Open BJJ

Technique Library

Every technique broken down step by step, from the positions you control to the submissions that finish. Filter by difficulty to find what fits your belt.

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advanced

Ashi Garami

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

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intermediate

Back Control

Highest scoring control position with strong finishing mechanics.

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intermediate

Body Lock

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

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intermediate

Body Triangle

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

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advanced

Butterfly Ashigarami

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

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intermediate

Butterfly Guard

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

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beginner

Closed Guard

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

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beginner

Collar-Sleeve Guard

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

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beginner

Collar Tie

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

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advanced

Company Guard

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

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advanced

Crucifix

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

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intermediate

De La Riva Guard

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

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intermediate

Deep Half Guard

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

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intermediate

Dogfight

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

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advanced

False Reap

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

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intermediate

Fifty-Fifty Guard

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

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beginner

Front Headlock

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

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intermediate

Gift Wrap

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

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intermediate

Grapevine Mount

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.

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intermediate

Half Guard

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

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intermediate

Headquarters

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.

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advanced

Honey Hole

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

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advanced

Inside Ashi

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

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advanced

Inverted Guard

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

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advanced

K-Guard

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

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advanced

Kimura Trap

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

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intermediate

Knee on Belly

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

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beginner

Knee Shield

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

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advanced

Lapel Guard

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

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intermediate

Lasso Guard

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

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intermediate

Lockdown

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

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beginner

Mount

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

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intermediate

North-South

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

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advanced

Octopus Guard

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

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intermediate

Open Guard

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

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intermediate

Outside Ashi

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

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intermediate

Reverse De La Riva

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

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advanced

Rubber Guard

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

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intermediate

S-Mount

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

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advanced

Saddle

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

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beginner

Scarf Hold

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.

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intermediate

Seatbelt Control

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

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intermediate

Shin-to-Shin

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.

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beginner

Side Control

Fundamental top control position with strong pins and transitions.

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intermediate

Single-Leg X

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

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beginner

Single Wrist Tie

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

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intermediate

Spider Guard

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

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advanced

Squid Guard

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

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beginner

Standing

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

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intermediate

Technical Mount

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

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advanced

Truck

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

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beginner

Turtle

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

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intermediate

Twister Side Control

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

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advanced

Worm Guard

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

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intermediate

X-Guard

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

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intermediate

Z-Guard

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

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beginner

Americana

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

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advanced

Anaconda Choke

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

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intermediate

Arm-In Guillotine

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

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intermediate

Arm Triangle Choke

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

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beginner

Armbar

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

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advanced

Banana Split

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

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advanced

Baratoplata

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.

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intermediate

Baseball Bat Choke

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

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advanced

Bicep Slicer

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

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intermediate

Bow and Arrow Choke

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

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advanced

Brabo Choke

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.

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intermediate

Bulldog Choke

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.

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advanced

Calf Slicer

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.

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intermediate

Can Opener

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.

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intermediate

Clock Choke

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.

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beginner

Collar Choke from Mount

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

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beginner

Cross Collar Choke

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

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intermediate

Crucifix Choke

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

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advanced

Darce Choke

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

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advanced

Estima Lock

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

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intermediate

Ezekiel Choke

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

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advanced

Gogoplata

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

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beginner

Guillotine Choke

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

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advanced

Heel Hook

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

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intermediate

High-Elbow Guillotine

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

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advanced

Japanese Necktie

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

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intermediate

Kata Gatame

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

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intermediate

Kimura from Guard

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

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beginner

Kimura

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

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intermediate

Knee Bar

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

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advanced

Loop Choke from Guard

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

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intermediate

Loop Choke

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

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intermediate

Mounted Triangle

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

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intermediate

North-South Choke

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.

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intermediate

Omoplata

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

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intermediate

Paper Cutter Choke

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.

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advanced

Peruvian Necktie

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

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beginner

Rear Naked Choke

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

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beginner

Rear Triangle

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

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advanced

Reverse Triangle

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.

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intermediate

Short Choke

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

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beginner

Straight Ankle Lock

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

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intermediate

Toe Hold

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

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intermediate

Triangle Choke

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

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advanced

Twister

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.

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intermediate

Von Flue Choke

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

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intermediate

Wrist Lock

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

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beginner

Ankle Pick

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.

