Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) can feel a little like learning a new language—because, well, you kind of are! Between the Japanese terms, training slang, and unique BJJ lingo, it’s easy to feel lost when your coach yells, “Shrimp out and recover your guard!”
Don’t worry—we’ve got your back (pun intended). Here’s a helpful guide to some of the most common BJJ terms and phrases so you can hit the mats with more confidence and less confusion.
📘 Basic Terms
Gi – The traditional BJJ uniform (jacket, pants, and belt). It’s also used for grips during techniques.
No-Gi – Training without the Gi, typically wearing rash guards and grappling shorts.
Oss – A term of respect and acknowledgment used throughout class. You’ll hear this everywhere.
Mat – The padded surface you train and roll on. It’s sacred—bow when stepping on or off!
🧠 Positions
Guard – A foundational position where you’re on your back, using your legs to control your opponent.
Closed Guard – Your legs are wrapped and locked around your opponent’s waist.
Open Guard – Your legs are not locked but are used to control or create space.
Mount – You are sitting on top of your opponent’s torso—dominant position.
Back Control – Controlling your opponent’s back with hooks (feet/legs) and seatbelt grip—great place to attack from.
Side Control – Lying across your opponent with control over their upper body.
🔁 Movements & Transitions
Shrimping – A movement to create space and escape bad positions (also called hip escape).
Bridge – Lifting your hips off the mat to generate power or escape positions.
Pass the Guard – Moving from inside your opponent’s guard to a more dominant position like side control or mount.
Sweep – Reversing the position from the bottom to end up on top.
🛡️ Submissions
Armbar – Hyperextending your opponent’s elbow joint using your hips.
Triangle Choke – Using your legs to choke your opponent by trapping their neck and one arm.
Rear Naked Choke (RNC) – A powerful choke from the back using your arms.
Kimura – A shoulder lock submission using a figure-four grip on the arm.
Guillotine – A front-facing choke, usually applied when someone shoots in for a takedown.
📈 Rank & Progression
White Belt – The beginner rank. Everyone starts here!
Blue, Purple, Brown, Black – Successive belt ranks based on skill, knowledge, and time on the mat.
Stripe – A small piece of tape added to your belt to show progress between full belts.
💬 Class Lingo
Roll – A sparring session, usually done after class instruction.
Tap – Tapping out means you submit, either by tapping your opponent or the mat.
Coach/Professor – Your instructor. In BJJ, a black belt is often called “Professor.”
Drill – Repeating a move or technique to build muscle memory.
🤝 Final Thoughts
If you’re new to BJJ, don’t stress about memorizing everything all at once. The more you train, the more natural the terms will feel. Just like learning the moves themselves, understanding the lingo takes time—and before long, you’ll be tossing around words like “shrimp” and “guard retention” like a seasoned grappler.
Want to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a beginner-friendly, supportive environment? Come train with us at Champions Martial Arts in Mebane, NC!
👉 Visit ChampionsKick.com to start your 2-week trial today!