Jiu-Jitsu Glossary
Armbar (Juji Gatame)
A submission where you isolate your opponent’s arm and apply pressure to the elbow joint to force a tap.
Base
Your ability to stay balanced and stable, especially when someone is trying to sweep or move you.
Bridge (Upa)
A movement where you drive your hips upward to off-balance an opponent, often used to escape mount.
Closed Guard
A bottom position where you wrap your legs around your opponent’s waist to control them.
Open Guard
A guard position where your legs are not locked, allowing for more movement, sweeps, and attacks.
Guard Pass
The act of getting around your opponent’s legs to achieve a dominant top position.
Mount
A dominant position where you sit on your opponent’s torso with your knees on the mat.
Side Control
A dominant position where you control your opponent from the side, chest-to-chest.
Back Control
A highly dominant position where you control your opponent from behind, often with hooks (your legs) in place.
Hooks
Using your legs (usually from the back) to control and secure your opponent.
Sweep
A technique used to reverse positions, going from bottom to top.
Submission
A technique that forces your opponent to tap due to pain or risk of injury (e.g., choke or joint lock).
Tap / Tap Out
The signal used to submit, usually by tapping your opponent or the mat.
Choke (Strangle)
A submission that restricts blood flow or air, forcing your opponent to submit.
Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
A choke applied from the back using your arm around the opponent’s neck.
Triangle Choke
A choke using your legs to trap the opponent’s neck and one arm.
Kimura
A shoulder lock submission that applies pressure by rotating the arm behind the back.
Guillotine
A choke applied from the front, typically when the opponent’s head is lowered.
Shrimping (Hip Escape)
A fundamental movement used to create space by moving your hips away from your opponent.
Frames
Using your arms or legs as barriers to create space and prevent pressure.
Pressure
Applying body weight strategically to control and exhaust your opponent.
Flow Rolling
Light, controlled sparring focused on movement and technique rather than strength.
Rolling
Live sparring in jiu-jitsu.
Gi
The traditional uniform worn in jiu-jitsu training.
No-Gi
Training without the traditional gi, typically in rash guards and shorts.
Rash Guard
A tight-fitting athletic shirt worn during training.
Drilling
Practicing techniques repeatedly to build muscle memory.
Takedown
A technique used to bring an opponent from standing to the ground.
Sprawl
A defensive movement used to stop a takedown attempt.
