GLOSSARY

Tatame

/tah-TAH-meh/

The mat surface on which BJJ is trained. Borrowed from Japanese (畳, the woven straw mats of judo dojos) and used universally in Brazilian academies.

Japanese 畳 (tatami) via judo

Faixa

/FYE-shah/

Belt. In BJJ context refers to the rank-denoting belt: faixa branca (white), faixa azul (blue), faixa roxa (purple), faixa marrom (brown), faixa preta (black).

Professor

/pro-fes-SOR/

The teacher of a BJJ academy. Title of respect used for black belts (and increasingly brown belts) who lead instruction. In some lineages the term is reserved for those at coral belt rank or above.

Mestre

/MES-treh/

Master. Title of highest respect, reserved for coral belts (7th degree) and red belts (9th and 10th degree) in the IBJJF ranking system, and for individuals of foundational importance in their lineage.

Raspagem

/rahs-PAH-zhem/

Sweep. The act of reversing the opponent from a bottom guard position to a top position, typically scoring two points in IBJJF rulesets.

Passagem (de Guarda)

/pas-SAH-zhem/

Guard pass. The act of moving past the opponent's legs to establish side control, knee on belly, or mount, scoring three points in IBJJF.

Finalização

/fee-nah-lee-zah-SOWN/

Submission. A technique that forces the opponent to tap out via a choke, joint lock, or compression. Ends the match regardless of score.

Pegada

/peh-GAH-dah/

Grip. The handhold on the opponent's gi, body, or wrist that initiates and sustains a technique. The fight for pegada is the constant chess match of every BJJ exchange.

Postura

/pos-TOO-rah/

Posture, especially the upright posture maintained by the top player in closed guard. Loss of postura is the prerequisite for nearly every closed-guard attack.

Base

/BAH-zeh/

Base or balance. The structural stability of the body in any position. A grappler "with base" is hard to sweep; one "without base" is being swept already.

Ponte

/PON-cheh/

Bridge. The hip-extension movement used to elevate the opponent or escape pins. Foundation of the upa escape from mount and of the hip escape.

Fuga de Quadril

/FOO-gah deh kwah-DREEL/

Hip escape, the shrimping movement that is the universal warm-up of every BJJ academy. The foundation of guard recovery and side-control escape.

Guarda

/GWAR-dah/

Guard. The position from which the bottom player attacks using the legs. Includes closed, open, half, spider, lasso, De La Riva, x-guard, butterfly, and dozens of named variations.

Montada

/mohn-TAH-dah/

Mount. The dominant top position where the rider sits on the opponent's torso. Worth four points in IBJJF.

Cento por Cento

/SEN-too por SEN-too/

Side control. Literal translation "one hundred percent," named for the unrestricted pressure available from the position. Worth three points in IBJJF.

Costas / Pegada de Costas

/KOS-tahs/

Back / back control. Worth four points in IBJJF when both hooks are established. The most dominant position in jiu jitsu.

Mata Leão

/MAH-tah leh-OWN/

Rear naked choke. Literal "lion killer." The highest-percentage submission in combat sports.

De La Riva

/deh lah HEE-vah/

Open-guard variant in which the bottom player hooks one leg around the outside of the opponent's same-side leg. Named for Ricardo de la Riva Goded.

Named for Ricardo de la Riva Goded (b. 1957)

Lasso Guard / Guarda Lasso

/LAH-soo/

Open-guard variant in which one of the bottom player's legs threads through and wraps around the opponent's same-side arm, creating a powerful sleeve-and-leg control.

Omoplata

/oh-moh-PLAH-tah/

Shoulder lock executed with the legs trapping the opponent's arm. From the Portuguese word for the scapula.

Portuguese "omoplata" (shoulder blade), itself from Greek ōmos (shoulder) + platē (plate)

Berimbolo

/beh-reem-BOH-loh/

Inverted back-take technique from De La Riva guard. Developed by the Mendes brothers in the late 2000s. The name refers to the spinning capoeira instrument the bottom player's motion resembles.

From the capoeira "berimbolo" spinning motion

Gringo

/GREEN-goh/

Brazilian slang for a foreigner, used in BJJ academies to refer to non-Brazilian visitors and students. Not pejorative in BJJ contexts; often affectionate.

Treinão

/tray-NOWN/

A particularly long or intense training session, typically two hours or more, often involving multiple rounds of live sparring. "Big training."

Soco

/SOH-koh/

Brazilian Portuguese for "punch." Relevant in BJJ history because the soco-no-saco (sandbag punching) era marked the Gracie family's vale tudo conditioning training in the 1980s.

