Basic Terminology

ju

The principle of gentleness, yielding or giving way

do

Way or principle

judo

The gentle way

Kodokan

Place to study the way (Original judo school founded in 1882)

judoka

Someone who studies judo

dojo

Classroom or club where judo is practiced

judogi or gi

Judo uniform

uwagi

Judogi coat or jacket

zubon

Judogi pants

obi

Judogi belt

tori

Person executing a judo technique

uke

Person receiving a judo technique

waza

Technique

ukemi waza

Falling technique

yoko

Side (e.g. yoko ukemi is side breakfall)

ushiro

Back or rear

mae

Forward

mawari

Turn about (e.g. mae mawari ukemi is forward rolling fall)

tai sabaki

Body movement/control (e.g. ushiro sabaki is rear body movement)

kuzushi

Unbalancing

happo no kuzushi

Eight directions of unbalancing

tsukuri

Entry or getting set for a technique

kake

Execution of a throw

uchikomi

Repetition of techniques

randori

Free practice

shiai

Tournament style competition

kiai

Shout during a technique

migi

Right side

hidari

Left side

shizen hontai

Natural posture (e.g. migi shizentai is right natural posture)

jigo hontai

Defensive posture (e.g. hidari jigotai is left defensive posture)

ayumi ashi

Normal walking

tsugi ashi

Leading step, following step walking

Shiai Terminology

"Hajime!"

"Begin!"

"Mate!"

"Stop!"

"Sore made!"

"Finished!" (end of match)

"Osaekomi!"

"Hold is on!"

"Toketa!"

"Hold broken!"

ippon

Full point

waza ari

Half point

waza ari awasete ippon

Two half points equal a full point

yuko

Near waza ari, cumulative but not to full point

koka

Near yuko, cumulative but not to full point

hansoku make

Major penalty ending match

shido

Minor penalty, total of four minor penalties lead to hansoku make

Judo Technique Classification

nage waza

Throwing techniques

    tachi waza

Standing throwing techniques

        te waza

Upper body techniques (e.g. hand, arm and shoulder throws)

        koshi waza

Hip techniques

        ashi waza

Leg or foot techniques

    sutemi waza

Sacrifice techniques (e.g. tori sacrifices her balance to throw uke)

        ma sutemi waza

Back sacrifice techniques

        yoko sutemi waza

Side sacrifice techniques

katame waza

Grappling techniques (also ne waza or mat techniques)

    osaekomi waza

Pinning techniques

    shime waza

Choking techniques

    kansetsu waza

Joint-lock techniques

atemi waza

Striking and blocking techniques

Judo Technique Terminology

ashi

foot or leg

garami

entangle

gari

reap

gatame

pin

goshi/koshi

hip

guruma

wheel

gyaku

reverse

hiza

knee

juji

cross

jime

choke

kami

upper

kata

single, shoulder or form

kesa

scarf

ko

minor

komi

pull

koshi/goshi

hip

kuzure

variation

morote

two-handed

nami

normal

o

major

sasae

blocking

shiho

four corners

soto

outer or outside

uchi

inner or inside

ude

arm