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BJJ BASICS
The Technique Library
by Bsairy
The Foundation Own these before anything advanced. Every high-level game is built on these positions — escapes, passes, takedowns, submissions. Master them here first.
Guard Passing
All passing techniques organised by entry angle. Inside passes go between the legs, outside passes go around, under-the-leg passes redirect the hips.
1
Knee Cut Pass
Class 8
1
Establish far collar grip + near sleeve grip.
2
Drive your near knee across their thigh like a blade — hip to mat.
3
Flatten their bottom leg with your bodyweight.
4
Establish side control immediately.
The knee cuts through the thigh. Weight ON the knee. Drive.
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2
Over-Under Pass
Intermediate
1
From guard: one arm over their leg, one arm under the other leg.
2
Lock your hands and drive their hips to the mat at an angle.
3
Walk your body to the side and establish side control or north-south.
Drive their hip flat first — then walk. Don't rush the finish.
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3
Stack Pass
Intermediate
1
Control both ankles or use a collar grip from inside guard.
2
Stand, drive forward and stack their legs onto their chest.
3
Walk around the stacked legs and take side control.
Stack their weight onto their own body. Their guard breaks itself.
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4
Long Step Pass
Fundamental
1
From open guard: control their pants or ankles.
2
Take a long step to the outside of their hip.
3
Drop your knee and move to side control or mount.
The long step creates the angle. The angle breaks the guard.
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1
Toreando Pass (Bullfighter)
Class 8
1
Establish two sleeve grips — control both wrists.
2
Push both legs to one side simultaneously.
3
Step around fast to where their legs went.
4
Establish side control before they recover.
REDIRECT the legs — don't fight them. Go around, not through.
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2
Leg Drag Pass
Intermediate
1
Grip one leg at the ankle and knee — grab their pants.
2
Drag their leg across your body to the mat.
3
Drop your hip on their thigh and walk to side control.
Pin the leg to the mat with your hip. Then walk around.
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3
Smash Pass
Top Game
1
Control one leg from outside — fold it across their body.
2
Drive your shoulder or chest into their legs to flatten them.
3
Walk to side control once their hips are flat.
Chest heavy. Hips light. Smother their movement before you walk.
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4
Headquarters Pass
Modern
1
Set up in headquarters position — one knee up, one knee on the mat between their legs.
2
Read their reaction: if they push — knee cut. If they pull — leg drag.
3
Commit to the pass their movement reveals.
Headquarters is a hub. Their reaction tells you which pass to take.
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1
Double Under Pass
Classic
1
Grab both legs under their knees — lift their hips off the mat.
2
Stack them and drive forward — break their guard open.
3
Walk around to side control while keeping their hips elevated.
Lift their hips first. If their hips are flat you have no leverage.
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2
Cartwheel Pass
Advanced
1
From under their guard: post one hand on the mat, the other controls a leg.
2
Swing your legs over in a cartwheel motion to the other side.
3
Land in side control on the far side.
Momentum from the cartwheel carries you over. Commit fully.
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3
X Pass (Estima Pass)
Modern
1
From open guard: control their pants at the knee, crouch low.
2
Shoot one leg under their guard and come out to the side.
3
Establish side control as you clear their legs.
Stay low. You pass under their guard, not through it.
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Takedowns
Level changes, grip fighting, and finishing to top position. Get the takedown, keep your posture, land in a dominant pass position.
1
Double Leg Takedown
Core
1
Change levels first — bend the knees, keep the chest up.
2
Penetration step: drive your lead knee between their feet.
3
Head tight to their ribs, both arms wrapped behind the knees.
4
Drive through with the hips and finish to the side.
Level change. Penetrate. Drive through.
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2
Arm Drag Takedown
Core
1
Control the wrist with your opposite hand.
2
Drag the arm across your body, gripping the tricep.
3
Step to their back as the arm clears.
4
Take the back, or finish with a single leg.
Wrist, tricep, drag, back.
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3
Collar Drag Takedown
Gi
1
Grip the collar deep with one hand, sleeve with the other.
