JUDO FOR ALL
- RESPECT
- DISCIPLINE
- FRIENDSHIP
- PROGRESS
A
STRONGER YOU
ON AND OFF
THE MAT
MORE THAN A CLUB
EST 1972 | BASINGSTOKE
JUDO TERMS
Find the words you hear on the mat.
YOUR FIRST JUDO WORDS
A few useful words for your first lessons.
- REI
- Bow
- HAJIME
- Begin
- MATE
- Stop and wait
- OSAEKOMI
- A hold-down is being timed
EXPLORE A–Z
Choose a letter to see the words.
The complete glossary is shown below.
WORDS BEGINNING WITH A
- Ai-yotsu
- Same grip used by both persons, either right or left
- Ashi
- Foot, leg
- Ashi Waza
- Foot techniques
- Atemi Waza
- Striking techniques
- Ayumi Ashi
- Ordinary pattern of walking
WORDS BEGINNING WITH B
- Batsugun
- Instant promotion
- Budo
- Martial ways
- Bujutsu
- Martial arts
- Bushido
- Way of the warrior
WORDS BEGINNING WITH C
- Chui
- Penalty (no longer used)
WORDS BEGINNING WITH D
- Dan
- Black belt rank
- Debana
- Instant of opportunity to break balance as opponent initiates a motion
- Dojo
- School or training hall for studying the way
WORDS BEGINNING WITH E
- Eri
- Collar, lapel
WORDS BEGINNING WITH F
- Fudoshin
- Immovable spirit
- Fusegi
- Escapes
- Fusen Gachi
- Win by default
WORDS BEGINNING WITH G
- Goshin Jutsu
- Art of self defense
WORDS BEGINNING WITH H
- Hajime
- Begin
- Hando no Kuzushi
- Unbalancing by reaction
- Hansoku-make
- Most serious penalty, disqualification
- Hantei
- Referee call for judge’s decision
- Happo no Kuzushi
- Kuzushi in 8 directions
- Hara
- Stomach
- Hidari
- Left
- Hiji
- Elbow
- Hiki-wake
- No decision–tie or draw
- Hikite
- Pulling hand — usually the hand gripping a sleeve
- Hiza
- Knee
WORDS BEGINNING WITH I
- Ippon
- Victory in one move, one point
WORDS BEGINNING WITH J
- Jigotai
- Defensive posture
- Jikan
- Referee call to stop the clock
- Jita Kyoei
- Principle of mutual prosperity
- Joseki
- Place of honor, upper seat
- Ju no Kata
- Forms of gentleness
- Ju no Ri
- Principle of flexibility or yielding
- Judo
- Gentle or flexible way
- Judo Ichidai
- A Judo life–Spending one’s life in the diligent pursuit of Judo
- Judogi
- Judo practice uniform
- Judoka
- One who studies Judo
- Jujutsu
- Gentle art
WORDS BEGINNING WITH K
- Kaeshi Waza
- Counter techniques
- Kake
- Completion or execution of technique
- Kansetsu Waza
- Joint locking techniques
- Kappo
- Resuscitation techniques
- Kata
- Forms
- Kata
- Shoulder
- Katame no kata
- Forms of grappling
- Katsu
- Resuscitation
- Keikoku
- Penalty (no longer used)
- Kenka Yotsu
- Opposite grips used by each person, one right/one left
- Ki o tsuke
- Attention
- Kiai
- To gather spirit with a shout
- Kime no Kata
- Forms of decision
- Kinshi Waza
- Techniques prohibited in competition
- Kodansha
- High ranking judoka — 5th dan and above
- Kodokan
- Judo institute in Tokyo where Judo was founded
- Kogeki Seyo
- Order for judoka to attack
- Koka
- Score less than a yuko (No longer used in contests)
- Koshi
- Hip
- Koshi Waza
- Hip techniques
- Kubi
- Neck
- Kumikata
- Gripping methods
- Kuzure
- Modified hold
- Kuzushi
- Unbalancing the opponent
- Kyoshi
- Instructor
- Kyu
- Student rank
WORDS BEGINNING WITH M
- Maai
- Space or engagement distance
- Mae
- Forward, front
- Mae Sabaki
- Frontal escape
- Mae Ukemi
- Falling forward
- Masutemi Waza
- Back sacrifice throws
- Mate
- Stop (wait)
- Migi
- Right
- Mudansha
- Students below black belt rank
- Mune
- Chest
