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Essential Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Positions You Must Master

Starting out in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) can feel overwhelming due to the extensive array of techniques that one must learn. Many newcomers often ponder where to begin their training journey, searching for clarity amidst the complexity.

This guide aims to simplify your initiation into BJJ by breaking down the fundamental positions, critical movements, and key submissions that form the backbone of this martial art. By mastering these essentials, you will cultivate a solid foundation that facilitates the integration of more advanced techniques as your skills develop over time.

There are six core positions every practitioner should understand: guard, side control, knee on belly, mount, rear mount, and turtle. Each position possesses unique advantages, some of which are quantifiable in competition, typically earning between 2 to 4 points.

In addition to these positions, we will introduce you to six essential submissions and movements that every beginner should practice to construct a well-rounded BJJ game.

The Six Basic Positions, Movements, and Submissions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Here’s a detailed exploration of the six essential positions, movements, and submissions that every beginner should master. These components are the building blocks of your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey.

Positions

Each position serves a unique purpose in both offensive and defensive strategies. Some of these positions are also awarded points during competitions:

Guard / Side Control / Knee on Belly (2 points)
Mount (4 points)
Rear Mount / Back Control (4 points)
Turtle

Movements

The effectiveness of BJJ lies in precise movement. These fundamental actions aid in escaping, defending, or launching effective attacks:

Bridging / Shrimping
Escapes / Sweeps (2 points)
Guard Passes (3 points)
Transitions
Submissions

Learning submissions is crucial for finishing matches effectively. Here are six highly effective submissions for beginners:

Triangle Choke
Armbar
Americana / Figure 4
Rear Naked Choke
Guillotine
Kimura

6 Basic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Positions

1. The Guard

What is the Guard?

The guard is a foundational position in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, characterized by the bottom player being on their back or seated while their opponent is positioned in front of their legs. This versatile stance allows for a range of both offensive and defensive techniques, setting BJJ apart from other grappling disciplines.

Why the Guard is Essential

The guard exemplifies the uniqueness of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Unlike sports such as wrestling or judo, where being on your back often signifies defeat, the guard enables practitioners to neutralize an opponent's advantages and generate opportunities to execute sweeps or submissions. Even if an opponent secures points for a takedown, maintaining your guard still provides you with substantial chances to reverse the outcome, attack, and win the match.

The Closed Guard

The closed guard is typically one of the first positions introduced in BJJ academies due to its straightforward nature and control capabilities. In this stance, the practitioner secures their opponent between their legs, significantly hindering the opponent’s ability to pass the guard while allowing for potential attacks.

The Open Guard

The open guard introduces greater complexity and options but demands heightened control and skill. It has been a common misconception among those unfamiliar with BJJ that the bottom player is losing when in open guard. This was notably debunked in the early 1990s when Royce Gracie showcased the effectiveness of the guard during his matches in the first UFC events, defeating much larger opponents from this very position.

Thus, learning and mastering the guard is vital not only for survival but also for progression within Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

2. Side Control

What is Side Control?

Side control, also referred to as side mount, is a dominant top position wherein the practitioner pins their opponent chest-to-chest while laying perpendicular to their body.

Why Side Control Matters

Securing side control after successfully passing the guard represents a significant milestone in any BJJ encounter. This position renders an opponent's guard ineffective and establishes a dominant area from which attacks or transitions to positions like mount or back mount can be initiated. Mastery of side control requires technical skill interwoven with strategic planning. Practitioners should focus on developing both guard-passing skills and the ability to maintain control, as these elements are integral to a complete BJJ game.

3. Turtle Position

What is the Turtle Position?

The turtle position is achieved when a player is on their hands and knees with their head tucked in closely, frequently under the control of an opponent situated above or behind them.

Why Use the Turtle Position?

