Basic Judo Terms

Dojo (道場)

the place where Judo training takes place.

Judogi (柔道着)

the traditional uniform worn for Judo training and competition.

Tatami (畳)

the mats used for safe Judo training and competition.

Rei (礼)

a bow used to show respect to your coach, training partners, and the dojo.

Ukemi (受身)

breakfall techniques that help you land safely after a throw.

Tori (取り)

the person performing the technique.

Uke (受け)

the person receiving the technique.

Nage-waza (投技)

the general name for Judo throwing techniques.

Ne-waza (寝技)

ground techniques, including pins, chokes, and joint locks.

Randori (乱取り)

free practice where partners try techniques against controlled resistance.

Referee Commands and Scoring

Hajime (始め)

“Begin” - the command to start or restart the action.

Matte (待て)

“Stop” or “wait” - the referee uses it to pause the action.

Sore-made (それまで)

“That is all” - the command that ends the contest.

Maitta (参った)

“I give up” - used to signal submission.

Osaekomi (抑え込み)

the referee’s call that a valid pin has started.

Toketa (解けた)

the referee’s call that the pin has been broken.

Ippon (一本)

a full score that immediately wins the contest.

Waza-ari (技あり)

a major score; two waza-ari equal an ippon.

Shido (指導)

a penalty for a minor rules violation.

Hansoku-make (反則負け)

disqualification for a serious violation or accumulated penalties.

Posture, Movement, and Technique Principles

Shizen-hontai (自然本体)

the basic natural standing posture.

Jigo-hontai (自護本体)

the basic defensive posture.

Migi-shizentai (右自然体)

a natural stance with the right foot forward.

Hidari-shizentai (左自然体)

a natural stance with the left foot forward.

Ayumi-ashi (歩み足)

normal walking movement where one foot passes the other.

Tsugi-ashi (継ぎ足)

a following or sliding step used to keep good balance and posture.

Tai-sabaki (体捌き)

body movement used to change position, direction, or angle.

Kumi-kata (組み方)

the way a judoka grips and controls an opponent’s judogi.

Kuzushi (崩し)

breaking or disturbing your opponent’s balance.

Tsukuri (作り)

moving into the right position to prepare a technique.

Training and Judo Culture

Kake (掛け)

the final execution phase of a technique after kuzushi and tsukuri.

Uchi-komi (打ち込み)

repeated entries into a throw without completing the throw.

Nage-komi (投げ込み)

repeated practice where the throw is completed.

Yakusoku-geiko (約束稽古)

cooperative, prearranged practice of specific techniques or movements.

Kakari-geiko (掛かり稽古)

practice where one judoka attacks repeatedly while the partner gives suitable resistance.

Shiai (試合)

a Judo match or competition.

Kata (形)

formal, prearranged sequences used to demonstrate Judo techniques and principles.

Sensei (先生)

teacher or instructor.

Senpai (先輩)

a more senior or experienced member of the dojo.

Kohai (後輩)

a less senior member in relation to a senpai.

Common Hand and Hip Throws

Seoi-nage (背負投)

a shoulder throw that takes the opponent over the back or shoulder.

Ippon-seoi-nage (一本背負投)

a one-arm shoulder throw.

Morote-seoi-nage (双手背負投)

a two-handed version of the shoulder throw.

Tai-otoshi (体落)

a hand technique that throws the opponent forward over an extended leg.

Uchi-mata (内股)

an inner-thigh throw using the leg to lift and rotate the opponent.

Harai-goshi (払腰)

a sweeping hip throw.

O-goshi (大腰)

a major hip throw.

Uki-goshi (浮腰)

a floating hip throw using light hip contact and rotation.

Koshi-guruma (腰車)

a hip-wheel throw where the opponent rotates around the thrower’s hips.

Tsurikomi-goshi (釣込腰)

a hip throw using lifting and pulling action.

Foot and Leg Techniques

De-ashi-barai (出足払)

a foot sweep timed as the opponent steps.

Okuri-ashi-barai (送足払)

a sliding foot sweep used as the opponent’s feet move together.

Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi (支釣込足)

a supporting foot throw using a block together with lifting and pulling.

