Technique Library

Primary leg-entanglement family that isolates one leg for heel hooks, kneebars, and transitions into saddle or 50/50.

Highest scoring control position with strong finishing mechanics.

Chest-to-chest clinch around the torso used for passing, takedowns, and crushing half-guard pressure.

Back-control variation that locks the legs in a triangle around the torso to immobilize the hips and raise submission percentage.

Butterfly-hook entry into ashi-style entanglement — a seated path from butterfly into single-leg X and heel-hook systems.

Dynamic open guard leveraging inside hooks, underhooks, and forward pressure to create sweeping opportunities.

Fundamental defensive guard with strong control and high-percentage attacks.

Gi open-guard framework built on opposite collar and sleeve grips — the base for scissor, pendulum, and many classic sweeps.

Standing head-and-neck grip used to snap, angle, and set up shots, trips, and front headlock attacks.

Inverted open-guard structure that sandwiches the passer between crossed legs — a high-control platform for sweeps and back takes.

Control position that traps both of the opponent’s arms with your legs and arms — a high-percentage platform for chokes and arm attacks.

Outside hook guard that controls the lead leg — a modern staple for sweeps, back takes, and berimbolo entries.

Half-guard entanglement that gets underneath the passer’s hips — a high-percentage path to waiter sweeps, back takes, and single-leg entries.

Half-guard dogfight — both athletes seated facing the same direction with competing underhooks — a high-percentage sweep and back-take platform.

Outside-reaping entanglement lookalike used to threaten heel hooks while managing IBJJF-illegal reap angles in training contexts.

Symmetric leg entanglement where both players share leg configuration — hub for ankle locks and modern leg wars.

Head-and-arm control from the front — the hub for guillotines, D’arce and anaconda chokes, snap-downs, and back takes.

Control position that traps the opponent’s near arm across their neck, setting back takes, armbars, and chokes.

Mounted control that hooks both of the opponent’s legs with your feet — a heavy pin that kills bridges and sets up high-percentage attacks.

Versatile hybrid guard that blends defensive recovery with sweeping and submission options.

HQ passing position — standing or kneeling over a seated/supine guard with inside control of one leg — the launchpad for knee-cuts, smash passes, and long steps.

Saddle-style entanglement nickname emphasizing the inside hip pocket used for high-percentage heel hooks.

Ashi configuration with the inside hook controlling the hip line — common highway into outside heel hooks and saddle.

Upside-down open-guard family that uses shoulder mobility and leg frames to retain, sweep, and enter company or waiter systems.

Inverted half-guard style entanglement that attacks the far leg — a modern bridge from retention into saddle, outside ashi, and back takes.

North-south style arm trap that isolates a kimura grip and hunts finishes, back takes, and armbars from a clamped upper body.

Mobile top control position that applies chest pressure while freeing hands for submissions or transitions.

Half-guard framing structure that uses the shin across the opponent’s torso to create space, stop the pass, and recover fuller guard.

Gi guard family that wraps a lapel around the opponent’s leg or body to control distance, sweep, and stall passes.

Gi open-guard system that wraps a sleeve-controlled arm with your leg — a high-control hub for sweeps, omoplatas, and spider combinations.

Half-guard entanglement that figure-fours the opponent’s leg to stall pressure — a control layer used for sweeps, transitions, and tempo changes.

The most dominant top position in BJJ with strong control and finishing options.

Top position with chest aligned north-south — strong control and choke entries when the opponent turns away.

Overhook-heavy guard that wraps the near arm and climbs the back or sweeps — a scramble-friendly control from half and open guard.

Dynamic guard family that relies on distance management, hooks, and grips to create attacks from open legs.

Ashi-garami configuration that controls the leg from the outside line — a primary highway into saddle, heel hooks, and ankle locks.

Inside-hook open guard that controls the lead leg from the inside — a primary entry to berimbolos, back takes, and modern passing counters.

High-leg closed-guard system that uses extreme hip flexibility to control posture and create omoplata, gogoplata, and triangle paths.

High mount variation with one knee up by the head — the classic platform for mounted armbars and mounted triangles.

Inside-sankaku style leg entanglement that isolates one leg for heel hooks and knee attacks — a cornerstone of modern no-gi leg-lock games.

