JIU JITSU MOVES

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has become one of the most popular forms of Martial Arts across the United States, and now is growing significantly all over the world. The grappling art is a highly complex system of combat fighting that includes an intricate series of bjj moves for beginners all the way to the more highly advanced movements. Two combatants will start on their feet, as they will endeavour to execute a number of takedown techniques, and try to get the fight to the mat. Once the fight has hit the mat, practitioners will utilise a series of fast paced transitional movements, combined with calm and methodical positional controls. The art is world famous for its series of technically advanced submission maneuvers, which includes various chokeholds, arm locks, and leg locks. There is always a bjj hierarchy of positions that a practitioner needs to know, as some movements are more higher percentage than others. In BJJ it is all about reading your opponent and knowing which moves to execute, in order to gain the more dominant position. 

What This Article Covers:

• The Most Common Takedown Moves
• Highly Effective Sweeps
• Passing the Guard
• High Percentage Submissions
• Modern Jiu Jitsu Moves

THE MOST COMMON TAKEDOWN MOVES

The Double Leg - this takedown is one of the most common maneuvers used by wrestlers, and has foundations bjj written all over it, as it has proven to be extremely successful. This move involves a practitioner to change levels and shoot in low while grabbing their opponents with both arms around the back of their legs. As they drive in with momentum they must keep their chest close, picking up their opponent and driving them sideways onto the mat. 

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The Single Leg - this takedown is another extremely effective one, and involves a practitioner to scoop up their opponent's leg. Once they have control they will squeeze their opponent's shin between their thighs and hug tight around their opponents thigh. While keeping their head on the inside of their opponent, they will step their outside leg backwards while using their head to turn and put their opponent on the mat. 

The Ankle Pick - the ankle pick is another wrestling maneuver that has become successful in BJJ. This move is used when a practitioner grabs a necktie and a wrist grip on their opponent, and as they are pulling the neck down they can let go of the wrist grip, changing levels, and scooping the ankle forcing their opponent to fall to the mat. 

The Seoi Nagi - this move is a powerful throw used in Judo which has become quite common in BJJ. To achieve this move a practitioner must step into range on their opponent, isolating one of their arms as they turn their back towards their opponent. Once their opponent's arm is over their shoulder, they then use a twist and throw to launch their opponent over their head and onto the mat. This move also has another version called the Drop Seoi Nagi, which is exactly the same except the practitioner falls to their knees before they throw their opponent.

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE SWEEPS

The Scissor Sweep - this sweep is one of the first sweeps you learn when you start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as it is extremely effective and easy to execute. The scissor sweep is achieved from the guard and is initiated when a practitioner secures a cross collar grip and a sleeve grip, this can also be a necktie and a wrist grip in No Gi. The next step is to open their guard and slide in their knee shield, before pulling their opponent's weight on top of them and using both of their legs in a scissoring motion to sweep their opponent.

The Hip Bump Sweep - this sweep is another extremely basic one, and is also executed from within the guard. The practitioner will open their guard, and at that same moment they will reach over across their body and over the elbow of their opponent. As they secure this position they will then post on the elbow of their other arm, allowing their hips to rock through forcing their opponent onto their back.

The Butterfly Sweep - this maneuver can be executed from the butterfly guard, which is when you have an opponent sitting on both of your feet, or hooks as they are described in BJJ. To be effective with this sweep the practitioner will need to secure and over hook on one side, and an underhook on the other. The practitioner will then suck in the overhook while they will reach high with their underhook, at the same time using one of their hooks to turn their opponent over towards the over hooked side.

The Pendulum Sweep - this is a very effective sweep, as a practitioner does not need to let go of the guard to execute it. This move consists of securing a wrist grip, or an overhook, while using their other arm to reach deep under the leg of their opponent. Once they have secured this position with their elbow deep inside their opponent's leg, they will then use their leg that is closest to the over hooked side to kick outward in a pendulum style movement. At the same time, their other leg kicks over, while punching their underhook on the leg high, forcing them to roll onto their back, as the practitioner continues straight into mount.

