Judo words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 24 words · Step 1 of 2

General terms

Dojo

The training hall where judo is practised. Dojo is the Japanese word.

Also called: dojang
See also: Judo

Belt

The belt that holds the judogi closed and shows rank, from white for beginners up to black for the dan grades. In a contest it must be tied tightly above the hip bones.

Also called: rank
See also: Judogi, Contest

Judogi

The judo uniform. In IJF contests one athlete wears a white judogi and the other a blue one. It must be worn correctly, with the belt tied, and athletes fix it quickly between Mate and Hajime.

Also called: gi
See also: Belt, Judo

Rei

The bow that athletes make to each other at the start and end of a contest. Athletes must not shake hands before the contest.

Also called: bow
See also: Contest

Contest

A single judo bout. In IJF competitions it lasts 4 minutes of real contest time, and is won by a technical score, a hansoku-make, fusen-gachi or kiken-gachi. A tie goes to golden score.

Also called: match
See also: Judo, Golden score, Hansoku-make

Weight class

The bodyweight division. IJF senior events use -48, -52, -57, -63, -70, -78 and +78 kg for women, and -60, -66, -73, -81, -90, -100 and +100 kg for men.

Judo terms

Judo

A grappling martial art of throws, hold-downs, chokes and elbow locks. Opponents try to throw each other onto the back, hold the other down, or make them give up. Locks are allowed only on the elbow.

Throw

Using a recognised judo technique to take the opponent off their feet and onto the mat. Only a technique from the Kodokan classified list, or a recognised variation, scores, and just landing or rolling without a clear technique is not enough.

Tatami

The mat the contest is fought on. It holds the contest area, surrounded by a safety area.

Randori

Free-practice sparring used in training, rather than formal competition.

Scoring and penalties

Ippon

The top score, which wins the contest at once. It is given for a throw on the back with speed, force and control to the end of the landing; for a hold of 20 seconds; or when the opponent taps twice, says maitta or loses consciousness. A hansoku-make for one athlete gives the other a score equal to ippon.

Waza-ari

A score a little below ippon. In a throw it is a landing of more than 90 degrees on the shoulder axis, but not on the back, or a throw where the four ippon criteria are not fully met. A hold of 10 to 19 seconds is also a waza-ari. A second waza-ari makes waza-ari-awasete-ippon and ends the contest.

Osaekomi-waza

A hold-down, in which the opponent is held with their back on the mat. The referee calls Osaekomi when the hold is controlled from the side, rear or top, and Toketa when it is broken. 5 seconds scores yuko, 10 waza-ari and 20 ippon.

Also called: hold-down, pin
See also: Ippon, Waza-ari, Yuko, Referee

Submission

Making the opponent give up. A choke or an elbow lock ends the contest with ippon when the opponent taps twice with a hand or foot, calls maitta, or loses consciousness. Locks on any other joint are hansoku-make.

Yuko

A low technical score. In a throw it is a side landing of about 90 degrees, a landing on the upper back, neck or one buttock, among others. A hold of 5 to 9 seconds is a yuko. Yuko scores are counted but do not add up to a waza-ari.

Penalty

Judo has two penalties, shido and hansoku-make. A penalty never corresponds to a score.

Also called: gam-jeom, shikkaku
See also: Judo, Shido, Hansoku-make

Hansoku-make

Disqualification, which gives the opponent the contest with a score equal to ippon. It is indirect when the third shido is given, and direct for a grave infringement. For a dangerous technique such as a head dive the athlete may keep competing in the tournament; for an act against the spirit of judo they may not.

Also called: disqualification
See also: Contest, Judo, Ippon, Shido

The ruleWhat gets you disqualified in judo?

Contest procedure

Hajime and mate

The referee's calls. Hajime starts the contest and restarts it, and Mate stops it temporarily, for example for a penalty, an injury, a judogi adjustment or when both athletes leave the contest area.

See also: Judogi, Contest, Penalty, Contest area, Referee

Sore-made

The referee's call that the contest is finished. It is given on ippon, hansoku-make, kiken-gachi, the end of time, and on a score in golden score.

Tori and uke

Tori is the athlete applying a technique, and uke the one receiving it.

Tachi-waza

Standing techniques: the throws and the grip fighting before them. The contest always starts standing.

Contest area

The part of the mat on which the contest is fought, with a safety area around it. An action that started inside can continue while either athlete touches the area, and a throw or hold that began inside can go on within about two metres of the boundary.

Also called: safety area
See also: Contest, Throw

Kansetsu-waza and shime-waza

Joint locks and chokes. Kansetsu-waza is allowed only on the elbow, and neither lock nor choke may be applied from standing without a throw.

Officiating

Referee

The official on the mat who controls the contest, calls the commands, awards scores and penalties and announces the result. IJF referee directors and supervisors oversee the referee and can correct a decision.