Kesa-gatame style top pin that wraps the head and near arm from the side — a high-pressure control after throws and side-control transitions.

Back-control harness with one arm over the shoulder and one under the armpit — the primary grip for choking from the back.

Seated open-guard connection that meets the passer’s lead shin with your own — a primary entry to single-leg X, X-guard, and stand-up sweeps.

Fundamental top control position with strong pins and transitions.

Ashi-style open guard that isolates one leg with a figure-four — the main highway into ankle locks and modern heel hooks.

Standing clinch control that isolates one wrist — a setup hub for snaps, drags, trips, and hand-fighting entries.

Gi guard using sleeve and foot on biceps — creates distance, sweeps, and triangle entries against standing passers.

Lapel-based open-guard configuration that wraps the lapel around the near leg and uses sleeves to create sweep and back-take pressure.

Neutral standing phase — grip fighting, takedowns, and guard pulls start every rolling exchange.

Modified mount that slides a knee high toward the head — a bridge between mount retention and armbars, chokes, and back takes.

Twister-side control that folds the opponent’s legs and hips — a platform for calf slicers, back takes, and twister entries.

Defensive quadruped posture protecting the guard — gateway to escapes, reversals, and back-take battles.

Modified side-control / scarf-style pin that isolates the near arm and sets twister and crucifix-family attacks.

Lapel-based open guard that threads the gi skirt through the legs to control distance — a modern gi system for sweeps and back exposure.

Open-guard entanglement that elevates the opponent on crossed hooks — a hub for sweeps, single-leg X, and leg-lock entries.

Knee-shield half guard that frames the passer’s chest with your shin — a primary retention and sweep platform against pressure passing.

Perpendicular shoulder lock from mount and side control — punishes arms pinned flat on the mat.

Arm-in front-headlock strangle finished by rolling through — the common counterpart to the D’arce when the arm line reverses.

Guillotine variation that traps one arm with the neck, trading some finish speed for control, sweeps, and cleaner transitions to D’arce or anaconda.

Head-and-arm strangle from side control and mount — uses your shoulder and their trapped arm to cut blood flow.

Classic elbow hyperextension attack from guard, mount, and back — one of the first submissions every white belt learns.

Compression submission that spreads the hips using truck or crucifix-like control — high risk and ruleset sensitive.

Shoulder lock related to the omoplata that finishes with a figure-four style control from guard or scramble positions — a modern alternative when the classic omoplata stalls.

Gi collar choke using opposing lapel grips like holding a bat — common from side control, knee-on-belly, and turtling opponents.

Compression lock that folds the forearm against your bone to crush the bicep — often available from triangle, omoplata, and armbar scrambles.

Collar strangle from back control using leg and collar grips — one of the strongest gi chokes from the back.

Gi collar choke related to the darce family — threading the lapel under the neck from top half or side control and finishing with a tight shoulder-line squeeze.

Short choke from the side of turtle or a collapsed front headlock — clamping the neck with forearm and biceps when they keep the chin tucked.

Compression lock that folds the shin against your shin/bone to crush the calf — a high-pressure finish from entanglements and triangle-like leg configurations.

Neck crank from front headlock or turtle that pulls the head toward the chest without a true choke — illegal under IBJJF when applied as a spinal/neck crank without strangulation.

Gi collar choke from top turtle that walks around the head like a clock hand — a high-percentage attack when the opponent turtling hides their neck poorly.

Gi collar strangulation from mount that feeds cross collars and finishes with posture and elbow pressure — a high-percentage mounted attack.

Classic gi strangle using deep cross-collar grips — a foundational attack from guard and mount.

Choke attacks from crucifix control that use the trapped arm and collar or naked grips to finish while the far arm is pinned.

Arm-in brachial strangle from front headlock — a modern no-gi staple when the guillotine arm slides too deep.

Foot-lock style attack that isolates the toes and foot with a figure-four grip, often from standing or open guard scrambles.

Sleeve-and-forearm strangle applied from mount and inside closed guard — surprising and tight when grips are set.

Shin choke from rubber-guard or triangle-like configurations that presses the shin across the throat — spectacular, rare, and high-commitment.

Front headlock strangulation that punishes level changes, failed shots, and loose posture in standing and guard.

Rotational leg lock that attacks the knee through heel control — a primary finish in modern no-gi entanglements.

