The Grappler's Dictionary

A neutral guard position where both practitioners have the same leg entanglement, each with a triangle lock on the other's leg. Common in modern leg lock battles. Can lead to stalemates or explosive action.

A Brazilian superfruit berry that has become synonymous with BJJ culture. Açaí bowls are a staple at BJJ gyms and competitions. Sometimes jokingly attributed as the source of Brazilian grapplers' power.

Abu Dhabi Combat Club. Hosts the most prestigious No-Gi submission grappling tournament. Unique rules with negative points for pulling guard, submission-only overtime. Considered the Olympics of submission grappling.

In IBJJF rules, an advantage is scored for a 'near' accomplishment (almost passing guard, almost sweeping). If points are tied, the competitor with more advantages wins. A half-point essentially.

A shoulder lock where the arm is bent at 90 degrees with the fist pointing toward the head. Using a figure-four grip, you push the elbow down while lifting the wrist to create rotation in the shoulder joint.

An arm triangle choke variation where you thread your arm around the opponent's neck and under their arm from a front headlock position. Distinguished from the D'Arce by the arm placement (goes around from opposite side).

A fundamental joint lock (juji gatame in judo) that hyperextends the elbow joint. Applied by controlling the arm, positioning your hips against their shoulder, and using your whole body to extend their arm over your hips.

Japanese for 'leg entanglement.' A controlling position for leg locks where your legs are entangled with your opponent's leg, controlling their hip while exposing their knee or ankle for attack.

The most dominant position in grappling where you are behind your opponent with your hooks (feet) inside their thighs and upper body control (usually a seatbelt grip). Scores 4 points in IBJJF and 3 points in ADCC. The rear naked choke is the primary threat.

The ability to maintain balance and stability. A strong base allows you to generate power and resist sweeps or takedowns.

A Gi collar choke applied with grips resembling holding a baseball bat. Can be done from knee on belly, side control, or as a counter to guard passes. One of the tightest collar chokes when done correctly.

BJJ uses five adult belt ranks: White, Blue, Purple, Brown, and Black. The journey from white to black belt typically takes 8-12 years of consistent training. Each belt has four stripes of progression.

An advanced sweep/back-take that starts from the De La Riva guard. The practitioner inverts (spins upside down) to disrupt the opponent's balance and scramble to their back. Popularized by the Mendes brothers.

A powerful back control method where instead of hooks, you lock a triangle figure-four around your opponent's torso. Provides incredible control but doesn't score points like hooks do in IBJJF.

A high-percentage gi choke from back control. The attacker grips the opponent's collar with one hand and hooks the closest leg with their free arm, expanding their body like an archer drawing a bow.

Ukemi in Japanese. The technique of falling safely by distributing impact across the body and slapping the mat. Essential for preventing injury during throws and takedowns.

A seated guard position where both feet are hooked inside the opponent's thighs. Named for the way the legs look when open. Excellent for sweeping using your hooks to elevate and off-balance your opponent.

A compression lock that wedges your shin bone into the back of your opponent's calf, causing intense pain when you close the distance. Often available from The Truck position or leg entanglements.

Linking techniques together in sequence so that defending one attack opens another. Example: triangle to armbar to omoplata. The hallmark of advanced BJJ—attacks flowing continuously.

A 10th Planet side control variation where you thread your arm through and control the opponent's far arm, preventing them from framing while you set up submissions.

A fundamental guard position where the bottom player has their legs wrapped around their opponent's hips/waist with ankles crossed behind their back. One of the first positions taught to beginners and extremely versatile for attacks and control.

The physical contact maintained with an opponent to sense their movement, weight distribution, and intentions. Good jiu-jitsu relies on sticky connection.

A derogatory term for a traitor or someone who switches academies frequently. Coined by Carlson Gracie after a character in a Brazilian soap opera who constantly changed allegiances.

A fundamental Gi choke where you grip both sides of the opponent's collar (crossing your arms) and squeeze by pulling your elbows apart while rotating your wrists. Often taught from mount and guard.

A dominant position where you control both of your opponent's arms—one trapped between your legs and the other controlled by your arms—spreading them out like a crucifix. Highly advantageous for chokes.

an arm-triangle choke variation applied using the forearms. The attacker threads their arm under the opponent's armpit and across the neck, locking their hands behind the opponent's neck.

A guard position where the bottom player hooks one of the opponent's legs from the outside with their own leg. Named after Ricardo De La Riva.

A 10th Planet submission from the Rubber Guard system—a variation of the omoplata where you've trapped them more deeply. Named following the system's creative naming conventions.

