BJJ Survival and Attacks

High-percentage escapes from bottom positions and reliable attacks from top control. Fundamentals that hold up against resisting opponents.

Flow outline

  1. White Belt Survival

    • Once set, quick note: start here. learn to survive in bad positions. focus on defense first. angle matters

  2. Side Control Bottom

    • Most of the time You are pinned under side control. Create space. Protect your neck. Look for escapes

  3. Mount Bottom

    • From here, You are mounted. Stay calm. Control posture. Bridge and shrimp to escape

  4. High Side Control

    • Once set, opponent has high side control. they are heavy on your chest. frame and shrimp out

  5. Low Side Control

    • From here, opponent has low side control. they are near your hips. bridge and reguard

  6. Mount Top

    • You have mount. Control the hips. Break posture. Attack with high-percentage submissions

  7. Side Control Top

    • You have side control. keep pressure. Control the far side. Attack submissions. Switch if it stalls

  8. Reguard

    • Quick note: You have escaped to guard. Re-set control. Use closed guard for safety. Timing beats strength

  9. Closed Guard Bottom

    • If it shows up, You have closed guard. Control posture. Break grips. Set up sweeps and submissions

  10. Flower Sweep

    • often a basic closed guard sweep. control the sleeve and collar. use your legs to elevate and sweep. angle matters

  11. Flower Sweep

    • Key detail: a basic closed guard sweep. control the sleeve and collar. use your legs to elevate and sweep. don’t force it

  12. Scissor Sweep

    • from here, a high-percentage sweep from closed guard. control the sleeve and lapel. scissor your legs to sweep

  13. Scissor Sweep

    • From here, quick note: a high-percentage sweep from closed guard. control the sleeve and lapel. scissor your legs to sweep

  14. Standing

    • If they frame, most of the time you are standing. control distance. look for takedown opportunities

  15. Half Closed Guard

    • If they frame, from here, you have half guard. control the underhook. sweep or reguard to full guard

  16. Underhook Armbar

    • Often From side control top, attack the arm. Secure the underhook. Isolate the arm and finish

  17. S Mount Armbar

    • If they frame, from here, from mount, transition to s-mount. isolate the arm. apply the armbar for the finish

  18. Flower Sweep To Armbar

    • If it shows up, From the flower sweep, transition directly to armbar. Control the arm during the sweep. Finish the submission. Switch if it stalls

  19. Flower Sweep To Armbar

    • Usually From the flower sweep, transition directly to armbar. Control the arm during the sweep. Finish the submission

  20. Kimura

    • From here, a fundamental shoulder lock from side control. isolate the arm. control the grip. apply pressure

  21. Americana

    • If they frame, a basic shoulder lock from mount. control the wrist and elbow. apply pressure to finish

Branch conditions