The terminology used in Brazilian jiu jitsu can be confusing for those new to the martial art. There are many technical terms and concepts that are unique to jiu jitsu, and it can be overwhelming to learn and remember them all. This glossary provides a list of commonly used terms in jiu jitsu to help those who are just starting out understand the language and concepts of jiu jitsu.
A
Americana – A submission hold that involves applying pressure to an opponent's shoulder joint by grasping their arm and rotating it outward, away from the body. The hold is also known as the "keylock" or "figure four armlock”. The technique is also used in judo, where it is known as ude garami.
Anaconda choke – A type of strangle where an opponent's arm is trapped with the head in a front headlock position. The attacker’s arm is placed under the opponent's neck and connected to your bicep on the other arm in an arm-triangle.
Ankle lock – A type of submission hold that applies pressure to the ankle joint by extending the foot away from the body.
Armbar - A submission in which the attacker applies pressure to an opponent's elbow joint by grasping their arm and leveraging their body to force the arm to bend in an unnatural direction.
Arm drag – A technique that moves the opponent's arm across the body and out of the way. It can be used in various situations, for example, from standing to open up takedown attempts and from the guard to set up sweeps.
Arm-triangle choke – a type of strangle where the attacker uses the defender’s own shoulder in combination with their forearm to apply pressure to the side of the neck. Examples of variations of arm-triangle chokes include the anaconda and D’Arce chokes.
Ashi – The Japanese word for "leg" or "foot". It is often used in jiu jitsu terminology to refer to leg-based techniques or positions.
Ashi garami – The Japanese term for 'entangled limb' or 'entangled leg lock'. It originates from a judo leg lock but is commonly used in jiu jitsu to refer to a position controlling the leg from where various leg locks can be set up.
B
Back control – A position in which the practitioner controls their opponent from behind, usually by securing their waist and upper body with their arms and legs.
Back mount – Another position where the practitioner controls their opponent from behind. Back mount is often confused with back control, but in back mount, the defender is face down, lying prone. It is a very dominant position, often referred to as the worst position in jiu jitsu for the defender.
Backstep – A movement in which the practitioner takes a step backwards with one leg, usually to create distance or to reposition themselves.
Base – The foundation or stability of the body, usually achieved by maintaining a low centre of gravity and keeping the legs spread out widely when kneeling or standing.
Bear hug – A clinch in which the opponent wraps their arms around the practitioner's torso underneath the arms. Often used in an attempt to force an opponent to the ground.
Belt system – The coloured belt ranking system used in jiu jitsu to mark a student's progress and level of experience. The belt system starts with white and progresses through blue, purple, brown, and finally black. Each belt signifies a certain level of skill and knowledge.
Berimbolo – A technique in which the practitioner spins under their opponent's legs and ends up behind them, often taking their back in the process.
Bicep slicer – A submission in which the practitioner attacks their opponent's bicep by driving their shin into the bicep muscle.
Bow and arrow choke – A powerful gi collar choke where the attacker grabs the opponent's collar and drags it across the neck to apply pressure. The defender is twisted into a curved bow shape, with the attacker moving to 90-degrees across the body, somewhat resembling a bow and arrow.
Breakfall – A technique used to safely fall to the ground. Primarily used to lessen the impact of the fall and prevent injury.
Butterfly guard – An open guard position in which the practitioner is in the seated position and hooks their feet behind their opponent's legs. These ‘hooks’ are used to control and elevate their opponent while looking for attacks and sweeps.
C
Calf slicer – A submission in which the practitioner attacks their opponent's leg by applying pressure to the calf muscle with the shin.
Cauliflower ear – An ear injury that occurs when the outer portion of the ear is struck, causing the dense connective tissue within the ear to separate from the underlying cartilage. Small blood vessels are situated in this area, and these proceed to bleed, causing the area to swell and become deformed. If left untreated, a large blood clot will form, deforming the cartilage portion of the ear.
Choke – A choke is a type of submission that works by applying pressure to the neck that restricts the flow through the trachea (windpipe).
Clinch – A standing position where both practitioners have some form of hold or grip on each other. It is usually used in an attempt and set up a takedown.
Closed guard – A type of guard where the person on the bottom (the guard player) has their legs wrapped around the waist of the person on the top (the passer) with their ankles closed together.
Collar choke – A type of choke that involves using the opponent's gi collar to apply pressure to the neck or throat. Although referred to as chokes, these are often actually strangles. (refer to 'strangle' definition below.)
Crank – A technique that applies pressure to the defender's spine. Cranks are considered dangerous and are illegal in many competition rulesets.
