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Terminology

Quick reference for BJJ terminology in English, Portuguese (Brazil), and Japanese where applicable.

💡 Tip: Use Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to quickly find terms

🌍 Language Guide​

LanguageUsageNote
EnglishInternational standardMost common in USA, UK, Australia
PortugueseBJJ's native languageUsed in Brazil, originals terms
JapaneseHistorical termsFrom Judo/Jujutsu heritage

Core Positions​

Mount​

  • English: Mount, Full Mount
  • Portuguese: Montada
  • Japanese: Tate-shiho-gatame
  • Common nicknames: "Riding", "Top mount"
  • Definition: Sitting on opponent's torso with knees on ground

Guard​

  • English: Guard
  • Portuguese: Guarda
  • Japanese: Do-osae
  • Definition: Bottom position using legs to control/attack

Side Control​

  • English: Side Control, Side Mount
  • Portuguese: Cem Quilos (100 kilos)
  • Japanese: Yoko-shiho-gatame
  • Common nicknames: "Side mount", "Cross-side"
  • Definition: Perpendicular chest-to-chest control

Back Control​

  • English: Back Control, Back Mount
  • Portuguese: Pegada das Costas
  • Japanese: Ushiro-kesa-gatame
  • Common nicknames: "Taking the back", "Rear mount"
  • Definition: Controlling opponent from behind with hooks

Guard Types​

Closed Guard​

  • English: Closed Guard
  • Portuguese: Guarda Fechada
  • Japanese: -
  • Definition: Legs locked around opponent's waist

Open Guard​

  • English: Open Guard
  • Portuguese: Guarda Aberta
  • Japanese: -
  • Definition: Guard without locked legs, using feet/shins

Half Guard​

  • English: Half Guard
  • Portuguese: Meia-Guarda
  • Japanese: -
  • Definition: One leg trapped between opponent's legs

Spider Guard​

  • English: Spider Guard
  • Portuguese: Guarda Aranha
  • Japanese: -
  • Definition: Grips on sleeves, feet on biceps

De La Riva Guard​

  • English: De La Riva Guard (DLR)
  • Portuguese: Guarda De La Riva
  • Named after: Ricardo De La Riva
  • Definition: Hook behind opponent's leg with same-side leg

Butterfly Guard​

  • English: Butterfly Guard
  • Portuguese: Guarda Borboleta
  • Japanese: -
  • Definition: Sitting with feet hooked inside opponent's thighs

X-Guard​

  • English: X-Guard
  • Portuguese: Guarda X
  • Japanese: -
  • Definition: Legs crossed in X-shape under opponent

Submissions​

Chokes/Strangles​

Rear Naked Choke​

  • English: Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
  • Portuguese: Mata-Leão (Lion Killer)
  • Japanese: Hadaka-jime
  • Definition: Choke from behind using arms

Triangle Choke​

  • English: Triangle Choke
  • Portuguese: Triângulo
  • Japanese: Sankaku-jime
  • Definition: Choke using legs in triangle configuration

Guillotine​

  • English: Guillotine Choke
  • Portuguese: Guilhotina
  • Japanese: Mae-hadaka-jime
  • Definition: Front choke with arm around neck

Bow and Arrow Choke​

  • English: Bow and Arrow Choke
  • Portuguese: Estrangulamento Arco e Flecha
  • Japanese: Okuri-eri-jime variation
  • Definition: Collar choke pulling collar and leg

Joint Locks​

Armbar​

  • English: Armbar, Straight Armbar
  • Portuguese: Armlock, Chave de Braço
  • Japanese: Juji-gatame
  • Definition: Hyperextending elbow joint

Kimura​

  • English: Kimura
  • Portuguese: Kimura, Americana Invertida
  • Japanese: Ude-garami
  • Named after: Masahiko Kimura
  • Definition: Shoulder lock with figure-4 grip

Americana​

  • English: Americana, Keylock
  • Portuguese: Americana
  • Japanese: Ude-garami variation
  • Definition: Shoulder lock with arm bent upward

Omoplata​

  • English: Omoplata
  • Portuguese: Omoplata
  • Japanese: Ashi-garami
  • Definition: Shoulder lock using legs

Kneebar​

  • English: Kneebar
  • Portuguese: Chave de Joelho
  • Japanese: Hiza-gatame
  • Definition: Hyperextending knee joint

Heel Hook​

  • English: Heel Hook
  • Portuguese: Chave de Calcanhar
  • Japanese: Kakato-garami
  • Definition: Twisting ankle/knee via heel control

Movements & Techniques​

Sweeps​

Scissor Sweep​

  • English: Scissor Sweep
  • Portuguese: Raspagem Tesoura
  • Definition: Sweep using scissoring leg motion

Flower Sweep​

  • English: Flower Sweep, Pendulum Sweep
  • Portuguese: Raspagem Balão
  • Definition: Sweep using pendulum motion