Submission / Finalização

/fee-nah-lee-zah-SOWN/

Any technique that forces an opponent to tap out. The ultimate objective of competitive BJJ in any ruleset that permits sub-only formats.

Absoluto / Absolute Division

/ab-soh-LOO-toh/

Open-weight tournament division where competitors of all weight classes face each other. The most prestigious title in any major BJJ competition.

Monoplata

/moh-noh-PLAH-tah/

Shoulder lock variant of the omoplata executed with only one leg trapping the opponent's arm, leaving the other leg free for additional control. Used when the standard omoplata cannot be set up.

Baratoplata

/bah-rah-toh-PLAH-tah/

Shoulder lock from the kimura position where the attacker rolls forward and locks the opponent's arm against their own back. Named for Rafael Lovato Jr.'s competition success with the technique.

Queda / Takedown

/KEH-dah/

Portuguese for "fall" — used in BJJ contexts to mean a takedown. Worth two points in IBJJF.

Levantada / Stand-Up

/leh-van-TAH-dah/

Standing up from a seated or supine position. The technical stand-up (levantada técnica) is the canonical Gracie self-defense version.

Montar / To Mount

/mon-TAR/

Portuguese verb "to mount" — the act of establishing the mount position. Used as common BJJ vocabulary in Brazilian academies.

Escapar / To Escape

/es-kah-PAR/

Portuguese verb "to escape" — the act of breaking free from a dominant position or submission attempt.

Drilar / To Drill

/dree-LAR/

Brazilian Portuguese verb form of "drill" — the practice of repeating a technique with a compliant partner to build muscle memory.

Graduação / Promotion

/grah-doo-ah-SOWN/

The ceremony or moment of promoting a student to the next belt rank. A significant event in BJJ academy life.

Luta Livre

/LOO-tah LEE-vrey/

Brazilian no-gi submission grappling discipline that developed in parallel to gi BJJ in the 20th century. The rivalry between Gracie BJJ and Luta Livre was a major feature of the Rio de Janeiro grappling scene in the 1980s and 90s.

Estilo / Style

/es-TEE-loh/

Portuguese for "style" — a competitor's personal expression of BJJ technique. Distinct from system (a coach's pedagogical framework) and game (the specific positions a competitor specializes in).

Lapela / Lapel

/lah-PEH-lah/

The collar/lapel of the gi. Used as a control surface, choking blade (via the gi loop or the threaded lapel guards), and grip anchor across the entire gi BJJ technical canon.

Manga / Sleeve

/MAN-gah/

The sleeve of the gi. The sleeve grip (pegada na manga) is one of the most important grip anchors in gi BJJ and underlies the entire spider guard / lasso guard system.

Gogoplata

/goh-goh-PLAH-tah/

Foot-on-throat strangulation executed from rubber guard, with the attacker's shin or foot pressed across the opponent's throat. 10th Planet system signature.

Pull Guard / Puxar Guarda

/POOL GARD / poo-SHAR GARD-ah/

Strategic choice to sit or fall to the back voluntarily rather than engage in a takedown exchange. Penalized in some submission-only formats.

Aluno / Student

/ah-LOO-noh/

Portuguese for "student" — used universally in Brazilian BJJ academies to refer to non-instructor members.

Treinador / Coach

/tray-nah-DOR/

Portuguese for "coach" — used in BJJ contexts for the person who runs competition training sessions, often distinct from the academy professor.

Roleiro

/hoh-LAY-roo/

Brazilian slang for a practitioner who emphasizes free-rolling and live sparring over technique drilling. The literal sense is "roller" — someone who rolls.

Pegueiro

/peh-GAY-roo/

Brazilian slang for a practitioner who specializes in grip-fighting (pegada). Used affectionately to describe gi competitors with exceptional hand-fighting and grip-breaking skill.

Boquilha / Mouthguard

/boh-KEE-lyah/

Mouthguard. Standard safety equipment for BJJ training, particularly important in no-gi and MMA contexts where strikes are part of the practice or scrambles can produce accidental impact.

Oss / Osu

/oh-SS/

A multipurpose acknowledgment imported from Japanese martial-arts culture, used in BJJ academies to mean approximately "understood," "yes," or "ready." Overused by some, avoided by others, debated by all.

Japanese 押忍 (osu), karate origin

Kimura

/kee-MOO-rah/

A shoulder lock executed via a figure-four grip on the opponent's wrist. Named for Masahiko Kimura, who broke Helio Gracie's arm with it at Maracanã in 1951.