Crucifix position – A dominant position where the attacker is situated perpendicularly behind the opponent, chest against back while controlling the opponent's arms. One of the opponent's arms is controlled using the legs, and the other using the arms, hence effectively putting the opponent in a position resembling a crucifix. If the opponent is wearing a gi, it allows for a collar strangle, often referred to as the crucifix choke.
D
D'Arce choke – A type of strangle that is very similar to the anaconda choke but with the entry on the opposite side. It is named after the American grappler Joe D'Arce who was famous for using the choke in competitions.
Deep half guard – An advanced guard position that is considered helpful against larger opponents because it can keep their weight off the bottom player. The guard player is situated underneath one of the legs of the opponent, with the leg on top of one shoulder and the guard player's legs wrapped around the bottom of the top player's leg.
De La Riva guard – An open guard position where the guard player has one leg hooked around the opponent's leg, with the other leg extended out to the side. It is named after Ricardo De La Riva, who developed the guard position to counter guard passing attempts by larger, stronger grapplers.
Double leg takedown – A classic wrestling takedown where the attacker grabs both of their opponent's legs and takes them to the ground.
Double underhooks – A position where the practitioner has both of their opponent's arms underhooked and controlled. Often used to set up takedown attempts.
E
Escape – A technique used to free oneself from an opponent's control or submission hold.
Estima lock – A foot lock style submission that is mechanically similar to a toe hold. It was developed by two well-known competitors, the 'Estima brothers' – Victor and Braulio Estima.
Ezequiel choke – A type of choke/strangle that is set up by wrapping one arm under the opponent’s head and then gripping the sleeve with the other hand to close the space and apply the submission. It was named after the Brazilian Olympic Judoka, Ezequiel Paraguassu, who was famous for submitting people with it.
F
Far side – The side of an opponent's body opposite from the side the practitioner is on.
Figure-four armlock – Another name used to describe the Americana.
Fireman's carry – A takedown technique where the practitioner drops down, lifts the opponent up, carries them over one shoulder and then somersaults, taking them to the ground.
Flow roll – A type of training that is similar mechanically to sparring, but the practitioners flow from one technique to another without stopping in a relaxed manner.
Foot lock – A broad term for submissions involving the opponent’s foot, including ankle locks and toe holds.
G
Gable grip – A thumbless grip where the palms of the hand face each other. It is often used in clinches to set up takedowns and is named after the famous American freestyle wrestler Dan Gable.
Gi – The traditional uniform worn in jiu jitsu. The word 'gi' is derived from the Japanese term 'keikogi'. Roughly translated, 'keiko' means 'to practice', and 'gi' means 'clothing'. Sometimes the term 'dōgi' is used in Japan, which roughly translates as 'clothes of the way'.
Guard – Any position where the practitioner utilising the guard is on their back and has their legs either wrapped around their opponent or situated between themselves and their opponent. The legs are used to prevent the opponent from passing to a stronger position. There are numerous variations of the guard.
Guard pass – A technique used to move past an opponent's guard and gain a dominant position.
Guard retention – The act of maintaining control of one's own guard position or preventing an opponent from passing their guard.
Guillotine choke – A type of choke applied from in front of the opponent where the arms are encircled around the defender’s neck in a similar manner to a guillotine.
H
Half guard – A guard position in which one player has one of the opponent's legs trapped between their own.
Head and arm choke – Another term used to describe the arm-triangle choke.
Headlock - A hold in which one player has their arm around their opponent's neck, either from the front or back.
Heel hook – A advanced level leg lock that involves twisting the foot using the heel as a lever in a way that twists and applies pressure to the knee joint.
Hip bump – A movement in which a player uses their hip to push or bump their opponent off balance. It is commonly used in the classic hip bump sweep.
Hip escape – A classic escape that uses the ‘shrimping’ motion to create space between the defender and the opponent and escape the top player’s control.
Hook – A term used to describe the use of the feet to control the legs. Examples include the control of the inside of the thigh from the outside in back control and from the inside of the thighs in butterfly guard.
Honey hole – An advanced and highly dominant leg entanglement position. The defender's leg is pulled across the attacker's body opening up the inside heel hook attack. It has several other names, including inside sankaku, the saddle and the 4-11.
I
IBJJF – The International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation, the most well-known and recognised international governing body for jiu jitsu.
Imanari roll – A technique that involves rolling from a stand-up position into a leg lock entry. It is named after the famed mixed martial artist Masakazu Imanari.