WORDS BEGINNING WITH N
- Nage
- Throw
- Nage no Kata
- Forms of throwing
- Nage Waza
- Throwing techniques
- Nagekomi
- Repetitive throwing practice
- Ne Waza
- Techniques on the ground
WORDS BEGINNING WITH O
- Obi
- Judo belt
- Okuden
- Secret teachings
- Osaekomi
- Pin, referee call to begin timing
- Osaekomi Toketa
- Escape, stop timing of hold
- Osaekomi Waza
- Pinning techniques
WORDS BEGINNING WITH R
- Randori
- Free practice
- Randori no Kata
- Forms of free practice techniques
- Randori Waza
- Techniques for free practice
- Rei
- Bow
- Reiho
- Forms of respect, manners, etiquette
- Renraku Waza
- Combination techniques
- Ritsurei
- Standing bow
WORDS BEGINNING WITH S
- Seika Tanden
- A point in the abdomen that is the center of gravity
- Seiryoku Zenyo
- Principle of maximum efficiency
- Seiza
- Formal kneeling posture
- Sen
- Attack initiative
- Sensei
- Teacher, instructor
- Shiai
- Contest
- Shiaijo
- Competition area
- Shido
- Penalty, equal to koka score
- Shihan
- Title for a model teacher or “teacher who sets the standard” (i.e. Kano-shihan)
- Shime Waza
- Choking techniques
- Shinpan
- Referee
- Shintai
- Moving forwards, sideways & backwards
- Shisei
- Posture
- Shizentai
- Natural posture
- Shomen
- Dojo front
- Sode
- Sleeve
- Soke
- Founder of a martial art or ryu
- Sono Mama
- Stop action; command to freeze
- Sore Made
- Finished, time is up
- Sute Geiko
- Randori throwing practice against a higher level judoka
- Sutemi Waza
- Sacrifice techniques
WORDS BEGINNING WITH T
- Tachi Waza
- Standing techniques
- Tai Sabaki
- Body control, turning
- Tatami
- Mat
- Te
- Hand, arm
- Te Waza
- Hand techniques
- Tekubi
- Wrist
- Tokui Waza
- Favorite or best technique
- Tori
- Person performing a technique
- Tsugi Ashi
- Walking by bringing one foot up to another
- Tsukuri
- Entry into a technique, positioning
- Tsurite
- Lifting hand
WORDS BEGINNING WITH U
- Uchikomi
- Repeated practice without completion
- Ude
- Arm
- Uke
- Person receiving the technique
- Ukemi
- Breakfall techniques
- Ushiro
- Backward, rear
- Ushiro Sabaki
- Back movement control
- Ushiro Ukemi
- Falling backward
WORDS BEGINNING WITH W
- Waki
- Armpit
- Waza
- Technique
- Waza Ari
- Near ippon or half point
- Waza ari Awasete Ippon
- Two waza-ari together for ippon
WORDS BEGINNING WITH Y
- Yakusoku Geiko (or renshu)
- Pre-arranged free practice
- Yoko
- Side
- Yoko Kaiten Ukemi
- Sideways rolling break fall
- Yoko Sutemi Waza
- Side sacrifice throws
- Yoko Ukemi
- Falling sideways
- Yoshi
- Resume action, continue
- Yubi
- Finger
- Yudansha
- Person who earned the black belt
- Yudanshakai
- Black belt association
- Yuko
- Score less than a waza-ari
- Yusei Gachi
- Win by judge’s decision
WORDS BEGINNING WITH Z
- Zanshin
- Awareness
- Zarei
- Kneeling salutation
- Zenpo Kaiten Ukemi
- Forward rolling break fall
- Zori
- Sandals (Flip Flops)
- Zubon
- Pants
Definitions for coach review
The existing website’s definitions are preserved below each letter. They have not been officially reverified.
- Shido: the original says “Penalty, equal to koka score”, while the same glossary marks Koka as no longer used in contests. A coach should confirm the current wording.
- Chui, Keikoku and Koka: the original glossary labels these as no longer used. They are retained here for reference; a coach should review their historical context.