Newaza

Newaza is the Japanese term for ground-fighting. It translates to "mat or ground techniques". The use of the term is widespread in Judo circles, which maintain the Japanese naming tradition. Newaza or ground-fighting encompasses all techniques used in closed-combat when one or both opponents are not standing. These techniques are classified as Kansetsu-waza (joint-locks/twists, arm-bars, compression-locks), Shime-waza (strangles and chokes), Osaekomi-waza (pins or top-control) in Judo. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu further classifies techniques into sweeps (turn-overs from bottom to top dominant position), guards (defensive bottom positions) and guard-passes (attacks to the guard). While Judo newaza also explores the guard, sweeps and guard passes, it does not employ specific terminology to them. Newaza existed in ancient fighting-styles including Pankration and Wrestling but the nomenclature, being Japanese, started in the traditional Jiu-Jitsu schools and was spread world-wide through Judo. Currently the martial art that mostly specializes in newaza is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, following pre-world war II Judo roots, although it rarely employees the term in relation to its own game.