BJJ Glossary: Key Terms Explained
Look up the words used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes and competitions: training terms, positions, movements, submissions, uniforms, and belts.
Use it as a reference rather than a technique manual. For more context, start with What is BJJ? or BJJ positions explained.
Training: roll and drill
Roll — a round of sparring: partners respond to each other’s attempts to control position or submit. Rolling is the activity.The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu [6]3 Tips to Correct Weaknesses in Your Game [7]
Drill — focused practice of a chosen movement or situation, repeated to work on it. A drill isolates something to rehearse; a roll lets the exchange develop through the partners’ responses.The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu [6]3 Tips to Correct Weaknesses in Your Game [7]
Positions
Guard — a bottom position in which the legs help control the opponent. See closed, open, and half guard.The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu [6]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]
Side control — a top position across the opponent’s torso, beyond their legs.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]
Mount — a top position astride the opponent’s torso, facing their head.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]
Back control — control from behind the opponent, with the attacker’s chest toward their back and leg hooks inside the thighs in the IBJJF scoring form.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]
Knee-on-belly — top control with one knee or shin across the opponent’s torso and the other foot on the mat.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]
Turtle — a compact posture on the hands and knees, with the elbows drawn in.The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu [6]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]
Controlling playerPartner
Side control
Overhead view
Chest across the torso, clear of the partner’s legs.
Mount
Overhead view
Astride the torso, facing the head, with a knee on each side.
Back control
Front view · seated example
Chest behind the partner’s back. Feet hook inside the thighs.
Submissions
Submission — conceding an exchange or match. The word also names a hold intended to produce that concession, such as a joint lock or choke.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations [4]Judo Techniques [5]
Tap — a physical or verbal signal to stop. Competition rules recognize hand taps, foot taps when needed, and verbal submission.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations [4]Judo Techniques [5]
In training, stop and release immediately whenever a partner taps or asks to stop.
Armbar — a joint lock that targets the elbow by extending the arm.Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (cross lock) [9]Sankaku-jime (triangular strangle) [10]
Triangle choke — a strangle in which the legs surround the opponent’s neck and one arm.Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (cross lock) [9]Sankaku-jime (triangular strangle) [10]
Guillotine choke — a choke with an arm around the opponent’s neck from the front.Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (cross lock) [9]Sankaku-jime (triangular strangle) [10]
See how these submissions differ for a comparison.
Movements and actions
Takedown — bringing a standing opponent to the ground under control.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]
Sweep — a reversal from guard or half guard that brings the bottom player on top. Under IBJJF rules, the starting guard position distinguishes a sweep from other reversals.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]
Pass, or guard pass — moving beyond the bottom player’s legs to establish control. In IBJJF scoring, a completed pass finishes in stabilized side control or north–south control.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]
Hip escape, also called shrimping — moving the hips away to create space on the ground.The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu [6]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]
Bridge — lifting the hips off the mat, for example during an attempt to escape a pin.The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu [6]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [8]
Uniforms and ranks
Gi — the jacket-and-trouser uniform worn with a belt in gi competition.IBJJF Uniform Requirements [3]
No-gi — training or competition without the gi jacket and trousers. IBJJF no-gi uniform rules specify a fitted top and permitted shorts or compression trousers.IBJJF Uniform Requirements [3]
Belt — the visible rank worn with the gi. The adult sequence is white, blue, purple, brown, and black; the graduation system also covers age limits, minimum periods, and black-belt degrees.IBJJF Graduation System [2]
Frequently asked questions
What does “tap” mean in BJJ?
It means signalling that the match or exchange should stop, usually with a physical tap or a clear verbal signal.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations [4]Judo Techniques [5]
What is the difference between a sweep and a guard pass?
A sweep brings the guard player from bottom to top. A guard pass is the top player’s advance beyond the legs into an eligible control position.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]
What is the difference between rolling and drilling?
Rolling is sparring with a partner. Drilling isolates a chosen movement or situation for repeated practice.The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu [6]3 Tips to Correct Weaknesses in Your Game [7]
Sources
- [1]IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) — International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. Linked 2024JUN rule-book asset; claim locators below identify the relevant articles. Accessed .
Version note: The landing page labels the rule book “v6.0”; the linked 2024JUN asset displays “VERSION 6.1” in its footer. This citation preserves that publisher-side conflict.
- Relevant section: Articles 2.6, 3.1, and 4.2-4.6.
- Relevant section: Articles 2.1 and 6.3.
- Relevant section: Articles 2.6, 3.1, 4.2, and 4.6.
- [2]IBJJF Graduation System — International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. Linked 20260611 Graduation System PDF; Articles 1-4 (belts, ages, periods, and degrees). Accessed .
Version note: The landing page links 20260611_IBJJF_Graduacao_EN.pdf; the document footer displays “VERSION 3.1 2025”.
- Relevant section: Articles 1-4.
- [3]IBJJF Uniform Requirements — International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. GI Material; GI Color and Patches; No-GI Jiu-Jitsu Uniform Requirements. Accessed .
- Relevant section: GI Material; GI Color and Patches; No-GI Jiu-Jitsu Uniform Requirements.
- [4]ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations — ADCC Submission Fighting World Federation. Overview; How You Can Win; Points (Positive Points). Accessed .
- Relevant section: How You Can Win; Legal Techniques.
- [5]Judo Techniques — International Judo Federation. Katame-waza: Osaekomi-waza, Shime-waza, Kansetsu-waza. Accessed .
- Relevant section: Katame-waza: Shime-waza and Kansetsu-waza.
- [6]The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu — Gracie Barra Institute. G is for Guard; R is for Roll; T is for Triangle. Accessed .
- Relevant section: R is for Roll.
- Relevant section: G is for Guard.
- [7]3 Tips to Correct Weaknesses in Your Game — Gracie Barra; Mark Mullen. 3) Devote a month to specializing: isolated practice, partner drilling, and repetition. Accessed .
- Relevant section: 3) Devote a month to specializing: isolation, partner drilling, and repetition.
- [8]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary — Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville. Positions: Side Control, Mount, Back Control, Turtle; Submissions: Armbar, Triangle, Guillotine; Escapes: Side Control: Reguard; Movements & Drills: Shrimping, Bridging; Quick Reference: Hooks. Accessed .
- Relevant section: Turtle Position; Shrimping (Hip Escape); Bridging.
- Relevant section: Armbar (Juji Gatame); Triangle Choke (Sankaku Jime); Guillotine Choke.
- Relevant section: Positions: Side Control (Side Mount), Mount, Back Control; Quick Reference: Hooks.
- [9]Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (cross lock) — International Judo Federation. Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame: definition of the elbow-joint lock. Accessed .
- Relevant section: Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame definition.
- [10]Sankaku-jime (triangular strangle) — International Judo Federation. Sankaku-jime: definition of the triangular leg formation around the neck and one arm. Accessed .
- Relevant section: Sankaku-jime definition.