The words you hear in brazilian jiu-jitsu class

jiu-jitsu

The art's name in Brazil: an older spelling of the Japanese word now written jujutsu, kept because judo was still called jiu-jitsu when Maeda arrived in 1914. 'Brazilian' was added later, mostly outside Brazil.

Kano jiu-jitsu

An old name for judo, after its founder Jigoro Kano, in use in Brazil when Maeda arrived.

arte suave

The gentle art: a name for jiu-jitsu.

Conde Koma

Count Koma: the ring name Mitsuyo Maeda took in Spain in 1908 and kept in Brazil.

ne-waza寝技

Ground techniques: the judo word for fighting on the ground, and the JJIF's name for its Brazilian jiu-jitsu discipline.

vale tudo

Anything goes: the early Brazilian fights with almost no rules, a forerunner of MMA. The phrase came into wide use from a Rio television show of 1959 and 1960.

Gracie Challenge

The Gracie family's open invitation to fighters of other styles to test themselves against their jiu-jitsu.

luta livre

A Brazilian submission wrestling style and long time rival of jiu-jitsu in vale tudo.

sapateiro

Shoemaker: a mocking name Gracie students used for Oswaldo Fadda's students, who attacked the feet.

creonte

A student thought disloyal for leaving their academy or team. Carlson Gracie popularised the word, after a character in a 1980s Brazilian soap opera.

IBJJF

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, founded by Carlos Gracie Jr.: runs the World, Pan American and European Championships and publishes the most widely used rules and belt system.

UKBJJA

The United Kingdom Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association, formed in 2012 and recognised by the four home nation sports councils in 2021. It insures clubs and checks instructors; it does not award belts.

AJP

Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation's tour, with its own rulebook and belt rules.

ADCC

The Abu Dhabi Combat Club's no gi submission grappling championship, held every two years since 1998.

academy

A jiu-jitsu club or gym. At IBJJF events every athlete must be registered under an academy.

team

A network of academies under one leader or brand: Gracie Barra, Alliance, Checkmat and others. Also called an association.

affiliate

An academy that has joined a team.

gi

The jacket, trousers and belt: lighter and closer fitting than a judo uniform. At IBJJF events it must be white, royal blue or black.

kimono

What Brazilians often call the gi; the IBJJF rulebook uses both words.

no gi

Training or competing in a rash guard and shorts, or leggings, with no gripping of clothing.

rash guard

A tight stretch shirt, named because it protects the skin from rubbing; worn for no gi and often under the gi.

spats

Tight leggings worn under shorts in no gi.

professor

How students address a jiu-jitsu teacher. Black belts are often called professor or coach; some schools keep the title for senior black belts.

coach

Used instead of professor in many academies.

ossおっす

A greeting and acknowledgement used in some academies, borrowed from Japanese martial arts; its origin is disputed.

master

A title often used for coral belt holders, 7th and 8th degree; red belts, 9th and 10th degree, are called grandmaster.

lineage

The chain of teachers from a student's professor back to the founders. The UKBJJA requires instructors to hold a purple belt or higher from a verifiable lineage.

stripe

A mark on the belt's black bar showing progress within a belt, usually up to four, often white tape. Also called a degree.

grau

Degree: the Portuguese word for a stripe, and for the degrees of a black belt, as in nono grau, ninth degree.

coral belt

The red and black belt of the 7th degree and the red and white belt of the 8th, named after the coral snake.

red belt

The 9th and 10th degree. The IBJJF says the 10th degree was given only to the pioneers: Carlos, Oswaldo, George, Gastão and Hélio Gracie.

provisional

IBJJF status for someone who registers at brown or black belt without having registered the belt before; it lasts two years.

Combatives belt

Gracie University's white belt with a navy centre, earned by passing the Gracie Combatives test on video.

passar no corredor

Running the gauntlet: a promotion custom in some schools where the newly promoted student is struck on the back with belts or thrown by each team mate.

rolling

Sparring: trying to control and submit a partner at full effort within the rules. A roll is one round.

drilling

Repeating a technique with a partner, first one who does not resist, then one who does.

positional sparring

Sparring that starts from, and is limited to, one position, with a set goal.

open mat

A session without a set lesson, where students, often from different academies, come to roll. General usage.

tap

Giving up: patting the partner, the mat or yourself twice with the hand, or the foot if the arms are trapped, or saying stop. The hold is released at once.

breakfall

A safe way of landing when thrown. UKBJJA guidance says beginners must learn to roll and breakfall.

submission

A hold that makes the opponent tap; also the win itself.

hip escape

The shrimp: sliding the hips away along the mat to make space. Taught in the first weeks.

