BJJ Glossary: Key Terms Explained

Guard — the bottom position from which an athlete may seek a sweep or submission while the top athlete tries to pass the legs and establish scoring control.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]

Side control — a top pin across the opponent’s torso. Mount — a top position astride the torso. Back control — control from behind, commonly using leg hooks. Knee-on-belly — a top control position with one knee placed across the torso.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]

Common gym usage — not defined by the competition rules cited on this page: turtle commonly describes a compact hands-and-knees posture. Exact wording can vary.

Submission — a technique that ends the match when an athlete concedes, usually by tapping or speaking. Tap — the physical or verbal signal to stop.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]·ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations [4]·Judo Techniques [5]

Armbar, kimura, americana, and heel hook are joint-lock terms. Triangle, rear naked choke, guillotine, and other choke terms describe strangle or choke attacks. The techniques allowed depend on the ruleset and division.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]·ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations [4]·Judo Techniques [5]

Takedown — bringing an opponent from standing to the ground under control. Sweep — reversing from a guard position to come on top. Guard pass — getting beyond the legs to establish an eligible control position.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]

Common gym usage — not defined by the competition rules cited on this page: shrimp or hip escape, bridge, and scramble describe movements or unsettled exchanges. Exact usage can vary.

Common gym usage — not defined by the competition rules cited on this page: roll and drill are training terms rather than fixed rulebook definitions.

Gi — the jacket-and-trouser uniform used in gi competition. No-gi — the format using a fitted top and shorts or compression trousers under the applicable uniform rules.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]

Common gym usage — not defined by the competition rules cited on this page: stripe, open mat, and oss vary by academy and have no single definition in the cited rules.