50 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu terms defined, including berimbolo, omoplata, guard pass, oss and tap out, each explained in a single line.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu terminology mixes Portuguese, Japanese and gym slang, which is why a first class can sound like a foreign language. The words related to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu below name positions, submissions and the way people train, and the words associated with the gi and the belt system come with them. Everything on this page is collected in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu glossary further down, so you can look up a single term without reading the whole list.
Must-Know Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Americana
- Belt
- Berimbolo
- BJJ
- Choke
- Drill
- Gi
- Guard
- Heel hook
- Kimura
- Leg lock
- Mat
- No-gi
- Pass
- Roll
- Sparring
- Submission
- Sweep
- Tap out
- Triangle choke
- Armbar
- Back mount
- Closed guard
- Collar choke
- Ezekiel choke
- Half guard
- Open guard
- Rear-naked choke
- Side control
- Spider guard
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Advantage | A scoring mark in competition for nearly finishing a sweep, pass or submission. Advantages break ties when points are level. |
| Americana | A shoulder lock using a figure-four grip that bends the opponent's arm upward against the joint. |
| Armbar | A submission that traps the arm between the legs and extends the elbow against its joint. |
| Back mount | Control from behind the opponent, with the heels hooked inside their thighs. The strongest position for chokes. |
| Base | Keeping your weight and posts placed so you cannot be swept or rolled over. |
| Belt | The colored rank worn with the gi, from white through blue, purple, brown and black. |
| Berimbolo | An inverted spin underneath the opponent from de la Riva guard, used to sweep or take the back. |
| BJJ | The usual abbreviation for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a grappling art built on leverage, position and submissions. |
| Butt scoot | Sitting down and shuffling forward on the hips to engage. A way of pulling guard rather than wrestling for the takedown. |
| Butterfly guard | An open guard with both shins hooked inside the opponent's thighs, used to lift and sweep. |
| Choke | A neck compression that cuts off blood or air until the opponent taps or goes out. |
| Closed guard | Bottom position with the legs wrapped around the opponent's waist and the ankles crossed. |
| Collar choke | A choke gripping the opponent's own gi collar to apply pressure to the neck. |
| De la Riva guard | An open guard hooking one leg around the outside of the opponent's lead leg. |
| Drill | Repeating one technique many times to build timing and muscle memory. |
| Escape | Getting out of a bad position or a submission before it is finished. |
| Ezekiel choke | A choke using the practitioner's own sleeve or forearm across the throat, often applied from inside guard or mount. |
| Gi | The reinforced jacket, trousers and belt worn in traditional training. Grips on the cloth are part of the game. |
| Guard | The bottom position from which the legs control an opponent who is on top. Attacking, not merely defensive. |
| Half guard | Bottom position controlling only one of the opponent's legs between your own. |
| Heel hook | A leg lock that twists the heel to load the knee. Banned in many gi divisions because of the injury risk. |
| Hooks | The feet placed inside the opponent's thighs from the back, which is what makes back control count. |
| IBJJF | The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the body behind the best known rule set and tournaments. |
| Jiujiteiro | A practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The feminine form is jiujiteira. |
| Kimura | A shoulder lock that turns the arm behind the back, named after judoka Masahiko Kimura. |
| Knee on belly | A top position with one knee across the opponent's midsection. Heavy, mobile and a scoring position. |
| Leg lock | Any submission attacking the knee, ankle or hip, including heel hooks, kneebars and ankle locks. |
| Mat | The padded floor of the gym. Also stands for training itself, as in "mat time." |
| Mount | Sitting on the opponent's torso while they lie on their back. A dominant position worth four points. |
| No-gi | Training in shorts and a rash guard instead of the gi, with no cloth grips allowed. |
| Omoplata | A shoulder lock applied with the legs rather than the arms. The name comes from the Portuguese word for shoulder blade, which is why several similar locks end in "-plata." |
| Open guard | Any guard where the legs are not locked around the opponent, including spider, butterfly and de la Riva. |
| Oss | A spoken acknowledgment used in many gyms, roughly meaning yes, understood or thank you. |
| Pass | Getting past the opponent's legs into side control, mount or knee on belly. |
| Posting | Putting a hand, foot or elbow on the mat to stop yourself from being turned or swept. |
| Rash guard | The tight top worn for no-gi training. It protects the skin and keeps grips off the body. |
| Rear-naked choke | A choke from behind, with the forearm across the neck and no gi grip needed. |
| Referee | The official on the mat who awards points and advantages and stops the match on a submission. |
| Roll | Free sparring. Two people apply what they have learned against real resistance. |
| Scramble | The chaotic seconds when neither person has control and both fight for the better position. |
| Shrimping | Escaping by pushing off the mat and moving the hips away sideways. The first movement most beginners learn. |
| Side control | Top control lying across the opponent's chest at a right angle to them. |
| Sparring | Training against a resisting partner under agreed rules. The gym word for it is rolling. |
| Spider guard | An open guard with the feet on the opponent's biceps and grips on both sleeves. |
| Submission | A lock or choke that forces the opponent to give up. The main way to win a match. |
| Sweep | Reversing the position from the bottom so that you end up on top. |
| Takedown | Bringing a standing opponent to the ground, by throw, trip or leg attack. |
| Tap out | Tapping the opponent or the mat to concede, which ends the exchange immediately. |
| Tap, nap or snap | The gym saying for the three ways out of a finished submission: tap, go unconscious, or get the joint hurt. It is a reminder to tap early. |
| Triangle choke | A choke formed with the legs around the opponent's neck and one of their arms. |
#1 Americana
An armlock submission that hyperextends the elbow and shoulder by trapping the opponent’s arm and applying pressure with a figure-four grip. Frequently used in BJJ and MMA, it can result in a tap out due to pain or risk of injury.
