Judo terms explained: ukemi, ippon, randori, shiai, belts and more.
55 articles
55 terms found
De-ashi-barai is the sweep of the advancing foot: judo's purest timing throw. Execution and drills.
G-judo is judo for athletes with disabilities. What it is, how classes differ and where to train in Amsterdam.
Harai-goshi is the sweeping hip throw: a powerful blend of hip entry and leg sweep. Execution and progression from o-goshi.
Jita-kyoei is judo's second core principle: improving together. Why your training partner is not your opponent.
What is a judogi, which sizes and weights exist, and how a beginner gi differs from competition gear.
Juji-gatame is judo's best-known armlock: the straight armlock across the hips. Execution, safety and competition use.
Kata are prescribed technique sequences in judo. Why kata matters for gradings and competitive judoka.
Kesa-gatame is judo's best-known hold-down: control along uke's head. Execution, escapes and variations.
Ko-uchi-gari is the minor inner reap of the foot: fast, subtle and perfect for combinations. Technique and timing explained.
From white belt to black: how kyu and dan grades work in the Netherlands (JBN) and what grading involves.
Mon grades are the intermediate steps (tabs) between youth belts in the Netherlands. How the system works and why it exists.
O-goshi is the major hip throw and often the first real throw beginners learn. Execution, pitfalls and variations.
O-uchi-gari is the major inner reap: a classic set-up throw that opens combinations. Execution and timing.
Osoto-gari is the major outer reap, one of the first throws for beginners and a weapon at elite level.
Seiryoku-zenyo is judo's first core principle: maximum result with minimum effort. What it means on and off the mat.
Seoi-nage is the shoulder throw: one of the highest-scoring throws in competition judo. Variations, execution and common mistakes.
Tai-otoshi is the body drop: a hand throw where uke falls over your extended leg. Technique and common mistakes.
Tomoe-nage is the circle throw from the sacrifice techniques: you give up your own posture and throw uke overhead with your foot.
Uchi-mata is the inner thigh throw, perhaps the most iconic throw in competition judo. Execution, variations and set-ups.
Hajime is the referee command that starts or resumes a judo match. Meaning and use on the mat.
Judo literally means 'the gentle way'. Origin of the word, the philosophy behind it and how the sport came to the Netherlands.
Matte is the command 'wait' that pauses a judo contest. When it is called and what to do.
Sensei is the Japanese form of address for the judo teacher. What the title means and which qualifications a Dutch judo teacher needs.
A dojo is the training hall where judo is practised. What the word means and how to recognise a good dojo in Amsterdam.
A judoka is anyone who practises judo — from four-year-old beginner to Olympic champion. Origin and use of the word.
Tatami are the judo mats used for training and competition. Sizes, firmness and why the mat matters for breakfalls.
The obi is the belt that closes the judogi and shows the judoka's grade. Colours, knots and sizing explained.
Ashi-waza are judo's leg and foot techniques: sweeps, hooks and reaps. Why timing is everything here.
Golden score is judo's sudden-death overtime: the first score or penalty immediately decides the match.
Hansoku-make is disqualification in judo: instant defeat after a serious violation or three accumulated shidos.
Ippon is the highest score in judo and instant victory. How ippon happens in competition and training.
Kansetsu-waza are judo's joint locks, allowed on the elbow only. Rules, age limits and the best-known lock.
Koshi-waza are judo's hip throws, from o-goshi to harai-goshi. The shared principle and the learning progression.
Kumi-kata is gripping the judogi: the foundation of every throw. Standard grip, grip fighting and the rules explained.
Kuzushi is breaking your opponent's balance — the first and most important phase of every judo throw.
Nage-komi is repeatedly completing full throws. How it differs from uchi-komi and why breakfalls are essential here.
Nage-waza is the collective name for all judo throwing techniques, divided into hand, hip, leg and sacrifice throws.
Ne-waza is judo's ground fighting: pins, armlocks and strangles. How it differs from standing judo and from BJJ.
Osaekomi is a controlled hold on the ground. Twenty seconds scores ippon — the rules and best-known pins explained.
Randori is free judo practice with a partner: throws, groundwork and pace without full match rules.
Rei is the bow that opens and closes every judo class and contest. Standing and kneeling bows explained.
Shiai is competition judo with official rules, referee and scoring. Difference from recreational judo and tournaments in Amsterdam.
Shido is a minor penalty in competition judo for passivity or prohibited acts. Three shidos mean losing the match.
Shime-waza are judo's strangling techniques. How they work, from what age they are allowed and the best-known techniques.
Sutemi-waza are sacrifice throws: you give up your own posture to throw your opponent. Types, risks and rules.
Tachi-waza is judo's standing phase: gripping, off-balancing and throws. The counterpart of ne-waza (groundwork).
Te-waza are judo's hand throws, such as seoi-nage and tai-otoshi. Characteristics and the best-known techniques.
The gokyo is the classic classification of forty judo throws in five groups of increasing difficulty — the backbone of grading syllabi.
The Kodokan in Tokyo is judo's birthplace: Jigoro Kano's school and still the technical heart of the sport.
Tori is the judoka who executes the technique during practice. The division of roles between tori and uke explained.
Uchi-komi is repeatedly entering a throw without completing it. Why this drill is the backbone of judo training.
Uke is the judoka who receives the technique during practice. Why a good uke is essential for learning to throw.
Ukemi is breakfalling on the judo mat: how to land safely after a throw. Explanation, order of practice and why beginners start here.
Waza-ari is a half score in judo. Two waza-ari in one match combine into ippon and decide the contest.
Jigoro Kano (1860-1938) founded judo. His life, the origin of the Kodokan and his two core principles.