Named for Masahiko Kimura (1917–1993)

Sankaku

/sahn-KAH-koo/

Triangle. In modern leg-lock usage, refers to a figure-four position with the attacker's legs trapping the opponent's leg. Inside sankaku is the position of the inside heel hook.

Japanese 三角 (sankaku, triangle)

Ashi Garami

/ah-SHEE gah-RAH-mee/

Leg entanglement. The Japanese term for the variety of figure-four leg positions used to set up leg locks. Includes single-leg X, double trouble, 50-50, and inside sankaku.

Japanese 足搦 (ashi-garami, leg entanglement)

Gi / Kimono

/GHEE / kee-MOH-no/

The traditional uniform of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, consisting of a heavy cotton jacket and pants secured by a belt. Borrowed from the Japanese kimono used in judo.

Japanese 着 (gi, "wear") via judogi

Newaza

/neh-WAH-zah/

Japanese term meaning "ground techniques," used in judo and BJJ to refer to all techniques executed on the mat as opposed to standing.

Japanese 寝技 (newaza, "lying-down techniques")

Randori

/ran-DOH-ree/

Japanese term for free-form sparring practice. In BJJ contexts, equivalent to live rolling.

Japanese 乱取り (randori, "chaos-taking")

Dojo / Academia

/DOH-zhoh / ah-kah-DEM-yah/

The training space. In Japanese martial arts, "the place of the way." Most BJJ schools today use the Portuguese "academia" instead, but dojo is still occasionally used.

Japanese 道場 (dōjō, "place of the way")

Ukemi

/oo-KEH-mee/

Japanese term for break-falling — the techniques that allow a thrown grappler to land safely. Foundational to safe training, taught in the first weeks of any judo or BJJ program.

Japanese 受身 (ukemi, "receiving body")

Hadaka-Jime

/hah-DAH-kah-zhee-meh/

Japanese name for the rear naked choke. Literal translation "naked strangle" — i.e., a strangle that requires no gi.

Japanese 裸絞 (hadaka-jime, "naked strangle")

Juji-Gatame

/zhoo-zhee-gah-TAH-meh/

Japanese name for the cross-armlock (armbar). Literal translation "cross hold" — the body forms a cross shape around the trapped arm.

Japanese 十字固 (jūji-gatame, "cross hold")

Ude-Garami

/oo-deh-gah-RAH-mee/

Japanese term covering the figure-four shoulder locks, including both kimura and americana. Literal translation "entangled arm."

Japanese 腕緘 (ude-garami, "entangled arm")

Sankaku-Jime

/sahn-KAH-koo-zhee-meh/

Japanese name for the triangle choke. Literal translation "triangle strangle."

Japanese 三角絞 (sankaku-jime, "triangle strangle")

Kesa-Gatame

/keh-sah-gah-TAH-meh/

Scarf hold. A side-control variant where the attacker sits more upright with one of the opponent's arms trapped under their armpit. Common in judo, occasionally used in BJJ.

Japanese 袈裟固 (kesa-gatame, "scarf hold")

Kata-Gatame

/kah-tah-gah-TAH-meh/

Japanese name for the arm-triangle choke. Literal translation "shoulder hold" — the opponent's own shoulder is one blade of the choke.

Japanese 肩固 (kata-gatame, "shoulder hold")

Judogi

/zhoo-DOH-ghee/

Japanese term for the judo uniform. The BJJ gi is technically a variant of the judogi, with a tighter cut and heavier weave to resist the grip-fighting BJJ requires.

Japanese 柔道着 (jūdōgi, "judo wear")

Obi

/OH-bee/

Japanese term for the belt worn with a gi. Used occasionally in BJJ contexts; "faixa" (Portuguese) is more common in Brazilian academies.

Japanese 帯 (obi, "belt")

Kuzushi

/koo-ZOO-shee/

Japanese term for off-balancing — the moment in which the opponent's base is broken, opening the window for a throw, sweep, or takedown. Foundational concept in judo and increasingly explicit in modern BJJ pedagogy.

Japanese 崩し (kuzushi, "breaking")

Uchi Mata

/oo-chee MAH-tah/

Japanese term for the inner thigh throw — one of the highest-percentage takedowns in judo and a common entry to BJJ standing exchanges.

Japanese 内股 (uchi-mata, "inner thigh")

O-Soto-Gari

/oh-SOH-toh GAH-ree/

Japanese term for the major outer reaping throw — a foot-sweep variant where the attacker reaps the opponent's leg from outside.

Japanese 大外刈 (ō-soto-gari, "major outer reap")

Seoi Nage

/seh-OH-ee NAH-geh/

Japanese term for the shoulder throw — a hip throw where the opponent is loaded onto the attacker's back and thrown over the shoulder.

