Judo terms and signs: For Training & Competition

Judo was originally developed in Japan and only later found its way to Europe, therefore the Judo terms are still spoken in Japanese today. Also the Judo signs on the belts of the Judoka or at the entrance of the dojo are Japanese and were translated in the course of time, but are still written in their original language out of tradition.

This category contains the most important general terms that you will encounter in your everyday judo training. These will work their way into your memory just by hearing them frequently.

Japanese word	English translation/meaning
Budo	japanese martial art
Judo	gentle way
Judoka	Judo fighter
Dojo	Training room, hall
Do	Way
Kodokan	original judo school of Jigoro Kano
Gokyu	the “original throws” of the Kodokan
Zubon	Judo pants
Uwagi	Jacket
Obi	Judo belt
Judogi/Gi	Judo suit (consisting of jacket, trousers and belt)
Ne	Floor
Tatami	Judo mat
Shiajio	Fighting area
Sensei	Master, teacher
Shihan	great master
Dan	Master degree
Kyu	Student grade
Kyo	Group
Rei	Greeting (in connection with a bow)
Mokuso	Command during greeting and farewell (concentration/meditation!)
Mokuso-yame	Command: end meditation!
Randori	Practice fight
Shiai	Competition
Kata	Form
Geiko	Exercise
Kumite	Exercise with partner
Hajime	Begin
Sore-made	End
Tori	one action performer
Uke	the one on which the tori performs an action
Waza	Technique
Ukemi-waza	Falling technique
Nage-waza	Throwing techniques
Ne-waza	Ground techniques
Osae-komi-waza	Holding techniques
Shime-waza	Strangle techniques
Atemi-waza	Striking techniques
Kansetzu-waza	Lever techniques

The judo terms in this section will be used by your coach in everyday training to define fighting techniques.

Japanese word	English translation
Kiai	Fighting cry
Jigo	Defense
Jigotai	Defense posture
Gaeshi	Counterattack
Mae	forward
Ushiro	backwards
Yoko	Side, sideways
Miki	right
Hidari	left
Uchi	inside
Soto	outside
Gyaku	reverse
Mawari	Rotation
Ashi	Foot, leg
Katate/Te	Hand
Kata	Shoulder
Hiza	Knee
Mata	Thigh
Mune	Chest
Goshi/Koshi	Hip
Barai/Harai	sweep
Tsuki	Blow
Atemi	Push
Nage	Throw
Hishigi	Lever
Gari	sickle
Jime	choke
Gatame/catame	fix, immobilize
Seoi-nage	Shoulder throw
Sukui-nage	Shovel throw
Sumi-gaeshi	Corner throw
Tomoe-nage	Overhead throw
Uchi-mata	Inner thigh throw
Ushiro-goshi	Hip counter throw
Utsuri-goshi	Alternate hip throw
O-goshi	big hip throw
Tsubame-gaeshi	Swallow throw
Hane-goshi	Jumping hip throw
Hane-maki-komi	Jumping twist throw

This section contains judo signs that you need to know when entering a competition with a judge.

Japanese word	English translation
Hajime	Begin
Mate	stop/release! (Referee command)
Sono-mama	do not move! (Referee command)
Yoshi	Keep fighting! (to sono-mama)
Maitta	“I give up”
Osae-komi	Hold announced (time running)
Toketa	Hold released
Ippon	whole point (highest score)
Waza-ari	almost one point (second highest score)
Yuko	big technical advantage (third highest score)
Koka	small technical advantage (fourth highest score)
Kinsa	Advantage (fifth highest score)
Shido	Penalty (Koku for the opponent)
Chui	Penalty (Yuko for the opponent)
Keikoku	Penalty (Waza-ari for the opponent)
Hansoku-make	Penalty (disqualification)
Gachi/Kachi	Victory
Ippon-gachi	Point victory
Sogo-gachi	Victory by two half points
Yusei-gachi	Victory by superiority
Fusen-gachi	victory without a fight
Kiken-gachi	Victory by surrender
Hikiwake	Draw

You do not need to know the Japanese language or script to train or practice judo. However, if you would like to learn more about the language and writing system, you can find more information here