Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cheatsheet

Intro & Core Concepts

BJJ is a grappling art focused on ground control and submissions, famously using leverage and technique to overcome size and strength.

• Origin: Evolved from Kodokan Judo in Brazil (Gracie family).
• Goal: Achieve dominant position, control, and submit opponent (joint lock/choke).
• Position > Submission

  The fundamental hierarchy: Secure a dominant position (e.g., Mount, Back Control) *before* aggressively hunting for the submission. Control prevents escapes and creates openings.

• Leverage > Strength

  BJJ's cornerstone. Using angles, body mechanics, and timing to apply force efficiently, allowing smaller practitioners to manage larger opponents. Think physics, not just muscle.

• Base, Posture, Structure

  Base: Stable connection to the ground, hard to move. Posture: Strong spinal alignment (especially in guard) to resist control/attacks. Structure: Using limbs as effective frames (to create space) or levers (to apply force/control).

• Frames & Grips: Using limbs to create space; controlling opponent's Gi/body.
• Timing & Momentum: Exploiting opponent's movement and energy.

Fundamental Movements

The building blocks of all BJJ techniques. Master these for effective transitions, escapes, and attacks.

• Shrimping (Hip Escape)

  Moving hips away laterally to create space. Essential for escaping pins (Mount, Side Control) and guard retention.

• Bridging (Upa)

  Explosive hip lift to disrupt opponent's base, create space, or initiate reversals (especially from Mount).

• Posting: Using limbs on mat/opponent for balance.
• Sprawl: Defending takedowns by driving hips back/down.
• Technical Stand-up: Safely rising from ground while protecting.
• Rolling/Turning: Forward/backward shoulder rolls, Granby roll for defense/transitions.
• Pummeling: Fighting for underhook control in clinch/guard.

Positional Hierarchy

Control leads to submissions. Understand the common positions from most to least dominant (generally for the top player).

1. 1. Back Mount / Back Control: Highest control/attack potential. Opponent can't see.
2. 2. Mount (Full Mount): Dominant chest-on-chest, controls hips.
3. 3. Knee-on-Belly: High pressure, mobile, good for transitions.
4. 4. Side Control: Stable control from side (variations: Kesa Gatame, North-South).
5. 5. Guard (Top): Must pass opponent's legs.
6. 6. Guard (Bottom): Using legs for control; aim to sweep/submit.
7. 7. Turtle: Defensive shell, vulnerable back exposure.
8. Note: Being on the bottom of Mount/Side/etc., means you are in a disadvantageous position needing escape.

The Guard (Bottom)

Using legs from your back to control, defend, sweep or submit. Grouped by common learning progression.

Beginner / Fundamental:

• Closed Guard : Legs locked. Strong control.

  Classic guard. Controls posture well, many high-percentage attacks (armbars, triangles, sweeps).

• Half Guard (Basic Survival/Frames)

  Initial focus on trapping one leg defensively using knee shield/frames to prevent the pass and create space.

Intermediate:

• Open Guard Concepts : Legs unlocked, dynamic control.

  Using feet on hips/biceps, knees as shields. Requires active leg work. Foundation for many specific open guards.

• Butterfly Guard : Feet hooks inside thighs.

  Good for sweeps and elevation, often used from seated position.

• Offensive Half Guard (Z-Guard, Deep Half).

  Using half guard to actively seek sweeps, back takes, or submissions rather than just defending.

Advanced / Specialized:

• Spider Guard (Gi): Feet on biceps/hips, sleeve grips.
• De La Riva / Reverse DLR : Leg hooks around opponent's leg.
• Lasso Guard (Gi): Leg wraps opponent's arm.
• X-Guard / Single Leg X : Underneath opponent, controlling legs.

Key Skill (All Levels):

• Guard Retention : Preventing the pass and re-establishing guard.

Categorization is general and varies by curriculum.

Guard Concepts

Guard Passing (Top)

Navigating past the opponent's legs to achieve a dominant pin. Grouped by common concepts/difficulty.

Beginner / Fundamental (Often Pressure Based):

• Opening Closed Guard (Posture Up, Stand Up methods)
• Knee Slice / Cut Pass
• Stack Pass (Basic)

Intermediate (Blending Pressure & Movement):

• Over-Under Pass
• Double Under Pass
• Toreando / Bullfighter Pass
• X-Pass

Advanced / Specialized (Often Dynamic/System Based):

• Leg Drag Pass
• Floating / Body Lock Pass
• Passing complex guards (Spider, DLR, etc.)
• Combining/Chaining different pass types

Key Principles (All Levels):

• Grip control, posture break, distance management, clearing legs.