Japanese 背負投 (seoi-nage, "back-carry throw")

Ouchi-Gari

/oo-CHEE GAH-ree/

Japanese term for the major inner reaping throw. A foot-sweep variant where the attacker reaps the opponent's leg from the inside using their own leg.

Japanese 大内刈 (ō-uchi-gari)

Armbar / Armlock

/ARM-bar/

A joint lock attacking the elbow by extending the arm against the body. Called juji-gatame in judo. In Portuguese: chave de braço or armlock.

Sweep / Raspagem

/sweep/

Reversal from bottom to top. Worth two points in IBJJF. See raspagem for Portuguese usage.

Frame

/frame/

A rigid structure created with the forearms, elbows, or shins to maintain space against the opponent. Frames are passive (preserving distance) rather than active (creating it).

Shrimp

/shrimp/

The hip escape movement, named for the curled body shape it produces. The universal BJJ warm-up.

No-Gi

/NO-ghee/

Training and competition without the gi, using shorts and a rashguard. The dominant format in ADCC, EBI, and modern submission-grappling promotions.

Tap / Bater

/tap / bah-TER/

The act of conceding a submission by physically tapping the opponent or the mat, or by verbal acknowledgment. Tapping early is the foundation of safe training.

Spider Guard / Guarda Aranha

/SPY-der / GWAR-dah ah-RAH-nyah/

Open-guard variant using sleeve grips and feet on the opponent's biceps to control distance and create sweep angles.

Butterfly Guard / Guarda Borboleta

/BUT-er-fly / bor-bo-LEH-tah/

Seated open-guard with both feet hooked under the opponent's thighs. Marcelo Garcia's signature position.

X-Guard

/X-gard/

Open-guard configuration in which the bottom player wraps both legs in an X-shape around one of the opponent's legs from underneath.

50-50 / Cinquenta-Cinquenta

/fifty-fifty / sin-KWEN-tah/

Leg-entanglement position in which both players have one of each other's legs in a mirrored figure-four. Neutral structurally, with attack and defense identical for both players.

Kneebar / Chave de Joelho

/KNEE-bar/

Joint lock attacking the knee by hyperextending the leg, using the attacker's hips as the fulcrum. Legal in IBJJF nogi at brown belt; legal in gi at brown belt with restrictions.

Toe Hold

/TOH-hold/

Leg-lock rotating the opponent's ankle inward, affecting both the ankle joint and the medial knee structures. Legal in IBJJF nogi at brown belt and above.

Baseball Bat Choke / Bate-Estaca

/bate-es-TAH-kah/

Gi choke from side control or top half guard, using two collar grips opposite to each other to compress both carotids simultaneously, mimicking the grip of a baseball bat.

Cross-Collar Choke / Estrangulamento Cruzado

/CROSS-COL-er/

Blood choke using two opposite collar grips that cross at the wrist to compress both carotid arteries. The canonical gi mount finish.

Rolar / Rolling

/hoh-LAR / ROHL-ing/

Free-form sparring practice in BJJ. Portuguese "rolar" (to roll) is the canonical term and the source of the English "rolling."

Deep Half Guard

/DEEP HALF/

Half-guard variant where the bottom player slides their hips deep under the opponent's body and hugs a single leg, popularized by Roberto Gordo Correa and refined by Bernardo Faria.

Lockdown

/LOCK-down/

Half-guard leg configuration developed by Eddie Bravo where the bottom player traps the opponent's leg with a figure-four of the legs, enabling the electric chair and other 10th Planet techniques.

Electric Chair

/eh-LECK-trick CHAIR/

Sweep and submission from the lockdown half guard where the bottom player splits the opponent's legs and applies pressure on the hip or knee. Signature of the 10th Planet system.

Reverse De La Riva / RDLR

/reh-VERS deh lah HEE-vah/

De La Riva variant where the hook is inverted, with the bottom player's foot wrapped around the inside of the opponent's leg rather than the outside. Used as a counter to torreando-style passes.

Half Butterfly

/HALF BUT-er-fly/

Hybrid position combining half guard's trapped-leg control with butterfly guard's elevation hook. Used as a transitional offensive base.

Peruvian Necktie

/peh-ROO-vee-an NEK-tie/

Front-headlock choke where the attacker rolls forward over the opponent's back, locking the neck with both arms in a tie-like configuration. Named for Tony DeSouza, who popularized it in MMA.

