I have mentioned in previous blog posts that I practice an “artes marciales” (martial arts) here in Medellin, Colombia. The “artes marciales” that I practice is called “jiu-jitsu brasileño” (Brazilian jiu-jitsu).

Well a few nights ago, we had a visiting American jiu-jitsu instructor who is a “cinturón negro” (black belt) come and demonstrate a few “técnicas” (techniques) for “defensa personal” (self-defense).

Let’s say the instructor’s name is Jeff (not his real name). Jeff spoke Spanish on an intermediate/advanced level.

How To Say Rear Naked Choke In Spanish

One of the “técnicas” (techniques) that Jeff taught us was how to defend from what is known in wrestling, jiu-jitsu and MMA circles as a rear-naked choke. In both Spanish and Portuguese, the word for rear-naked choke is “mataleón.” “Mataleón” literally means lion-killer.

In order to demonstrate the “técnica,” Jeff needed one of the students in the jiu-jitsu class to lie
facedown. And when the student mistakenly started to lie on his back, speaking in Spanish, in order
to ask the student to lie facedown, Jeff said “cara abajo.”

Did you notice the mistake that Jeff made when he said “cara abajo”?

How To Say Facedown In Spanish

Yes, “cara abajo” literally means “facedown.” But the term “cara abajo” is not used in Spanish. In Spanish, the term “boca abajo” (or “bocabajo”) is used.

“Boca abajo” literally means “mouth down.”

So Jeff should have told the student “boca abajo” in order to get the student to lie facedown (or mouthdown).

Here’s a sentence using the phrase “boca abajo” –

Coloca el documento boca abajo sobre el cristal para escanearlo.
(Put the document facedown above the pane in order to scan it.)