#2 Belt
A colored waistband representing a practitioner’s rank and experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ranging from white (beginner) to black (expert), belts are earned through skill demonstration, knowledge, and time spent training.
#3 Berimbolo
A dynamic and acrobatic type of guard inversion used to sweep or take an opponent’s back. The berimbolo involves spinning underneath the opponent while controlling one of their legs, often leading to advanced positions.
#4 BJJ
Short for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art and combat sport focused on ground fighting and submission holds. BJJ emphasizes technique and leverage, allowing a smaller practitioner to defeat larger opponents.
#5 Choke
A grappling technique designed to stop the blood flow or air supply to an opponent’s brain by compressing the neck. A successful choke can cause unconsciousness or submission, and is a staple of BJJ submissions.
#6 Drill
A repetitive practice of specific BJJ techniques or movements designed to improve muscle memory, timing, and technical proficiency. Drilling is a fundamental part of training and skill development in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
#7 Gi
The Gi in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a traditional martial arts uniform consisting of a jacket, pants, and a belt that signifies the wearer’s rank. The gi is designed to withstand the rigorous grappling and pulling that characterizes BJJ training.
#8 Guard
The guard is a fundamental position in BJJ where one practitioner has their back on the ground while using their legs to control an opponent who is on top. This defensive position allows various techniques to attack or sweep (reverse) the opponent.
#9 Heel Hook
A submission attack targeting the knee and ankle by turning the heel outward, which can cause significant joint damage. It leverages the leg’s natural range of motion against itself, often banned in gi competitions for safety reasons.
#10 Kimura
A shoulder lock submission that twists the arm behind the opponent’s back, leveraging pressure on the shoulder joint. Named after judoka Masahiko Kimura, who famously defeated Hélio Gracie with this technique.
#11 Leg Lock
A general term for any submission technique that targets an opponent’s leg joints, such as the knee or ankle. Leg locks include heel hooks, knee bars, and ankle locks, aiming to either control or submit the opponent.
#12 Mat
The padded flooring used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training and competition to provide a safer surface for practice. It’s essential for reducing the risk of injury when practicing throws, falls, and groundwork.
#13 No-gi
A style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where practitioners wear shorts and rash guards instead of the traditional gi. No-gi promotes a faster-paced and more dynamic grappling experience, often focused on leg locks and athleticism.
#14 Pass
Also called passing the guard, it’s a technique to bypass an opponent’s legs and move from a less dominant position to a more advantageous one, like side control or mount. Essential for positional advancement and scoring in competition.
#15 Roll
In BJJ, “roll” refers to free-form sparring where practitioners apply their techniques in a controlled, often competitive setting without set objectives like points or time limits. Rolling helps students test and refine their skills, build endurance, and learn to adapt techniques against resisting opponents.
#16 Sparring
Sparring in BJJ is a form of training where practitioners fight against each other using the techniques they have learned. It is a key component of training because it allows students to practice techniques in real-life scenarios within the safety of controlled conditions and rules.
#17 Submission
A technique that forces an opponent to surrender due to a lock or choke that could cause pain or injury if not released. It’s the primary method of winning a match in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, emphasizing the art’s focus on control and technique.