Japanese Necktie / Gravata Japonesa

/gra-VAH-tah zhah-poh-NEH-zah/

Front-headlock blood choke that wraps the neck and one arm with both attacker's arms, finishing perpendicular to the opponent's body. Related to but distinct from the Peruvian necktie.

Hooks

/HOOKS/

The attacker's feet inserted inside the opponent's thighs in back control. Both hooks established is required for the four-point back control score in IBJJF.

Body Triangle

/BAH-dee TRY-ang-gel/

Back-control variant where the attacker's legs form a figure-four around the opponent's torso instead of using hooks. More secure than hooks but slower to establish.

Seatbelt

/SEAT-belt/

Back-control arm configuration where one arm goes over the opponent's shoulder and the other under the opposite armpit, locking the bodies together for choke and control.

Cross-Face

/CROSS-face/

Top-position control where the attacker's arm wraps around the opponent's head and pulls the chin away from the controlling side. Foundational to side control, mount, and pressure passing.

Underhook

/UN-der-hook/

Grip configuration where the attacker's arm passes under the opponent's armpit, providing upper-body lever. Critical in half guard, butterfly guard, and standing exchanges.

Whizzer

/WHIZ-er/

Defensive overhook applied to the opponent's shoulder, typically used to prevent a single-leg takedown or to defend against the dogfight sweep.

Sprawl

/SPRAWL/

Defensive technique against a takedown attempt where the defender drives the hips down and back, flattening the attacker's posture and removing the lifting angle.

Pummeling

/PUM-el-ing/

The constant in-and-out swimming of the arms used in clinch and grappling exchanges to establish or maintain underhook position.

Saddle / Honey Hole / 4-11

/SAD-el/

Leg-entanglement position in which the attacker's legs trap the opponent's leg in a figure-four with the captured knee locked. Primary entry to the inside heel hook in the Danaher system.

Truck Position / 4-11 Back

/TRUK/

Position related to back control where the attacker is perpendicular underneath the opponent. Primary entry to the calf slicer and various leg-lock attacks.

Crab Ride

/KRAB RIDE/

Open-guard control position where the bottom player hooks both legs around the opponent's thighs from behind while sitting up. Used as a back-take entry from inverted positions.

Dogfight

/DOG-fight/

Half-guard scramble position where both players are facing each other on their knees, fighting for underhooks and back-take angle. Eddie Bravo / 10th Planet terminology.

Gable Grip

/GAY-bel grip/

Hand grip where the palms face each other and clasp together without interlacing the fingers. Named for Olympic wrestler Dan Gable. Used in body-lock, headlock, and triangle finishes.

RDLR / Reverse De La Riva

/R-D-L-R/

Reverse De La Riva guard. Open-guard variant where the hook is inverted, with the bottom player's foot wrapped around the inside of the opponent's leg.

Guard Pull

/GARD PULL/

Strategic choice to sit down or fall to the back voluntarily, pulling the opponent into the bottom player's guard rather than engaging in a takedown exchange. Common in sport BJJ but penalized in some submission-only formats.

A-Game

/AY-game/

A competitor's strongest set of techniques and positions, refined through years of training and competition. Distinct from B-game (situational answers) and C-game (defensive fundamentals).

Flow Rolling / Rolar Light

/FLOH ROHL-ing/

Low-intensity sparring practice where both partners move continuously without forcing positions or finishes. Used for technique integration and conditioning rather than competitive pressure.

Open Mat

/OH-pen MAT/

Unstructured training session where practitioners roll freely without formal instruction. Common on Saturdays at most BJJ academies.

Superfight

/SOO-per-fight/

High-profile single match between two elite competitors outside the normal tournament structure. Pioneered by ADCC and now common in WNO, Polaris, and CJI.

Tap Tap Tap

/TAP/

Verbal tap-out when the hands are not available to physically tap. Saying "tap" repeatedly is universally recognized as a submission concession.

Spider Web

/SPY-der WEB/

Submission position popularized by EBI overtime, where the attacker has both legs trapping the opponent in an armbar-like configuration. Resembles a spider's web wrapping the prey.

Connection

/kuh-NEK-shun/

The principle of maintaining continuous physical contact between attacker and opponent during transitions. Foundational to the Rickson Gracie "invisible jiu jitsu" concept.

Tap to Grip

/TAP to GRIP/

Modern submission grappling convention of tapping when a finishing grip is established rather than waiting for joint pain. Standard practice for leg locks where damage precedes pain.

Sambo

/SAM-bo/

Russian grappling art with significant leg-lock and pinning emphasis. The technical influence of sambo on modern BJJ leg-lock systems is substantial; many Danaher-era heel-hook entries derive from sambo prototypes.

