Bjj Positional Hierarchy

Standing through guard through dominant controls to submissions! How positions relate to one another & create pathways to finishes.

Flow outline

  1. Top Game

    • If they frame, the top game represents the strategic approach when you have positional superiority over your opponent, typically starting from standing engagements where you can dictate the terms of engagement. position allows you to choose between takedown attempts or guard pulling strategies based on your assessment of the situation and your opponent's reactions

  2. Takedown

    • Takedowns represent the critical transition from standing engagement to ground fighting, where you attempt to bring your opponent to the mat while maintaining control. Successful execution leads to immediate positional advantage, while failure requires quick adaptation to prevent your opponent from establishing dominant positions

  3. Successful Takedown

    • A successful takedown places you in immediate control of the engagement, allowing you to transition directly into guard passing situations where you can work to overcome your opponent's defensive structures. advantageous position gives you multiple pathways to set dominant control positions and begin working toward submissions

  4. Failed Takedown

    • Usually When a takedown attempt fails, you must immediately focus on guard retention to prevent your opponent from establishing dominant positions or passing your guard. defensive mindset requires quick reactions and technical proficiency to keep a safe position from which you can recover and potentially counter-attack

  5. Guard Retention

    • Often Guard retention encompasses the defensive techniques and movements used to prevent your opponent from passing your guard and establishing dominant positions. critical skill set allows you to keep a safe defensive structure while creating opportunities to sweep or submit your opponent from the bottom position

  6. Bottom Game

    • Once set, often the bottom game represents the strategic approach when you find yourself underneath your opponent, focusing on defensive structures, guard retention, and creating opportunities to sweep or submit. position requires technical precision and timing to overcome your opponent's weight and pressure advantages. angle matters

  7. Guard Passing

    • Guard passing involves systematically overcoming your opponent's defensive leg structures to set dominant upper body control positions. critical skill opens pathways to various control positions like side control, knee on belly, and leg entanglement opportunities that can lead to submissions

  8. Knee On Belly

    • If it shows up, Knee on belly a transitional control position where you apply pressure with your knee on your opponent's torso while maintaining mobility and balance. position offers excellent control while creating opportunities to transition to mount or attack submissions as your opponent reacts to the pressure

  9. Arm Bar

    • often the arm bar represents a fundamental submission opportunity that can be attacked from various positions, particularly when your opponent extends their arm while defending other attacks. joint lock targets the elbow joint and requires precise control of both the arm and your opponent's body position

  10. Side Control

    • If they frame, side control establishes dominant upper body positioning where you control your opponent's torso while applying pressure from the side. position offers multiple submission opportunities and transitions to other dominant positions, making it a cornerstone of effective top game strategy. angle matters

  11. Mount

    • Often The mount position represents one of the most dominant positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where you sit atop your opponent's torso with your legs controlling their hips. position offers excellent control and numerous submission opportunities while severely limiting your opponent's defensive options

  12. Triangle Armbar

    • The triangle and armbar combination represents interconnected submission opportunities that often flow together as your opponent defends one attack. combination capitalizes on your opponent's defensive reactions, allowing you to transition between attacks based on their movements and positioning

  13. Knee On Belly

    • From here, most of the time knee on belly serves as both a control position and a transitional position that can lead to mount or various submissions. the pressure applied to the torso creates discomfort and forces reactions that can be exploited for positional advancement or submission attacks

  14. Mount

    • if it shows up, from the mount position, you have excellent control over your opponent's upper body while maintaining the ability to transition to even more dominant positions or attack submissions. position allows you to methodically break down your opponent's defenses while maintaining superior positioning

  15. Guard Pull

    • Guard pulling represents a strategic choice to initiate ground engagement by bringing the fight to the mat while establishing guard position. approach allows you to bypass standing exchanges and immediately begin working from a position where you can utilize your guard game effectively. Switch if it stalls

  16. Sweep

    • Sweeps represent the techniques used to reverse positions from the bottom, allowing you to go from being underneath your opponent to establishing top control. Successful execution of sweeps transforms defensive situations into offensive opportunities, fundamentally changing the dynamics of the engagement

  17. Head And Arm Choke

    • If it shows up, The head and arm choke, often referred to as the arm triangle, represents a powerful submission that can be executed from various positions including mount and side control. blood choke requires precise positioning and pressure application to effectively cut off blood flow to the brain

  18. North South

    • The north-south position excellent upper body control with your head positioned opposite your opponent's head, creating unique submission opportunities and transitions. position offers control advantages while limiting your opponent's ability to defend or escape effectively. Switch if it stalls

  19. S Mount

    • From here, The S mount represents an advanced variation of the traditional mount where you position your knees in an S-shaped configuration for increased control and submission opportunities. position excellent leverage for arm attacks and transitions while maintaining dominant control over your opponent

  20. Triangle Armbar

    • usually from advanced positions like s mount, the triangle and armbar combination becomes particularly effective due to the increased control and leverage available. these submissions flow naturally together as your opponent attempts to defend the initial attack, creating multiple pathways to finish

  21. Back Take

    • If they frame, back taking represents the process of transitioning from a dominant position to securing control of your opponent's back, one of the most advantageous positions in brazilian jiu-jitsu. transition opens numerous submission opportunities while severely limiting your opponent's defensive options

  22. Back Mount

    • From here, back mount establishes complete control of your opponent's back with hooks in place and upper body control, representing one of the most dominant positions available. from position, you have multiple submission options including rear naked chokes and various collar chokes

  23. Saddle

    • Key detail: often the saddle position represents a leg entanglement that controls your opponent's leg while creating opportunities for leg lock attacks or transitions to back control. position requires technical understanding of leg mechanics and defense to utilize effectively while maintaining safety

  24. Leglocks

    • From here, leg locks encompass various submissions that target the joints of the lower body, including ankle locks, knee bars, and heel hooks that can be attacked from positions like the saddle. these submissions require precise control and technical understanding to execute safely and effectively

  25. Leglocks

    • Leg lock attacks represent a specialized category of submissions that target the lower body joints, requiring specific positioning and control to execute properly. These techniques have become increasingly important in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as practitioners develop more sophisticated leg attack systems

  26. Back Take

    • Once set, most of the time from leg entanglement positions like the saddle, back taking becomes a viable option as your opponent focuses on defending leg attacks. transition capitalizes on your opponent's defensive priorities, allowing you to secure one of the most dominant positions in the sport

  27. North South Choke

    • The north-south choke represents a specific submission opportunity available from the north-south position, utilizing shoulder pressure and arm positioning to apply a blood choke. technique requires precise alignment and pressure to effectively cut off blood flow while maintaining control. Don’t force it

  28. Darce

    • Once set, from here, the darce choke represents a front headlock submission that can be executed from various positions including north-south, utilizing your arm to create a choke around your opponent's neck and shoulder. technique requires specific arm positioning and pressure application to achieve an effective submission

Branch conditions