Common Japanese Terms
Owner & Head Instructor, Ground Rules Academy
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:
The naming system in Japanese (in many cases) is structured and logical.
Receiving instructions from your coach in a foreign language can provide an advantage in competition.
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.
Russ Jensen, PhD is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the founder of Ground Rules Academy in Pleasanton. With a PhD in physical chemistry from MIT, he brings a unique, science-based approach to teaching technique on the mats. He is the author of Ground Rules: Simple Physics for the Grappling Arts.