Russian САМБО (САМозащита Без Оружия, "self-defense without weapons")

Twister

/TWIST-er/

Spinal lock developed by Eddie Bravo, executed from the truck position. The signature finish of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and one of the few entirely new submissions invented in BJJ in the modern era.

Buggy Choke

/BUG-ee CHOHK/

Defensive blood choke executed from underneath side control, popularized by Kade Ruotolo in the early 2020s.

Estima Lock

/es-TEE-mah LOK/

Foot-lock variant combining toe hold and straight ankle lock mechanics. Developed by the Estima brothers (Victor and Braulio) in the late 2000s.

Suloev Stretch

/soo-LOH-ev STRECH/

Hamstring and lower-back compression lock developed by Russian fighter Amar Suloev. Targets soft tissue rather than joints; illegal in IBJJF.

Mission Control

/MIH-shun kun-TROHL/

Rubber guard grip where the bottom player grips their own foot or ankle to lock the high leg across the opponent's back. 10th Planet terminology.

Chill Dog

/CHIL DOG/

10th Planet rubber guard variant where the bottom player adjusts the high-leg position to create a more sustainable hold. Eddie Bravo coinage.

Jiu Claw

/ZHOO KLAW/

10th Planet grip in which the rubber guard hand grips the opposite ankle rather than the same-side foot. Variant of mission control.

Crackhead Control

/KRAK-hed kun-TROHL/

10th Planet term for an extreme rubber guard position with the high leg pulled very tight against the opponent's neck. Eddie Bravo coinage.

Ringworm Guard

/RING-werm/

Lapel-guard variant developed in the 10th Planet system where the attacker threads the opponent's lapel through a series of wraps that resemble ringworm patterns.

Squid Guard

/SKWID GARD/

Lapel-guard variant where the bottom player threads their own lapel between the opponent's legs to create a control system. Popularized by Keenan Cornelius alongside worm guard.

Octopus Guard

/OK-toh-pus GARD/

Lapel-guard variant featuring multiple lapel threads creating an octopus-like control around the opponent. Modern competitive lapel-guard innovation.

Flying Armbar

/FLY-ing ARM-bar/

Armbar entry from standing where the attacker jumps to wrap the legs over the opponent and falls backward to complete the lock in a single motion.

Flying Triangle

/FLY-ing TRY-ang-gel/

Triangle entry from standing where the attacker jumps onto the opponent and locks the legs around the head and arm mid-air.

Sit-Up Guard

/SIT UP GARD/

Seated open-guard configuration where the bottom player remains upright with one or both hands on the opponent's wrist. Entry point to butterfly, x-guard, and arm-drag systems.

Williams Guard / 93 Guard

/WIL-yumz GARD/

Closed half-guard variant where the bottom player traps the opponent's arm inside their legs. Systematized by Caio Terra.

Body Lock

/BAH-dee LOK/

Grip configuration where both arms wrap around the opponent's hips with hands clasped in Gable grip. Foundation of the modern folding pass.

Instructional / Instrucional

/in-STRUK-shun-ul/

Video-based teaching product (DVD, online stream, or downloadable) typically produced by elite competitors covering specific technique systems. Primary income source for many modern professional grapplers.

Seminar / Seminário

/SEM-i-nar/

Multi-hour teaching session conducted by a visiting instructor at an academy. Common income source for traveling professional competitors.

Gracie Barra

/GRAH-see BAH-rah/

BJJ team founded by Carlos Gracie Jr. (the same Carlos who founded the IBJJF) in 1986 in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. One of the largest global BJJ networks with hundreds of affiliated academies.

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu

/ah-LY-uns/

BJJ team founded by Romero Cavalcanti, Fabio Gurgel, and Jacare Cavalcanti in 1993. Produced Marcelo Garcia, Fabio Gurgel, and many other elite competitors. One of the most decorated competitive teams in IBJJF history.

Atos Jiu-Jitsu

/AH-tohs/

BJJ team founded by Ramon Lemos in São Paulo in the early 2000s and refined into its modern competitive form by André Galvão in San Diego after 2008. Home to Rafael Mendes, Tainan Dalpra, Mica Galvao, and the modern Atos competitive roster.

Checkmat

/CHEK-mat/

BJJ team founded by Leo Vieira in 2008. Produced Marcus Buchecha, Lucas Hulk Barbosa, and multiple other IBJJF World Champions. One of the dominant competitive teams of the 2010s.

GFTeam

/G-F-TEEM/

Grappling Fight Team — BJJ team founded by Julio Cesar Pereira in 2000 in Rio de Janeiro. Produced Rodolfo Vieira, Theodoro Canal, and other elite heavyweights of the early 2010s competitive era.