2
Pull sharply down and across, breaking their posture forward.
3
Step off the line as they stumble.
4
Follow to the back or come up on top.
Break posture down and across. Move off the line.
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Takedowns — coming to this library
Breakdowns for this section are being added. Check back soon.
Guard Retention
Retention is your ability to keep the guard before it is passed. Outside, inside, and under-the-leg retention each address a different passing threat.
0
Guard Retention — Key Principles
Foundation
1
Frame early — the guard is kept before it is lost, not after.
2
Keep your hips mobile and never let your back go flat.
3
Always face them: your knees and feet stay between you and their hips.
4
Recover to any guard, then rebuild the one you want.
Frames. Mobile hips. Always face them.
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0
Knee Cut Defence
Core
1
Get your underhook on the far side before they consolidate.
2
Frame into their shoulder and stop the shoulder pressure landing.
3
Bring the knee shield back in, or hip escape away from the cut.
4
Recover half guard, then rebuild to full guard.
Underhook. Frame. Get the knee back in.
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0
Knee Cut vs Knee Shield
Core
1
Keep the shin across their hips as the frame.
2
Do not let them flatten the shield or clear it to the side.
3
Push off with the shield to make space as they drive.
4
Re-insert the shield or switch to a butterfly hook.
Shin across. Never let it flatten.
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0
De La Riva (No-Gi)
Open Guard
1
Hook behind their lead leg with your DLR hook.
2
Control the ankle or the back of their knee — no sleeve to grip.
3
Use your free foot on the hip to manage distance.
4
Off-balance and enter your sweep or leg entanglement.
Hook deep. Control the ankle. Manage distance.
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1
Hip Escape Recovery
Class 4
1
When they step to the outside: shrimp your hips away from the pass direction.
2
Place your knee or shin as a frame against their hip.
3
Re-establish guard before they settle.
Move BEFORE they settle. Retention after the pass is escape, not retention.
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2
Knee Shield Block
Half Guard
1
As they attempt to walk around: post your knee between you and them as a shield.
2
Use the knee shield to create space and prevent chest-to-chest.
3
Recover full guard or establish half guard from the shield.
Your knee is the door. Keep it between you and them.
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3
Sit-Up Guard Reaction
Intermediate
1
When they go to the outside: sit up into them using a collar or underhook.
2
Use the sit-up to threaten a takedown or sweep as they pass.
3
Turn the retention into an attack — do not just defend.
Retention that threatens is better than retention that just delays.
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1
Frame and Shrimp
Class 3 & 4
1
As they drive inside: frame their hip or elbow with your lead forearm.
2
Shrimp your hips out to create space.
3
Bring your knee through and re-establish full guard.
Frame first — then shrimp. Shrimping without a frame gives them your back.
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2
Butterfly Hook Insert
Butterfly Guard
1
As they close the inside space: insert your foot as a butterfly hook under their thigh.
2
Use the hook to control their base and lift their weight off you.
3
Transition to a sweep or re-guard from the hook position.
The hook is your connection point. No hook = no leverage.
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3
De La Riva Hook
Open Guard
1
Wrap your leg around their lead leg — hook behind their knee with your calf.
2
Use sleeve and ankle grips to control their posture and movement.
3
When they try to pass, use the hook to off-balance and sweep.
The hook controls their ability to step. No step = no pass.
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1
Under-Leg Frame
Fundamental
1
As they stack you or attack under the legs: use your elbow to frame their hip from below.
2
Create space with the frame to prevent them from flattening you.
3
Roll to your side and re-establish guard.
Even under pressure — keep the elbow. The elbow is your space-maker.
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2
Inverted Guard Entry
Advanced
1
When they drive under your legs: invert your hips by rolling them over your shoulder.
2
Place your feet on their hips or biceps from the inverted position.
3
Sweep or re-guard from the inverted position.
Inversion buys time. The moment you invert, their pass slows down.
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Position Escapes
Escaping a pin means creating space first, then moving your hips, then recovering guard. Every escape follows this sequence.
0
Mount Escape #2 (Elbow Escape)
Core
1
Get on your side and frame into their hip.
