Japanese Dictionary

Understand the building blocks of Japanese grappling terminology

59 Components

105 Techniques with Breakdowns

foot/leg (foot, leg)

Foot, leg - refers to techniques using the foot or leg

Frequency Rank: 9 Used in 7 techniques

barai 払ばらい

sweep (brush away, clear)

To sweep away - indicates sweeping movements, often of the feet

Frequency Rank: 7 Used in 4 techniques

basami 挟ばさみ

scissors (scissors, to pinch, (crab's) claw, sandwich)

Voiced (rendaku) form of hasami, from 挟む (hasamu) 'to pinch, interpose, sandwich.' Also denotes 'scissors' and, notably, a crab's claw …

Used in 0 techniques

embrace / hug / hold tightly

Verb-stem form of 抱く (daku, "to embrace, hold, or carry in one's arms"). As a technique component, daki describes a …

Frequency Rank: 80 Used in 1 technique

collar (collar, lapel, neckline)

Refers to the collar portion of the gi/uniform

Used in 3 techniques

counter (counter, reversal, return)

Japanese term meaning "return," "counter," or "reversal". In the context of martial arts, particularly Judo, "gaeshi" refers to a technique …

Used in 8 techniques

hook (hook, hang, entangle, catch, suspend)

To hook, hang, or entangle - specifically referring to techniques where the practitioner uses their leg or foot to hook, …

Used in 4 techniques

garami 絡がらみ

entanglement (twist, wrap, entwine)

"Entanglement / entwining" — the rendaku-voiced form of karami (からみ), from karamu 絡む ("to entangle, coil, wrap"). Names arm/limb-entanglement locks.

Frequency Rank: 15 Used in 4 techniques

reap (sweep, cut down)

To reap, sweep, or cut down - typically refers to leg sweeps or reaping actions

Frequency Rank: 5 Used in 5 techniques

gatame 固がため

hold (pin, control, immobilize)

To hold, pin, or immobilize - indicates pinning or controlling techniques

Frequency Rank: 13 Used in 8 techniques

guruma 車ぐるま

wheel (circle, rotation, car)

Wheel - indicates circular, rotating movements or positions

Frequency Rank: 15 Used in 10 techniques

gyaku 逆ぎゃく

reverse (reverse, opposite, inverted, contrary, backward)

A fundamental directional modifier indicating reversal or opposite execution of a technique compared to its standard form. Used extensively in …

Used in 1 technique

hane 跳ねはね

spring (jump, bounce, springing action)

To spring, jump, or bounce - indicates techniques using explosive upward motion to lift or unbalance the opponent. Commonly seen …

Frequency Rank: 16 Used in 0 techniques

knee (knee, lap, knee and thigh (while sitting))

Techniques using the knee

Used in 1 technique

choke (strangle, stranglehold)

To choke, strangle - indicates techniques that apply pressure to the neck

Frequency Rank: 14 Used in 35 techniques

juji 十字じゅうじ

cross (cruciform, crosswise, perpendicular)

Cross shape formed by perpendicular lines. In martial arts, refers to techniques involving crossing motions or cross-shaped locks.

Frequency Rank: 10 Used in 4 techniques

Imagery / metaphor

Crab. Names by image: the scissoring legs of kani-basami (flying scissor takedown) evoke a crab's claws. Image maps to the …

Frequency Rank: 80 Used in 0 techniques

Shoulder - refers to techniques using the shoulder

Frequency Rank: 12 Used in 2 techniques

kawazu 河津かわづ

frog (town / surname Kawazu, frog)

In the modern technique name, 河津 is ateji: a phonetic use of the characters for the town/surname Kawazu, carrying no …

Used in 1 technique

kesa 袈裟けさ

Imagery / metaphor

monk's sash (scarf, monk's stole, sash)

A Buddhist monk's kāṣāya sash, worn diagonally across the torso. Names the diagonal cross-body angle of kesa-gatame (scarf hold) — …

Frequency Rank: 81 Used in 2 techniques

tree (wood, timber)

Tree, wood - refers to tree-like structures or wooden objects

Used in 2 techniques

kibisu 踵かかと

heel - techniques including the heel

Frequency Rank: 40 Used in 1 technique

minor (small, little)

Small, minor - indicates a technique done with precision rather than power

Frequency Rank: 2 Used in 4 techniques

koshi 腰こし

hip (waist, lower back)

Hip, waist - refers to techniques using hip movement or hip positioning

Frequency Rank: 11 Used in 6 techniques

kuchi 朽くち

decayed (rotten, weathered, deteriorated)

Decayed, rotten, weathered - indicates something weakened or deteriorated

Used in 1 technique

makikomi 巻き込みまきこみ

wrap-around (wrapping throw, rolling sacrifice, winding-in)

Makikomi describes a throwing action where tori traps uke's arm, wraps their own body around uke, and sacrifices their balance …

Frequency Rank: 25 Used in 0 techniques

inner thigh (crotch, groin area, between legs)

Inner thigh or crotch area. In martial arts, refers to attacks or throws targeting the inner thigh region.