New Wave Jiu-Jitsu

/NOO WAYV/

BJJ team founded by John Danaher and Gordon Ryan in Austin, Texas in 2021–2022 after the split from the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York. Home to Gordon Ryan and the modern Danaher competitive roster.

B-Team Jiu-Jitsu

/B-TEEM/

BJJ team founded by Craig Jones in Austin, Texas in the early 2020s as the primary competitive rival to New Wave. Home to Jones, Nick Rodriguez, Damien Anderson, and the broader B-Team competitive roster.

10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu

/TENTH PLAN-et/

BJJ system founded by Eddie Bravo in the early 2000s as the first major no-gi-specific BJJ team. Developed the rubber guard, twister, lockdown, and dozens of now-canonical no-gi techniques.

Rashguard

/RASH-gard/

Tight-fitting compression shirt worn for no-gi BJJ training. Designed to prevent mat burn and friction injuries during prolonged contact.

Spats / Grappling Tights

/SPATS/

Tight-fitting compression pants worn for no-gi BJJ training. Similar function to rashguards but for the lower body.

Fight Shorts

/FYTE SHORTS/

Loose-fitting reinforced shorts worn over spats for no-gi BJJ training and MMA. Designed to permit full range of motion while preventing grip exploitation.

Imanari Roll

/ee-mah-NAH-ree ROHL/

Inverted rolling entry to the saddle position popularized by Japanese MMA grappler Masakazu Imanari. The attacker drops to the floor and rolls under the opponent's legs to capture the heel-hook position.

Clock Choke / Gravata Relógio

/KLOK CHOHK/

Gi blood choke applied against a turtled opponent by walking around the body in a clockwise direction while pulling the collar across the neck.

Banana Split

/bah-NAH-nah SPLIT/

Hip-and-groin compression submission applied by spreading the opponent's legs in opposite directions. Illegal in IBJJF due to soft-tissue injury risk.

Mir Lock

/MEER LOK/

Rotational shoulder lock named after MMA heavyweight Frank Mir. Targets the rotator cuff with an axial twist that differs from the conventional kimura direction.

Aoki Lock

/AH-oh-kee LOK/

Wristlock variation named after Japanese MMA specialist Shinya Aoki. Uses a specific angle of wrist rotation distinct from conventional BJJ wristlocks.

Cervical / Neck Crank

/ser-vee-KAHL/

Submission category attacking the cervical spine. Legal restrictions vary by ruleset — IBJJF gi prohibits most variants, IBJJF no-gi permits some at brown belt and above.

Scramble

/SKRAM-bul/

High-pace transitional exchange where neither practitioner has established positional control. Often produces back-takes, front-headlock chains, and submission attempts when one side capitalizes faster than the other.

Setup

/SET-up/

The technical sequence that establishes the position from which a submission, sweep, or pass can be executed. The setup is typically more difficult than the finish itself and is what distinguishes elite-level execution from intermediate-level execution.

IBJJF

/I-B-J-J-F/

International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. The largest gi-jiu-jitsu governing body, founded by Carlos Gracie Jr. in 2002. Runs the Worlds (Mundial), Pans, Europeans, and a global rankings system.

ADCC

/A-D-C-C/

Abu Dhabi Combat Club. The premier no-gi submission-grappling tournament, held biennially. The most prestigious title in modern submission grappling.

Advantage / Vantagem

/ad-VAN-tij / van-TAH-zhem/

IBJJF tiebreaker score awarded for technique attempts that almost score but do not complete. The aggregate advantage count decides matches tied on points.

Penalty / Punição

/pun-i-SOWN/

IBJJF rules infraction (stalling, illegal grips, fleeing the mat) that results in a warning, then an advantage or point to the opponent, then disqualification.

Sub-Only / Submission-Only

/SUB-only/

Competition format where matches end only via submission (or time limit) with no points awarded for position. Popular in EBI, ADCC absolute formats, and modern superfights.

EBI Overtime

/E-B-I OH-ver-time/

Eddie Bravo Invitational overtime format: tied matches go to a series of one-minute back-control and spider-web positions where the first competitor to submit or escape fastest wins.

Faixa Cinza / Gray Belt

/FYE-shah SEEN-zah/

IBJJF kids belt rank between white and yellow. The kids belt progression goes white → gray → yellow → orange → green before transitioning to the adult ranks.

Faixa Coral / Coral Belt

/FYE-shah co-RAL/

Red-and-black belt awarded at 7th degree, signifying decades of contribution to BJJ. The "coral" name comes from the color combination resembling a coral snake.