Inside sankaku – Another name for the leg entanglement position, also known as the honey hole, the saddle and the 4-11.
Inverted guard – An open guard variation in which the guard player rolls upside down onto the top of their shoulders backwards to the opponent. It is often used for guard retention but can also be used to enter into leg locks and other submissions.
J
Japanese necktie – A variation of the arm-triangle submission usually used against a turtled opponent. It is named after the famed Japanese mixed martial artist Shinya Aoki.
Judo – A martial art that originated in Japan and focuses on throws, take-downs, and ground control. Brazilian jiu jitsu originates from judo and shares many techniques and principles with it.
Juji-gatame – A Japanese term that translates to ‘cross pin’ but is often used interchangeably with the straight or cross armbar submission.
K
Kesa gatame – A pin from side control commonly used in judo. The top grappler has their hips switched, so they are facing towards the head of the bottom grappler while maintaining control of the nearside arm.
Kimono – another term for a ‘gi’ that is often used in Brazil.
Kimura lock - A submission that attacks the shoulder joint that utilises a figure-four grip and rotates the defender's arm backwards. It is known as gyaku ude-garami in judo but is referred to as the Kimura in jiu jitsu, after the legendary Judoka Masahiko Kimura, who defeated Helio Gracie with the move in their famous challenge match. It is sometimes also referred to as the "double wristlock".
Kneebar – A leg lock submission that hyperextends the knee. The mechanics are similar to the armbar, but with the leverage directed instead through the knee joint.
Knee on belly – A dominant and highly effective position where the top grappler has their knee on the torso of the bottom grappler.
Knee shield – A guard position where the guard player has their shin across the opponent's chest and controls their posture, and creates space and distance with their own legs.
L
Lapel – The fabric on the collar of a gi jacket that can be used to grip and control the opponent.
Lasso guard – An open guard position where the guard player hooks one leg under the guard passer’s arm (the lasso hook).
Leg drag – A guard passing position where the passer controls the guard player’s hip by dragging the leg to one side.
Lion killer – Another name used for the rear naked choke.
Lockdown – A variation of the half guard where the guard player locks their legs together, trapping and extending one of the top player's legs. It was popularised by Eddie Bravo, the founder of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.
Long step pass – A guard passing movement that involves the passer's leg stepping back to remove contact with the guard player's legs.
Loop choke – A type of strangle that utilises the defender's collar. The collar is grasped in one hand and pulled across the neck while the attacker loops the hand to the opposite side around the neck and tightens the lapel around the neck.
M
Mata leão – Translates as ‘lion killer’ in Portuguese, another name used for the rear naked choke.
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) – A full-contact combat sport that incorporates techniques from a variety of martial arts styles, including Brazilian jiu jitsu, wrestling, boxing and Muay Thai.
Mount – A dominant position where the top grappler is sat astride the opponent's torso, with their feet on the ground on either side of their body.
N
Neck crank – A type of technique that applies pressure to the cervical spine (neck) of the defender. Cranks are considered dangerous and are illegal in many competition rulesets.
No-gi - A style of jiu jitsu that is practised without the traditional gi. Instead, the practitioners wear rashguards and shorts.
North-south position – A variation of the side control position. The top grappler is lined up at roughly 180 degrees to the bottom player opponent with their head pointing towards the feet.
O
Omoplata – A shoulder lock submission hold in which the attacker uses their legs to control their opponent's arm and apply pressure to the shoulder.
Open guard – Any guard position in which the legs are not wrapped around the opponent's body; instead, the legs are situated between the guard player and the passer.
Overhook – A type of grip in which one arm hooks over the top of the opponent's arm.
Over-under pass – A guard pass in which the attacker passes their opponent's legs by going over one of their legs and under their other leg with your arms.
P
Pass – To move past an opponent's guard or defence in order to achieve a more dominant position, such as side control or mount.
Peruvian necktie – A type of choke that is applied from the front headlock position. It is technically a choke but has elements of a neck crank. It is named after the famed Peruvian mixed martial artist Tony DeSouza.
Pull guard – To pull an opponent into the guard from the standing position.
Pummelling – The process of fighting for inside control on an opponent's arms or legs. Gaining inside control on the arms (double underhooks) is advantageous when looking to take your opponent down from standing. Gaining inside control on the legs helps to set up leg attacks, such as ankle locks and heel hooks.
Q
Quarter guard – A last-ditch defensive guard that can be considered as lying halfway between half guard and mount. The bottom player only has their legs wrapped around the ankle of the top player.
R
Rear mount – Another term sometimes used to describe back control.
