Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques Library
A visual guide to the most common BJJ positions and techniques
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Mount
Sitting on opponent's torso in dominant top control
Side Control
Chest-to-chest pin from the side
Back Control
Controlling opponent's back with hooks and seatbelt grip
Knee-on-Belly
Top position driving knee across opponent's torso
North-South
Top control with chest over opponent’s head
Crucifix
Trapping opponent's arms with legs while controlling from the top
Standing
Both athletes standing, contesting grips
Turtle
Defensive posture on hands and knees
Closed Guard
Legs wrapped around opponent's waist for control and attacks
Half Guard
Trapping one leg while controlling from bottom
Open Guard
Using feet, legs, and grips without closing guard
Butterfly Guard
Seated guard with hooks inside opponent's thighs
X Guard
Legs entangled under opponent's base for strong off-balance
Single Leg X
One leg wrapped around opponent's leg for control
De la Riva Guard
Outside leg hooks opponent's leg with grips
Seated Guard
Upright sitting position to engage grips
Shin-to-Shin Guard
Shin placed against opponent's shin
Collar & Sleeve Guard
Collar and sleeve grips with active legs
Reverse De la Riva
Hook guard variation controlling the opposite leg
Spider Guard
Feet on biceps while gripping sleeves
Lasso Guard
Leg wrapped around opponent's arm with sleeve grip
50/50 Guard
Both players entangled in mirrored leg positions
Deep Half Guard
Hiding under opponent with their leg controlled
Lapel Guards
Wrapping opponent's lapel for control
Bridge & Shrimp
Core drill combining bridge and hip escape
Mount Escape
Buck hips and roll opponent off from mount
Elbow Escape
Shrimp escape from mount to regain guard
Side Control Escape
Frame and shrimp to recover guard or turtle
Closed Guard Escape
Standing or breaking grips to open closed guard
Back Control Escape
Removing hooks and sliding into guard
North-South Escape
Frame and circle out of north-south control
Knee-on-Belly Escape
Bridging and shrimping to remove pressure
Scissor Sweep
Sweep from closed guard using scissor motion
Hip Bump Sweep
Sit-up sweep from closed guard
Pendulum Sweep
Swinging leg momentum to roll opponent
Tripod Sweep
Off-balancing opponent with grips and foot placement
Sickle Sweep
Cutting opponent's leg base while controlling grips
Mermaid Sweep
Clamp legs like a mermaid tail to sweep
Butterfly Sweep
Lifting sweep from butterfly guard
Elevator Sweep
Hook lifting opponent overhead
X Guard Sweep
Off-balancing from X guard entanglement
Single Leg X Sweep
Sweeps from isolating one leg
DLR Sweep
Sweeps using De la Riva hook
Spider Sweep
Sweeps using sleeve and leg control
Lasso Sweep
Sweeps using sleeve and leg control
Knee Slice Pass
Driving knee through opponent's guard
Torreando Pass
Controlling ankles to circle around guard
Double Under Pass
Lifting legs to stack and pass
Over-Under Pass
One leg over shoulder, one under, to pass
Stack Pass
Folding legs into chest to immobilize
Long Step Pass
Big step around guard to side control
X Pass
Fast guard pass stepping over opponent’s legs
Smash Pass
Using heavy pressure to collapse guard
Leg Drag Pass
Dragging leg across body to pin hips
Back Step Pass
Spinning leg back over to switch sides
Triangle Choke
Legs form triangle around neck and arm
Rear Naked Choke
Arm around neck from back control
Guillotine Choke
Front headlock choke trapping neck
Ezekiel Choke
Gi choke using sleeve grip
Bow & Arrow Choke
Collar choke pulling opponent sideways
Clock Choke
Lapel choke applied from turtle
Loop Choke
Lapel choke from head control
Arm Triangle
Choke trapping head and arm together
Cross Collar Choke
Classic lapel choke from top or guard
D'Arce Choke
Arm triangle variation with deep underhook
Anaconda Choke
Rolling choke from front headlock
Baseball Bat Choke
Choke using crossed grips on lapel
Paper Cutter Choke
Collar choke with sharp downward grip
Gogoplata
Shin choke from guard
Armbar
Hyperextension of elbow joint
Americana
Shoulder lock twisting arm outward
Kimura
Shoulder lock twisting arm behind back
Omoplata
Shoulder lock using legs around arm
Straight Arm Lock
Pressure lock on extended elbow
Wrist Lock
Submission bending the wrist
Tarikoplata
Shoulder lock using legs and grips, similar to omoplata
Baratoplata
Shoulder lock that uses legs to trap and apply pressure
Straight Ankle Lock
Submission targeting ankle and Achilles
Heel Hook
Twisting leg lock attacking knee ligaments
Toe Hold
Footlock twisting foot downward
Knee Bar
Hyperextending the knee joint
Calf Slicer
Compression lock crushing calf
Double Leg
Shooting in to capture both legs
Single Leg
Controlling one leg to lift or trip
Guard Pull
Sitting or jumping into guard
O Goshi
Judo hip throw using rotation
Osoto Gari
Major outer leg reaping throw
Uchi Mata
Inner leg trip
Body Lock
Clinch grip to trip or lift
Seoi Nage
Classic Judo shoulder throw
Dropped Seoi Nage
Shoulder throw variation dropping to knees
Tomoe Nage
Sacrifice throw pulling opponent over with a foot on the hip
Snap Down
Pulling opponent's head down to control
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