If you’re embarking on your journey through the mat, it’s normal to feel somewhat like a SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE when surrounded by so many new names, expressions, and concepts, especially if you’re just getting acquainted with the jiu jitsu glossary. We’ve all been there, and this feeling is likely to last more than a couple of classes.
Like all martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has its own expressions and jargon. And, with so many passionate practitioners, almost every Jiu Jitsu school becomes a very bounded community, with specific slangs that change from region to region, from school to school.
As you probably figured out, Jiu Jitsu is much more than a fighting modality: it’s a lifestyle, with very particular rituals and “etiquette”. And understanding those terms and expressions is essential for your progress on the mat.
Rest assured, this will happen naturally as you go through classes. But this glossary can speed things up, and help you easily navigate this new universe you’re entering.
The BJJ Glossary
Absolute
A championship’s division in which there’s no weight limit for competitors.
Amarrão
Is said about the fighter who constantly “stalls” the fight, by holding back himself as well as the opponent, instead of aiming to submit the adversarie (which is the ultimate goal of a Jiu Jitsu competition).
Amasso
It’s said of the situations when a competitor has complete domain over its adversary during the fight. It can also be said of the situations when a practitioner enters the fight with on half-guard or right out immobilizing the OPPONENT, APPLING lots of pressure.
Americana
Also known as ude garami, it’s a kind of lock that uses the lever to APPLY pressure at the adversary’s shoulder or elbow.
Americana no pé
Also known as ashi garami, it’s a submission focused on the adversary’s ANKLE, in which is APPLIED a torsion towards the joint’s internal rotation. In Jiu Jitsu competitions, it’s only allowed for fighters above the brown belt.
Armbar
Known in Brazil as armlock and in Judo as juji gatame. It’s, as the name SUGGESTS, a submission in which pressure is APPLIED over the adversary’s elbow, aiming to dislocate the joint by forcefully overstretching the arm.
Armlock
How Brazilian fighters name the armbar.
Arrochar
To TIGHTEN the grip, adjusting your position during GRAPPLE.
Baiana
Also known as morote gari or double leg. It’s a throw that consists in grabbing both legs of the adversary in order to throw them into the ground.
BJJ
The common abbreviation of “Brazilian Jiu Jitsu”.
Botina (Boot)
Straight footlock, aimed to overstretch the ANKLE in such a way that it’s lined with the shin.
Shoulder Lock
A submission that consists in APPLYING pressure over the adversary’s shoulder through a forceful translational or rotational movement of their arm.
Kneebar
Also known as leglock, it’s a submission that consists in hyperextending the knee joint.
Choking
Kind of submission that consists in strangling the adversaries – using arms or legs – in order to stop the blood flow towards the brain.
Cinturar
Grab the adversary by the waistline from behind, in order to throw him into the ground.
Creonte
An expression first used by Carlson Gracie in reference to a character of Greek mythology (Edipo’s uncle), used to designate fighters that changed GYMs in the sense of “traitors”. To understand it, it’s important to acknowledge the HIGHLY competitive and adversarial context of Jiu Jitsu at that specific time.
Crucifix
Also known as jigoku jime or “hell’s choking”, it’s a position in which the fighter uses their arms and legs to hold both of the OPPONENT’s arms from behind, in such a way that resembles a crucifix.
D’arce Choke
It consists in a choking similar to the hand triangle, but differing from it on the attacker’s arm position. It’s named after Joe D’Arce, known for using this technique.
Degree
Intermediate stage between belt graduations, in which the student needs to achieve 4 degrees (and other criteria) to become eligible to take a belt exam. Each Jiu Jitsu school uses its own criteria for each degree and, above the black belt, there are 10 degrees until the fighter reaches the red belt.
Espalhar o frango (Spread the chicken)
A position in which the fighter GRABS the adversary’s back – placing the hooks – and turning them belly down on the ground and extending the hip.
Ezequiel
Also known as sode guruma jime, it consists of strangling using the OPPONENT’s own kimono sleeves. It’s named after the judo fighter Ezequiel Paraguassu – Carlos Gracie’s student -, who frequently used this technique.
Fechar o cadeado (Close the padlock)
It means “to close your guard on the adversary”, by wrapping both of your legs around the OPPONENT’s torso, puting one of your ANKLES under your other knee, forming a kind of triangle.
Finalização (Submission)
The ultimate goal of Jiu Jitsu, to submit your adversary, leading them to “give up” the fight.
Gogoplata
A kind of choke used against an adversary on high guard, using the shin to submit them. It can also be done using the scapula (shoulder blade).