Faixa Vermelha / Red Belt

/FYE-shah ver-MEH-lyah/

Highest belt in BJJ, awarded at 9th and 10th degree. Reserved for those with the most significant contributions to the art and only achievable after a lifetime of practice.

Submission-Only

/sub-MIH-shun OWN-lee/

Competition format where matches end only via submission, with time limits resolved through draws, overtime, or referee decision. Pioneered by EBI and now standard in most modern grappling promotions.

EBI / Eddie Bravo Invitational

/E-B-I/

Submission-only grappling tournament founded by Eddie Bravo. Pioneered the EBI overtime format where tied matches resolve through back-control and spider-web submission attempts.

CJI / Craig Jones Invitational

/C-J-I/

High-purse submission-only grappling tournament founded by Craig Jones in 2024. The 2024 event paid $1 million to the absolute champion and signaled a new commercial era for the sport.

WNO / Who's Number One

/W-N-O/

Submission-only grappling promotion under Flograppling. Features superfights and championship matches with weight-class titles. Active 2020 onward.

Polaris

/poh-LAH-ris/

British submission grappling promotion. One of the longest-running European no-gi events, featuring superfights and championship cards.

ONE Championship

/WUN CHAM-pee-un-ship/

Asian-based combat sports promotion. Features both MMA and submission grappling divisions, with Mikey Musumeci as the flagship grappling competitor.

Reaping

/REEP-ing/

IBJJF rules infraction where a leg crosses the opponent's centerline above the knee, creating illegal pressure on the knee joint. Cause for disqualification in gi competition.

Mundial / IBJJF World Championship

/moon-dee-AHL/

The annual IBJJF World Championship, the most prestigious title in gi BJJ competition. Held since 1996, originally in Rio de Janeiro and currently in Long Beach, California.

Pan / Pan-American Championship

/PAN/

The IBJJF Pan-American Championship, the second-most-prestigious annual IBJJF tournament after the Mundial. Held in the United States since 1995.

Europeu / IBJJF Europeans

/eh-roo-PEH-oo/

The IBJJF European Open Championship, the most prestigious annual European BJJ tournament. Held in Lisbon, Portugal each January.

Brasileiro / Brazilian Nationals

/brah-zee-LAY-roo/

The Brazilian National Championship — the IBJJF tournament held in Brazil and featuring the largest domestic Brazilian competitive field. Historically the proving ground for emerging Brazilian competitors.

Faixa Amarela / Yellow Belt

/FYE-shah ah-mah-REH-lah/

IBJJF kids belt rank above gray and below orange. Awarded to children aged 7+ with demonstrated technical proficiency. Part of the IBJJF kids belt progression: white → gray → yellow → orange → green.

Faixa Laranja / Orange Belt

/FYE-shah lah-RAHN-zhah/

IBJJF kids belt rank above yellow and below green. The fourth belt in the IBJJF kids progression.

Faixa Verde / Green Belt

/FYE-shah VER-deh/

IBJJF kids belt rank — the highest belt in the kids progression before transitioning to adult ranks at age 16. Equivalent in approximate skill to a senior blue-belt at adult level.

Quadril / Hip

/kwah-DREEL/

Portuguese for "hip" — the most-used anatomical term in BJJ instruction, since hip movement is foundational to nearly every technique.

Joelho / Knee

/zhoh-EL-yoh/

Portuguese for "knee." Used in technique names (joelho na barriga, joelho cortado) and in instruction for joint-protection cues.

Cotovelo / Elbow

/koh-toh-VEH-loh/

Portuguese for "elbow." Targeted by the armbar (chave de braço) and used as a frame in nearly every defensive system in BJJ.

Punho / Wrist

/POON-yoh/

Portuguese for "wrist" or "fist." The wrist is the target of wristlocks and the critical grip point in nearly every gi technique.

Pé / Foot

/PEH/

Portuguese for "foot." Targeted by ankle locks, toe holds, and Estima locks; used as a hook in butterfly guard, de la riva, and x-guard.

Pescoço / Neck

/pes-KOH-soh/

Portuguese for "neck." Target of every choke and strangulation in the BJJ submission library. The carotid arteries (carótidas) run along the neck and are the structural target of most chokes.

Ombro / Shoulder

/OWM-broh/

Portuguese for "shoulder." Targeted by the kimura, americana, omoplata, and various other shoulder locks. The shoulder is structurally one of the most mobile joints in the body, which makes it both vulnerable to hyperextension and difficult to lock at the exact range of motion limit.