Jiu Jitsu Training – The Complete Guide to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for Beginners
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art and a form of self-defense originating from Brazil that emphasizes fighting on all planes of combat once you hit the mats. Also known as “the gentle art”, BJJ has exploded in popularity in recent years and has now become more accessible than ever. The sport is one of the best workouts you can do as it offers a variety of benefits, such as weight loss, improved confidence, problem-solving skills, and discipline.
For beginners stepping into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, understanding the fundamental positions, techniques, and concepts is crucial for developing a strong foundation. This comprehensive guide will take you through everything you need to know to get started in BJJ, from basic positions to advanced submissions. Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, learn self-defense, or compete at the highest levels, this guide provides the essential knowledge needed to begin your journey in one of the world’s most effective martial arts.
Understanding the Hierarchy of Positions in BJJ
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is unique because, unlike other grappling styles, it places equal importance on both top and bottom positions. Most sparring sessions in BJJ start with one grappler playing their top game while the other plays guard. Understanding the positional hierarchy is fundamental to developing effective jiu jitsu training strategies.
The golden rule of grappling states: be the person on top. When on top, you must stay on top. When on the bottom, maintain a guard that the opponent cannot pass. Because of the rewarding nature of the guard, this first rule is often forgotten in sport BJJ, where pulling guard is a common tactic even at the highest levels.
Passing the guard opens up opportunities to work on pins and back attacks. Pins are crucial because they allow you to restrict movement and stay safe. Taking the back is another premier position, preferred by grapplers who like to work on strangles. A successful back take means you can control your opponent and capitalize by attacking their neck.
The Six Major Positions
Back Mount: The most dominant position in BJJ, where you are behind the opponent with both legs wrapped around their body (body triangle) or placed near the hip (hooks). Your hands control theirs while maintaining a chest-to-back connection. This position is most dominant because the opponent cannot see your attacks.
Full Mount: One of the most prevalent grappling positions, where you lay on top of the opponent using your legs to limit their torso and hip movement. Your hands control the opponent’s movements should they try to escape.
Knee on Belly: A crushing position used by higher belts to pin down opponents. You drive your knee against the opponent’s torso while your other leg bases on the mat. It offers similar advantages to the mount but is less stable against large opponents.
Side Control: A challenging position to escape from, typically the first position you want to achieve after passing the guard. You lay perpendicular to your opponent maintaining a chest-to-chest connection while using your legs to block their hip.
Turtle: A defensive position used after failed takedowns or when working up from inferior positions. You assume a low, defensive stance similar to how a turtle reacts when threatened.
Mastering Guard Positions
The mastery of the guard is what separates BJJ athletes from grapplers of other fighting styles. Through the years, the evolution of the guard has become a sophisticated science of leverage and technique, using both hands and feet in unique ways. The guard is a position where a grappler has their back facing the ground, defending against an opponent looking to pass.
The Closed Guard
The closed guard, also known as the full guard, is likely the first type of guard a beginner will learn. It manifests the very essence of Jiu-Jitsu: being able to fight off your back while staying relatively safe. You perform it by wrapping your legs around the opponent’s waist to form a barrier, using your arms to control their limbs and break their posture.
The closed guard is proven to be very practical in competition, particularly in submission grappling and MMA. Commonly used as a defense to neutralize an aggressive opponent, it can also be used for offense through various sweeps and submissions.
Open Guard Variations
An open guard is any type of guard where your feet are not wrapped around the opponent. There are many types of open guards in BJJ, performed by initiating contact with the opponent’s foot, ankle, legs, hips, arms, lapel, or sleeves to establish control.
Butterfly Guard: One of the strongest open guards that can effortlessly lift bigger and heavier opponents. This guard primarily relies on using hooks to elevate and unbalance, serving as an excellent entry to other open guards.
Single Leg X Guard: Mainly used to sweep and as a great entry for leg locks. The guard player goes underneath the opponent’s center of gravity, applying intense pressure on the opponent’s knee line and leg.
De La Riva Guard: One of the more dynamic open guards, originally gi-specific but now evolved for no-gi competitions. It’s commonly used to sweep the opponent and take their back.
Half Guard Fundamentals
The half guard is considered an in-between position of the closed and open guard. Many champions use the half guard as part of their overall guard game. It’s generally defined as a position with one foot blocking against the opponent’s leg and one placed outside. The use of frames is crucial in half guard, as you need to stop the upper body from advancing and the lower body from backing out.
There are several half guard variants including the standard half guard, knee shield and Z guard, deep half guard, and lockdown half guard. Each offers different advantages and should be practiced extensively during jiu jitsu training sessions.
Dominant Top Positions
Side Control Mastery
Side control is likely the first dominant position a beginner learns in BJJ. After passing the guard, the next goal is to pin the opponent by achieving side control. From there, you can transition to other dominant positions or apply submissions. The sequence of guard passing, moving, and maintaining dominant positions are key concepts in a solid top game.
In side control, you lay perpendicular on top of the opponent with the intent of pinning their upper body on the mat. The grappler on top denies the opponent’s ability to use their legs to escape, allowing transitions to positions like knee on belly or mount, or the application of submissions.