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intermediate

Arm Drag to Back

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

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beginner

Arm Drag

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

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intermediate

Armbar Defense

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

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intermediate

Back Escape

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

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intermediate

Back Take from Turtle

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

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intermediate

Balloon Sweep

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

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advanced

Berimbolo to Back

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

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advanced

Berimbolo

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

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intermediate

Body Lock Pass

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.

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intermediate

Body Lock Takedown

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.

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beginner

Bridge and Roll Escape

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

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beginner

Bullfighter Pass

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

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beginner

Butterfly Hook Sweep

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

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beginner

Butterfly Sweep

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

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advanced

Cartwheel Pass

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

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beginner

Collar Drag

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

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intermediate

Collar Sleeve Pass

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

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advanced

Connection Passing

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

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intermediate

Cradle

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

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intermediate

De La Riva Sweep

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

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beginner

Double Leg Takedown

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

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intermediate

Double-Under Pass

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

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beginner

Duck Under

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

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beginner

Elbow Escape from Mount

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

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advanced

Electric Chair

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

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intermediate

Fireman's Carry

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.

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advanced

Floating Pass

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

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beginner

Flower Sweep

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

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intermediate

Folding Pass

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

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intermediate

Granby Roll

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

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beginner

Guard Pull

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

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intermediate

Guillotine Defense

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

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intermediate

Harai Goshi

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

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beginner

Heel Drag Escape

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

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advanced

Heel Hook Defense

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

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intermediate

High Crotch

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.

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beginner

Hip Bump Sweep

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

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beginner

Hip Escape

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

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intermediate

Hip Heist

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

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advanced

Kiss of the Dragon

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

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intermediate

Knee Cut Retention Pass

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

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intermediate

Knee on Belly Escape

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

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intermediate

Knee Slide Pass

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

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intermediate

Knee Staple Pass

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

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beginner

Knee Tap Sweep

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

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beginner

Kouchi Gari

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

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intermediate

Lateral Drop

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

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intermediate

Leg Drag

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

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intermediate

Leg Weave Pass

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

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intermediate

Long Step Pass

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

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beginner

Mount Escape

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

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intermediate

North South Escape

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

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intermediate

Old School Sweep

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

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intermediate

Omoplata Sweep

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

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beginner

Osoto Gari

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

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beginner

Ouchi Gari

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

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intermediate

Over-Under Pass

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

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intermediate

Pendulum Sweep

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

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advanced

Penelope Sweep

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

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intermediate

Russian Tie

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

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beginner

Scissor Sweep

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

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beginner

Scissor to Hip Bump Chain

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

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intermediate

Seoi Nage

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

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beginner

Side Control Escape

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

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intermediate

Single Leg Takedown

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

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intermediate

Single Leg X Sweep

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

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intermediate

Single-Under Pass

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

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beginner

Sit-Up Sweep

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.

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intermediate

Smash Pass

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

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beginner

Snap Down

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

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intermediate

Stack Pass

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

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beginner

Standing Guard Break

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

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beginner

Technical Stand-Up

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

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intermediate

Tomoe Nage

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.

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beginner

Torreando Pass

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

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intermediate

Triangle Defense

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

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beginner

Tripod Sweep

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

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beginner

Two-on-One

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

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intermediate

Uchi Mata

How to hit uchi mata in BJJ: collar-and-sleeve grips, loading the leg, the inner-thigh reap and hip turn, landing in side control, and common counters.

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intermediate

Waiter's Sweep

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

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advanced

Worm Guard Sweep

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

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beginner

Wrestling Shot Defense

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

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intermediate

X-Guard Sweep

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

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intermediate

X-Pass

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

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beginner

Base and Balance

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

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beginner

Breathing and Relaxation

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

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beginner

Distance Management

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

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beginner

Framing

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

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beginner

Grip Breaks

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

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beginner

Grip Fighting

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

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beginner

Head and Arm Control

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

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beginner

Hip Movement

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

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beginner

Leverage

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

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beginner

Overhook

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

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beginner

Posture

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

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intermediate

Pressure Passing

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

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beginner

Sprawl

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

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beginner

Timing and Rhythm

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

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beginner

Underhook

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

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beginner

Whizzer

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

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beginner

Wrist Control

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

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