Japanese Judo Vocabulary

Principles of Judo

Ju
Do
Judo
Seiryoku Zenyo
Jita Kyoei

the principle of gentleness, yielding, or giving way
way, path, or principle
the gentle way
maximum efficiency (through minimum effort)
mutual benefit and welfare

General Vocabulary

Sensei
Dojo
Gi (Judogi)
Seiza
Anza
Ritsurei
Zarei
Kiotsuke!
Rei!
Sensei Ni Rei!
Uke
Tori
Ukemi
Uchi Komi
Randori
Kiai

teacher or instructor
place or club where Judo is practiced
Judo uniform
kneeling position
sitting position with legs crossed
standing bow
kneeling bow
(come to) attention!
bow!
bow! (to Sensei)
person receiving a judo technique
person performing a judo technique
falling practice (side, back, forward)
repetition practice without throwing
free practice
shout during execution of technique

Kumi Kata
Shizen Hontai
Jigo Hontai (Jigotai)
Tsugi Ashi
Tai Sabaki
Kuzushi
Tsukuri
Kake

methods of gripping an opponent fundamental natural posture
fundamental defensive posture
sliding foot walking (kata technique) pivoting or turning the body
off balance (first element of a throw)
entry into a throw
execution of a throw

Ashi
Barai
Dori
Dojime
Eri
Gaeshi (Kaeshi)
Gake

foot or leg (as in Okuri-Ashi-Harai)
sweeping action with the leg or foot (as in Deashi-Barai)
grab (as in Kata-Ashi-Dori)
body scissors/squeeze (illegal in competition)
lapel of the Judo gi (as in Okuri-Eri-Jime)
counter or reversal (as in Sumi-Gaeshi)
hook (as in Ko-Soto-Gake)

Garami
Gari
Gatame
Goshi (Koshi)
Guruma
Gyaku
Ha
Hane
Hara
Harai (Barai)
Hadaka
Hidari
Hiji
Hineri
Hishigi
Hiza
Hon
Jigoku
Juji
Jime (Shime)
Kaeshi (Gaeshi)
Kami
Kata
Kesa
Kibisu
Ko
Komi
Koshi (Goshi)
Kote
Kuzure
Makikomi
Makura
Mata
Migi
Morote
Mune
Nami
O
Obi
Okuri
Otoshi
Ryote
Sankaku (Sangaku)
Sasae
Seoi
Shiho

entangle or twist (as in Ude-Garami)
reap or sweep (as in Osoto-Gari)
pin or (joint) lock (as in Kata-Gatame or Ude-Gatame)
hip (as in 0-Goshi)
wheel (as in Kata-Guruma)
reverse (as in Gyaku-Juji-Jime)
wing (as in Kata-Ha-Jime)
springing action (as in Hane-Goshi)
stomach (as in Hara-Gatame)
sweeping action with the leg or foot (as in Harai-Goshi)
naked (as in Hadaka-Jime)
left (as in Hidari-Eri-Dori in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)
elbow (as in Hiji-Makikomi, kansetsu-waza)
twisting (as in Kote-Hineri in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)
crush (as in Ude-Hishigi-Wake-Gatame)
knee (as in Hiza-Guruma)
basic or fundamental (as in Hon-Kesa-Gatame)
hell (as in Jigoku-Jime)
cross (as in Juji-Gatame)
choke or strangle (as in Hadaka-Jime)
counter or reversal (as in Kaeshi-Waza)
upper (as in Kami-Shiho-Gatame)
single or shoulder (as in Kata-Juji-Jime or Kata-Gatame)
scarf (as in Kesa-Gatame)
heel (as in Kibisu-Gaeshi)
minor (as in Ko-Soto-Gari)
pull (as in Tsuri-Komi-Goshi)
hip (as in Koshi-Guruma)
wrist (as in Kote-Gaeshi in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)
variation (as in Kuzure-Kesa Gatame)
winding (as in Uchi-Makikomi)
pillow (as in Makura-Kesa-Gatame)
thigh (as in Uchi-Mata)
right (as in Migi-Eri-Dori in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)
two-handed (as in Morote-Gari)
chest (as in Mune-Gatame)
normal (as in Nami-Juji-Jime)
major (as in O-Goshi)
Judo belt (as in Obi-Goshi)
sliding (as in Okuri-Eri-Jime)
to drop (as in Tani-Otoshi)
two handed (as in Ryote-Jime)
triangle (as in Sankaku-Gatame)
blocking (as in Sasae-Tsuri-Komi-Ashi)
shoulder (as in Ippon-Seoi-Nage)
four corners (as in Kami-Shiho-Gatame)

