BJJ Glossary – Key Terms & Definitions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

This BJJ glossary helps you quickly find the meaning of key terms used in our discipline and on our website bjj-rules.com! Each term links to a detailed page when available.

A.

Academy — the term used to describe a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school.

Americana — a submission that applies a lock on the opponent’s arm using a figure-four grip.

Anaconda choke — a submission that uses the arms to compress the opponent’s airways from the side.

Arm triangle — a submission that uses the arms crossed over the opponent’s neck to compress the airways.

Armbar — a submission that hyperextends the opponent’s arm beyond its natural range of motion.

B.

Back control — a position where one fighter is behind the opponent with legs wrapped around their body.

Back take — a technique used to take the opponent’s back.

Belt — the belt worn by Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners to indicate their skill level.

Berimbolo — a technique used to sweep an opponent starting from the guard position.

Bicep slicer — a submission that applies pressure on the opponent’s bicep.

BJJ — abbreviation for “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”.

Bottom player — a fighter who prefers to fight from the bottom position.

Butterfly guard — a guard used to control the opponent using the feet and legs in a seated position.

C.

Calf slicer — a submission that applies pressure on the opponent’s calf muscle.

Choke — a submission that compresses the opponent’s airways or blood supply to the brain.

Closed guard — a guard where the bottom player’s legs are wrapped around the opponent’s waist.

Cross-collar choke — a submission that uses the opponent’s gi collar to compress the airways.

Crossface — a technique used to control the opponent’s head using one arm across the face.

D.

D’arce choke — a submission that uses the attacker’s arm to compress the opponent’s airways, similar to an anaconda choke but with a different grip.

De la Riva guard — a guard used to control the opponent using a leg hook around the outside of their leg.

Double leg takedown — a takedown technique where the attacker grabs both of the opponent’s legs and drives them backward.

E.

Ezekiel choke — a submission that uses the gi sleeve or wrist to compress the opponent’s airways.

F.

Foot lock — a submission that forces the opponent’s ankle joint beyond its natural range of motion.

G.

Gi — the traditional uniform (kimono) worn during Brazilian jiu-jitsu training and competition.

Grappling — a form of close-range combat involving body-to-body fighting without strikes.

Guard — a fundamental position where one fighter is on their back and uses their legs to control the opponent.

Guard pass — a technique used to get past the opponent’s guard and achieve a dominant position.

Guillotine choke — a submission that uses the arms to compress the opponent’s airways from the front.

H.

Half guard — a position where the bottom player has one of the opponent’s legs trapped between their own legs.

I.

Inverted triangle — a submission that uses the legs to compress the opponent’s neck from below.

J.

Jiu-jitsu — a martial art focused on grappling and submission techniques, where technique overcomes strength.

Joint lock — a submission that forces a joint beyond its natural range of motion.

K.

Kimono — the traditional uniform worn during Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice. Also called “gi”.

Kimura — a submission that forces the opponent’s shoulder joint beyond its natural range of motion using a figure-four grip.

Knee-on-belly — a dominant position where one fighter places their knee on the opponent’s stomach while standing over them.

Kneebar — a submission that hyperextends the opponent’s knee joint.

Knee shield — a guard that uses the knee to keep the opponent at distance and create openings for attacks.

Knee slide pass — a technique used to pass the opponent’s guard by sliding one knee between their legs.

L.

Lapel choke — a submission that uses the opponent’s gi lapel or jacket to compress the airways.

Leg drag — a technique used to pass the opponent’s guard by quickly moving one of their legs to the side.

M.

Mount — a dominant position where one fighter sits on top of the opponent’s torso.

N.

No-gi — Brazilian jiu-jitsu training or competition without wearing the traditional gi (kimono).

North-south — a position where one fighter is on top of the opponent with their head facing the opponent’s feet.

O.

Omoplata — a submission that uses a shoulder lock applied from the open guard position.

Open guard — a guard where the bottom player’s legs are not locked around the opponent.

Oss — a greeting commonly used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu academies to express respect, gratitude, and perseverance.

P.

Pressure pass — a technique used to pass the opponent’s guard by applying constant pressure.

Professor — the term used to describe a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor or coach.

Pull guard — a technique where a fighter pulls their opponent into their guard from a standing position.

Q.

R.

Rear naked choke (RNC) — a submission that uses the arms to compress the opponent’s airways from behind. One of the most effective chokes in martial arts.

Reverse triangle — a submission that uses the legs to compress the opponent’s neck from the top position.

Roll — a rotational movement used to escape a disadvantageous position or transition to a better one.

S.

Scissor sweep — a technique used to sweep the opponent using the legs in a scissor-like motion.

Side control — a dominant position where one fighter lies across the opponent’s torso, perpendicular to their body.

Sparring — friendly combat practice used to develop and test skills in a live setting.

Spider guard — a guard that controls the opponent using grips on the sleeves and feet on the biceps.

Sprawl — a defensive technique used to prevent a takedown by quickly moving the legs backward.

Submission — a technique used to force an opponent to tap out due to pain or risk of injury.

Sweep — a technique used to reverse positions from the bottom, putting the opponent on their back.

T.

Takedown — a technique used to bring an opponent from a standing position to the ground.

Tap / Tap out — the act of tapping the opponent or the mat to signal submission and end the exchange.

Top player — a fighter who prefers to fight from the top position.

Triangle choke — a submission that uses the legs to compress the opponent’s neck and one arm.

Turtle position — a defensive position where a fighter is on their hands and knees with their back facing the opponent.

U.

Underhook — a grip where the arm goes under the opponent’s arm, used to control posture and set up techniques.

V.

W.

Wrist lock — a submission that applies pressure on the opponent’s wrist joint.

X.

X-guard — a guard used to control the opponent by placing both legs between and around the opponent’s legs in an X-shape.

Y.

Z.

Z-guard — a variation of half guard where the top knee creates a frame (shaped like the letter Z) to maintain distance and control.