Grappling
The kind of close-range fight, standing or on the ground, in which the aim is to “control the adversary’s body”.
Guard
The position in which the fighter finds themselves, sitted or laying on the mat, in such a way that – between themselves and the adversary – there’s at least the possibility to use one leg. There are many kinds of guards, but all of them share the concept of using the leg for distance control of the OPPONENT.
Inversion
That’s how it’s called the move made from the guard, in which a fighter that’s currently under the adversary manages to move themselves over the OPPONENT’s back. It also APPLIES to the move in which a practitioner who’s being immobilized manages to invert the situation, moving over the OPPONENT without using their guard. This last situation, however, does’t earn points in a competition.
Katagatame
Also known as the hand triangle, it’s a kind of submission in which the fighter strangles the OPPONENT by passing one arm under the adversary’s neck, crossing the other arm outside that one. The fundamental ideia in this move is to APPLY constant pressure, in such a way that it’s uncomfortable for the OPPONENT but easily maintained for the choker.
Kimura
It’s a kind of submission that consists in APPLYING pressure over the adversary’s shoulder, forcing their arm from their back upwards to the back of their neck. It’s named after Masahiko Kimuera, who used this technique to defeat Hélio Gracie in 1951.
Kimono (gi)
The traditional vestment for Jiu Jitsu practice. It’s used in many martial arts and their respective competitions and consists in a coat, pants and the belt.
Lever
The classical concept of “lever” (a more efficient and effective energy use) but APPLIED to the techniques in which you twist, throw or pressure your OPPONENT in a more… economic way. Science!
Leg-Drag
Most common transitional guard position in modern competitive Jiu Jitsu.
Mata Leão (Sleeper Hold)
Also known as hadaka jime, “variation” or kuzure, it’s a choking without using the gi, when the fighter is behind the OPPONENT.
Half-guard
It’s a kind of guard when the fighter wraps one of the OPPONENTS legs with two of their own legs.
Mounted
Also known as tate shiro gatame, it’s a kind of immobilization in which you “mount” the OPPONENT’s torso.
Norte-Sul (North-South)
Known as kami shiro gatame, it’s an immobilization in which you control the adversary’s torso with your arms, facing the opposite to them..
Orelha de couve-flor (Cauliflower Ear)
The popular slang to describe the common bruise on Jiu Jitsu practitioners’ ears, “deformed” in a permanent way due to frequent injuries and friction.
Oss
That’s tricky. According to the stories, it’s a traditional (and formal) expression, originally used in the Japanese Naval Academy. In Jiu Jitsu, is a form of respectful salute towards the teammates, adversaries and the teacher/master.
Much like aloha, it’s a polysemic expression, with many different meanings, like “yes”, “understood”, “apologies” and… “hello”.
That’s kind of speculative, but it seems that the term “oss” is derived from two Japanese expressions: “Onegai Shimasu” and “Oshi Shinobu”, that combined mean “Continue without giving up, under all pressure”. Which synthesize very well the spirit of Japanese martial arts and the Jiu Jitsu common principle of “becoming comfortable in discomfort”
Passing of the guard (guard transition)
Move in which you manage to pass through the adversary’s legs, making guard in order to immobilize them.
Puxar para a guarda (Call to guard)
When, while in combat the two fighters find themselves standing and one of them sits or lays on the mat, making guard.
Raspagem (Scraping)
When the fighter who’s on guard manages to invert the position and move over the adversary by using the legs.
Clock
Kind of choking APPLIED with the help of the adversary’s own gi, when the OPPONENT finds themselves in a position of four-pronged position.
Single-leg
Throw in which you grab in only one of the OPPONENT’s legs.
Shoulder Blade
A movement that uses the legs to put pressure over the adversary’s shoulder.
Sprawl
Guard defense, specially the ones executed by facing towards the OPPONENT. Essentially, it consists of extending the hips while throwing yourself in the ground.
Triangle
Known as sankaku jime, it’s a kind of choking in which you place the adversary’s neck and one arm between your legs. One of the most classic moves in Jiu Jitsu.
Turtle Position
Base in which you position yourself with both elbows e both knees on the mat.
Hand triangle
Move in which you put your arm around the adversary’s neck and under your armpit, stopping the blood-flow to their brain.
Ude garami
All kinds of locks aimed against the adversary’s arm joints, done through the rotation of their shoulder.
Ude gatame
All kinds of locks aimed against the adversary’s arm joints, done through the hyperextension of their elbow joint.
If you want to continue to explore this amazing universe that’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA, schedule your free trial – right here through our website – or check our Open Mat events. You’re always welcomed!