Judo Glossary

Learning the Judo Vocabulary is a requirement for promotion in Judo. However, the main purpose of knowing the judo vocabulary is to be able to identify the techniques and communicate with other judokas anywhere in the world regardless of their language. Judo is a widely practiced sport across the globe. Speaking the same language when referencing the judo techniques adds to the unification of judo and the concept that Judo is for everyone.

What is the name of your Judo organization?
United States Judo Association
Who was the founder of Judo?
Jigoro Kano
What is the name of the school he founded?
Kodokan
What is the date of the founding of Judo?
1882
What are the two principles of Kodokan Judo as defined by Dr. Kano?
Maximum efficiency Mutual benefit & Welfare
How long have unarmed combat martial arts been practiced in Japan?
600-1000 years
What was unarmed combat called in Japan before Judo?
Ju Jitsu
How many degrees are there currently in the USJA junior and senior Kyu rank system?
Junior(10) & Senior (6)
List the colors for the junior belt colors in order of color.
Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple
Name the Japanese equivalent of the three parts of a Judo throw.
Kuzushi, Tsukuri, & Kake
Count to 10 in Japanese
Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi, Ku, Ju
The two divisions of sacrifice techniques
Ma-sutemi-waza & Yoko-sutemi-waza
The three parts of unarmed combat
Nage-waza, Katame-waza, & Atemi-waza
The three divisions of mat techniques
Osaekomi-waza, Shime-waza - Choking Techniques, & Kansetsu-waza
What is Kata?
A formal prearranged practice routine
Kata for learning throwing techniques?
Nage-no-kata
Kata for learning grappling techniques?
Katame-no-kata
Name the six senior kyu ranks and color belts
Rokku(Yellow), Gokyu(Orange), Yonkyu(Green), Sankyu, Nikyu, Ikkyu (Browns)
What year was judo first introduced into the summer Olympic Games?
1964
Who were the four men on the first U.S. Olympic judo team?
Ben Campbell, Jim Bregman, George Harris, Paul Maruyama
Which American was the first to win an Olympic medal in judo?
Jim Bregman(Bronze)
What year was Women'’'s Judo first introduced to the summer Olympic Games?
1988
What year was Women'’'s Judo included into the summer Olympic Games as an official sport?
1992
U.S. Women that have medaled in the Olympic Games.(2022)
Lynn Roethke(1988/Silver), Margaret Castro(1988/Bronze), Rhonda Rousey(2008/Bronze), Kayla Harrison(2012/Gold, 2016/Gold), Marti Malloy(2012/Bronze)

Vocabulary

Teacher
Sensei
Sitting on knees
Seiza
Sitting crossed legged
Anza
Attention!
Kiotsuke!
Bow!
Rei!
Off balance
Kuzushi
Entry
Tsukuri
Execution
Kake
Person receiving technique
Uke
Person performing technique
Tori
Begin!
Hajime!
Stop!
Matte!
I surrender!
Maitta!
Free practice
Randori
Big or major
O
Waist or hip
Koshi or Goshi
Major hip throw
O-goshi
Outside
Soto
Major outside reaping throw
O-Soto-Gari
One Point! (referee'’'s award)
Ippon!
Almost ippon!
Waza-ari!
Lock or hold
Gatame
Scarf hold
Kesa-gatame
Modified
Kuzure
Modified Scarf Hold
Kuzure-kesa-gatame
Black belt grade or rank
Dan
Beginning black belt
Shodan
That is all!
Sore-made!
Don't move!
Sono-mama!
Little or minor
Ko
Continue! (referee'’'s call)
Yoshi!
Note! (referee'’'s call for slight penalty)
Shido!
Reaping action done with the leg
Gari
Inside
Uchigawa
Minor inside reaping throw
Kouchi-gari
Waist or hip techniques
Koshi-waza
Wheel
Guruma
Hip wheel throw
Koshi-guruma
Shoulder Hold
Kata-gatame
Second degree black belt
Nidan
Upper 4 Corner Hold
Kami-shiho-gatame
Modified Upper 4 Corner Hold
Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame
Side 4 Corner Hold
Yoko-shiho-gatame
Modified Side 4 Corner Hold
Kuzure-yoko-shiho-gatame
Straddling Hold
Tate-shiho-gatame
Hold-down! (referee's call)
Osaekomi!
Hold-down Broken! (referee's call)
Toketa!
Sweeping action done with the leg
Harai or Barai
Sweeping hip throw
Harai-goshi
Third degree black belt
Sandan
Technique
Waza
Throw (noun)
Nage
Throwing technique(s)
Nage-waza
Hand
Te
Hand technique(s)
Te-waza
Foot or Leg
Ashi
Foot technique(s)
Ashi-waza
Grappling technique(s)
Katame-waza
Holding technique(s)
Osaekomi-waza
Loss by rule violation (referee’s call)
Hansoku-make
Judo uniform
Judogi
Judo uniform sleeve
Sode
Judo uniform belt
Obi
Judo uniform lapel
Eri
Body
Tai
To drop
Otoshi
Body drop throw
Tai-otoshi
Choke
Shime or Jime
Choking techniques
Shime-waza
Fourth degree black belt
Yodan
Knee
Hiza
Knee wheel throw
Hiza-guruma
Sacrifice
Sutemi
Side or lateral
Yoko
Sacrifice technique(s)
Sutemi-waza
Forms of gripping an opponent
Kumi-kata
Four corners (as in pins)
Shiho
Side falling sacrifice throw(s)
Yoko-sutemi-waza
Counter technique(s)
Kaeshi-waza
Fifth degree black belt
Godan
Rear, behind (as in throwing and pinning)
Ushiro
Tournament
Shiai
Practice hall for judo
Dojo
Judo Practitioner or player
Judoka
Arm
Ude
Entangle
Garami
To float or floating
Uki
Practice/Training mats
Tatami
Sixth degree black belt
Rokudan
Seventh degree black belt
Shichidan
Lift
Tsuri
Pull
Komi
Lift pull hip throw
Tsurikomi-goshi
Reverse side, back
Ura
Rear throw
Ura-nage
Dashing action done with the leg
Gake or Kake
Kneeling bow
Zarei
Standing bow
Ritsurei
Minor outside dashing throw
Kosoto-gake
Eighth degree black belt
Hachidan
Gyaku-juji-jime
Reverse Cross Choke
Kata-juji-jime
Half Cross Choke
Nami-juji-jime
Normal Cross Choke
Kataha-jime
Single Wing Choke
Okuri-eri-jime
Sliding Lapel Choke
Hadaka-jime
Naked Choke
Ude-garami
Bent Arm Lock
Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame
Cross Arm Lock
Ude-hishigi-ude-gatame
Straight Arm Lock
9th Degree Black Belt
Kudan
10th Degree Black Belt
Judan
Body movement
Tai-sabaki
Concentration of spirit
Kiai
Effective preferred technique
Tokui-waza
Left
Hidari
Right
Migi
Sandal (Japanese style)
Zori
Upper place or side of dojo
Joseki
Corner drop
Sumi-otoshi
Dead tree drop
Kuchiki-taoshi
Heel trip reversal
Kibisu-gaeshi
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