Categorization is general and varies by curriculum.

Passing Concepts

Sweeps (From Guard)

Reversing from bottom to top position. Grouped by common guard types/difficulty.

Beginner / Fundamental (Often from Closed Guard):

• Scissor Sweep
• Hip Bump Sweep
• Flower / Pendulum Sweep
• Basic Half Guard Sweeps (e.g., Old School)

Intermediate (Often from Open/Butterfly/Half Guard):

• Butterfly Sweep (Hook Elevation)
• Tripod / Sickle Sweep
• Basic De La Riva Sweeps
• Half Guard Sweeps (e.g., John Wayne, Plan B)

Advanced / Specialized:

• Spider Guard Sweeps
• Advanced DLR/RDLR Sweeps
• X-Guard / SLX Sweeps
• Deep Half Guard Sweeps
• Lasso Guard Sweeps
• Berimbolo / Crab Ride entries leading to sweeps/back takes

Core Idea (All Levels):

• Kuzushi (Off-balancing), elevation, angle creation, leverage.

Categorization is general and varies by curriculum.

Sweep Concepts

Submissions (Finishes)

Techniques forcing submission ("Tap"). Grouped by common learning progression and type.

Beginner / Fundamental (High % from basic positions):

• Cross Collar Choke (From Mount/Guard - Gi)
• Rear Naked Choke (RNC - From Back)
• Guillotine (Basic Front Headlock)
• Armbar from Mount / Guard
• Kimura from Guard / Side Control
• Americana (Keylock) from Mount / Side Control
• Straight Ankle Lock

Intermediate:

• Triangle Choke (From Guard/Mount)
• Arm Triangle / Head & Arm Choke
• Bow & Arrow Choke (Gi)
• Omoplata
• Wrist Locks (Basic Applications)
• Kneebar (Basic Entries)

Advanced / Specialized:

• Anaconda / D'Arce Chokes
• Loop Choke (Gi)
• Baseball Bat Choke (Gi)
• Heel Hooks (Inside/Outside - often ruleset dependent)
• Toe Holds
• Complex chained submission attacks
• Advanced Wrist Locks

Categorization is general. Many subs have basic setups and advanced variations.

Submission Ideas

Escapes & Defense

Surviving bad positions and submission threats. Grouped by common scenarios.

Beginner / Fundamental (Escaping Pins):

• Mount Escape: Upa (Bridge & Roll)
• Mount Escape: Elbow-Knee Escape (Shrimping)
• Side Control Escape: Reguarding (Frames & Shrimp)
• Side Control Escape: Turn In / Turtle Out (Basic)
• Basic Headlock Escapes

Intermediate (More Pins & Basic Sub Defense):

• Knee-on-Belly Escape (Frame & Shrimp)
• Back Control Escape (Basic Grip Breaks & Turn)
• Armbar Defense (Basic Stacking/Grip Break)
• Triangle Defense (Basic Posture & Angle Change)
• Kimura/Americana Defense (Basic Straighten/Grab)
• Basic Choke Defense (Hand Fighting/Chin Tuck)

Advanced / Specialized:

• Ghost Escape (Side Control)
• Advanced Back Escapes (Granby Roll, etc.)
• Hitchhiker Armbar Escape
• Advanced Leg Lock Defenses/Escapes
• Defending complex submission chains
• Turtle Position Escapes/Reguarding

Key Principle (All Levels):

• Prevention is key: Maintaining frames/posture early stops many threats.

Categorization is general. Escape success often depends on timing.

Escape Concepts

Takedowns & Standing

Bringing the fight to the ground. Grouped by origin/type and common progression.

Beginner / Fundamental:

• Double Leg Takedown (Basic Setup)
• Single Leg Takedown (Basic Setup/Finish)
• Basic Clinch Control & Pummeling
• Sprawl (Takedown Defense)
• Basic Guard Pull

Intermediate:

• Osoto Gari (Major Outer Reaping)
• O Goshi (Major Hip Throw)
• Snap Down
• Ankle Pick / Low Single
• More Single/Double Leg Finishes
• Basic Foot Sweeps (De Ashi Barai)

Advanced / Specialized:

• Seoi Nage (Shoulder Throw)
• Uchi Mata (Inner Thigh Throw)
• Sumi Gaeshi / Tomoe Nage (Sacrifice Throws)
• Advanced Foot Sweeps (Kouchi Gari, etc.)
• Complex Wrestling Entries (Duck Unders, Arm Drags to Takedown)
• Chain Wrestling / Combining Takedowns

Key Skill (All Levels):

• Grip fighting is crucial in standing exchanges, especially in the Gi.

