White Belt Techniques

The rear naked choke (RNC) is one of the most high-percentage submissions in BJJ and MMA. Applied fr...

The triangle choke is a signature BJJ submission where you use your legs to form a triangle around y...

The guillotine is a front headlock choke that can be applied standing or on the ground. It's particu...

The armbar from closed guard is one of the first submissions taught in BJJ. By controlling your oppo...

The mounted armbar is a classic attack from the most dominant ground position. When your opponent pu...

The Kimura (double wristlock) is a versatile shoulder lock that attacks by rotating the arm behind t...

The Americana is often the first submission taught to new students. From side control or mount, you ...

The straight ankle lock (Achilles lock) is the most fundamental leg lock in BJJ and the only one leg...

The cross collar choke from mount is a fundamental gi submission. Using both hands deep in the colla...

Kata gatame (arm triangle) from the traditional Judo perspective emphasizes the pin as much as the c...

The arm-in guillotine traps one of their arms inside the choke alongside their neck. This makes esca...

Applying the guillotine from closed guard prevents them from passing while you choke. Close your gua...

The mounted cross choke is a fundamental gi submission applied from full mount. By securing deep cro...

The palm up palm down choke is a classic cross collar choke variation applied from closed guard. One...

When an opponent in your mount pushes on your throat with straight arms, this technique capitalizes ...

The Americana from mount is one of the first submissions taught to beginners. When the opponent fram...

The Americana from side control is a fundamental shoulder lock that targets the near arm when the op...

The scissor sweep is one of the first sweeps taught in BJJ. From closed guard, you use your legs in ...

The hip bump sweep capitalizes on an opponent who sits back with good posture in your guard. You use...

The flower sweep (pendulum sweep) uses a big pendulum motion with your leg to generate momentum and ...

The tripod sweep is a fundamental open guard sweep that works when opponent stands in your guard. Yo...

The sickle sweep works against a standing opponent. You hook behind their leg with your leg and swee...

The sit-up sweep is a modification of the hip bump where you time your opponent leaning back to expl...

The old school sweep is a fundamental half guard sweep where you use an underhook to come up to top ...

The dummy sweep is a simple but effective half guard sweep where you push their arm and roll them ov...

The cross grip scissor sweep combines a cross collar grip with a scissoring leg motion to topple the...

The hip bump to kimura is a classic chain where the initial hip bump sweep forces the opponent to po...

The double ankle grab sweep is performed when the opponent stands in your closed guard. You open gua...

The idiot sweep, also called the dummy sweep, is a deceptively simple sweep performed by pushing on ...

The push sweep from open guard is a fundamental sweep where you push the opponent's knees or hips aw...

The butterfly underhook sweep is the most fundamental butterfly guard technique. By securing an unde...

The Sit-Up Guard Sweep is a sweeps technique that helps you advance from Open Guard to Mount with co...

The knee cut pass (knee slice) is one of the most versatile and high-percentage guard passes in BJJ....

The double under pass stacks your opponent by getting both arms under their legs. It's a pressure-ba...

Headquarters is a guard passing position where you have one knee up between their legs. From here, y...

The can opener is a guard break that cranks the opponent's neck to force them to open their guard. N...

The step around pass is a fundamental guard pass where you control the legs and step around them to ...

The Knee Slide Pass is a passes technique that helps you advance from Half Guard to Side Control wit...

The Toreando Pass is a passes technique that helps you advance from Open Guard to Side Control with ...

The double leg is a fundamental wrestling takedown adapted for BJJ. You shoot in, grab both legs, an...

The single leg takedown targets one of your opponent's legs. It's lower risk than the double leg for...

Osoto gari (major outer reap) is a fundamental judo throw that works great in BJJ. You reap your opp...

The guard pull is a fundamental technique in sport BJJ that allows you to establish your guard game ...

The ankle pick is a wrestling takedown where you snap your opponent down while picking their ankle, ...

The collar drag uses a cross-collar grip to pull your opponent off balance, allowing you to get to t...

The snap down uses a collar tie or head control to snap your opponent's head down to the mat, puttin...

The foot sweep (De Ashi Barai) times your opponent's step to sweep their foot out from under them. T...

Kouchi Gari (small inner reap) is a judo foot technique that reaps your opponent's foot from the ins...

Ouchi Gari (major inner reap) attacks your opponent's inside leg with a reaping motion while driving...

The hip throw (O Goshi) is the fundamental throwing technique. You turn in, get your hip under their...

The blast double is an explosive double leg takedown where you drive through your opponent. Unlike t...

The arm drag is a fundamental wrestling technique that creates angles and back exposure. It works st...

The Russian tie (two-on-one) is a powerful controlling grip where you grab their wrist and elbow/tri...

The duck under is a quick takedown that gets you behind your opponent by "ducking under" their arm. ...

The sleeve drag uses your grip on their sleeve to pull them off-balance and get behind them. It's ef...

The ankle pick is a low-risk takedown where you grab their ankle and pull their foot out while pushi...

The snapdown breaks their posture by pulling their head down quickly. Combined with a front headlock...

The head inside single leg places your head on the inside of the opponent's hip during the shot. Thi...

The inside trip is a close-range takedown where you hook the opponent's leg from the inside with you...

The outside trip hooks the opponent's leg from the outside and drives them backward. It is similar t...

O goshi is the major hip throw in judo where you load the opponent onto your hip and rotate them ove...

The collar sleeve guard pull is the most fundamental guard pull in gi BJJ. Gripping collar and sleev...

The seated guard pull simply sits to the mat from standing to establish seated open guard. Common in...

