Free judo reference

Judo glossary for beginners

Search essential dojo, movement, practice, and competition terms. Every entry shows the Japanese writing, romanization, and a concise meaning.

What do Japanese judo terms mean?

Judo terms are Japanese words used for dojo etiquette, training methods, technique movements, competition, and referee commands. This glossary explains 162 terms without treating general vocabulary as official technique names.

Competition rules and scoring can change by rules cycle, age group, and federation. Check the latest IJF documents before coaching or officiating a contest. Latest IJF documents

162 terms

Etiquette

9
ありがとうarigatothank you
ありがとうございましたarigato gozaimashitathank you very much (after completion)
黙想mokusomeditation
お互いに礼otagai ni reibow to each other
礼reibow; respect
正座seizaformal kneeling position
先生に礼sensei ni reibow to the teacher
正面に礼shomen ni reibow to the shomen (front or place of honour)
お願いしますonegaishimasupolite greeting before practising together

Basics

10
柔道衣judogijudo uniform
道場dojoplace where judo is practised
畳tatamitraining or competition mat
柔道家judokaperson who practises judo
先生senseiteacher; instructor
形kataformal sequence of techniques
級kyugrade below black belt
段danblack-belt grade
自他共栄jita-kyoeimutual welfare and benefit
精力善用seiryoku-zenyomaximum efficient use of energy

Numbers and time

14
一ichione; first
二nitwo; second
三santhree; third
四shifour; fourth
四yonfour; fourth
五gofive; fifth
六rokusix; sixth
七shichiseven; seventh
七nanaseven; seventh
八hachieight; eighth
九kyunine; ninth
十juten; tenth
秒byosecond(s)
分funminute(s)

Body and directions

33
襟erijacket collar
帯obibelt
袖sodesleeve
顎agochin
頭atamahead
腹haraabdomen
膝hizaknee
踵kakatoheel
肩katashoulder
背中senakaback
腋wakiarmpit; side
足ashileg; foot
胴dotorso
顔kaoface
首kubineck
胸munechest
手tehand
手首tekubiwrist
腕udearm
指yubifinger
腰goshi / koshihip; waist
左hidarileft
前maefront; forward
下shitabelow; down
内uchiinner; inside
上ueabove; up
逆gyakureverse; opposite
右migiright
隅sumicorner; angle
縦tatevertical; lengthwise
裏urarear; reverse side
後ろushiroback; behind
横yokoside; sideways

Movement and techniques

61
掛けkakeexecution of a technique
崩しkuzushibreaking balance
作りtsukuripositioning and fitting into a technique
返しgaeshicounter; reversal
掛けgakehook; block
緘garamientangling; locking
固めgatamehold; immobilisation
車gurumawheel
裸hadakawithout using the judogi
離すhanasuto release; let go
跳ねるhaneruto spring; jump
払うharauto sweep
引き込むhikikomuto pull inward
引くhikuto pull
捻るhineruto twist
掛けるkakeruto apply; hook
刈るkaruto reap
極めるkimeruto secure; finish a technique
組むkumuto engage; take a grip
崩すkuzusuto break balance
曲げるmageruto bend
回すmawasuto turn; rotate something
投げるnageruto throw
握るnigiruto grip; hold
伸ばすnobasuto extend; straighten
抑え込むosaekomuto hold down
抑えるosaeruto pin; hold down
押すosuto push
落とすotosuto drop; lower
支えるsasaeruto support; block
絞めるshimeruto strangle; tighten
掴むtsukamuto grasp; seize
受けるukeruto receive a technique
技wazatechnique
避けるyokeruto avoid; evade
固技katame-wazagrappling techniques
投技nage-wazathrowing techniques
関節技kansetsu-wazajoint-locking techniques
抑込技osaekomi-wazapinning techniques
絞技shime-wazastrangling techniques
寝技ne-wazagroundwork
立技tachi-wazastanding techniques
受ukeperson receiving the technique
攻めsemeattack; offence
踏み込むfumikomuto step in
回るmawaruto turn; rotate
下がるsagaruto move backward; retreat
姿勢shiseiposture
自然体shizentainatural posture
外sotoouter; outside
座るsuwaruto sit
体さばきtai-sabakibody movement; body turning
立つtatsuto stand
継ぎ足tsugi-ashisliding step
上げるageruto raise
開くhirakuto open; pivot
入れるireruto put in; enter
抜くnukuto release; relax
下げるsageruto lower
沈むshizumuto sink; lower the body
釣るtsuruto lift and pull

Practice

16
稽古keikotraining; practice
乱取りrandorifree practice
練習renshupractice
投げ込みnage-komirepetitive full-throw practice
研究kenkyustudy; research
打ち込みuchi-komirepetition training without completing the throw
受身ukemibreakfall
前受身mae-ukemiforward breakfall
後ろ受身ushiro-ukemibackward breakfall
横受身yoko-ukemiside breakfall
前方回転受身zenpo kaiten ukemiforward rolling breakfall
相四つai-yotsusame-sided stance or grip
引き手hikitepulling hand; sleeve hand
喧嘩四つkenka-yotsuopposite-sided stance or grip
組み方kumi-katagripping method
釣り手tsuritelifting hand; lapel hand

Competition

19
始めhajimebegin
参ったmaittaI submit; I give up
勝つkatsuto win
負けるmakeruto lose
待てmattewait; stop the action
抑え込みosaekomihold-down begins
試合shiaicontest; match
それまでsoremadefinished; end of the contest
解けたtoketahold broken
やめyamestop
反則hansokufoul; violation
反則負けhansoku-makedisqualification
判定hanteidecision by the referees
引き分けhikiwakedraw; tie
一本ipponfull score; contest ends
指導shidominor penalty
技ありwaza-ariscore below ippon
有効yukoscore below waza-ari; 5–9-second hold-down
よしyoshicontinue; resume

Technique names and general terms are different references

This glossary explains language used around practice. For the official technique list, use the Kodokan 100 techniques reference.

View the Kodokan 100 techniques

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