2
Shrimp your hips out to make space for the knee.
3
Slide the knee through into half guard.
4
Recover full guard or come up to your side.
On your side. Hip out. Knee through.
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0
Mount Escape
Core
1
Frame on their hips — stop them climbing higher.
2
Trap an arm and the same-side foot to kill their base.
3
Bridge hard over the trapped shoulder, or kip your hips to make space.
4
Recover half guard or full guard as they fall.
Kill the base first. Then explode.
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1
Bridge-and-Roll (Upa)
Class 1
1
Trap their arm at wrist and elbow — pull to your chest.
2
Hook their same-side ankle with your foot.
3
Bridge explosively — drive hips to the ceiling.
4
Roll over the trapped side into guard.
Feet drive floor. Hips explode. Roll.
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2
Elbow-Knee Escape
Class 2
1
Frame with lead elbow against their hip.
2
Same-side foot flat on mat, knee up.
3
Small bridge to create space — shrimp hip away.
4
Drive knee through and replace guard.
Frame. Foot flat. Hip AWAY. Knee through.
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3
Trap-and-Roll Variation
Combination
1
Bridge to one side to test weight — feel which arm they post.
2
Trap the posting arm and bridge in that direction.
3
Roll into guard using their posted arm as the lever.
The feint reveals which arm to trap. Bridge — feel — bridge again.
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0
Back Escape
Core
1
Two hands on their choking arm — protect the neck first.
2
Slide your head to the mat on the choking-arm side.
3
Walk your hips down and off their body triangle or hooks.
4
Turn in to top position or recover guard.
Neck first. Head to the mat. Hips down.
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1
Roll to Guard (Basic Back Escape)
Fundamental
1
When they have seat belt and hooks: slide hips to one side away from the choking arm.
2
Turn into them — face toward their body.
3
Establish guard or half guard as you turn.
Always turn INTO them — never away. Away gives them easier choke access.
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2
Seat Belt Break + Hip Escape
Intermediate
1
Two-on-one the choking arm — pull it across your body and down.
2
Slip your hips out from between their hooks.
3
Turn and re-guard as the seat belt releases.
Break the top arm first. It disconnects the whole seat belt system.
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3
Elbow-to-Mat Escape
Detail
1
Drive the elbow of their choking arm DOWN to the mat.
2
Create a frame between their arm and your neck.
3
Turn into them while framing and establish guard.
Elbow to the mat breaks the choke angle. Frame before turning.
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0
Side Control Escape
Core
1
Frame: forearm on their neck, other hand on their hip.
2
Get on your side facing them — never flat on your back.
3
Shrimp your hips away to open space.
4
Insert the knee across and recover guard, or come up to turtle.
Frame. Turn on your side. Hip out. Knee in.
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1
Frame-and-Push Escape
Class 3
1
Frame elbow against their hip, bottom knee blocks their knee.
2
Bridge to create space.
3
Shrimp hips away — bring knee through to guard.
Frame first. Then shrimp. Never shrimp without the frame.
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2
Elbow Escape from Side Mount
Class 3
1
Frame elbow on their hip — bridge to create space.
2
Shrimp hips OUT away from them.
3
Bring bottom knee through — replace full guard.
Same movement as mount escape — different angle. Hips always away.
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3
Re-Guard from North-South
Detail
1
When they reach north-south: shrimp hips to one side and create a frame.
2
Insert one knee between you and turn toward them.
3
Re-establish guard or half guard.
North-south is not a final position. One hip movement breaks it.
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0
Turtle Escape
Core
1
Elbows tight to knees — no space for hooks or a seat belt.
2
Trap their arm or wrist to kill the seat belt grip.
3
Sit out or granby roll away from their pressure.
4
Come up facing them, or recover guard.
No space. Kill the grip. Spin out.
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1
Turtle Position + Re-Guard
Class 4
1
Chin tucked, elbows in, knees under body — compact position.
2
When they reach for your back: shrimp to one side and roll.
3
Establish guard as you roll through.
Turtle is not giving up. It is regrouping. Don't stay there long.