Shime (Jime)
Sode
Soto
Sukashi
Sukui
Sumi
Tai
Tate
Te
Tomoe
Tsuki
Tsuri
Uchi
Ude
Uki
Ura
Ushiro
Utsuri
Wake
Yoko

choke or strangle (as in Shime Waza)
sleeve (as in Sode-Tsuri-Komi-Goshi)
outer or outside (as in Soto-Makikomi)
counter or evasion (as in Uchi-Mata-Sukashi)
scoop (as in Sukui-Nage)
corner (as in Sumi-Otoshi)
body (as in Tai-Otoshi)
straddle (as in Tate-Shiho-Gatame)
hand (as in Te-Guruma)
circle (as in Tomoe-Nage)
thrusting (as in Tsuki-komi-Jime)
lift (as in Harai-Tsuri-Komi-Ashi)
inner (as in 0-Uchi-Gari)
arm (as in Ude-Gatami)
floating (as in Uki-Goshi)
back (as in Ura-Nage)
reverse or rear (as in Ushiro-Kesa-Gatame)
change or transfer (as in Utsuri-Goshi)
armpit (as in Wake-Gatame)
side (as in Yoko-Shiho-Gatame)

Shiai
Hajime!
Matte!
Sore Made!
Sono Mama!
Yoshi!
Ippon!

Waza Ari!

Waza Ari Awasete Ippon!

Yuko!

Koka!

Shido!

Hansokumake!
Hantei!
Hiki Wake!
Kohaku
Tentori

tournament-style competition
start! or begin! competition (shiai or randori)
stop! (whatever you are doing)
end of match! (announced after ippon or end of match time)
freeze! (hold your position in Ne-Waza)
resume! (resume grappling)
full point score (wins match) from single throw, two Waza-
Aris, pin for 25 sec, submission from choke or armlock, or
opponent’s hansokumake (direct penalty or 4th shido)
half point score (numerical score) from single throw,
pin >20 sec, or opponent’s 3rd shido
Waza Ari+Waza Ari = Ippon (full point score wins match)
from 2 throws or 3 opponent shidos+Waza-Ari
score (less than Waza-Ari) from single throw, pin > 15 sec,
or opponent’s 2nd shido. Yukos accumulate (no points)
score (less than Yuko) from single throw, pin > l0 sec,
or opponent’s 1st shido. Kokas accumulate (no points)
minor penalty (1st shido scores Koka for opponent, 2nd shido scores Yuko for opponent, 3rd shido scores Waza-Ari for opponent, 4th shido is hansokumake and scores ippon for opponent. Opponent's scores for penalties are not cumulative: only one Koka/Yuko/Waza-Ari is scored)
major penalty (match forfeit, ejection from shiai if direct)
decision (referee and judges vote with flags, majority wins)
draw (no winner)
"winner stays up” form of shiai
elimination form of shiai

Ichi (Sho)
Ni
San
Shi (Yo/Yon)
Go
Roku
Shichi
Hachi
Ku
Ju

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
l0

Ju Ichi
Ju Ni
Ju San
Ju Shi (Ju Yon)
Ju Go
Ju Roku
Ju Shichi (Ju Nana)
Ju Hachi
Ju Ku
Niju

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Yonen
Shonen
Seinen
Mudansha
Yudansha
Kyu
Dan

junior Judo students under 13 yrs of age (no chokes or joint locks)
junior Judo students 13-16 yrs of age (no joint locks)
senior Judo students 17+ yrs of age (no joint locks below Sankyu)
undergraduate Judo students (sub-black belt ranks)
graduate Judo students (black belt ranks)
class (grades of sub-black belt ranks)
step (grades of black belt ranks)

Senior Mudansha Rank

Belt Color

Rokyu
Gokyu
Yonkyu
Sankyu
Nikyu
Ikkyu

White
White
White
Brown
Brown
Brown

Senior Yudansha Rank

Belt Color

Shodan
Nidan
Sandan
Yodan
Godan
Rokudan
Shichidan
Hachidan
Kudan
Judan

Black
Black
Black
Black
Black
Black or Red/White
Black or Red/White
Black or Red/White
Black or Red
Black or Red