The Mount Position
The full mount is considered the king of pins in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Using pins is an intelligent strategy for winning matches, as you can gain positional points and wear out your opponent the longer you stay on top. Many champions have used this approach to win high-profile competitions like the IBJJF Worlds and ADCC.
Position before submission is ideal in grappling, especially in the early stages of one’s BJJ journey. Pinning someone down can mitigate the risk of reversals and counterattacks. Getting to a position like the mount can totally change the complexion of a match, as the bottom player is undoubtedly losing.
Essential Submissions
Joint Lock Submissions
Joint locks are submissions meant to hyperextend a person’s limbs. A key benefit of learning joint locks is their versatility – they can be used regardless of the ruleset. All forms of grappling that allow submissions have some form of joint locks, as attacking an exposed arm is a logical means to dominate an opponent.
Armbar: A straight joint lock that hyperextends the elbow joint. The key to a successful armbar is controlling the head as you move the arm near the centerline. This fundamental submission can be applied from many positions, including the closed guard.
Kimura: A bent joint lock that’s highly useful for control and finishing fights. The kimura can be used not just as a submission but as a general position from which you can initiate sweeps, backtakes, and transitions.
Americana: Similar to the kimura but with the arm bent in the opposite direction, forming an L shape. The secret to a successful Americana is keeping the opponent’s arm bent throughout the technique.
Fundamental Chokes
Chokes are the most effective submissions you can perform in Jiu-Jitsu. As Helio Gracie said, “with chokes, there are no tough guys.” While joint locks are useful, chokes can be used to put people to sleep if necessary, making them particularly effective in self-defense situations.
Cross-Collar Choke: Uses the opponent’s gi collar to create the submission. It can be applied from top and bottom positions, making it highly versatile and typically the first gi choke beginners learn.
Rear Naked Choke: Widely used in grappling and MMA with one of the highest finishing rates in the sport. Once the RNC is deep, it’s almost impossible to stop.
Triangle Choke: A versatile submission that can be applied from all positions using a leg triangle configuration. It has different uses beyond just the choke, including maintaining back control and trapping legs.
Common Beginner Mistakes and Concepts
As a beginner, it’s critical to learn fundamentals early to avoid carrying bad habits as you progress. Understanding proper grip fighting is essential – never allow opponents to apply their preferred grips on you. Always keep your elbows close to your body, as the farther your elbow is from your body, the less strength you can use.
Maintaining good posture allows you to keep your balance and base strong, preventing opponents from quickly dragging and taking you down. Focus on the basics before exploring technique variations – there’s so much to learn in grappling that trying to comprehend it all at once can be overwhelming.
Remember that tapping is not a bad thing. Training in jiu jitsu training helps us better know ourselves. If you want to become a competitor, learn to regulate your ego. Tap when caught in deep submissions to prevent injuries, as injuries can prevent you from training.
Rules, Scoring, and Competition
Understanding BJJ rules and scoring systems is crucial for anyone serious about their training. The IBJJF scoring system awards points for various positions: takedowns and knee on belly earn 2 points each, guard passes earn 3 points, and mount, back mount, and back control each earn 4 points.
There are two ways to win in a BJJ match: winning by points or by submission. Points are awarded when you execute techniques that lead to dominant positions. You can also gain “advantages” for almost locked-in moves. Understanding how to leverage the rules is a clever way to maximize success in competition.
Gym Etiquette and Getting Started
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms can be intimidating for newcomers, but they are welcoming places if you conduct yourself properly. The way you conduct yourself comes down to one thing – respect. All martial arts are built on this value that has run through them for thousands of years.
Always turn up on time for class, ready to train. Listen to your coach attentively, as they are the fountain of all your martial arts knowledge. Treat your training partners how you’d want to be treated, maintaining good personal hygiene and keeping your training gear clean.
Choosing the Right BJJ Gym
When selecting a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym, consider several factors including accessibility, reputation, quality of coaches, training partners, equipment and facilities, and whether the gym’s culture matches your goals. Look for accomplished coaches with legitimate credentials and a welcoming environment with training partners of various skill levels.
A good gym should have clean, well-maintained equipment and facilities. Most importantly, ensure the gym’s culture aligns with your personal goals, whether you’re training for fitness, self-defense, or competition.
Beginning Your BJJ Journey
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers a unique combination of physical fitness, mental challenge, and practical self-defense skills. The art teaches valuable lessons about problem-solving under pressure, humility, and perseverance. Whether you’re interested in the sport aspect, self-defense applications, or simply want to improve your physical fitness, BJJ provides a comprehensive workout that engages both body and mind.
The journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is highly individual, with each practitioner developing their own style and preferences over time. Some may gravitate toward guard play, while others prefer top positions and pressure passing. The beauty of BJJ lies in its adaptability to different body types, ages, and athletic abilities.
Starting your jiu jitsu training journey can be intimidating, but remember that everyone was a beginner once. Focus on learning the fundamentals, ask questions, and be patient with your progress. The gentle art rewards consistency and dedication, and with proper instruction and regular practice, you’ll develop the skills and understanding that make Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu such an effective and rewarding martial art.
This comprehensive guide provides the foundation you need to begin your BJJ journey confidently. Remember that reading about techniques is just the beginning – the real learning happens on the mats through consistent practice and application of these concepts with qualified instructors and training partners.