Arm-out guillotine finish that elevates the choking elbow and squeezes the forearm into the neck — the classic high-percentage no-gi variation.

Front-headlock strangle that clamps the head and near shoulder, then finishes by stepping over and tipping — a brutal cousin of the guillotine family.

Head-and-arm choke variation finished from side control or mount by locking the opponent’s arm across their neck.

Kimura attack from closed or open guard that isolates the wrist and elbow, then finishes or transitions to sweep and back takes.

Figure-four shoulder lock that controls the arm from guard, side control, and north-south — a staple sweep and submission.

Straight knee hyperextension attack from entanglements and top transitions — a bridge between beginner foot locks and advanced rotational attacks.

Gi collar choke that feeds a deep collar, loops the head, and finishes from closed or open guard when the opponent postures poorly.

Gi collar strangle that loops the lapel around the neck from guard or front headlock angles — a high-percentage collar attack when posture breaks.

Triangle choke finished from mount — isolating an arm and locking the figure-four with the legs while keeping top pressure.

Blood choke from north-south that wraps the neck with your armpit and shoulder — a high-percentage finish when side control turns into a scramble toward the head.

Shoulder lock using your legs from guard — a natural follow-up to triangle and armbar attacks.

Gi collar choke from side control that slices the blade of the forearm across the neck like a paper cutter — a high-percentage top attack when they turn in.

Front-headlock strangle that steps a leg over the shoulder and tips forward — a rolling finish when the classic guillotine stalls.

The most fundamental and high-percentage submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Triangle variation finished from the back or reverse triangle configuration when an arm is trapped against the neck.

Triangle strangulation finished with the opponent’s head and arm trapped on the opposite side of the classic triangle — common from mount, side control, and scrambles.

Compact rear strangulation that finishes with a short forearm wrap and shoulder pressure — a tight no-gi cousin of the rear-naked choke.

Primary straight foot lock attacking the ankle — legal at all adult belts in IBJJF and essential in no-gi leg entanglements.

Figure-four foot lock that twists the ankle and can load the knee — a common finish from reverse ashi and scramble positions.

A classic submission from guard, using your legs to choke the opponent.

Spinal lock from the truck that rotates the upper body against a trapped lower body — illegal under IBJJF rules and documented here for awareness and self-defense context.

Counter-choke that punishes a locked guillotine from top half or side by driving shoulder pressure into their own grip.

Small-joint attack that hyperextends or hyperflexes the wrist — a high-percentage opportunistic finish from closed guard, mount, and grip breaks.

Standing takedown that snatches an ankle while breaking posture with upper-body control — a high-percentage entry to top position in gi and no-gi.

Arm-drag chain that clears the near arm, takes the back angle, and inserts hooks before the opponent squares up.

Pull the opponent’s arm across the body to expose the back — essential no-gi entry from standing and guard.

Hand-fighting, stacking, and hitchhiker-style exits that protect the elbow when an armbar is locked in.

Defensive sequence to clear hooks or a body triangle, peel the seatbelt, and recover guard or turtle from back control.

Transition family that breaks turtle posture, inserts hooks or a seatbelt, and climbs to back control.

Closed-guard sweep that elevates the opponent with feet on the hips and rolls them overhead — a classic balloon/overhead reversal.

Inversion chain from De La Riva or reverse De La Riva that clears the legs and climbs to back control.

Inversion from De La Riva / reverse De La Riva that rolls under the passer to expose the back — a defining modern sport-BJJ transition.

Pressure pass that locks around the torso, lifts or folds the hips, and clears the legs to side control — a modern staple against seated guards.

Clinch takedown that locks the torso, removes the base with trips or lifts, and finishes to top control — a staple of no-gi wrestling exchanges.

Classic Upa escape from mount — trap arm and leg on one side, bridge, and roll to reclaim guard.

Standing open-guard pass that redirects the legs with grips or shin pressure and steps around to side control.

Single-hook butterfly sweep that elevates one side, steers with an overhook or underhook, and lands in mount or side control.

Elevate the opponent with butterfly hooks and lift to top position — core sweep from butterfly and seated guard.

Dynamic pass that cartwheels over the guard line to land in side control or north-south when the legs are elevated.

Gi grip drag using the collar to pull the opponent forward and expose the back or sweep.