Hiza-guruma (膝車)

a knee-wheel throw that blocks near the knee while the body turns.

O-soto-gari (大外刈)

major outer reap.

O-uchi-gari (大内刈)

major inner reap.

Ko-uchi-gari (小内刈)

minor inner reap.

Ko-soto-gari (小外刈)

minor outer reap.

Harai-tsurikomi-ashi (払釣込足)

a foot sweep combined with lifting and pulling.

Yoko-otoshi (横落)

a side sacrifice throw where the attacker drops sideways to throw the opponent.

Sacrifice and Other Throwing Techniques

Yoko-guruma (横車)

a side-wheel sacrifice throw using sideways rotation.

Yoko-wakare (横分)

a side sacrifice throw using a sideways drop.

Tani-otoshi (谷落)

“valley drop,” a rear sacrifice technique.

Uki-waza (浮技)

“floating technique,” a side sacrifice throw.

Tomoe-nage (巴投)

a circle throw where the attacker falls back and uses a foot to send the opponent overhead.

Sumi-gaeshi (隅返)

a corner reversal using the leg to lift and rotate the opponent.

Ura-nage (裏投)

a rear throw where the opponent is lifted and thrown backward.

Yama-arashi (山嵐)

“mountain storm,” a classical throw combining hand and leg action.

Hane-goshi (跳腰)

a springing hip throw.

Ashi-guruma (足車)

a leg-wheel throw where the leg acts as a pivot for the opponent’s rotation.

Groundwork, Pins, Chokes, and Joint Locks

Kesa-gatame (袈裟固)

scarf hold, one of Judo’s basic pinning positions.

Kuzure-kesa-gatame (崩袈裟固)

a modified version of the scarf hold.

Yoko-shiho-gatame (横四方固)

a side hold controlling the opponent across the body.

Kami-shiho-gatame (上四方固)

an upper hold controlling the opponent from above the head.

Tate-shiho-gatame (縦四方固)

a vertical hold controlling the opponent from above.

Kata-gatame (肩固)

a shoulder hold controlling the opponent’s head, shoulder, and arm.

Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (腕挫十字固)

the classic Judo armbar, using a straightening action on the elbow.

Ude-garami (腕緘)

an entangled arm lock using control and rotation of the arm.

Okuri-eri-jime (送襟絞)

a sliding collar choke using the opponent’s judogi.

Hadaka-jime (裸絞)

a choke applied without using the opponent’s clothing.

Kata-juji-jime (片十字絞)

a half-cross collar choke.

Nami-juji-jime (並十字絞)

a normal cross collar choke.

Gyaku-juji-jime (逆十字絞)

a reverse cross collar choke.

Sankaku-jime (三角絞)

a triangle choke using the legs to control the opponent’s neck and arm.

Sankaku-gatame (三角固)

a triangle hold using the legs to control and immobilize the opponent.

Judo Technique Categories and Concepts

Osaekomi-waza (抑込技)

the group of hold-down or pinning techniques.

Shime-waza (絞技)

the group of choking techniques used in Judo groundwork.

Kansetsu-waza (関節技)

joint-locking techniques; in sport Judo these focus on the elbow.

Katame-waza (固技)

the general group of control techniques including pins, chokes, and joint locks.

Renraku-waza (連絡技)

combination techniques where one attack leads into another.

Renzoku-waza (連続技)

continuous attacks performed one after another.

Kaeshi-waza (返技)

counter techniques used in response to an opponent’s attack.

Sutemi-waza (捨身技)

sacrifice throws where the attacker gives up the standing position to complete the throw.

Ma-sutemi-waza (真捨身技)

rear sacrifice techniques where the attacker falls mainly onto the back.

Yoko-sutemi-waza (横捨身技)

side sacrifice techniques where the attacker falls mainly onto the side.

Te-waza (手技)

hand techniques, one of the main groups of Judo throws.

Koshi-waza (腰技)

hip techniques.

Ashi-waza (足技)

foot and leg techniques.

Gokyo (五教)

the traditional Kodokan grouping of major Judo throwing techniques.

Kodokan (講道館)

the Judo institute founded in Tokyo by Jigoro Kano in 1882.