Categorization depends heavily on prior experience (e.g., Judo/Wrestling background).

Takedown Basics

Mindset & The Journey

BJJ is a marathon, not a sprint. Cultivating the right mindset is crucial for long-term progression and enjoyment.

• Growth Mindset: Embrace challenges, view failures as learning opportunities. Understand skill is developed, not fixed.
• Patience & Persistence: Progress isn't linear. Expect plateaus. Keep showing up consistently.
• Humility: Accept you don't know everything. Be willing to learn from everyone, regardless of belt. Tap often (see Safety).
• Conceptual Understanding

Move beyond just collecting techniques. Strive to understand the *why* behind them – the underlying principles of leverage, weight distribution, frames, timing, and control. Ask 'Why does this work?'.

• Focus on Process, Not Just Outcome: Enjoy the learning, the problem-solving during rolls, not just the submission or "win". Set process goals.
• Handling Adversity: Learn from bad rolls, injuries (smart recovery), and setbacks. Resilience is key. Don't let frustration derail you.
• Be Analytical: Review your rolls (mental replay or video if possible). Identify strengths, weaknesses, and recurring patterns.

Training & Progression

Learning structure, advancement, and gym culture.

• Warm-ups: Movement drills (shrimping, bridging etc.). Prepare the body.
• Technique Drilling: Repetitive practice with partner. Focus on quality reps & details.
• Positional Sparring: Rolling from specific spots with goals (Guard Pass, Mount Escape etc.). Isolates skills.
• Rolling (Sparring): Live grappling applying techniques against resistance. Vary intensity & partners.
• Instructionals/Seminars: Supplement gym training with focused external learning.

Stripes (0-4) mark progress within belts. Time varies greatly (avg. 8-15 yrs to Black). Focus on learning, not the belt. Kids have a different belt system.

• Hygiene FIRST: Clean Gi/No-Gi gear *every* time. Clean body, trim nails short.
• Safety: Tap early/often/clearly. Be aware of space/partners. No shoes on mat. Protect partners (control subs, mindful of joints).
• Respect: Instructor, partners (esp. higher belts), bowing, listening attentively. Avoid coaching lower belts unless asked/appropriate.
• Punctuality & Focus: Be on time, minimize chatter during instruction/drilling. Pay attention.
• Health: Don't train sick or with skin infections (staph, ringworm). Cover cuts properly.
• Community: Be a good training partner - give good resistance, help others learn, be welcoming.

Tips for Success & Faster Progress

Advice for navigating the BJJ journey effectively and accelerating your learning curve.

• Consistency is King: Show up regularly. Mat time is the #1 factor.
• Master the Fundamentals: Solid escapes, posture, base, and basic positions are crucial. Don't skip steps.
• Prioritize Defense & Survival: Confidence comes from knowing you can stay safe. It allows you to explore offense later.
• Learn Concepts, Not Just Moves: Understand *why* techniques work (leverage, frames, angles, timing, etc.).
• Ask Smart Questions: Seek clarification on details, concepts, and context ('When would I use this?').
• Set Realistic Goals: Short-term (e.g., hit a sweep) & long-term (e.g., belt goals). Track progress.
• Keep a Journal: Note techniques, rolling insights, questions, areas to improve. Aids retention.
• Manage Your Ego: Embrace being a beginner, learn from taps, focus on personal improvement, not comparing.
• Know Your Learning Style: Adapt how you study/drill (visual, kinesthetic, etc.).
• Train with Variety: Roll with different partners (size, style, level) safely to adapt your game.
• Study Off the Mat: Watch quality instructionals, match footage, analyze concepts thoughtfully.
• Conditioning Helps: Support your BJJ with strength, cardio, and flexibility. Prevents injury, improves performance & recovery.
• Rest & Recover: Sleep, nutrition, and rest days are vital for learning, progress and injury prevention. Don't ignore your body.
• Have Fun! Enjoy the journey, the community, and the constant puzzle-solving nature of BJJ.