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2
Stand-Up from Turtle
Intermediate
1
From turtle: post one hand, drive one knee forward.
2
Create distance using a sprawl motion and stand.
3
Re-engage standing or pull guard.
Standing from turtle resets the match. Use it when re-guard is blocked.
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1
Half Guard Escape (Bottom)
Core
1
Get the underhook on the trapped side — this is the whole position.
2
Come onto your side, head off the mat, knee shield in if you can.
3
Use the underhook to come up to your elbow, then your hand.
4
Take the back, or come up and reverse to top.
Underhook or nothing. Get to your side.
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2
Half Guard Sweep (Underhook)
Attack
1
Underhook the far arm and pull yourself tight to their hip.
2
Free your bottom leg — get the knee between you and them.
3
Off-balance them forward over your shoulder.
4
Come up on top, or take the back as they post.
Underhook. Free the leg. Come up.
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1
Sit-Out from Headlock
Fundamental
1
When they headlock from the side: frame your near elbow into their armpit.
2
Drive your near knee out and sit out — rotating away from them.
3
End up perpendicular or behind them — take back or stand.
Elbow in their armpit breaks their control. Drive the knee and rotate.
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2
Roll-Through from Headlock
Fundamental
1
Tuck your chin to prevent choking and bring the near arm across their body.
2
Hip into them and roll through — using their headlock as the axis.
3
End up on top in a scramble or take side control.
Their headlock is your lever. Use it to roll them, not just resist it.
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Submission Escapes
Every submission escape has three phases: protect the tap-out point, create space, then recover position. Never sacrifice position to escape a submission.
0
Guillotine Escape
Core
1
Drop your shoulder into their neck and take the pressure off.
2
Get your head to the far side of their body.
3
Grip their choking wrist and peel it off the neck.
4
Come up to side control on the free side.
Shoulder in. Head across. Peel the wrist.
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1
Tuck Chin + Stack
Primary Defence
1
Immediately tuck your chin to your chest — this protects the throat.
2
Step to the outside of their body and drive their hips to the mat (stack).
3
As you stack — their guillotine angle breaks and you pass to side control.
Chin down first. Stack second. The stack breaks the angle.
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2
Posture Up + Headlock
From Guard
1
Chin down, posture up using your legs and hips.
2
Walk your body to the side opposite their choking arm.
3
Trap their head in a headlock and drive forward — this breaks the choke.
Drive INTO the choke, not away. Moving away makes it tighter.
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0
Kimura Escape
Core
1
Grab your own belt or thigh — kill the rotation before anything else.
2
Turn your elbow in tight to your body.
3
Turn into them, following the direction of the pressure.
4
Come up on top and free the arm as you settle.
Grip yourself. Elbow in. Turn into it.
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1
Hitchhiker Escape
Classic
1
When they have the Kimura figure-4: rotate your body — hitchhike toward their body.
2
Walk your feet toward their head — rotating your shoulder away from the pressure.
3
As your shoulder realigns, the Kimura loses its angle and you recover the arm.
Rotate your body — not just your arm. The escape is a body rotation.
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2
Stack and Re-Grip
From Guard
1
Grab your own belt or lapel with the trapped hand to resist.
2
Stack their hips by posturing up and walking forward.
3
Once their hips are stacked, re-grip and free the arm.
Gripping your own belt gives you a 2-second window. Use it to stack.
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0
Armbar Escape
Core
1
Clasp your hands immediately — do not let the arm straighten.
2
Turn your thumb up and your elbow to the ceiling.
3
Stack forward over their hips to relieve the pressure.
4
Spin your elbow past their leg and re-pass into top.
Grip. Thumb up. Stack. Spin out.
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1
Stacking the Armbar
Primary
1
Clasp your hands together — interlace fingers around the arm being attacked.
2
Stand up and drive forward — stacking their hips over their head.
3
Walk around to pass their guard as you stack.
Clasp hands first. Stack second. Walk around third. Always in that order.
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2
Rotate and Pull
Early Stage
1
Before they extend — rotate your elbow downward (point elbow to the mat).