This position primarily serves as a defensive maneuver, used to avoid giving up points when an opponent passes the guard but fails to establish side control. Transitioning to turtle can yield several strategic benefits:

Preventing Points: By adopting the turtle position, you effectively deny your opponent the three points typically awarded for a guard pass.Creating Opportunities: Turtle allows for re-guarding, facilitating a regain of control and enabling a reset to a preferable fighting position.Attacking from Turtle: If your opponent is situated directly in front, you may find opportunities to perform takedowns and shift the momentum back in your favor.

Risks of the Turtle Position

While there are many strategic advantages to using the turtle position, it also poses substantial risks, especially regarding the potential for an opponent to take your back. Effectively utilizing this position demands well-calibrated timing, acute situational awareness, and rapid responsiveness to an opponent's movements.

4. The Mount (4 Points)

What is the Mount?

The mount is recognized as a highly advantageous top position where the practitioner straddles their opponent, maintaining control by kneeling over them.

Why the Mount is Critical

Considered one of the most formidable positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, achieving mount often signals a significant edge. From here, the top player can launch multiple attacks while their opponent must focus solely on defense. The force of gravity aids.

5. Knee on Belly (2 Points)

What is Knee on Belly?

Knee on belly occurs when the top player places one knee on their opponent’s stomach while keeping their other leg positioned for balance and control.

Why Knee on Belly is Useful

Knee on belly is a transitional and controlling position often used during a guard pass or to force an opponent to move. The pressure applied through the knee can feel overwhelming, creating openings for submissions or transitions to dominant positions like the mount.

This position is particularly effective when your opponent is tightly defending in side control or mount, as it encourages movement and creates opportunities for attack. When applied correctly, knee on belly can cause discomfort and even force less experienced opponents to tap from the pressure alone.

If you find yourself stuck in side control or struggling to find openings in the mount, transitioning to knee on belly can unlock new possibilities and keep your opponent off balance.

6. Rear Mount / Back Control (4 Points)

What is Rear Mount / Back Control?

Rear mount, also known as back control, involves positioning yourself behind your opponent with your legs wrapped around their torso to secure them in place.

Why Rear Mount is Powerful

Rear mount is one of the most dominant positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It allows the practitioner to attack with chokes and submissions without much risk of retaliation, as the opponent cannot see the attacks coming. From this position, you have access to high-percentage submissions like the rear naked choke, often considered the pinnacle of Jiu Jitsu techniques.

Achieving rear mount can be done from nearly any position, including guard, side control, mount, or during a scramble. Because of its versatility and effectiveness, learning the various entries into rear mount is crucial for any practitioner aiming to control and finish their opponent.

Basic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Movements

1. Bridging

What is Bridging?

Bridging is a fundamental movement where you lift your hips off the ground while keeping your weight on your shoulders and back. It is typically used to create space, escape a pin, or transition to a more advantageous position.

Why Bridging is Important

Bridging is a cornerstone of grappling. In BJJ, a strong bridge can be the difference between staying pinned and escaping to regain control. It’s particularly critical in positions like side control, mount, closed guard, or half guard, where being flat on your back limits mobility and exposes you to attacks.

A properly executed bridge creates a momentary gap, giving you the chance to set up a frame—often against your opponent’s shoulder—and execute a hip escape. This motion can lead to regaining guard control or even reversing the situation entirely.

Bridging is also the foundation for many mount escapes, emphasizing the need to drill this movement regularly to develop power and timing.

2. Shrimping / Hip Escape

What is Shrimping?

Shrimping, also called a hip escape, is a movement used to create space between you and your opponent. This technique is critical for maintaining guard, recovering guard, or escaping disadvantaged positions.

Why Shrimping is Essential

Shrimping is one of the first movements beginners learn in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and for good reason—it’s foundational to guard retention. By combining frames with shrimping, you can maintain distance and prevent your opponent from advancing to a dominant position.

While flexibility can enhance your guard retention, proper shrimping technique is often the key to success. Many practitioners with limited flexibility maintain formidable guards by mastering their hip escapes and frames.

