Judo – Glossary
Common terms
Dojo |
The training hall. |
Fukushin |
Corner judges assisting the main referee. |
Hajime |
Command to begin a match. |
Hansoku |
Foul or rule violation |
Hansoku-make |
Disqualification |
Hantei |
Decision; when the judges decide the winner if there is no clear score. |
Ippon |
Full point; wins the match instantly. |
Judogi |
Judo outfit |
Judoka |
A practitioner of judo. |
Kake |
Execution of a throw |
Kuzushi |
Breaking the opponent’s balance |
Mate |
Command to stop or pause a match. |
Obi |
Belt worn with the judogi |
Rei |
Bow, a sign of respect. |
Sensei |
Instructor in judo. |
Shiai |
Competition/Match |
Shido |
Penalty for minor infractions |
Shimpan |
Referee or judge. |
Sono-mana |
“Do not move” |
Tatami |
Mats used for judo practice, providing a safe surface for throws and falls. |
Tori |
The person executing a technique |
Tsukuri |
Positioning/setup for a throw. |
Uke |
The person receiving a technique. |
Waza-ari |
Half point; two waza-ari equal an ippon. |
Yusei-gachi |
Win by superiority. |
Hand Throwing Techniques
Ippon-seoi-nage |
A one-arm shoulder throw |
Kata-guruma |
Shoulder wheel; lift and rotate the opponent over your shoulders. |
Sumi-gaeshi |
Corner throw; pulling and flipping the opponent backward. |
Tai-otoshi |
Body drop; trip the opponent over your extended leg. |
Hip Throwing Techniques
Harai-goshi |
Sweeping hip throw; a sweeping leg motion combined with the hips. |
O-goshi |
Major hip throw, using the hips to lift and throw the opponent. |
Tsuri goshi |
Lifting hip throw; pulling the opponent upward while using the hips. |
Uchi-mata |
Inner thigh throw; a powerful and frequently used technique. |
Uki-goshi |
Floating hip throw; a lighter version of O- goshi with less lift. |
Foot and Leg Techniques
De-ashi-barai |
Advanced foot sweep; sweeping the opponent’s leading foot. |
Hiza-guruma |
Knee wheel; pivoting the opponent over their knee. |
Okuri-ashi-barai |
Sliding foot sweep; sweeping both feet simultaneously. |
Osoto-gari |
Major outer reap; sweeping the opponent’s leg from the outside. |
Ouchi-gari |
Major inner reap; sweeping the inside of the opponent’s leg. |
Ground Techniques
Hadaka-jime |
Naked choke; a strangle without using the gi. |
Kesa-gatame |
Scarf hold; pinning the opponent’s upper body. |
Okuri-eri-jime |
Sliding collar choke: using the opponent’s gi collar. |
Seoi-nage |
Shoulder throw |
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