JUDO Vocabulary
During a contest, the following 4 words are most important to listen for:
Hajime! 'Begin!' (referee's call)
Matte! 'Stop!' (referee's call)
Osaekomi! 'Hold-down!' (referee's call)
Toketa! 'Hold-down broken!' (referee's call)
Here are other words you might hear in Judo:
Anza Sitting with legs crossed
Ashi Waza Foot/Leg Techniques
Atemi Waza Striking techniques
Ayumi Ashi 'Normal' walking
Batsugun Instantaneous promotion
Bogyo Defense to an attack
Budo Martial arts
Bushido 'Way' of the Warrior
Chui! 'Caution!' (ref's call for moderate penalty)
Dan Step/degree in Black Belt ranks
Do Philosophical 'Way'; also, Body torso
Dojime Illegal act of locking legs around opponent's torso
Dojo Judo practice hall
Domo Arigato Thank you
Eri Judo uniform lapel
Fusegi Esccape (as from Osaekomi Waza)
Fusen Gachi Win by forfeit/default of opponent
Gachi/Kachi Win of any type
Gaeshi/Kaeshi Counter attack
Gake Hook/Dash (action done with leg)
Garami Entangle/Twist/Entwine
Gari Reap (action done with leg)
Gatame/Katame Lock/Hold
Gi (Judogi) Judo uniform
Gokyo No Waza 5 Sets of Throwing Techniques (the basic syllabus of Judo Nage Waza)
Gokyu Fifth kyu mudansha (orange belt)
Goshi/Koshi Hip/Waist
Goshinjitsu-No-Kata Forms of Self-Defense
Guruma Wheel
Gyaku Reverse
Hane Springing (action done with leg)
Hansoku Make! 'Loss by serious violation!' (referee's call)
Hantei! 'Decision!' (ref's call for judges' decision)
Happo-No-Kuzushi Formal 8 directions of unbalancing
Hara Center of balance
Harai/Barai Sweeping (action done with leg)
Hairi Kata Entry methods into Katame Waza
Hidari Left
Hiki Wake! 'Draw match!' (referee's call)
Hishigi Crush
Hiza Knee
Hon Basic/Fundamental
Ikkyu First kyu mudansha (brown belt)
Ippon! 'One point!' (referee's call)
Itsutsu-No-Kata Forms of Five
Jigo Hontai/Jigotai Basic defensive posture
Jikan! 'Time!' (referee's call)
Jita Kyoei Mutual Benefit & Welfare (Judo maxim)
Joseki Dojo area reserved for senior Judoka or officials
Ju Principle of Gentleness/Flexibility
Judo Way of Gentleness
Judoka Judo player
Juji Cross
Juji Gatame Cross arm lock
Jujitsu Art of Gentleness
Junbi Undo Warm-up exercises
Ju-No-Kata Forms of Gentleness
Kaeshi Waza Counter attack techniques
Kake Execution 'part' of any Nage Waza
Kansetsu Waza Joint locking techniques
Kata Formal technique demonstration; also, Shoulder
Katame-No-Kata Forms of Grappling
Katame Waza Grappling techniques
Keiko Practice (in general)
Keikoku! 'Warning!' (ref's call for severe penalty)
Ki Internal force/energy
Kiai Shout to gather Ki
Kiken Gachi Win by opponent's withdrawal during match
Kime-No-Kata Forms of Decision
Kiyotsuke Attention
Ko Minor/Small
Kodokan Literally, 'The School for Studying the Way'; the proper name of Judo [Kodokan Judo]
Kohaku Shiai Team contest where winner stays out until a loss
Koho Ukemi Falling methods to the rear
Koka! 'Eighth-point!' (referee's call); literally, 'Near-Yuko!' (no longer exists in 2009 rules)
Koshi Waza Hip Techniques
Koshiki-No-Kata Forms of Antiquity
Kumi Kata Methods of gripping an opponent
Kuzure Modification/Variation (of a technique)
Kuzushi Unbalancing 'part' of any Nage Waza
Kyu Class/level (rank) of mudansha
Ma Direct/Flat
Ma Sutemi Waza Direct-rear sacrifice throws
Maitta! 'I surrender!'
Make Loss of any type
Mata Thigh
Migi Right
Mokuso! 'Meditate!' (command at end of Keiko)
Morote Both Hands/Two-Handed
Mudansha Collective term for ranks below black belt
Nage Throw (noun)
Nage-No-Kata Forms of Throwing
Nage Waza Throwing Techniques
Nami Normal
Newaza Ground fighting techniques
Nikyu Second kyu mudansha (brown belt)
O Major/Big
Obi Judogi Belt
Okuri Slide
Osaekomi Waza Holding techniques
Otoshi Drop
Randori Free practice
Rei Bow
Renraku/Renzoku Waza Combination techniques
Ritsurei Informal (standing) bow
Rokkyu Sixth kyu mudansha (yellow belt)
Sankyu Third kyu mudansha (brown belt)
Seiryoku Zenyo Maximum Efficiency (Judo maxim)
Seiryoku-Zenyo-Kokumin-Taiiku Maximum Efficiency Physical Exercise
Seiza Kneel (kneeling position)
Sensei Teacher/Instructor
Shiai Tournament
Shiaijo Contest area
Shido! 'Note!' (referee's call for minor penalty)
Shihan Past Master of Judo (title applied only to Jigoro Kano)
Shime/Jime Choke
Shime Waza Choking techniques
Shimpan Referee
Shinmeso No Waza Newly Kodokan-certified Nage Waza
Shizen Hontai Basic natural posture
Shumatsu Undo Cool-down exercises
Sode Judogi sleeve
Sogo Gachi Combination win by adding opponent's Keikoku to your Waza Ari
Sono Mama! 'Don't Move!' (referee's call)
Sore Made! 'Time is over/That is all!' (ref's call)
Sukashi Slip/Evasive action
Sutemi Waza Sacrifice throws (Tori falls to tatami while throwing Uki)
Tachi Waza Throwing techniques from standing
Tai Body
Tai Sabaki Body Turning/Pivoting
Taiso Exercises (in general)
Tatami Judo mats
Te Waza Hand Techniques
Tentori Shiai Elimination tournament
Tokui Waza Favorite/Best Technique
Tori Person performing a technique
Tsugi Ashi 'Following foot' walking
Tsukuri Entry/Body Position 'part' of Nage Waza
Tsurikomi Lift-pull (action done with arms)
Uchi Inside
Uchi Komi Repitition Attacks without throwing ('Fitting-in' to the throw)
Ude Arm
Uke Person receiving a technique
Ukemi Methods of falling
Uki Floating
Ura Back
Uwagi Judogi jacket
Waza Technique
Waza Ari! 'Half-point!' (referee's call); literally, 'Near Ippon!'
Waza-Ari-Awasete-Ippon! Win by adding two Waza Ari scores
Yoko Side
Yoko Sutemi Waza Side sacrifice techniques
Yonkyu Fourth kyu mudansha (green belt)
Yoshi! 'Continue!' (referee's call)
Yudansha Collective term for black belt ranks
Yuko! 'Quarter-point!' (referee's call); literally, 'Near Waza ari!'
Yusei Gachi! 'Decision Win!' (referee's award)
Zarei Formal (kneeling) bow
Zempo Kaiten Forward rolling fall
Zubon Judogi pants