Hip Bump Sweep​

  • English: Hip Bump Sweep
  • Portuguese: Raspagem de Quadril
  • Definition: Sweep using hip thrust and arm post

Escapes​

Shrimp​

  • English: Shrimp, Hip Escape
  • Portuguese: Fuga de Quadril
  • Japanese: Ebi
  • Definition: Sideways hip movement for creating space

Bridge​

  • English: Bridge, Upa
  • Portuguese: Ponte, Upa
  • Japanese: -
  • Definition: Explosive hip thrust from bottom

Technical Stand-Up​

  • English: Technical Stand-Up
  • Portuguese: Levantada Técnica
  • Definition: Safe method to stand from ground

Passes​

Torreando Pass​

  • English: Torreando Pass, Bullfighter Pass
  • Portuguese: Passagem Torreando
  • Definition: Pass by controlling legs and circling

Knee Slide Pass​

  • English: Knee Slide Pass, Knee Cut
  • Portuguese: Passagem de Joelho
  • Definition: Passing by sliding knee across

Stack Pass​

  • English: Stack Pass
  • Portuguese: Passagem Empilhada
  • Definition: Passing by stacking opponent's legs

Training Terms​

Drilling​

  • English: Drilling, Repetition
  • Portuguese: Treino Técnico, Repetição
  • Japanese: Uchikomi
  • Definition: Repeated practice of techniques

Rolling​

  • English: Rolling, Sparring
  • Portuguese: Rolar, Treino Livre
  • Japanese: Randori
  • Definition: Free sparring practice

Positional Sparring​

  • English: Positional Sparring, Specific Training
  • Portuguese: Treino Específico
  • Definition: Sparring from specific positions

Flow Rolling​

  • English: Flow Rolling
  • Portuguese: Rolar Leve, Fluxo
  • Definition: Continuous movement without resistance

Competition Terms​

Points (IBJJF)​

ActionEnglishPortuguesePoints
TakedownTakedownQueda2
SweepSweepRaspagem2
Guard PassPassPassagem de Guarda3
Knee on BellyKnee on BellyJoelho na Barriga2
MountMountMontada4
Back ControlBack TakePegada das Costas4

Advantages​

  • English: Advantage
  • Portuguese: Vantagem
  • Definition: Near-score or almost submission

Penalties​

  • English: Penalty, Foul
  • Portuguese: Penalidade, Falta
  • Definition: Rule violations (stalling, illegal grips)

Slang & Colloquialisms​

Tap/Tap Out​

  • English: Tap, Tap Out
  • Portuguese: Bater, Desistir
  • Definition: Signal submission/surrender

Gas/Gas Out​

  • English: Gas Out, Exhausted
  • Portuguese: Cansar, Ficar Sem Gás
  • Definition: Become exhausted during rolling

Smash​

  • English: Smash, Pressure
  • Portuguese: Esmagar, Pressão
  • Definition: Apply heavy pressure

Spaz/Spazzy​

  • English: Spaz (informal)
  • Portuguese: Descontrolado
  • Definition: Using excessive uncontrolled energy

Flow​

  • English: Flow, In the Zone
  • Portuguese: Fluxo, Fluir
  • Definition: Smooth transitional movement

Body Mechanics Terms​

Frames​

  • English: Frames, Structure
  • Portuguese: Estrutura, Quadros
  • Definition: Skeletal structure to maintain space

Posture​

  • English: Posture
  • Portuguese: Postura
  • Definition: Proper spine and body alignment

Base​

  • English: Base
  • Portuguese: Base
  • Definition: Stable foundation, usually three points

Leverage​

  • English: Leverage
  • Portuguese: Alavanca
  • Definition: Mechanical advantage using fulcrums

Weight Distribution​

  • English: Weight Distribution
  • Portuguese: Distribuição de Peso
  • Definition: How body weight is allocated

Belt System​

BeltEnglishPortugueseTypical Time
WhiteWhite BeltFaixa Branca0-1 year
BlueBlue BeltFaixa Azul2-3 years
PurplePurple BeltFaixa Roxa4-5 years
BrownBrown BeltFaixa Marrom1-2 years
BlackBlack BeltFaixa PretaLifetime

Common Phrases​

In Class​

EnglishPortugueseWhen to Use
"Let's roll""Vamos rolar"Starting sparring
"Good roll""Bom treino"After sparring
"Thank you""Obrigado/Obrigada"After training
"One more time""Mais uma vez"Repeat technique
"Switch partners""Trocar parceiro"Change partners
"Time!""Tempo!"Round ended

Instructional​

EnglishPortugueseMeaning
"Tight""Apertado"Make it tighter
"Relax""Relaxa"Don't use strength
"Hip out""Sai o quadril"Move hips away
"Keep posture""Mantém a postura"Stay upright
"Break the grip""Quebra a pegada"Release their hold

🎯 Next Steps​

  • Bookmark this page for quick reference
  • Learn 5 new terms each week
  • Practice using correct terminology in class

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