Frequency Rank: 7 Used in 3 techniques

both (many, various, all)

Defines techniques using two of something

Used in 2 techniques

throw (project, cast)

To throw - indicates techniques that project the opponent through the air

Frequency Rank: 6 Used in 5 techniques

major (large, big, great)

Large, major, big - indicates a technique done with significant force or using large body parts

Frequency Rank: 1 Used in 8 techniques

to slide (to send, tos slide, to move along)

describes a sliding or moving action

Used in 3 techniques

osoto 大外おおそと

major outer (big outside, large external)

Major outer direction, combining the concepts of large/major (o) and outside (soto).

Frequency Rank: 11 Used in 0 techniques

otoshi 落おとし

drop (fall, let drop)

To drop or let fall - indicates techniques that cause the opponent to drop down

Frequency Rank: 8 Used in 4 techniques

sankaku 三角さんかく

triangle (three corners, triangular shape)

Triangle shape formed by three points. In BJJ, refers to the triangular choke formed by legs and arm.

Frequency Rank: 6 Used in 6 techniques

Sasae 支ささえ

support (support, prop, brace)

to support, to prop, to hold up — a brace or post

Frequency Rank: 12 Used in 0 techniques

seoi 背負せおい

shoulder carrying (back carry, shoulder loading, bear on back)

To carry or bear on the shoulders/back. In judo/BJJ, refers to throws where you load the opponent onto your back.

Frequency Rank: 9 Used in 3 techniques

Sleeve of a garment, particularly the gi sleeve used in grappling techniques

Frequency Rank: 25 Used in 1 technique

outer (outside, external)

Outer, outside - indicates movement or attack from the outside

Frequency Rank: 4 Used in 5 techniques

Sukashi 透すかし

slip (void, slip, let-through)

to make transparent, to void — to let something pass through empty space

Frequency Rank: 12 Used in 1 technique

sukui 掬すくい

To scoop or ladle up - indicates a scooping motion, typically with both hands or arms working together to lift …

Used in 1 technique

corner (corner, nook)

generally refers to "corner" or "nook". These techniques utilize the opponent's momentum and balance at an angle, exploiting a "corner" …

Used in 1 technique

ball / sphere (jade, sphere)

A round, spherical object — used metaphorically in technique names for a curled or rounded body shape/position rather than a …

Frequency Rank: 15 Used in 1 technique

taoshi 倒たおし

topple (fell, knock down, overthrow)

To topple, fell, or knock down - indicates causing something to fall over

Used in 1 technique

vertical (lengthwise, longitudinal)

Vertical direction or orientation, used in techniques performed from a vertical/mounted position.

Frequency Rank: 12 Used in 0 techniques

tawara 俵たわら

Imagery / metaphor

A straw bale of rice. Names by image the lifting and rolling of an opponent like a bale in tawara-gaeshi …

Frequency Rank: 82 Used in 1 technique

Hand - refers to techniques using the hand or arm

Frequency Rank: 10 Used in 4 techniques

Imagery / metaphor

A swallow (the bird). Evokes the swift, darting counter of tsubame-gaeshi ('swallow reversal').

Frequency Rank: 83 Used in 1 technique

Tsurikomi 釣込つりこみ

lift-pull (lift-pull, fishing-in)

to lift-and-pull — to raise uke up and draw them forward onto their toes, like reeling in a line

Frequency Rank: 8 Used in 0 techniques

inner (inside, within)

Inner, inside - indicates movement or attack from the inside or center

Frequency Rank: 3 Used in 7 techniques

arm (arm, ability, skill, talent, competence, (physical) strength)

techniques using the arm

Used in 3 techniques

ukemi 受身うけみ

breakfall / receiving body

The art of falling or receiving a throw/takedown safely, minimizing impact through body positioning and breakfall technique. A foundational judo/grappling …

Used in 0 techniques

floating (buoyant, suspended, lifted)

To float or be buoyant - indicates techniques with floating, lifting, or suspension qualities

Frequency Rank: 20 Used in 1 technique

back (reverse, rear, behind)

Back, reverse, or behind. Often used in counter-techniques or attacks from behind.

Frequency Rank: 14 Used in 1 technique

ushiro 後ろうしろ

reverse (behind, rear, reverse)

"Behind / rear / back" — a direction component; marks the reverse variant of a position (e.g. ushiro-kesa = the …

Used in 2 techniques

wakare 別わかれ

separation (parting, division, split)

Separation or parting action. In martial arts, refers to techniques involving creating distance or separating from opponent.

Frequency Rank: 15 Used in 1 technique

technique (skill, art, method, craft)

Technique, skill, or method - refers to a specific technical skill or method of execution. Often used as a suffix …

Frequency Rank: 5 Used in 1 technique

yagura 櫓やぐら

turret (watchtower, scaffold, platform, framework)

A raised platform or turret structure - refers to the way the opponent is lifted up onto the thrower's back/shoulder …

Frequency Rank: 35 Used in 1 technique

Imagery / metaphor

Mountain. Evokes the imagery of yama-arashi ('mountain storm'), a shoulder-and-sleeve throw.

Frequency Rank: 84 Used in 0 techniques

side (lateral, sideways, horizontal)

Side or lateral direction, used in techniques performed from the side.

Frequency Rank: 13 Used in 5 techniques

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