Become Fighter
The big picture: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
Why position comes before submission, and the ladder from guard to back control.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a ground game built on one idea: a smaller, weaker person can beat a bigger one by controlling position first and finishing second.
Before any move, learn the map. Every roll, every drill and every escape in this course is a way of getting from one place on that map to another. This lesson needs no mat. Read it, then walk through the positions in your head.
Key points
- Position before submission. Control the body, then attack.
- The ladder, from safest to most dangerous for you: guard, half guard, side control against you, mount against you, back taken.
- Guard means your legs are between you and your opponent. It is a place to attack from, not just to survive.
- Side control, mount and back control are dominant top positions. Escapes are how you climb back up the ladder to safety.
- Tapping is part of the sport. Tap early, tap often, and stop the moment your partner taps.
Step by step
- Guard. You are on your back with your legs wrapped or framed around your opponent. Closed guard has the ankles crossed behind them. Open guard has the legs free. This is a safe, active place to be.
- Half guard. One of your legs is trapped between your opponent's legs. You are still in the game, but they are closer to passing. Keep your knee between your chests and your frames up.
- Side control. Your opponent is across your chest, pinning you to the floor. The aim is to make space, get your knees back in, and recover guard.
- Mount. Your opponent sits on your chest or stomach with their knees by your ribs. It is a heavy position. The escapes are the bridge and the elbow-knee escape, which you will learn in this course.
- Back control. Someone is behind you with their legs around your waist or hips. It is the most dominant position. The best defence is never to let it happen: protect your neck and turn into your opponent early.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Hunting for submissions from the start. Spend your first months learning to be safe and to move. Submissions come easily once you control position.
- Fighting hard against every position. Stay calm, breathe and look for the next small improvement. Panic wastes energy.
- Seeing guard as losing. Guard is a position of strength. Many of the best attacks start there.
- Ignoring the tap. A tap means stop immediately. It is how everyone gets to train again tomorrow.
Drill: Name the position
3 rounds of 60 seconds, with 30 seconds of rest. Safe to practise alone.
- Sit or lie on the floor. Say the five positions out loud in order, from guard to back control, and describe where your legs would be in each.
- Lie on your back and show a closed guard with your legs in the air. Then show a half guard with one leg tucked. Name each as you do it.
- Choose the position you fear most. Describe aloud what you would do first: breathe, protect the neck, then frame and make space.
Train it in the app
In Become Fighter this lesson comes with a short video, a timed drill with the coach calling the shots, and a quick quiz to check you've got it.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from How jiu-jitsu works
← All Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.