An advanced half guard position where the bottom player gets deep under their opponent's hips. Removes the top player's base and creates powerful sweeping opportunities. Popularized by Jeff Glover and others.

Disqualification from a match, usually for illegal techniques (slamming, spinal locks at certain belts, heel hooks in Gi), unsportsmanlike conduct, or accumulated penalties.

Repetitive practice of techniques with a cooperative partner. Essential for building muscle memory. 'Drillers make killers' is a common saying emphasizing the importance of repetition.

A powerful sweep from the Lockdown half-guard that stretches the opponent's groin (often inadvertently) while sweeping them over. Can also be finished as a submission.

A Gi choke using your own sleeve to create a choking mechanism. Can be applied from mount, inside guard, or other positions. Named after Olympic judoka Ezequiel Paraguassu who used it in BJJ competition.

A cooperative form of sparring where both partners move continuously with low resistance, focusing on transitions and fluidity rather than submission hunting.

Using skeletal structure rather than muscular strength to create space or prevent an opponent's pressure. A frame puts bone between you and your opponent.

The traditional uniform used in BJJ, consisting of a jacket (kimono), pants, and belt. Made of thick cotton to withstand grips. Competition gis must meet specific sizing and thickness requirements.

A rare and advanced submission where you place your shin across the opponent's throat while controlling their head, using your foot to create the choking pressure. Usually set up from Rubber Guard or high guard positions.

The battle for dominant grips before and during exchanges. In Gi BJJ, controlling the collar and sleeve grips is often the determining factor. Also applies to No-Gi wrist and head control.

Successfully moving from inside someone's guard to a dominant position (side control, mount, or back). One of the fundamental skills in BJJ. Worth 3 points in IBJJF competition.

A practitioner who prefers to fight from bottom position (guard) rather than on top. Guard players often pull guard and attack with sweeps and submissions. Often have flexible, technical styles.

The skill of maintaining your guard position when someone is trying to pass. Involves framing, hip movement, timing, and grip fighting. Essential for every guard player.

A front headlock choke where you wrap your arm around the opponent's neck from the front and squeeze upward. Can be applied standing, in guard, or on top. Variations include arm-in and high-elbow (Marcelotine).

A guard position where the bottom player has one of their opponent's legs trapped between both of their legs. Once considered a last resort before being passed, modern half guard has evolved into an offensive position with many sweeps and submissions.

A leg lock where the attacker isolates the foot and twists the heel medially or laterally, creating torque on the knee ligaments (ACL/MCL). Highly effective but dangerous; restricted in many gi competitions.

Your feet positioned inside or around your opponent's body to control them. Most commonly refers to your feet inside their thighs during back control, but also applies to butterfly guard and leg entanglements.

International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. The largest BJJ competition organization, known for the World Championships (Mundials). Has specific rules about techniques, scoring, and belt/age divisions.

A dynamic entry into leg entanglements (usually from standing) where the attacker rolls upside down towards the opponent's legs to enter positions like Inside Sankaku/411.

Also called the Honey Hole, Saddle, or 411. An advanced leg entanglement where your legs form a triangle around the opponent's leg from the inside. The most controlling position for inside heel hooks.

Going upside down—rolling onto your shoulders or upper back with legs overhead. Used in modern guard retention, berimbolo, and creating angles. Requires core strength and flexibility.

The 10th Planet name for the omoplata submission when entered from the Rubber Guard system, specifically from New York position.

Japanese for 'Scarf Hold.' A side control variation where you control the opponent's head and arm while sitting through with your hip, facing their head. Traditional judo pin that's also used for submissions.

A shoulder lock where you isolate the arm with a figure-four grip and rotate it behind their back (like a reverse Americana). Named after judo legend Masahiko Kimura who used it to defeat Hélio Gracie.

A leg lock submission that hyperextends the knee joint, similar to how an armbar attacks the elbow. Your hips are placed against their knee while your legs control their hip, and you extend to attack the joint.

Neon Belly. A dominant pin where the top player places their knee / shin across the opponent's torso while posting the other leg for balance. It aims to disrupt breathing and movement.

A Gi guard position where one leg wraps around and through the opponent's arm while controlling their sleeve. The 'lasso' grip provides powerful control and sweeping opportunities.

A practitioner who specializes in leg lock submissions (heel hooks, knee bars, toe holds). The leg lock game has evolved dramatically since 2015. Many leg lockers favor No-Gi competition.

A 10th Planet half guard position where you grapevine your legs around your opponent's trapped leg and flex your feet to stretch them out. Creates control and sets up the Electric Chair and other sweeps.

A Gi lapel choke applied by threading your arm through, grabbing your own lapel, and using the loop to strangle your opponent. Very sneaky—often caught during scrambles and guard passes.