Gi passing sequences that use collar and sleeve grips to straighten the bottom player, clear the feet, and walk around to side control.

Passing approach that keeps chest-to-chest or hip connection through half guard and smash positions instead of jumping space.

Wrestling control that traps head and knee together to turn the opponent, score near-fall pressure, or transition to the back.

Sweep options from De La Riva that off-balance the standing passer and finish to top or back exposure.

Classic wrestling shot attacking both legs — the most searched takedown entry in BJJ and MMA.

Pressure pass that threads both arms under the opponent’s legs, stacks their hips, and clears to side control or mount.

Wrestling level-change that slips under an arm or collar tie to the back — a high-percentage path from standing to rear body lock.

Fundamental mount escape that uses elbow-knee connection and hip movement to recover guard.

Lockdown-based exposure that splits the opponent’s legs and forces a sweep or banana-split style tap depending on rules and training agreements.

Wrestling throw that loads the opponent across the shoulders and rolls them to the mat — a high-percentage answer to overhooks and high collar ties.

Dynamic pass that rides above the guard with balanced posture, clearing hooks while staying ready to drop into side control.

Classic closed-guard sweep that loads one arm and leg on the same side, then pendulums the free leg to reverse to mount.

Compression-style pass that folds the bottom player’s knees toward their chest and walks the hips through the guard.

Shoulder roll that clears pressure and recovers guard or reverses bad angles — a core retention and turtle escape tool.

Intentional sit or jump to closed or open guard from standing while controlling grips to land safely on bottom.

Defensive sequences that protect the neck, posture inside the choke, and clear the hands to pass or reverse.

Sweeping hip throw that loads the opponent onto your hip and reaps the far leg — a classic judo attack adapted to BJJ clinches.

Mount escape that hooks the opponent’s heel, drags it toward your hip, and recovers half or closed guard.

Defensive priorities that hide the heel, clear the knee line, and exit ashi or saddle before rotational pressure finishes.

Wrestling level-change that attacks high on one leg — a powerful entry to finishes, mat returns, and front-headlock scrambles in no-gi and gi.

Explosive closed-guard sweep that off-balances a posting arm — feeds directly into kimura and mount.

Core shrimping movement that creates space with the hips to recover guard, escape pins, and reset frames under pressure.

Sit-up style escape that posts a hand, elevates the hips, and recovers posture from bottom half or turtle.

Reverse De La Riva back-take that inverted-rolls under the passer to seatbelt and hooks — a modern RDLR to back chain.

Knee-slice continuation that clears the bottom hook, wins the far hip, and finishes when the opponent tries to re-lock half guard.

Escape options from knee-on-belly that frame the knee, bridge or shrimp, and recover half guard or standing before the pass settles.

Pressure-based guard pass that slices the knee through the hip line to clear the guard.

Pressure pass that staples the bottom player’s top thigh with your knee, pinning the shield and clearing to side control.

Open-guard sweep that taps the posted knee while pulling the upper body, dumping the passer sideways onto their back.

Minor inner reap that hooks the near heel and dumps the opponent — a fast chaining trip with ouchi gari and ankle picks.

Sideways throw that turns and drops the opponent over your hip/leg line — a powerful clinch finish when they overcommit forward pressure.

Guard pass that drags one leg across the body to flatten the hips and settle into a dominant pinning position.

Half-guard pass that weaves the near arm under the bottom player’s thigh and drives to side control or mount.

Dynamic pass that steps the free leg long around the opponent’s hips to clear inversion and high-leg retention from headquarters.

Escape family from mount that combines framing, bridging, and elbow escapes to recover half guard or closed guard.

Escape sequences from north-south that create frames, turn the corner, and recover guard or turtle before the choke settles.

Half-guard underhook sweep that captures the far ankle and rolls the passer over the trapped leg — a staple dogfight finish.

Sweep that uses omoplata control to tip the opponent and come up on top when the shoulder lock is defended.

Major outer reap that breaks posture and reaps the heel/leg line — one of the highest-percentage judo throws adapted to gi BJJ.

Major inner reap that reaps the inside of the lead leg and dumps the opponent backward — a high-percentage judo trip for BJJ clinches.

Pressure pass that combines a near-side underhook with far-side overhook control to smash through half guard and open guard into side control.