To strengthen your shrimping technique, practice it consistently, even as a solo drill. Neglecting this movement can lead to a weaker guard and make you vulnerable to guard passes.

3. Escapes

What are Escapes?

Escapes are techniques or sequences used to free yourself from disadvantageous positions, such as being pinned in mount or caught in a submission attempt.

Why You Must Train Escapes

A common question is, “Why focus on escapes if I can just develop unstoppable attacks?” The answer lies in preparedness. No matter how strong your offense is, there will always be scenarios where you find yourself in a bad position. Being unprepared in those moments can cost you the match.

Imagine dominating a match and leading by 20 points with seconds remaining. Suddenly, your opponent executes a flying triangle choke. If you’ve neglected escape training, you might lose despite your dominance. However, if you’ve spent time drilling escapes and training from bad positions, you’ll have the confidence and skills to withstand the attack and finish strong.

Regularly placing yourself in disadvantageous positions during training allows you to refine your ability to remain calm, identify opportunities, and execute effective escapes. This preparation ensures that mistakes happen only in practice, not in competition.

4. Sweeps (2 Points)

What Are Sweeps?

A sweep is a technique used to reverse a position, typically moving from your back to a dominant top position. In IBJJF competitions, points for a sweep are awarded only if it starts from a guard or half guard position.

Why Sweeps Are Crucial

Sweeps are a guard player’s best tool for turning the tables. The key to a successful sweep lies in off-balancing your opponent. By disrupting their base, you can execute a sweep with minimal effort while also opening opportunities for submissions.

Sweeps can be executed from a variety of guards, including closed guard, half guard, spider guard, lasso guard, and many others. Mastering sweeps requires understanding how different body types and guard styles interact, making it essential to experiment and refine your technique with guidance from a skilled coach.

5. Guard Passing (3 Points)

What Is Guard Passing?

Guard passing involves neutralizing and overcoming your opponent’s guard to secure a more advantageous position, such as side control or mount.

Why Guard Passing Matters

Passing the guard is like solving a puzzle. Your opponent’s guard type presents specific challenges that require you to select the appropriate passing strategy. While working to pass, you must maintain a strong base and be prepared to defend against sweeps or submissions.

Types of Guard Passes:

Speed Passing: Utilizes quick, sharp movements to surprise your opponent and transition into side control or mount before they can react.
Pressure Passing: Focuses on overwhelming your opponent with control and weight, gradually breaking their guard despite their resistance.
Hybrid Passing: Combines elements of speed and pressure, keeping your passing game dynamic and unpredictable.

Adaptability is key—relying too heavily on one style makes you predictable and easier to counter.

6. Transitions

What Are Transitions?

A transition refers to moving fluidly between positions or submissions, creating opportunities and maintaining control throughout the match.

Why Transitions Are Vital

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, transitions are the glue that connects positions and submissions. They allow you to adapt to changing situations, string together attacks, and keep your opponent guessing. As Master Cyborg says, “Jiu Jitsu is like a ball—once it gets rolling, it can’t stop in the middle.”

High-level practitioners seamlessly flow between positions, making their movements appear effortless. This fluidity is the result of years of practice and countless hours of trial and error. For example, transitioning between an armbar, triangle, and omoplata not only confuses your opponent but also increases the likelihood of success.

To elevate your game:

Mix Up Guards: Keep your opponent off balance by transitioning between closed guard, spider guard, and other variations.
Blend Submissions: Chain attacks together to create openings and capitalize on opportunities.

Mastering transitions is what separates good practitioners from great ones. Make it your goal to flow like a seasoned black belt, ensuring no movement is wasted.

Basic but Essential Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Submissions

In this final section, we’ll focus on the ultimate goal of any Brazilian Jiu Jitsu match: the submission. Finishing a fight with a submission is the most definitive way to secure a win, ensuring the outcome isn’t left in the hands of judges. Submissions not only showcase technical skill but also help conserve energy for later matches, especially in higher-level competitions where bouts can last 10 minutes or longer.