Friction abrasions on the skin from training—usually on knees, tops of feet, and forehead. A rite of passage for BJJ practitioners. Keeping training areas clean prevents infection.

Hours spent training on the mats. BJJ skill correlates strongly with mat time—there's no substitute for experience. Used as in 'He's got a lot of mat time' to describe an experienced grappler.

In the 10th Planet system, a grip where you hook under the opponent's leg with a cupped grip, like a meathook. Used in various guard positions and sweeps.

The primary hub of the Rubber Guard system. The bottom player has one leg high across the opponent's upper back, and the same-side hand is holding that ankle to keep the opponent's posture broken.

One of the most dominant positions in BJJ where you sit on your opponent's torso with both knees on the ground beside them. From here, you can attack with chokes, armlocks, or transition to other positions. Worth 4 points in IBJJF rules.

A submission that attacks the cervical spine through rotation, compression, or lateral bending. Includes moves like the Can Opener and various cranking positions. Many are illegal in competition.

A 10th Planet Rubber Guard position after Zombie where you've trapped the opponent's wrist. Sets up the Jiu Claw (omoplata) and Kung Fu Move submissions. Named after the city.

A dominant top position where the attacker is chest-to-chest with the opponent but inverted 180 degrees (their head is near the opponent's chest/hips and legs point the opposite way).

A shoulder choke applied from the North South position. By wrapping your arm around their neck and driving your shoulder into their throat while sprawling your legs, you create a powerful blood choke.

An extremely controversial (and illegal) 'tactic' involving invasive probing of an opponent's gluteal area to force a reaction. Universally frowned upon and grounds for disqualification.

A shoulder lock using the legs. The attacker forces the opponent's arm behind their back using a leg entanglement similar to a Kimura lock mechanism.

Any guard position where the bottom player's legs are not locked around the opponent. Includes Spider Guard, Butterfly Guard, De La Riva, Lasso Guard, and many more. Requires more technical skill but offers more attack variety.

A universal term in martial arts derived from Japanese 'Osu'. In BJJ, it is used to demonstrate respect, acknowledge an instruction, say hello/goodbye, or verify readiness. It roughly translates to 'perseverance under pressure' or 'shoving/pushing'.

A grip where your arm wraps over and around your opponent's arm, trapping it against your body. Used in guard retention, attacks from guard, and defensive wrestling. Opposite of underhook.

A Gi choke from side control where you grip their far collar and slide your forearm across their throat like a paper cutter. Also called 'Bread Cutter' choke. Very tight and hard to defend once locked.

Portuguese for 'passer.' A practitioner who specializes in passing guard rather than playing guard. Passadors often have strong wrestling, pressure, and mobility. Opposite of guard player.

Negative points given for rule violations in competition. IBJJF issues penalties for stalling, gripping inside pants/sleeves, illegal grips, and banned techniques. Two penalties equal one advantage for opponent.

BJJ competitions score positions: Takedown (2), Sweep (2), Guard Pass (3), Knee on Belly (2), Mount (4), Back Control (4). Points reflect positional dominance and strategic advancement.

Portuguese slang literally meaning 'brawling' or 'heavy blows'. In BJJ culture, 'training porrada' means sparring with high intensity and no holding back. Often associated with the phrase 'Everyday Porrada'.

Focused sparring starting from a specific position with specific goals (e.g., one person tries to pass guard, other tries to sweep or submit). More efficient for drilling specific skills than free rolling.

Your body's alignment and position, especially your spine. In closed guard, the top player wants strong upright posture to defend; the bottom player wants to break it. Good posture prevents sweeps and submissions.

Using your weight and body positioning to make your opponent uncomfortable and limit their movement. Good pressure exhausts opponents and creates openings. Key to the 'smash' passing style.

Intentionally sitting or jumping to guard position from standing. Strategic choice for guard players. Controversial—some see it as avoiding the wrestling portion. IBJJF rules impose penalties if done sloppily.

The in-fighting battle for underhooks in the clinch. Both practitioners swim their arms under to achieve double underhooks or an advantageous position. Fundamental wrestling skill used in BJJ takedowns.

Tight-fitting athletic shirt worn in No-Gi training. Provides skin protection from mat burn and infections. Often features team or brand designs. Required equipment for No-Gi competition.

The highest percentage submission in grappling, applied from back control. Your forearm crosses their throat while your other arm completes a figure-four lock behind their head. Also called 'Mata Leão' (Lion Killer).

Live sparring in BJJ. Called 'rolling' because you often end up rolling around on the ground. May be full resistance ('hard roll') or lighter ('flow roll'). The primary way to develop actual fighting skill.

