BJJ Vocabulary in Portuguese and English
January 18, 2008
Get your flash cards ready! This is the list of Brazilian jiu-jitsu vocabulary in Portuguese that I mentioned on a FightWorks Podcast #98 Alex Brandao Translates BJJ Portuguese. The list was indeed furnished by Alex Brandao, a black belt at Fabio Santos academy here in San Diego. Special thanks to Andrew Correa of JiuJitsuNow in Virginia for giving my transcription of Brandao’s list another look to make sure I didn’t goof anything up!
Study these words and you can improve the chances you’ll understand a Brazilian opponent’s strategy in competition. Or, just throw these words around on the mat when training with your buddies and tell them you learned all this cool vocabulary while training in Brazil. Whatever works for you.
I will update this list over time with new suggestions. Feel free to contact me with things you think belong here!
abaixa a bunda: lower the butt
abriu o bicobe: tired
amarelou: coward, as in “yellow”
americana: key lock
armeloque: armlock / armbar
até logo: (see you) later!
atleta: athlete
baiana: double leg takedown
barato: cool!
barrigada: bridge
bicho: animal, but when referring to another guy, a tough guy / buddy
bolsa: purse, prize money
bom, boa: good
bombado: steroids
bota pra baixo: put on bottom, take your opponent down
bota pra dormir: put to sleep
boxe Thailandes: muay thai
cabeçada: head butt
cara: guy
casca grosa: tough guy
cem kilos: side mount (one hundred kilos)
cervical: neck crank
chão: ground
chave de biceps: bicep crush
chave de braço: americana and/or any key lock
chave de joelho: kneebar
chave de pé: foot lock
chute: a kick
chute boxe: kick boxing
crucifixo: crucifix
corrido: fast
dar um rola: spar, roll
desfecho: outcome, result
duro: tough
equipe: team
escovar: win easily, dominate
escrima: spar
esgotado: tired
estrangulamento: strangle
ezequiel: forearm choke
faixa: belt
- branca: white
- azul: blue
- roxa: purple
- marrom: brown
- preta: black
faixa frouxa: undeserved (loose) belt
faixa pesada: deserved (heavy) belt
forte: strong
fraco: weak
fecha a guarda: close the guard
finaliza: finish (your opponent)!
frouxa: coward (weak)
fugir de quadril: “escape” the hip
gancho: hook
gas: stamina
guerreiro: warrior
gola: collar
gola rodada: pass the collar
golpe: a punch or strike
gravata técnica: headlock
guardeiro: a good guard fighter
guilhotina: guillotine
inversão: reversal
joelhada: knee strike
joelho na barriga: knee on belly
jogo: game
joga por baixo: play from bottom
joga por cima: play from top
kimura: shoulder lock
legal: cool!
lutador: fighter
macete: details, tricks
macetoso: a technical fighter
mais o menos: more or less
mão de vaca: wrist lock
maneiro: cool, great
mandinga: devious, tricky
mano: buddy
marrudo: arrogant, cocky
mata leão: “killing the lion”, rear naked choke
meia guarda: half guard
montada: mount
morreu: tired
muito bacana: very cool
murro: a punch or strike
mutuca: coward
nocaute: knockout
obrigado: thank you
omoplata: shoulder lock
pancada: a punch
passador: a good guard passer
passa o carro: win easily, dominate
pedalada: heel stomp
pega as costas: take the back
pisão: stepping / stomp kick
pontape: a kick
porrada: a brawl, skirmish
postura: posture
punicão: penalty
passagem a guarda: a passing of the guard
passando a guarda: passing the guard
passa a guarda: pass the guard
pedreira: tough guy
pegada: grip
queda: take down
quimono: gi (kimono)
raspagem: a sweep
raspa ele!: sweep him! (also, vai raspa!)
regras: rules
relogio: clock choke
revanche: revenge
ringue: ring (as in boxing ring)
saida: exit, escape
sangue bom: good guy (good blood)
tatame: mat
tempo: time, as in “Stop rolling, time’s up!”
time: team
torcida: fans, supporters
triângulo: triangle
upa: upsy-daisy
vai: go (start rolling)
vale tudo: anything goes, no holds barred, MMA
vira de quatro: go to turtle position
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2 Responses to “BJJ Vocabulary in Portuguese and English”
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Great post! A few suggestions:
bota pra baixo: put him down
vale tudo: MMA (people call MMA as vale tudo in Brazil)
New words:
raspada: sweep
[...] Second in the ranks of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Faixa Azul, or blue belt. For a full list of BJJ lingo, go to the excellent Fightworks Podcast. [...]