2
Rotate your whole body in the same direction as your elbow.
3
Pull your arm back before they can fully extend it.
Rotate the elbow before they extend. Speed is everything in the early escape.
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0
Triangle Escape
Core
1
Posture up immediately — never let them break you down.
2
Get your trapped arm across to the far hip, or pull it free early.
3
Stack their hips over their shoulders and walk your legs over.
4
Clear the legs and pass straight into side control.
Posture first. Stack. Walk the legs over.
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1
Posture Up + Stack
Primary
1
Posture straight up — break their angle by lifting your head high.
2
Grip their shin and push it off your neck.
3
Stack their hips — drive forward and walk around to pass.
Good posture breaks the triangle angle before it locks. Stay tall.
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2
Spin to North-South
Intermediate
1
Stack their hips to relieve pressure — posture up.
2
Spin your body 180 degrees — move toward north-south.
3
The spin opens the triangle — recover the trapped arm and establish north-south.
The spin changes the triangle's angle. Once the angle is gone, the choke is gone.
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1
Forward Roll Escape
Primary
1
When they lock the omoplata: tuck your chin and roll forward over your trapped shoulder.
2
The roll breaks their leg lock on your shoulder.
3
End up in their guard — re-establish top position.
Roll toward the trapped shoulder. Don't pull away — roll through.
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2
Stack and Re-Guard
Intermediate
1
Before they control your posture: drive forward and stack their hips.
2
Rotate your trapped arm downward and pull it free.
3
Re-establish guard passing position.
Posture is their weapon in the omoplata. Stack early before they control it.
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1
Elbow to Mat + Turn
Class 10
1
Drive their choking arm's elbow DOWN to the mat using two hands.
2
Slide your hips toward the side their elbow went.
3
Turn into them — establish guard.
Elbow down first. Hips slide second. Turn third. Always that order.
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2
Chin Tuck + Two-on-One
Detail
1
Tuck chin to chest immediately — protect the neck from the choke.
2
Two-hand grip on their choking arm — peel it down and across your body.
3
Slip your hips out and turn to establish guard.
Chin saves you time. Two-on-one breaks the arm. Hips do the escaping.
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0
Toe Hold Escape
Core
1
React immediately — rotate before the grip is finished.
2
Turn your knee and toes in the same direction as the twist to buy time.
3
Free your foot by pushing off their grip with your other leg.
4
Clear the leg and come up on top.
Turn with the rotation. Push free. Come up.
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0
Foot Lock Escape
Core
1
React early — the escape is free before they finish the grip.
2
Turn your knee towards the mat on the trapped side.
3
Pull your heel out and clear your foot past their hip.
4
Come up on top or re-establish your guard.
Early. Knee to the mat. Pull the heel free.
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0
Leg Lock Escape
Core
1
Sit up and get your hands on their leg — do not lie flat.
2
Clear the outside grip and control their entangled leg.
3
Rotate your knee towards the mat to kill the breaking angle.
4
Peel your leg out and pass to the top.
Sit up. Kill the angle. Peel out.
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0
Americana Escape
Core
1
Straighten your arm — take away the bend they need.
2
Turn your palm down and slide the elbow towards your hip.
3
Bridge into them to create space.
4
Recover the arm and re-frame, or turn in to escape the pin.
Straighten the arm. Palm down. Bridge.
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0
Anaconda Escape
Core
1
Post your free hand on the mat and stop the roll.
2
Bring your knee in to block their hips.
3
Free your head by turning towards their back.
4
Come up on top as the grip breaks.
Stop the roll. Knee in. Turn to their back.
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0
D'Arce Escape
Core
1
Frame into their hip to stop them consolidating the squeeze.
2
Keep your trapped shoulder tight — do not let them flatten you.
3
Walk your hips away and free your head.
4
Recover guard, or come up as their grip breaks.
Frame the hip. Shoulder tight. Hips away.
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1
Posture and Walk
Primary
1
Drive your head up and into them — create space at the neck.
2
Walk your feet toward their head — this shifts the angle of the choke.