A clinch guard system developed by Eddie Bravo where the bottom player uses flexibility to break the opponent's posture by pulling their own leg high up the opponent's back and trapping the neck.

The practice of competing at a belt level lower than one's actual skill level to secure easy wins. Considered poor sportsmanship.

The primary upper body control from back position where one arm goes over the shoulder and one under the armpit, hands clasping at the chest (like a car seatbelt). Foundation for all back attacks.

A grueling training drill where one student stays in the center while fresh partners rotate in every minute (or upon submission). Used for competition prep and building mental resilience.

The fundamental hip escape movement in BJJ. It involves posting a foot and moving the hips away to create space, essential for escaping bottom positions like Mount or Side Control.

A dominant pin where you are chest-to-chest with your opponent, perpendicular to them, controlling their upper body. Also called Side Mount. While no points are directly awarded for side control, it often follows a guard pass which scores 3 points.

An aggressive, pressure-heavy style that uses weight and control to exhaust opponents. Smash passers systematically crush through guards. Often associated with larger, stronger practitioners.

Tight-fitting athletic pants worn in No-Gi, similar to compression tights. Provide leg protection and prevent skin contact. May be worn under shorts or alone depending on gym/competition rules.

Someone who moves wildly and erratically during rolling, especially beginners. Spazzy training partners can cause injuries. Learning controlled movement is part of BJJ development.

A Gi-specific open guard where you control your opponent's sleeves while placing your feet on their biceps. Creates distance and strong control, with many sweep and submission options.

The fundamental defense against leg attacks (single leg, double leg). You kick your legs back while driving your hips down onto the attacker, stuffing their shot. Must-know defensive technique.

The fundamental leg lock submission attacking the ankle. Your arm wraps around their Achilles tendon while you arch your back, creating pressure on the joint. Legal at all belt levels in IBJJF.

A technique that forces your opponent to tap out (surrender) through joint manipulation, choking, or compression. The ultimate goal of BJJ—winning by submission is considered the purest victory.

A technique from guard (bottom position) that reverses the position, putting you on top. Worth 2 points in IBJJF rules. Key sweeps include scissor sweep, hip bump, and butterfly sweep.

The signal of surrender in grappling—slapping your hand on your opponent, the mat, or yourself (or verbally saying 'tap'). Always respect the tap immediately. 'Tap early, tap often' is advice for training safely.

Relying on technique and timing rather than strength and athleticism. 'He's very technical' is high praise in BJJ, suggesting efficient movement and deep understanding.

A hybrid position between a back take and a leg entanglement. It allows for multiple attacks including the Calf Slicer, Twister, and back transitions. Key to the 10th Planet rolling back attack system.

A foot lock that attacks the ankle by rotating the foot, putting torque on the ankle ligaments. Legal at brown belt and above in IBJJF Gi, but allowed at all levels in most No-Gi competitions.

Movement from one position to another. BJJ is a game of constant transitions—the best opportunities often come during the movement between positions, not when everything is stable.

BJJ's signature submission where you encircle the opponent's neck and one arm with your legs in a figure-four configuration. The position compresses both carotid arteries, causing unconsciousness within seconds if not defended.

A defensive position on all fours, curling into a ball to protect against attacks. While it prevents submissions temporarily, it's not a scoring position and skilled opponents can attack the back or neck.

A spinal crank submission where the body is twisted in opposite directions. It is banned in most IBJJF competitions but legal in ADCC and many superfights. Equivalent to a wrestling guillotine.

A grip where your arm goes under your opponent's armpit, palm cupping their shoulder. One of the most important grips in wrestling and BJJ for controlling ties, passing guard, and escaping positions.

A counter-choke applied from top side control against someone attempting a guillotine. By driving shoulder pressure into their neck while they hold the guillotine, you can choke them with their own grip.

A modern lapel-guard system developed by Keenan Cornelius where the practitioner untucks the opponent's lapel and weaves it around their own legs to create unbreakable control.

Any submission attacking the wrist joint. Often a surprise attack when opponents post on the mat or reach to defend. Called 'Mão de Vaca' (cow's hand) in Portuguese. Legal at all belt levels in IBJJF.

An underneath guard position where your legs are positioned in an X-shape around one of your opponent's legs. Created by Marcelo Garcia, it's devastating for sweeps and transitions to leg locks.

A variation of half guard where the bottom player places their top knee across the opponent's hip/stomach as a frame (the 'Z' shape). Creates distance and helps prevent the top player from achieving cross-face control.

A transition in Rubber Guard where the practitioner moves their hand from the mat to the opponent's wrist to trap it, usually leading to 'New York' position.