Even if you don’t finish every match with a submission, you should always be actively hunting for opportunities to submit your opponent. A proactive submission game keeps your opponent on the defensive and increases your chances of success.

If you’re eager to expand your knowledge, check out our comprehensive list of over 40 BJJ submissions from various positions.

1. Triangle

What is the Triangle?

The triangle choke traps your opponent’s neck and one arm between your legs, forming a triangular shape. By applying pressure with your legs, you restrict blood flow to the brain, forcing a tap.

Why the Triangle is Effective

The triangle choke is one of the highest-percentage submissions in BJJ, largely due to its versatility. You can set up the triangle from nearly any guard type or dominant position, including side control, mount, or back mount. Once secured, the triangle is difficult to escape, especially if adjusted correctly to block counters.

2. Armbar

What is the Armbar?

The armbar is a joint lock that hyperextends your opponent’s elbow, causing pain and forcing a tap.

Why the Armbar is a Staple Technique

The armbar pairs seamlessly with the triangle choke, making it a versatile and high-percentage submission. It can be initiated from virtually any dominant position, and if your initial attempt struggles, transitioning back to a triangle is often a viable option. This dual-threat approach makes the armbar an essential tool for every practitioner.

3. Kimura

What is the Kimura?

The kimura is a powerful shoulder lock that leverages a specific grip to isolate and manipulate your opponent’s arm.

Why the Kimura is Iconic

The kimura, named after judo legend Masahiko Kimura, gained fame when he used it to defeat Helio Gracie. This submission can be executed from a variety of guards and top positions, making it both effective and versatile. Additionally, the kimura often sets up sweeps, making it a valuable offensive tool.

4. Guillotine

What is the Guillotine?

The guillotine is a choke that targets the neck. Whenever your opponent’s head extends forward, you can secure this submission.

Why the Guillotine is Devastating

The guillotine is especially effective in nogi but can also work with the gi. It’s a fast and efficient submission that can be applied from various positions, including standing exchanges. Masters like Marcelo Garcia and Josh Hinger have demonstrated the guillotine’s effectiveness at the highest levels.

5. Americana

What is the Americana?

The Americana is a straightforward shoulder lock, often applied from side control or mount.

Why the Americana is Beginner-Friendly

The Americana is one of the easiest submissions to execute, particularly for beginners. It offers a safe way to attack without compromising your dominant position. Even if the attempt fails, you can reset and maintain control, making it a low-risk, high-reward submission.

6. Rear Naked Choke

What is the Rear Naked Choke?

Also called the "mata leão" or "lion killer," this choke is performed from back control. It involves sliding one arm under your opponent’s chin and locking it with your other arm while applying pressure.

Why the Rear Naked Choke is a Finisher

The rear naked choke is one of the most definitive submissions in BJJ. It’s difficult to defend against because the attacker is in complete control from the back. With minimal effort, this submission can end a match quickly, showcasing the technical superiority of the practitioner.

Positional Hierarchy in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

To tie everything together, it’s essential to understand the positional hierarchy in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The hierarchy prioritizes control and positional dominance, providing a roadmap for both offense and defense. Here’s a simplified view based on Mastering Jujitsu by Renzo Gracie and John Danaher:

Most Advantageous Positions (Top):
- Mount
- Rear Mount
- Knee on Belly
Neutral Positions:
- Closed Guard
- Open Guard
Least Advantageous Positions (Bottom):
- Turtle
- Side Control (bottom)

Mastering this hierarchy helps you strategize effectively and make informed decisions during matches.

What’s Next?

As you begin your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey, dedicate time to perfecting the fundamentals. Flashy techniques like flying attacks and berimbolos are enticing but build on a strong foundation of basic movements, positions, and submissions. Over time, you’ll naturally integrate advanced techniques into your game.

Stay consistent, train hard, and embrace the learning process. Oss! Let me know if you'd like a diagram or additional optimization for this content!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Positions You Must Master