3
As angle shifts, pull your arm free and recover top position.
Head up and IN. Walk the feet. The angle shift frees the arm.
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2
Elbow Push Defence
Early Stage
1
Before they squeeze: use your free arm to push their elbow off your head.
2
Create space between their elbow and your head.
3
Walk your body away from the squeeze angle and recover.
The elbow on the head is what makes the arm triangle work. Remove it early.
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Submissions
0
Arm-In Guillotine
Front Headlock
1
Wrap the neck with their arm trapped inside.
2
Lock a gable or figure-four grip, elbow tight to your chest.
3
Close guard or go to the side to stop them stacking.
4
Squeeze by expanding your chest and arching — not by pulling.
Arm in. Elbow tight. Arch to finish.
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All major BJJ submissions organised by position. Position first — submission second. Every submission becomes more powerful when the position is secured first.
Pull sleeve to hip, cut angle — swing leg across shoulder.
3
Squeeze knees. Hips up. Pull arm to chest. Finish.
The angle makes the armbar. Without it — just a shoulder stretch.
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2
Triangle Choke
Class 11
1
Break posture — pull sleeve to hip (same as armbar entry).
2
Cut angle — swing leg to shoulder. Lock shin across their neck.
3
Pinch knees. Pull head down. Squeeze from the hips.
Squeeze at the neck — not the shoulders. Hip angle makes it tight.
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3
Omoplata
Intermediate
1
From triangle entry: instead of locking triangle — swing far leg over their arm.
2
Sit up — use your legs to lock their shoulder, arm behind their back.
3
Lean forward to apply rotational pressure on the shoulder.
Sit up tall. Leaning forward is what creates the submission pressure.
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4
Guillotine Choke
Fundamental
1
Secure a headlock — arm under their chin, other hand clasps at wrist.
2
Pull their head up and drive your hips up simultaneously.
3
Squeeze your elbows together — the forearm crushes the throat.
Hips up and elbows in at the same time. One without the other fails.
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5
Kimura from Guard
Fundamental
1
When they post a hand to the mat: grab their wrist with your near hand.
2
Sit up, pass their arm behind their back, lock the figure-4 grip.
3
Rotate their arm up behind their back — use your body as the lever.
Their posted hand is the invitation. Grab it before they pull it back.
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From Mount (Top)
1
Americana (Keylock)
Class 11
1
Isolate their arm bent at 90 degrees — wrist to mat.
2
Near hand grabs wrist. Far hand under arm grabs your own wrist — figure-4.
3
Paint the floor — slide their wrist away from their head.
Small joint. Big leverage. The angle creates the submission — not strength.
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2
Armbar from Mount
Fundamental
1
Control their arm — push it across their body and post your knee on their hip.
2
Swing your leg over their head — keep their arm tight to your chest.
3
Squeeze knees. Hips up. Finish.
Keep their thumb pointing up. Hip up slowly — this finishes, rushing loses it.
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3
Cross Collar Choke
Gi Specific
1
From mount: establish deep collar grip with one hand — thumb inside.
2
Cross other hand to the opposite collar — also thumb inside.
3
Drive both elbows to the mat — the crossing motion chokes the neck.
Both thumbs inside. Drive elbows DOWN — not forward. Down is the finish.
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4
Ezekiel Choke
Gi Specific
1
From mount: slide one sleeve inside their collar or under their neck.
2
Grip your own sleeve with the other hand — forming a loop.
3
Rotate the gripping arm — the forearm presses the throat.
The sleeve is the choke tool. Drive the forearm — not the hand.
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From Back (Top)
1
Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
Class 10
1
Shoot choking arm to the neck — forearm across the THROAT, not the wrist.
2
Squeeze bicep of the other arm behind their head.
3
Clasp hands or grab your own bicep — squeeze from the ELBOW.
Forearm on throat. Bicep behind head. Squeeze from the elbow — not hands.
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2
Bow and Arrow Choke
Gi Specific
1
From back: establish deep collar grip — thumb inside, four fingers pulling.
2
Grip their far trouser leg or belt — control their hip.