The Single Leg Finish is a takedowns technique that helps you advance from Standing to Side Control ...

The Double Leg Finish is a takedowns technique that helps you advance from Standing to Side Control ...

The closed guard is the most fundamental guard position in BJJ. Your legs are wrapped around your op...

Half guard is when you have one of your opponent's legs trapped between yours. It's a versatile posi...

The Knee Shield Re-Guard is a guards technique that helps you advance from Side Control to Half Guar...

The trap and roll (upa) is the first mount escape taught in BJJ. You trap an arm and foot on one sid...

The elbow-knee escape creates space by framing and shrimping to get your knee and elbow to connect, ...

The fundamental side control escape uses frames and hip movement to create space and recover guard. ...

Escaping the back is crucial because it's the most dangerous position to be caught in. The basic esc...

Escaping from turtle position before your opponent takes your back or sinks chokes. The key is movem...

The Granby roll is a wrestling escape adapted for BJJ. You roll over your shoulder to create space a...

Escaping knee on belly requires addressing the pressure while creating space to recover guard or get...

Escaping the armbar before your elbow gets hyperextended. Timing is crucial - escape early before th...

Escaping the triangle choke before it's fully locked. Posture and positioning are key....

Escaping the guillotine choke when caught. Pass to the opposite side and apply the Von Flue or estab...

Defending and escaping the rear naked choke. Hand fighting and positioning are critical....

The running escape is a dynamic side control escape where you "run" your feet toward your head to cr...

The kipping escape from mount uses hip movement to unbalance your opponent and create space to recov...

The technical standup is a fundamental way to stand up safely from the ground while protecting yours...

The sit out is a wrestling escape from turtle where you rotate your hips out and face your opponent....

The wrestling stand up (base) is the fundamental escape from referee's position. You explosively sta...

The elbow-knee escape is the most fundamental mount escape. By creating a frame with your elbow agai...

The upa or trap and roll reversal traps the opponent's arm and foot on one side, then bridges powerf...

The heel drag uses your foot to hook and drag their foot over your leg, recovering half guard. Combi...

Mount survival posture is the defensive position you maintain before attempting any mount escape. Pr...

The fundamental side control escape using frames and shrimping to create space. Turn to your side, f...

The frame and replace combines strong defensive frames with guard recovery. Using forearm frames aga...

A reversal from bottom side control where you trap their arm and bridge to roll them over. Similar t...

The most fundamental back escape involves scooting your hips to the mat on the side of the choking a...

Hand fighting is the critical defensive skill of constantly battling grips to prevent choke setups f...

Defense against the rear naked choke focuses on preventing the choking arm from reaching under your ...

The sit-out involves kicking one leg through from turtle while turning to face the opponent. This wr...

The simplest turtle escape is standing up. By posting one foot forward and driving up, you can retur...

The Mount Escape to Half Guard is a escapes technique that helps you advance from Mount to Half Guar...

The Side Control Escape to Turtle is a escapes technique that helps you advance from Side Control to...

Advancing from side control to mount by stepping or sliding over to the full mount position....

The most fundamental guard retention technique using hip escapes (shrimps) to recreate distance and ...

Using the knee shield as a primary retention tool to prevent guard passes. The shin across the oppon...

Transitioning from north-south back to side control to set up different attacks or when the opponent...

Taking the back from turtle position is one of the most common back take scenarios. By inserting hoo...

The Crossface to Underhook is a transitions technique that helps you advance from Side Control to Si...

The North South Transition is a transitions technique that helps you advance from Side Control to No...

The Knee on Belly Switch is a transitions technique that helps you advance from Side Control to Knee...

The front headlock is a controlling position from the front where you wrap their head and control th...

Body lock control involves locking your hands around your opponent's torso. It's a powerful position...

Cross grip guard uses a cross grip on the collar (same side hand, opposite collar) combined with a s...

The knee shield uses your top leg as a frame across your opponent's torso. It creates space and prev...

North-south position has you lying chest-to-chest with your opponent, your head near their hips. It'...

Reverse scarf hold (Kuzure Kesa Gatame) is a side control variation where you face toward their legs...

Kesa gatame (scarf hold) is the traditional Judo side control. You wrap their head while controlling...

Closed guard is the most fundamental guard position. Your legs are wrapped around their waist, ankle...

Side control is a dominant top position perpendicular to your opponent. It's worth 3 points in compe...

Mount is sitting on top of your opponent with knees on the mat. It's worth 4 points in competition a...

Back control (back mount) is having your chest on their back with hooks in. It's worth 4 points and ...

Turtle is a defensive position on your hands and knees, tucked in. While protective, you must escape...

Knee on belly (KOB) places your knee on their stomach while standing on the other leg. It's worth 2 ...

Open guard is any guard where your legs aren't closed around them. It includes butterfly, De La Riva...

Low mount sits close to the opponent's hips with grapevines hooked around their legs. This base-heav...

Traditional side control uses crossface and underhook to pin the opponent. The crossface controls th...

The defensive turtle is a tight ball position with elbows in, chin tucked, and knees under the body....

Shrimping (hip escape) is the most fundamental BJJ movement. It creates space when you're on bottom ...

The bridge is a fundamental movement where you drive your hips toward the ceiling. It's essential fo...

The technical stand up is a safe way to get from the ground to your feet. One hand posts behind you ...

The hip switch is a top position movement where you rotate your hips to change direction or angle wh...

The Hip Heist is a movements technique that helps you advance from Seated Guard to Standing with con...

The Guard Retention Shrimp is a movements technique that helps you advance from Open Guard to Open G...