GLOSSARY

Judo glossary.

Fundamental terms you'll encounter on the tatami and in writing about judo. Kanji, romaji, and English explanations covering ethics, technique, competition, and grading.

Basics

Judo jūdō: Literally "the gentle way". Olympic combat sport founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano in Japan. Principle: use the opponent's force against them, rather than overpowering with your own.
Dojo dōjō: Place of practice. Literally "place of the way". A judo dojo is covered with tatami and follows precise codes of conduct — one enters with respect, bowing on entry and exit.
Tatami tatami: The mat on which we practice. Sport tatami is firm enough for safe falls. A red or yellow "danger area" along the perimeter marks the edge of the contest area.
Judogi jūdōgi: Training uniform (kimono). Made of heavy cotton to withstand grips. Closed with an obi (belt). White is standard; blue is used in competition to distinguish the two athletes.
Obi (belt) obi: The belt of the judogi. Its colour signals technical level — from white (beginner) to black (master). After black, the dan grades continue.

Ethics

Rei (bow) rei: The bow — an expression of respect. We bow before and after entering the tatami, before and after partner practice, before and after randori. It is not formality; it is attention and acknowledgement.
Jin (benevolence) jin: Benevolence. One of the pillars of judo ethics — we help one another. The younger learn from the older; the older care for the younger. The dojo is family.
Gi (righteousness) gi: Righteousness. We compete fairly. Victory and defeat carry equal weight — each teaches us something.
Dō (the way) dō: The way. Judo is dō — a way of life, not just a sport. The path has no end; each training is a step.
Seiryoku zen'yō seiryoku-zen'yō: Best use of energy. Central principle of Kano's judo. Literally "perfect use of energy" — both in technique (using the opponent's force) and in life.
Jita kyōei jita-kyōei: Mutual welfare — mine and others'. The second central principle of Kano's judo. The opponent on the tatami is a partner in learning, not an enemy.

Posture & movement

Shizenhontai shizenhontai: The natural posture. Standing relaxed, weight evenly distributed. All techniques flow best from this position.
Jigotai jigotai: Defensive posture — wider stance, lower centre. Stable but less mobile. Used sparingly in modern competition (the referee may caution against it).
Tsugi-ashi tsugi-ashi: Sliding step — one foot moves, the other follows. Safer for stability during a contest.
Ayumi-ashi ayumi-ashi: Walking step — alternating normal walking. Faster but more exposed to opponent attack.

Grip

Kumi-kata kumi-kata: The grip — how we hold the opponent's judogi. Standard: left hand on opponent's right sleeve, right hand on their lapel. The grip battle is often the key to the entire match.
Hikite hikite: The pulling hand. The hand holding the opponent's sleeve — pulls them off-balance, into kuzushi.
Tsurite tsurite: The lifting hand. The hand holding the lapel — lifts the opponent, turns them, guides them into the direction of the throw.

Throw preparation

Kuzushi kuzushi: Breaking balance. The first phase of a throw — the opponent must lose stability before you can throw them. Without kuzushi, there is no throw.
Tsukuri tsukuri: Setup of the throw — entry under the opponent, positioning your body for the technique. Second phase.
Kake kake: Execution of the throw — the final moment when the opponent falls. Third and final phase.

Throws — nage-waza

Nage-waza nage-waza: Throwing techniques. Collective name for all throws. Classified by Kano into 5 groups — gokyo no waza (5 lessons).
O-soto-gari o-soto-gari: Major outer reap. The leg sweeps the opponent's leg from outside. One of the first throws taught.
Seoi-nage seoi-nage: Shoulder throw. Classic over-the-shoulder throw — the opponent is lifted and rolled over our back to the ground. A master's throw.
Uchi-mata uchi-mata: Inner thigh throw. Our thigh sweeps the opponent's leg from inside. A high, dynamic technique — one of the most effective throws in modern competition.
Harai-goshi harai-goshi: Sweeping hip throw. We turn into the opponent and lift them with the hip while sweeping their leg.
Tomoe-nage tomoe-nage: Circle throw. We fall backwards and use a foot to push the opponent over us. Acrobatic and beautiful.

Falls — ukemi

Ukemi ukemi: Falls. The art of falling safely. The first and most important skill in judo — useful in everyday life as well.
Mae-ukemi mae-ukemi: Forward fall. Land on the forearms, turn the head sideways. Prevents wrist injury.
Ushiro-ukemi ushiro-ukemi: Backward fall. Chin to chest (protects head), strike both arms against the tatami to absorb energy.
Yoko-ukemi yoko-ukemi: Side fall. Strike the arm against the tatami in the direction of the fall, chin tucked.

Ground — newaza

Newaza newaza: Ground techniques. Once the opponent is on the ground, we continue with holds (osae-waza), strangles (shime-waza), and joint locks (kansetsu-waza).
Osae-waza osae-waza: Pinning techniques. We hold the opponent on their back so they cannot escape. 20 seconds = ippon.
Kesa-gatame kesa-gatame: Side hold — "the scarf hold". Opponent lying, we sit alongside, holding the neck and arm.
Juji-gatame juji-gatame: Cross armlock. The opponent's arm is extended across our thighs, applying pressure to straighten the elbow. A classical lock.

Competition

Randori randori: Free practice. "Chaotic training" — both partners may use all techniques. The main way practitioners improve.
Shiai shiai: Competition match. Full rules, referee, points. Goal: ippon, technical advantage, or finishing time with a higher score.
Ippon ippon: Full point — immediate victory. Achieved by a fully effective throw (high speed, opponent landing on back), a 20-second hold, a strangle, or a joint lock.
Waza-ari waza-ari: Half point. A throw that did not meet all ippon criteria (lower speed, side landing). Two waza-ari = ippon (waza-ari awasete ippon).
Hajime hajime: "Begin" — referee's command to start a match or resume after a pause.
Mate mate: "Wait" — referee's command to pause the match (e.g. after leaving the tatami, after an ineffective hold).

Belts & grades

Kyū kyū: Student grade. Numbered from 6th kyū (yellow belt for children, white for adults) to 1st kyū (brown belt). After 1st kyū comes 1st dan.
Dan dan: Master grade. From 1st dan (black belt) to 10th dan (held only by the highest authorities in history). The path to 1st dan typically takes 5–10 years.

People in the dojo

Sensei sensei: Teacher. Literally "born before" — the one who walks ahead on the path. We address the coach in the dojo this way.
Sempai sempai: Senior student, mentor. Someone with a higher grade or longer experience in the dojo.
Kōhai kōhai: Junior student — to a sempai. The sempai–kōhai relationship is the foundation of the Japanese training system — mutual learning.
Judoka jūdōka: A judo practitioner. Literally "one who lives judo". Regardless of belt — beginner and master alike are judoka.
Uke and Tori uke / tori: Uke = the one receiving the technique (falls). Tori = the one performing the technique. In kata the roles are fixed; in randori they alternate.

Kata

Kata kata: Prescribed forms. Sequences of techniques with set movements, performed ceremonially. They preserve the precision and spirit of judo. There are 8 official kata (Kodokan).