchi mata - inside thigh

• seoi nage - over the back throw

• seoi otoshi - over the back drop

• tai otoshi - body drop

• uki otoshi - floating drop

• tani otoshi - valley drop

• uki waza - floating technique

• morote gari - two hand reap (double leg takedown)

• koshi guruma - hip wheel

• o goshi - major hip throw

• harai goshi - sweeping hip throw

• de ashi barai - exiting foot sweep

• kata guruma - shoulder wheel (fireman’s carry)

• te guruma - hand wheel

• hiza guruma - knee wheel

• kani basami - scissor takedown

• sumi gaeshi - corner reversal

• tomoe nage - circle throw

Ne waza - Ground techniques

• kesa gatame - scarf hold

• kuzure kesa gatame - modified scarf hold

• ushiro kesa gatame - reverse scarf hold

• ude gatame* - elbow lock (straight armbar)

• kata gatame - shoulder lock

• hadaka jime* - naked strangle

• kata juji jime - half cross strangle

• sankaku jime - triangle strangle

• ashi garami - foot entanglement

• ude garami* - elbow entanglement (kimura & americana)

*Techniques that can be done standing, so they are not technically ne waza. As Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners, however, we usually perform then on the ground.