How to Memorize BJJ Technique Names: A Vocabulary System for New Grapplers

TL;DR. BJJ technique names feel random because they mix Portuguese, Japanese, inventor nicknames, and body-part descriptions in one chaotic vocabulary. The fix is a system: group names by position, decode the pattern (origin + body part + action), say them out loud while you drill, and revise the list weekly. Treat technique names like a language you're learning, not trivia to memorize. Within a few months, class instructions stop sounding like a foreign broadcast and start sounding like directions.

Walk into your first few BJJ classes and you'll hear a flood of words that mean nothing: raspagem, kimura, de la Riva, tozi, gift wrap, estrangulamento. The coach says "set up the kimura from the half-guard underhook, then switch to a sumi gaeshi if they base out," and you nod like you understand because asking feels embarrassing. Three weeks later, the move you drilled is gone — partly because you never cemented the technique, but mostly because you never cemented the name. Without the label, you can't look it up, can't ask a question about it, and can't recognise it when the coach refers back to it next month.

This guide gives you a vocabulary system for the names themselves. It's not a technique encyclopedia — it's a way to stop drowning in jargon so the techniques you learn stay findable.

Why BJJ technique names feel impossible to remember

BJJ terminology is a mess because the sport inherited vocabulary from four very different sources at once.

Portuguese roots. The art was codified in Brazil, so core verbs and nouns are Portuguese: raspagem (sweep), estrangulamento (choke), chave (lock), passagem (pass), montada (mount), guarda (guard). A single move can carry a whole Portuguese sentence (chave de braço da guarda = "armlock from the guard").

Japanese holdovers from judo. BJJ grew out of judo, which kept its original Japanese terminology. Kimura, sumi gaeshi, kesa gatame, juji gatame, sankaku — these are judo names that stuck even after the move evolved in a BJJ context.

Inventor nicknames. Modern BJJ names new positions after whoever popularised them: de la Riva guard, Marcelotine, Estima lock, Ezekiel choke, Tozi pass. These give no hint about what the move actually is unless you know the person.

Body-part and visual descriptions. English names describe shape or action: bow and arrow choke, arm triangle, knee cut, body lock, worm guard, lasso guard.

Mix all four conventions in a 60-minute class and you get the vocabulary chaos every white belt knows. The names feel random because they come from four different systems — but once you can tell which system a name belongs to, the whole vocabulary becomes decodable.

Remember. You don't need to be fluent in Portuguese or Japanese. You need to recognise about a dozen root words and a handful of famous surnames. That alone decodes most of what you'll hear.

A simple system to memorize technique names

Here are seven steps you can start today. None of them require extra mat time — most happen in the car, on the couch, or in the five minutes after class.

1. Learn the twelve Portuguese root words

Start with the vocabulary that appears most often in gi classes. Memorize these twelve roots and most Portuguese technique names become readable:

Portuguese	English	Example use
raspagem	sweep	raspagem de tesoura (scissor sweep)
estrangulamento	choke	estrangulamento de mata-leão (rear naked choke)
chave	lock	chave de braço (armlock)
passagem	guard pass	passagem de guarda
guarda	guard	guarda fechada (closed guard)
montada	mount	montada técnica (technical mount)
costas	back	pegar as costas (take the back)
pegar	to grab/take	pegada (grip)
gancho	hook	gancho duplo (double hook / butterfly)
queda	takedown	queda de braço (arm drag takedown)
cem quilos	100 kilos	the "100 kilos" side-pin position
mata-leão	lion killer	rear naked choke

Once raspagem means "sweep," every sweep name is just "sweep of [shape]" — tesoura (scissor), borboleta (butterfly), gancho (hook). You stop memorising full phrases and start reading them.

2. Group names by position, not by class date

The worst way to store names is chronologically ("the thing we did Tuesday"). The best way is by position. Keep a running list with one page per position:

• Closed guard — attacks and sweeps
• Half guard — top and bottom
• Side control — attacks and escapes
• Mount — attacks and escapes
• Back — attacks and escapes
• Open guards — DLR, spider, lasso, X, butterfly, collar-sleeve

When the coach teaches a new move, you write the name under the correct position. Six weeks in, when they say "from closed guard, the omoplata we drilled last month," you flip to the closed-guard page instead of searching your entire memory. Grouping by position is the same principle behind our write-up on memorizing BJJ positions as a mental map — the position is the folder, and the technique names are the files.

3. Decode every new name into its pattern

When you hear a name you don't know, break it into its components as soon as you have a quiet moment:

• Origin: Portuguese, Japanese, English, or inventor name?
• Body part / shape: arm, leg, collar, lapel, triangle, bow?
• Action: choke, lock, sweep, pass, escape?
• Position of origin: guard, mount, side, back?

Try "bow and arrow choke from the back": English description + shape (bow and arrow) + action (choke) + position (back). Easy. Try "kimura from side control": Japanese inventor name + action (shoulder lock) + position (side control). Once you've slotted it into those four buckets, the name stops being a random noise.

4. Say the name out loud while you drill

This one is unglamorous and it works. Every rep you take in class, whisper the name of the move while you execute it. "Scissor sweep… scissor sweep… scissor sweep." You're linking the auditory label to the motor pattern. Neuroscience aside, the practical result is that two weeks later, when the coach says "scissor sweep," your body knows what to do because the word was embedded in the drill. If the name is Portuguese or Japanese, use that too — raspagem de tesoura works better than silent reps.

