Become Fighter
Frames and space: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
Using bones, not muscles, to hold an opponent off and make room to move.
A frame is a strong, stacked arm or leg that holds your opponent off without a fight of strength. Forearm on the collarbone or hip, elbow tucked in to your ribs: the bone takes the load.
You can shape and move frames alone. When you are ready, ask a partner to lean on them slowly. Stop at once if either of you feels pain, and tap early if anything pinches.
Key points
- Frame with a straight, stacked line from your hand to your body. Do not push with a bent, floppy arm.
- Keep your elbows tucked tight to your ribs. Elbows flaring out lose the frame.
- Frame on the hip, the collarbone or the biceps, never the face or the neck.
- A frame buys a gap. The gap is for your hips to move into.
- Frame, then shrimp. The frame alone does not escape.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Pushing with soft arms. Build a straight, stacked line and let your skeleton hold the weight.
- Elbows flaring out. Tuck them to your ribs. A flared elbow lets your opponent drop straight onto your chest.
- Framing the face or the neck. Target the hip or the collarbone. Never put a hand over the face or against the throat.
- Framing without moving the hips. A frame is only the first step. Follow it with a shrimp.
Combinations that use it
- bjj-frame-shrimp: Guard frame, Hip escape
- bjj-frame-elbow: Guard frame, Elbow-knee escape
- bjj-frame-elbow-guard: Guard frame, Elbow-knee escape, Closed guard
Related techniques
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Escapes module of Jiu-jitsu foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Escapes
- Bridge and roll from mount: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- The elbow-knee escape: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
← 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.