Jiu-Jitsu Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the words you hear on the mat.

B

• BJJ Belt System: Ranks, Colors and Stripes Explained — The BJJ belt system ranks students by color, usually white, blue, purple, brown and black for adults. Stripes...

G

• Guard in Jiu-Jitsu: Meaning and Main Types — In jiu-jitsu, the guard is a position where you use your legs to control a partner while you are on your back...

M

• Mount Position in Jiu-Jitsu: Definition and Control — The mount position is a dominant spot where you sit on your partner's torso with your knees on either side. Fr...

O

• Oss in Jiu-Jitsu: What the Word Means — Oss is a short word used in jiu-jitsu to say hello, goodbye, thank you, or yes. It shows respect and shared ef...

S

• Side Control in Jiu-Jitsu: Definition and Basics — Side control is a pinning position where you lie across your partner's chest, perpendicular to their body. The...
• Sweep in Jiu-Jitsu: Meaning and Simple Examples — In jiu-jitsu, a sweep is a technique that reverses the position, taking you from the bottom to the top. It usu...

J

• Jiu-Jitsu Submission: What It Means and How It Works — A jiu-jitsu submission is a choke or joint lock that makes a partner give up by tapping. It ends the exchange,...

T

• Tap Out in Jiu-Jitsu: Meaning and Why It Matters — To tap out in jiu-jitsu means to signal that you give up a submission by tapping your partner, the mat or your...