3
Extend your body like a bow — collar pulls neck, leg controls hips.
Pull collar AND control the hip. Both at once. One without the other fails.
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3
Rear Collar Choke
Gi Specific
1
From back: both hands grip the collar from behind — thumbs inside.
2
Pull both collar lapels apart and away from the neck.
3
The crossing of the lapels inside the collar chokes the arteries.
Pull away from each other — not toward yourself. The separation is the choke.
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From Side Control (Top)
1
Kimura from Side Control
Fundamental
1
Isolate their near arm — bring it to 90 degrees.
2
Apply figure-4 grip — near hand grabs their wrist, far hand under arm.
3
Rotate arm up behind their back — walk around if needed.
Walk around their head if they resist. The angle finishes the Kimura.
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2
Arm Triangle (D'Arce / Head-and-Arm)
Intermediate
1
Trap their near arm and head between your arm and their own neck.
2
Lock your hands — clasp at the back of their head.
3
Drive to the far side — walk to improve angle. Squeeze from your chest, not arms.
Walk to their far side before squeezing. The angle is everything.
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3
Paper Cutter Choke
Gi Specific
1
From side control: grip far collar with one hand — thumb inside, deep.
2
Other arm under their neck — base hand flat on mat.
3
Drive your body weight down — the collar cuts across the throat.
Drive DOWN into them — not sideways. Bodyweight is what makes it work.
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From Knee-on-Belly
1
Baseball Bat Choke
Gi Specific
1
From KOB: grip their collar with both hands — one thumb in, one thumb out.
2
Rotate your body and drop to the far side — like swinging a bat.
3
The rotation creates the choke — collar drives through the neck.
Grip first. Rotate fast. The speed of the rotation is the submission.
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2
Kimura from KOB
Top Game
1
From KOB: when they post a hand — grab their wrist and apply figure-4.
2
Step over and drive their arm behind their back.
3
Finish the Kimura from the top control position.
KOB makes them post. Their post is the invitation for the Kimura.
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Leg Locks
Entries, control positions, and finishes for the lower body. Control the hips and the knee line before you break.
1
Straight Foot Lock (Ankle Lock)
Core
1
Enter from ashi garami — their leg trapped, your knees controlling their hips.
2
Their foot goes under your armpit, blade of your forearm under the achilles.
3
Lock a figure-four or gable grip and pull the heel tight to your chest.
4
Finish by bridging your hips forward and arching back — not by pulling with the arms.
Control the hips first. Bridge to finish, never yank.
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2
Aoki Lock
Variation
1
Set up from the same ashi garami control as the straight foot lock.
2
Instead of the forearm blade, rotate your arm to attack the ankle at an angle.
3
Keep their hips pinned so they cannot rotate free.
4
Apply slowly and progressively — this one arrives faster than people expect.
Same control, different angle. Apply slow.
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3
Toe Hold
Core
1
Establish leg control so their hips cannot turn away.
2
Grab the top of their foot with one hand, figure-four your other arm behind their ankle.
3
Keep their knee trapped — the lock only works if the knee cannot follow.
4
Rotate the foot slowly toward their backside to finish.
Kill the hip. Trap the knee. Rotate slowly.
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4
Outside Heel Hook
Advanced
1
Enter to a strong leg entanglement — ashi garami or outside ashi.
2
Trap their knee line so their leg cannot rotate out.
3
Cup the heel with your forearm, lock a figure-four grip.
4
Finish by rotating your whole body, not by cranking with the arms.
Knee line first. Rotate the body. Tap early — there is no pain warning.
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Leg Locks — coming to this library
Breakdowns for this section are being added. Check back soon.
Sweeps
Every sweep works by moving weight to where there is no support. Off-balance them first — then redirect their weight. Forcing a sweep against solid base always fails.
0
Sweep Fundamentals — Start Here
Foundation
1
Every sweep needs off-balance first — never force it against a solid base.
2
Break their posture or their base before you commit.
3
Send their weight where there is no support: over a missing post.
4
Follow them up — a sweep is not finished until you are on top.
Off-balance first. Then redirect the weight.
