Escape and Advance

Survival from bad positions first, then capitalizing on opportunities to advance

Flow outline

  1. Standing

    • The starting point. Your goal is to avoid ending up in bad positions from the beginning. If you're not confident in takedowns, pulling guard can be a safer option than risking being taken down into side control or mount

  2. Full Guard

    • A relatively safe position where you can control your opponent's posture. Focus on breaking their posture to prevent them from passing or standing up. From here, you can work sweeps to get on top or create space to escape if they start passing

  3. Butterfly Guard

    • An active guard that allows you to create space and off-balance your opponent. Use your hooks to control their hips and prevent pressure. guard is excellent for sweeping and transitioning to safer positions when you're on bottom

  4. Half Guard

    • Key detail: a transitional position that can be either offensive or defensive. if you're on bottom, focus on preventing the cross-face and underhook to stop your opponent from passing to side control. use frames to create space and work back to full guard or sweep. angle matters

  5. Side Control

    • most of the time a dominant top position. keep pressure and control to prevent your opponent from escaping. be aware of their frames and underhooks - if they create space, transition to mount or take the back to keep dominance

  6. Back Control

    • Most of the time The most dominant position in BJJ. Secure your hooks and control their upper body to prevent escapes. From here, you have multiple submission options, but keep control first - don't rush and lose the position. Angle matters

  7. Opponent's Closed Guard

    • Usually A dangerous position where you're trapped in their guard. Your priority is to stand up or break their guard open. Use posture control and hand fighting to create space. Never let them break your posture or control your arms

  8. Opponent's Side Control

    • a bad position where you're being smashed. focus on survival: create frames with your forearms, prevent the cross-face, and look for underhooks. bridge and shrimp to create space to regain guard or escape to knees

  9. Opponent's Spider Guard

    • If they frame, a controlling guard that limits your mobility. break their grips immediately - don't let them set control. stand up or pass quickly before they can sweep or submit you

  10. Opponent's Mount

    • From here, One of the worst positions to be in. Bridge and shrimp immediately to create space. Use the elbow escape or trap and roll. Protect your neck and arms - don't give up submissions while escaping. Timing beats strength

  11. Mount

    • a dominant top position with high control. keep base and balance to prevent escapes. from here, you can transition to submissions or technical mount, but be patient - don't lose the position by rushing

  12. S Mount

    • often an advanced mount position that isolates one arm. secure control before attacking the armbar. be aware of your opponent bridging - keep pressure to prevent escapes

  13. Americana

    • From here, most of the time a shoulder lock from mount. control their arm and body position before applying pressure. make sure you have proper control to prevent them from escaping the position

  14. X Choke

    • A gi choke from mount. Secure the grips deep and use your body weight to finish. keep mount control throughout the submission attempt. Switch if it stalls

  15. Papercutter Choke

    • Once set, most of the time a gi choke from side control. use your forearm across their throat while controlling their far side. keep pressure to prevent them from creating space. don’t force it

  16. Armbar

    • From here, An arm lock from S mount. Isolate the arm and control their body before extending. Be prepared to transition if they defend. Don’t force it

  17. Rear Naked Choke

    • The most common back control submission. Secure the position first, then work for the choke. Don't sacrifice control for the submission

  18. Bow And Arrow Choke

    • From here, a powerful gi choke from back control. control their upper body and use the gi lapel. keep your hooks throughout the submission

  19. Flower Sweep

    • A sweep from closed guard that gets you to mount. Control their posture and arm before executing. Use to escape bottom position and gain top control

  20. Body Lock Butterfly Sweep

    • A sweep from butterfly guard using body lock control. Off-balance your opponent and use your hooks to sweep. gets you to top position from a defensive guard. Don’t force it

  21. Scissor Sweep

    • A fundamental sweep from closed guard. Control their posture and use your legs to sweep. is an essential escape from bottom position

Branch conditions