#18 Sweep
A maneuver that reverses the position, allowing the practitioner on the bottom to transition to the top. This technique is fundamental in BJJ for gaining advantage and moving into more dominant, offensive positions during a match.
#19 Tap out
A physical gesture, often tapping the opponent or mat, used to concede defeat, indicating that the person can no longer defend themselves from a submission. It’s a sign of respect and understanding of one’s limits on the BJJ mat.
#20 Triangle choke
A submission move executed from the guard by encircling the opponent’s neck and one arm with the legs, forming a shape similar to a triangle. This technique demonstrates the strategic use of leverage and positioning in BJJ.
#21 Armbar
A submission technique that hyperextends the opponent’s elbow joint using leverage, where the practitioner’s hips are placed close to the opponent’s shoulder, with the opponent’s arm trapped between their thighs. A fundamental move in BJJ, the armbar is effective and widely practiced.
#22 Back Mount
Back mount is a dominant position where one fighter secures their position on the opponent’s back, often with both hooks in. From here, they have significant control to apply chokes like the rear naked choke, scoring high in BJJ competitions.
#23 Closed Guard
A fundamental defensive position in BJJ where the bottom grappler has their legs wrapped around the opponent’s waist with their ankles crossed. It allows for various sweeps, submissions, and control of the adversary.
#24 Collar Choke
A submission technique where a practitioner uses the opponent’s gi, gripping the collar with one or both hands, to apply pressure on the neck. This choke can be executed from multiple positions and is highly effective.
#25 Ezekiel Choke
A versatile chokehold applied using the practitioner’s own sleeve or wrist to press against the opponent’s throat. It can be performed from various positions, including inside their guard, catching opponents off-guard.
#26 Half Guard
A position where one combatant has control over one of their opponent’s legs, typically with their own legs entwined. It serves as a transitional phase between full guard and more dominant positions.
#27 Open Guard
An umbrella term for any guard position where the legs are not closed around the opponent’s body. Variations include spider, butterfly, and de la Riva guards, allowing for numerous offensive and defensive maneuvers.
#28 Rear-Naked Choke
A powerful submission move performed from behind the opponent, where the attacker’s arm encircles the neck, using a forearm to apply pressure to the carotid arteries, often securing a tap out.
#29 Side control
Side control is a dominant position in BJJ where one practitioner is lying perpendicular across the opponent’s chest, controlling them from the side. This position limits the bottom practitioner’s ability to move or escape and allows the top practitioner to apply various submissions or transition to other dominant positions.
#30 Spider Guard
The spider guard is a type of guard in BJJ where the practitioner on the bottom uses their feet placed on the opponent’s biceps or forearms, controlling them using grips on the sleeves. This guard is particularly effective for managing the distance, setting up sweeps, and creating openings for submissions.
FAQ
What are people who practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu called?
A jiujiteiro, or jiujiteira for a woman. In English-speaking gyms most people simply say grappler, or name the rank: a blue belt, a black belt.
What does BJJ mean?
BJJ is the standard abbreviation for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the grappling art built around ground fighting, positional control and submissions. Outside the sport the letters mean nothing else in particular, which is why the abbreviation often confuses newcomers.
What is it called when someone sits down and scoots toward you in jiu-jitsu?
That is a butt scoot, one way of pulling guard. Instead of wrestling for a takedown, the player sits, shuffles forward on the hips and looks to establish a guard before the opponent can pass.
What is it called in jiu-jitsu when you move your hips to escape from underneath?
Shrimping, also called a hip escape. You push off the mat with a foot and drive the hips away sideways to make space, which is the base movement for almost every escape.
What do the words tap, nap or snap mean in jiu-jitsu?
It is a gym saying about the three possible endings of a submission you cannot escape: you tap and the round stops, you fall unconscious from a choke, or the joint gives out. The point of it is that tapping is the only sensible choice.
They fall into groups: positions (guard, mount, side control, back mount, half guard), submissions (armbar, kimura, triangle choke, rear-naked choke, heel hook), training words (roll, drill, spar, mat) and equipment (gi, belt, rash guard). The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu glossary above collects them all.
What are some Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu terms for beginners?
“Guard,” “Pass,” and “Choke” are some Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu terms beginners should start with. These terms are fundamental to understand positions, advancing techniques, and submission moves in BJJ.
What are some funny Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu terms?
“Berimbolo” and “Ezekiel choke” are some funny Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu terms. Their unique names add character to the art, despite representing complex and effective techniques.
What is a famous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phrase?
“Position before submission,” is a famous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phrase, emphasizing the importance of securing a dominant position before attempting to submit an opponent, highlighting strategy over haste.