5. Write the name next to a three-line description

At home that night, open your notes and write:

Scissor sweep — closed guard. Grip sleeve + collar. Open guard, hip out, knee across belly, bottom foot shin on their shin. Pull sleeve, chop legs, come up.

Three lines, maximum. The point is not to recreate the technique — it's to force the connection between the name and a tiny description you'll recognise later. Our guide on BJJ note-taking that actually works covers the writing format in detail.

6. Review the week's vocabulary every Sunday

Five minutes, once a week. Pull up the list of names you added that week, read each one, and try to mentally rehearse the move. If a name feels blank, flag it to ask about in your next class. This weekly vocabulary review is why many people never remember technique names — they drill the move once and never see the word again until months later. For a deeper look at timing your reviews, see our spaced repetition plan for grapplers.

7. Build a searchable library you can actually look up

The final step is the one most beginners skip: make the names searchable. A paper notebook works for the first month and then becomes unusable because you can't find anything. A folder of saved YouTube videos is worse — you can't search for "the sweep where my knee goes across." You need some format where typing "kimura" or "collar sleeve" surfaces every related card you've logged. Our comparison of BJJ note-taking methods walks through options.

Remember. The goal is not a perfect vocabulary list. It's a searchable one. If you can find the technique again, you can revise it. If you can't find it, it's gone.

Common mistakes new grapplers make

Trying to translate every Portuguese name word-for-word. You don't need to translate — you need to recognise. Raspagem de tesoura can live in your head as "scissor sweep" without you ever consciously translating. Learn the root word once, then move on.

Memorizing names without ever doing the move. Flashcards of names in isolation don't stick, because the brain has nothing physical to attach the word to. Always pair the label with the physical pattern — in drilling, in rolling, or at least by miming it as you say it.

Giving up on names that have multiple spellings. De la Riva vs DLR, mata-leão vs mata leao, kimura vs shoulder lock. Pick one spelling and stick with it in your own notes. Chasing "correct" spelling across sources is wasted energy.

Ignoring inventor names because they feel arbitrary. Yes, "Ezekiel" and "Marcelotine" tell you nothing on their own. But once you've learned the move, the name becomes a memorable hook — a surname is easier to recall than "the lapel-assisted gi choke from mount with the forearm press."

Writing the full technique name without the position. "Armbar" is not a technique — "armbar from closed guard," "armbar from mount," and "armbar from side control" are three different techniques with different setups. Always attach the position to the name.

Keeping a messy, unsorted list. A chronological list of 200 random names you can't search is worse than no list at all. Group by position from day one, even if each position only has one entry.

Where BJJ Memo fits in

If the system above sounds right but you don't want to maintain a notebook, BJJ Memo handles the capture and organise steps for you. You paste a BJJ YouTube URL and the app builds a structured technique card — name, position, steps, key details, tappable timestamps — and files it into a searchable library sorted by position. The name is already labelled, the mechanics are already summarised, and the whole card surfaces again when you revise before your next session. If you're overwhelmed by vocabulary, you can also browse related reads like why you forget BJJ techniques and how to organize techniques by position. It won't replace the mental work of learning the vocabulary — but it removes the admin so you can focus on the names themselves.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to learn Portuguese to understand BJJ class?

No. You need roughly a dozen root words — raspagem, estrangulamento, chave, guarda, passagem, montada, costas, pegar, gancho, queda, mata-leão, borboleta — and most coaches will say the English equivalent anyway. Full Portuguese fluency is a nice extra, not a requirement.

Should I use Portuguese names or English names in my own notes?

Use whichever your coach uses most often in class. Consistency inside your own notebook matters far more than picking the "correct" version. If your academy uses mostly English with occasional Portuguese, mirror that.

How long does it take to feel comfortable with BJJ terminology?

Most hobbyists feel comfortable with core vocabulary within three to six months of regular training, assuming they're reviewing names weekly. Open-guard and lapel-based positions take longer because the names are more exotic (DLR, worm guard, lasso).

What if my coach uses a name I can't find anywhere online?

Academies and lineages sometimes use regional nicknames for standard positions. Ask after class — "what's this called in general BJJ terminology?" — and write both names in your notes so you can translate between your gym's language and the wider sport.

Is it worth learning the inventor names (de la Riva, Ezekiel, Estima, etc.)?

Yes. These are the names used in competition commentary, instructionals, and most online content. Not knowing them cuts you off from a huge chunk of BJJ media. They feel arbitrary at first; after one or two drilling sessions each, they stick.

Can I just memorize names from a glossary without drilling?

You can, but it doesn't last. Names you've never physically performed fade within weeks because the brain has no body-based cue to attach to the word. Always pair the name with reps, video review, or at minimum a mental walkthrough.

Train the technique, log the name

Technique names aren't trivia — they're the index of your entire BJJ library. Without them, every move you've ever learned is slightly harder to retrieve, slightly easier to lose. Spend five minutes a week on the vocabulary and the compounding returns are enormous: you follow class faster, ask better questions, understand instructionals without rewinding, and build a game you can actually describe.

Next time you learn a new technique, write the name at the top of the card before you write anything else. Group it by position. Say it out loud when you drill it. And if you want the capture and organisation handled for you, try BJJ Memo — paste the instructional, get a labelled card, revise it before your next class.

For real feedback and safety, train the technique at a legitimate academy with a qualified coach. BJJ Memo helps you remember and revise — it doesn't replace mat time.

Last updated 2026-10-07.