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0
Spider Guard Sweep
Open Guard
1
Both feet on the biceps, sleeves gripped tight.
2
Extend one leg to straighten their arm and off-balance them.
3
Drop the other foot to the hip and pull the sleeve across.
4
Elevate and roll them over the missing post.
Extend one arm. Off-balance. Elevate.
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From Closed Guard
0
Star Sweep
Closed Guard
1
Open their posture and get an angle off to one side.
2
Grip the far sleeve/wrist and post your other hand behind you.
3
Swing your legs like a star — one hooks, one kicks through.
4
Roll them over and land mounted or in side control.
Angle first. Then spin them over.
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1
Scissor Sweep
Classic
1
Pull them forward to break posture — collar + sleeve grip.
2
Knee across their body (shin against their chest), other knee at their hip — scissors.
3
Scissor your legs while pulling collar down and pushing their knee — they roll.
Pull collar + push knee + scissor. All three at once. Any one alone fails.
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2
Hip Bump Sweep
Fundamental
1
Open guard — sit up and establish underhook or collar grip.
2
Post your free hand behind you and bridge your hips into them explosively.
3
Their weight shifts forward — sweep into mount.
Drive the hips INTO them. If they lean back — go to Kimura. Same entry.
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3
Flower Sweep (Flower Kick)
Classic
1
When they post their hand to the mat: grab their wrist and control their posture.
2
Hook the inside of their same-side leg with your foot.
3
Kick up and pull wrist — their support leg lifts and they roll.
The wrist pull and the leg kick happen together. Either alone doesn't sweep.
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4
Pendulum Sweep
Intermediate
1
Open guard — control sleeve and collar grip to break posture.
2
Post one knee on their hip — use the other leg to swing like a pendulum under their arm.
3
The pendulum swing combined with the hip kick off — sweeps them to the side.
The swing gets bigger with hip drive. Small swing = no power.
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From Half Guard
1
Underhook Sweep (Old School)
Class 7
1
Fight to establish underhook — from elbow, create space, get underhook.
2
Connect chest-to-chest. Grab their ankle with your free hand.
3
Drive forward with your hip — roll to top.
The sweep goes where their weight is NOT. Don't fight — redirect.
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2
Knee Lever Sweep
Half Guard
1
From half guard: get to your elbow, establish underhook.
2
Grab their knee with your top hand — use it as a lever.
3
Drive their knee inward while driving your hip forward — their base collapses.
Knee lever + hip drive together. The lever removes their base on that side.
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From Butterfly Guard
1
Basic Butterfly Sweep
Fundamental
1
Establish butterfly hooks — both feet under their thighs.
2
Get underhook on one side — control the opposite sleeve.
3
Tip to the underhook side — hook lifts them as you fall to your side.
Fall to the side of the underhook. The hook does the lifting.
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2
Hook Sweep (Elevator Sweep)
Butterfly
1
Both butterfly hooks in — pull them forward to break posture.
2
When they post a hand: hook one arm under their armpit.
3
Drive your hook up (elevator) on the opposite side — they flip over.
Post hand = opportunity. Hook the arm, elevate the opposite leg. They go over.
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From Open Guard
1
Tripod Sweep
Fundamental
1
Feet on their hips — grip their ankles.
2
Push one hip away with foot while pulling the opposite ankle.
3
They collapse to the pulled ankle side — follow to top position.
Push foot AND pull ankle simultaneously. The opposition of forces does the sweep.
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2
Dummy Sweep (Sit-Up Sweep)
Open Guard
1
When they are between your knees: sit up into them using sleeve + collar grip.
2
Break their posture forward — drive into them.
3
Take them over the side using your body momentum into them.
Sit INTO them, not away. Drive your weight through their centre of gravity.
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3
X Guard Sweep
Advanced
1
Establish X guard — both legs around one of their legs, feet hooking at hip and knee.
2
Control their sleeve or ankle — lift their supported leg with your hooks.
3
Extend your legs to sweep them backwards — follow to top position.
X guard removes their base completely. Once base is gone — extend and sweep.