Rear naked choke – A strangle in which the attacker’s arm encircles the neck of the defender and then grabs their own bicep on the other arm. Also known as the lion killer and mata leão.
Reversal – Any movement that moves the bottom player to the top position that doesn’t start in a guard position. Reversals from the guard are known as sweeps. Unlike sweeps, reversals do not score points in competition.
Rolling – A common term used for sparring or "live" training in jiu jitsu.
Rubber guard - A guard position that controls the passer’s posture by clamping one of the legs over a shoulder and hooking the wrist around it. It was popularised and named by the no-gi grappling pioneer Eddie Bravo.
S
Side control – A dominant position where the person underneath is pinned with the top grappler perpendicular to them. The weight of the top grappler is applied to the opponent’s chest.
Single leg takedown – A wrestling-style takedown in which the attacker takes their opponent to the ground by grabbing one of their legs and pulling it out from under them.
Strangle – A strangle is a type of submission that works by applying pressure to the sides of the neck that restricts the blood flow to the brain. Strangles result in unconsciousness if the defender does not tap out.
Submission - A submission is a technique that forces an opponent to tap out (signal submission by tapping the ground or their opponent). Common submissions in jiu jitsu include chokes, arm locks, and leg locks.
Sweep – A sweep is a technique where the practitioner on the bottom playing guard reverses the position and moves to the top. In contrast to reversals, sweeps must occur from a guard position and score points in competition.
T
Takedown – A technique where the attacker takes their opponent down to the ground. This can be done through a variety of techniques, such as judo-style throws and trips or wrestling-style takedowns.
Takedown defence – Techniques used to prevent an opponent from taking you down.
Tapping out – A signal, usually a tap on the opponent or the mat, that indicates a submission has been accepted.
Technical stand-up – An important self-defence technique that allows a practitioner to efficiently and effectively get back to their feet safely after being taken down by their opponent.
Toe hold – An advanced foot lock submission where the ankle and toes are controlled, and leverage is applied through the midtarsal joint in the centre of the foot.
Toreando pass – A speed-based guard pass that involves stepping around the opponent's legs in open guard and passing to the side. It has similarities to the movements of a matador misdirecting a bull and is also known as the bullfighter pass.
Triangle choke – A submission that involves trapping the opponent's neck and one arm inside a triangle formed by your legs. The pressure applied to the sides of the neck restricts blood flow to the brain.
Turtle position – A defensive 'in-between' position that usually occurs after a defender has escaped from a more powerful position, such as mount or side mount. In the turtle position, the defender is on all fours, with their back rounded and their head tucked down towards their chest.
Twister – A rotational spinal crank submission that involves applying pressure to the neck and spine. The defender's head is forced towards one of their shoulders while the lower body is twisted to the opposite side.
U
Uchi mata – A classic judo throw commonly used in jiu jitsu in which the attacker turns and throws the defender over their thigh. Considered the most spectacular of all the judo throws.
Ude-garami – The Japanese term used to describe the Americana submission in judo.
Uke - The Japanese term for a person receiving the technique or attack in a martial arts training drill or sparring match. Often used to describe the person that the instructor uses to demonstrate on.
Ukemi – The traditional Japanese martial arts term for breakfalling.
Underhook - A type of grip in which one arm hooks an opponent's arm.
Upa – The fundamental ‘bridge and roll’ mount escape where the bottom player traps the arm and foot on one side and rolls the top player over, reversing the position.
V
Vale Tudo – A Brazilian martial art and combat sport that combines elements of various combat sports and martial arts, including jiu jitsu, boxing, and wrestling.
Von Flue choke - A submission used to counter a guillotine choke attempt. The defender moves to top side control, underhooks the head and locks their hands together, forming an arm-triangle type position.
W
Worm guard – An open guard position where the guard player wraps their lapel around the shin of the passer and then grips it with the far hand to control the leg. It was created and popularised by the famed competitor Keenan Cornelius.
Wristlock – A submission in which the attacker applies pressure to an opponent's wrist joint by controlling the elbow and knuckles.
X
X guard – An open guard position where the guard player is positioned underneath the passer's legs. The guard player's legs are hooked around one leg in an 'X' position with the other leg over their shoulder. It was popularised by the famed competitor Marcelo Garcia.
Y
Yudansha – The Japanese term for a person who holds the rank of black belt in jiu jitsu and other martial arts.
Z
Z guard – A variation of the knee shield guard where the guard player uses their bottom leg to hook the near leg and the knee of the upper leg to block the passer’s hip and control their movement.
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