BJJ Technique Library

Also: RNC, Mata Leão

The rear naked choke is universally considered the highest percentage submission in grappling. Applied from back control...

Also: Front Headlock Choke, Standing Guillotine

The guillotine is one of grappling's most versatile submissions, attackable from standing, guard, and top positions. It ...

Also: Sankaku-jime, Triangle

The triangle choke is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's most iconic submission. Using your legs in a figure-four around their neck a...

Also: Brabo Choke, No-Gi Brabo

The D'Arce (or Brabo) choke is an arm triangle applied from outside, threading your arm through the space between their ...

Also: Head and Arm Choke, Kata-gatame

The arm triangle is a suffocating submission that uses your opponent's own shoulder against them. By trapping their arm ...

Also: Juji-gatame, Cross Armlock

The armbar from guard is one of the first submissions every grappler learns, yet it remains effective at the highest lev...

Also: Double Wristlock, Chicken Wing

The Kimura is named after Masahiko Kimura, who used it to defeat Hélio Gracie in 1951. This figure-four grip on the wris...

Also: Keylock, Figure-Four Armlock

The Americana is the Kimura's cousin—same figure-four grip, opposite direction. Applied primarily from side control and ...

Also: Cross Sweep, Basic Sweep

The scissor sweep is typically the first sweep taught to beginners because it teaches fundamental sweeping principles: b...

Also: Sit-up Sweep

The hip bump sweep catches opponents when they sit too upright in your guard. By sitting up explosively and bumping your...

Also: Hook Sweep, Elevator Sweep

The butterfly sweep uses your hook (foot inside their thigh) to elevate and turn your opponent over while your upper bod...

Also: Pendulum Sweep, Bolo Sweep

The flower sweep uses a pendulum motion of your legs combined with sleeve/hip control to sweep your opponent over your b...

Also: Knee Cut Pass, Knee Slide Pass

The knee slice is the bread-and-butter guard pass of modern BJJ. It works against virtually every guard by combining ele...

Also: Bullfighter Pass, Toreada

The toreando (bullfighter) pass is a dynamic, high-speed pass that redirects your opponent's legs while you circle aroun...

Also: Bullfighter Pass, Toreada

The torreando (bullfighter) pass is named after the matador's movement around a charging bull. You grip both of their pa...

Also: Stack Pass, Pressure Pass

The over under pass is a methodical pressure pass where you have one arm over their leg and one arm under. This configur...

Also: Leg Drag, Hip Switch Pass

The leg drag is a modern passing essential that not only gets you past the guard but often leads directly to back takes....

Also: Double Leg, Blast Double

The double leg is wrestling's power takedown—you attack both legs simultaneously, driving through them to take them down...

Also: Single Leg, High Single

The single leg is perhaps the most useful takedown for BJJ because it presents lower risk than the double leg and works ...

Also: Two-on-One, Russian Tie Drag

The arm drag is one of the most versatile techniques in grappling—it works standing for takedowns, from guard for sweeps...

Also: Upa, Bridge and Roll

The trap and roll (upa) is the fundamental mount escape that every white belt learns first—and every black belt still us...

Also: Shrimp Escape, Hip Escape

The elbow-knee escape is the foundational side control escape. By framing with your arms to create space, then shrimping...

Also: Elbow Push Escape, Knee Escape Mount

The elbow knee escape (also called 'elbow push' or 'trap and roll alternative') is one of the safest mount escapes becau...

Also: Upa, Bridge and Roll

The trap and roll (upa in Portuguese) is the most satisfying mount escape—when done correctly, you go from worst positio...

Also: Shrimp to Guard, Hip Escape

The basic side control escape combines frames, bridges, and hip movement to create space and recover guard. The key is u...

Also: Full Mount, Mounted Position

Mount is one of the most dominant positions in grappling—you have maximum control while they have minimum escape options...

Also: Back Mount, Rear Mount

The back is widely considered the most dominant position in grappling. Your opponent can't see you, can't attack you eff...

Also: Side Mount, Cross-side

Side control is the position most grapplers spend the most time in—both top and bottom. It's the natural landing spot af...

Also: Full Guard, Guard

Closed guard is the foundation of BJJ's bottom game. By locking your legs around their waist, you create a position wher...

Also: Half Mount

Half guard was once considered a failed full guard, but modern BJJ has revealed it as a powerful position in its own rig...