guard

Controlling a top opponent with the legs while on your back or side: a position to attack from, not only to defend.

closed guard

Guard with the legs locked round the top person's waist, ankles crossed.

open guard

Guard with the legs not locked; named versions include butterfly, spider, De La Riva and X guard.

half guard

The bottom person traps one of the top person's legs. Deep half and 50/50 are variants.

pulling guard

Sitting down to bring the opponent into your guard instead of fighting for a takedown. Allowed with a grip under IBJJF rules; a minus point at ADCC.

jumping guard

Jumping to wrap the legs round a standing opponent. A foul for under 15s and white belts at IBJJF events.

mount

Sitting astride the opponent's chest. Worth 4 points at IBJJF events.

side control

Pinning from the side across the chest, past the legs. North south is a related pin.

cem quilos

A hundred kilos: the Portuguese name for side control.

knee on belly

Pinning with a knee or shin across the body, the other leg off the mat. Worth 2 points at IBJJF events.

back control

Behind the opponent with the heels hooked inside their thighs and the arms round the chest or neck. Worth 4 points at IBJJF events with feet not crossed.

hooks

The heels hooked inside the opponent's thighs from behind.

body triangle

Locking the legs in a figure four round the opponent's waist from behind. Only an advantage at IBJJF events; scores at ADCC.

turtle

On knees and elbows, face down: a defensive position.

sweep

Reversing from the bottom, in guard, to the top. Worth 2 points at IBJJF events.

guard pass

Getting past the legs of someone playing guard to a pin. Worth 3 points at IBJJF events.

armbar

Straightening the elbow against the hips; in judo juji gatame. Done from guard, mount and elsewhere.

americana

The bent arm lock, or keylock; in judo ude garami.

kimura

The reverse bent arm shoulder lock, named after Masahiko Kimura, who beat Hélio Gracie with it in 1951.

omoplata

A shoulder lock using the legs.

wrist lock

A lock on the wrist; allowed from blue belt at IBJJF events.

rear naked choke

A choke from the back with the arm round the neck; in judo hadaka jime.

triangle choke

The legs lock round the head and one arm; in judo sankaku jime.

guillotine

A choke from the front with the arm round the neck.

Ezekiel choke

A choke using the sleeve; in judo sode guruma jime. Named after the judoka Ezequiel Paraguassu, who trained with Carlson Gracie.

cross collar choke

A gi choke using the collar.

bow and arrow choke

A gi choke using the collar.

arm triangle

A choke with the head and one arm trapped together; the D'Arce and anaconda chokes are in the same family.

straight ankle lock

The first leg lock most students meet; allowed from 16 and for adult white belts at IBJJF events.

kneebar

A leg lock on the knee; brown and black belts only at IBJJF events.

toe hold

A foot lock; brown and black belts only at IBJJF events.

heel hook

A lock twisting the foot that puts severe twisting force on the knee; at IBJJF events only for adult brown and black belts in no gi.

knee reaping

A leg entanglement, restricted by age and belt; at IBJJF events allowed only for adult brown and black belts in no gi.

slicer

A compression lock crushing a muscle against a bone, biceps or calf; brown and black belts only at IBJJF events.

banana split

A submission that stretches the legs apart; banned at IBJJF events for children up to 12.

neck crank

Twisting the neck without a choke; banned in every IBJJF division.

takedown

Bringing a standing opponent to the ground. Worth 2 points at IBJJF events when the top position is held for three seconds.

double leg

A takedown driving through both legs; Royce Gracie used it in his first UFC fight.

baiana

Brazilian slang for the double leg takedown.

single leg

A takedown that attacks one leg.

slam

Lifting and dropping an opponent, for example to escape a guard. Banned in every IBJJF division.

Combate!

The referee's command to start the match.

Parou!

Stopped: the referee stops the match and the clock.

Lute!

Fight: the referee penalises stalling.

Falta!

Foul: the referee penalises a serious foul.

points

Takedown, sweep or knee on belly 2; guard pass 3; mount or back control 4, under IBJJF, AJP and JJIF rules.

advantage

A near score or a dangerous submission attempt; breaks ties at IBJJF and JJIF events and is worth 1 point at AJP events.

golden score

Extra time where the first score wins: one minute at AJP events, no time limit at JJIF events.

stalling

Not trying to progress; penalised after 20 seconds at IBJJF events. Also called lack of combativeness.

absolute

A division open to all weights; also called the open class.

submission only

Events where only a submission wins; Polaris Pro Grappling in the UK is an example.

closing out

Two team mates in a final agreeing not to fight, one taking the gold; banned at ADCC.