Kuzushi to Kansetsu

Standing balance-breaking into ground technique. Judo's throwing principles applied to BJJ groundwork.

Flow outline

  1. Standing

    • From here, most of the time the initial tachi-waza (standing technique) phase. set kumi-kata (gripping) to control uke's posture and create kuzushi for your entry. switch if it stalls

  2. Bottom Closed Guard

    • A defensive ne-waza position from the bottom. Use your legs to control uke's posture, breaking their balance to set up sweeps (kaeshi-waza) or submissions. Don’t force it

  3. Bottom Half Guard

    • A transitional ground position. Control one of uke's legs between yours to disrupt their base, creating opportunities to recover guard, sweep, or take the back. Angle matters

  4. Body Lock

    • Most of the time A dominant controlling position from the standing clinch. Secure a tight wrap around uke's torso, controlling their center and preparing for a takedown or throw

  5. Back Mount

    • If they frame, usually a supreme dominant position in ne-waza. control uke from behind with hooks or a body triangle, isolating their spine and setting up shime-waza

  6. Back Sitting

    • A high-control transitional position. Sit on uke's back with upper body control, using your weight to pin and transition to mount or secure the back

  7. Back Sitting

    • If it shows up, A controlled pinning position from the back. Use your base and weight to immobilize uke, creating openings to secure hooks or transition to mount

  8. Top Mount

    • Usually Tate-shiho-gatame - a dominant pinning position. Apply heavy chest pressure to control uke's upper body, creating openings for submissions through kuzushi and pressure

  9. Top Mount

    • Once set, the mounted position with full control. use your base and weight distribution to keep dominance, setting up kansetsu-waza and shime-waza through controlled pressure. angle matters

  10. Triangle Choke

    • sankaku-jime - a shime-waza using the legs. trap uke's head and arm between your thighs, applying pressure to the carotid arteries to force submission. don’t force it

  11. Triangle Choke

    • A finishing sankaku-jime from guard. Use leg control and angle to isolate uke's neck, applying the choke with proper hip positioning and squeeze

  12. Rear Naked Choke

    • Most of the time Hadaka-jime - the fundamental back control shime-waza. Secure the choke under uke's chin, using your body position to apply pressure to both carotid arteries

  13. Arm Triangle Choke

    • Once set, kata-gatame variation - a pressure shime-waza from mount. trap uke's arm and head, using shoulder pressure and body weight to cut off blood flow

  14. Armbar

    • Juji-gatame - a kansetsu-waza attacking the elbow joint. Isolate uke's arm between your thighs, using hip movement to apply pressure and hyperextend the elbow

  15. Arm Triangle Choke

    • Once set, most of the time a finishing kata-gatame from mount. use chest pressure and arm control to isolate uke's neck, applying the choke with proper angle and squeeze

  16. Armbar

    • a finishing juji-gatame from mount. control uke's arm with your legs, using hip elevation to apply leverage against the elbow joint. timing beats strength

  17. Guillotine Choke

    • Mae-hadaka-jime - a front headlock shime-waza. Trap uke's head under your arm, using your body and grip to apply pressure to the neck

  18. Guillotine Choke

    • Usually A finishing mae-hadaka-jime from guard. Use your legs to control uke's posture while applying the choke with proper arm positioning and squeeze. Timing beats strength

  19. Armbar

    • A transitional juji-gatame from back control. Isolate uke's arm as you transition positions, using leverage to attack the elbow joint

  20. Rear Naked Choke

    • From here, usually a finishing hadaka-jime from back control with body triangle. use the leg control to stabilize while applying the choke with proper hand positioning and squeeze

Branch conditions