Swinging leg momentum sweep from closed guard — creates armbar and triangle follow-ups when the sweep fails.

De la Riva / inverted-style sweep that off-balances a standing passer and rotates them over the near hook into top position.

Standing control transition that isolates an arm in a Russian tie and converts it into snaps, trips, and mat returns.

Classic closed-guard sweep that uses opposing forces to topple a kneeling opponent.

Beginner closed-guard chain that links scissor sweep threats into hip bump attacks when the opponent posts.

Shoulder throw that loads the opponent over your back and rotates them to the mat — a high-percentage gi attack from collar-and-sleeve.

Frame-and-shrimp escape from bottom side control to recover knee shield, half guard, or full guard.

High-percentage takedown that lifts or runs the pipe to finish from standing.

Sweep and elevation attacks from single-leg X that off-balance the passer and finish standing or in top control.

Pressure pass that threads one arm under a leg, stacks the hips, and clears to side control when double unders are unavailable.

Closed-guard sit-up sweep that bumps a posting opponent over — closely related to the hip bump and a direct path to mount or kimura.

Pressure pass that folds the opponent’s frames and chest flat — crushing half guard or open-guard retention into side control.

Standing attack that breaks posture with collar or head control and snaps the opponent to their hands — the main entry into front headlock offense.

Pressure pass that stacks the bottom player toward their shoulders and clears the legs into side control or mount.

Beginner closed-guard break that posts, stands safely, opens the ankles, and prepares a pass without diving into triangles.

Foundational movement that posts a hand, bases a foot, and stands safely from the ground while keeping distance and frames.

Sacrifice throw that plants a foot on the hips and rolls backward to put the opponent on their back — also a bridge into open-guard attacks.

Bullfighter pass using collar or ankle grips to run around the legs — a high-tempo staple in modern passing.

Posture, stacking, and arm-position defenses that reduce choke pressure and create exits from closed-guard triangles.

Classic open-guard sweep using collar and sleeve grips with a foot on the hip — high percentage against kneeling passers.

Standing control that puts both hands on one of the opponent’s arms, creating drags, snaps, and trip entries from a simple grip advantage.

Inner-thigh reaping throw that lifts and rotates the opponent over your hips — a classic judo attack adapted to collar-and-sleeve BJJ.

Deep-half sweep that elevates the passer like a waiter’s tray and rolls them over the trapped side to come up on top.

Lapel sweep family from worm guard that off-balances the standing passer and finishes to top or back exposure.

Sprawl, crossface, and whizzer reactions that stop single and double-leg entries before they finish.

Sweep family from X-guard that elevates, off-balances, and comes up on top into side control or standing.

Cross-step pass that drives one leg across the body — a modern favorite against seated and supine open guards.

Understanding how to create and maintain a strong base for stability and balance in all BJJ positions.

Developing breathing techniques and relaxation strategies to improve endurance and decision-making under pressure.

Concept of controlling range — closing to clinch or pass, or creating space to retain guard — instead of fighting at the opponent’s preferred distance.

Use skeletal structure instead of muscle — frames create space, protect neck and arms, and enable escapes.

Fundamental skill of stripping sleeve, collar, and wrist grips to restore posture, free hands for offense, and stop opponent control.

Win the grip battle first — collar, sleeve, and wrist control determine every takedown, pass, and guard attack.

Clinch concept that owns the head and a trapped arm together — the base for arm triangles, D’arces, and pins.

Mastering hip movement for guard retention, transitions, and creating offensive angles.

Understanding leverage to amplify technique efficiency regardless of size or strength.

Outside upper-body wrap used to neutralize underhooks, set whizzers, and create front headlock or throw entries.

Building strong posture to prevent attacks, maintain balance, and create offensive opportunities.

Passing philosophy that keeps chest, hips, and head connected while clearing frames instead of jumping space around the guard.

Hips-to-mat defensive reaction that stops a shot or double-leg level change and recovers front headlock or standing control.

Developing timing and rhythm to anticipate reactions and control the pace of a match.

Inside upper-body tie that wins chest position for wrestling, half guard, and passing exchanges.

Overhook-based defensive and offensive tool that blocks the underhook, turns the corner, and can reverse a shot.

Grip strategy that owns the opponent’s wrists to stop posts, break posture, and clear frames for passes or submissions.