The Double Ankle Sweep - this sweep is an extremely common one that is used in Jiu Jitsu and even MMA. It happens usually when an opponent stands up in a practitioner's guard, and leaves their feet too close to their opponents hips. To execute this sweep all the practitioner has to do is cup the back of both of their opponents ankles, while using their feet in their hips and kicking them forward, while pulling the ankles up. To finish this sweep they need to transition fast, to get on top before their opponent can scramble to safety.

PASSING THE GUARD

The Toreando Pass - this pass is highly effective in the GI, and involves a practitioner gripping the fabric on both of their opponents knees. As the practitioner pulls the knees of their opponent to one side, they will then scoot around to the opposite side  either securing a knee ride, or jumping straight into a side control position.

The Knee Cut Pass - this pass is a game changer, and is used by many high level BJJ practitioners. It involves being in their opponents open guard as they set up a combat base, which is one hand pushing the knee to the mat, and the other hand resting on their abdomen, while keeping active feet. As the practitioner begins to slide their knee through the guard, the hand that's resting on the abdomen will slide through securing an underhook, while the other hand shoots in for a cross face position. As both of the hands connect, they will also drive their head into the jaw of their opponent, turning them away, as their knee cuts through the guard and they secure a nice tight side control.

The Double Under Pass - this pass is extremely common in BJJ, and usually happens off of the back of a failed triangle attempt. It involves being in the guard, and sliding both arms through and around the legs. The practitioner will then stack their opponent onto their neck, putting their knees towards their chin, as the practitioner can choose which side they want to move past and take a tight side control position.

The Lapel Wrap Pass - with the evolution of BJJ and many innovations added throughout the years, this pass has become highly effective. It involves a practitioner attempting to pass the open guard as they allow their opponent to slide in their knee shield. The practitioner will then sit on their opponents top leg, and grab the lapel that's closest to the ground. They will then feed the lapel underneath both of their opponents legs, and back up around to the top leg, as they secure both legs in place. They will then grab the belt with the opposite hand, and in one strong motion pull the lapel and the belt hard, forcing the opponent to go face down on the mat, as the practitioner can easily pass or even secure back control.

The Cartwheel Pass - this pass is a highlight reel, and can be effective to the more dynamic or athletic practitioner. It involves getting tight grips on both of the knees of their opponent, and setting themself to simply, cartwheel diagonally towards their opponents head, or shoulder, as they land into a position to take side control or the mount.

HIGH PERCENTAGE SUBMISSIONS

The Rear Naked Choke - this is the most common submission in all levels of BJJ, including the Black belt level. This can be one of the hardest bjj submission moves to finish, purely because practitioners are constantly developing how to defend it. To execute this choke practitioners must first secure the back control position, as this includes using both feet as hooks and securing a seat belt control. Now the practitioner can wrap their arm around the neck of their opponent, and sink in a tight rear naked choke. 

The Armbar - this submission is a leverage based joint lock that hyperextends the elbow joint. Practitioners will secure a grip, usually on the tricep and the wrist, before using both of their legs to secure the bicep. Once they have isolated the arm, the practitioner will hyperextended the joint, causing their opponent to tap. There are many different variations of the armbar, including the far side armbar, the arm cutter, the flying armbar, the inverted arm bar, and many others. Armbars can be executed from all control positions, and are one of the most successful submissions in all of BJJ.

The Triangle - this is another high quality and extremely effective submission. The triangle is a submission that is secured from most major control positions, but is mainly executed from the guard. To secure this choke the practitioner will usually grab both wrists of their opponent, as they pull one towards their stomach, and push the other into their opponent's stomach, as they will simultaneously shoot their leg over their opponent's neck. Once they have locked their legs together in a triangle position, trapping the head and the arm, the practitioner will squeeze with their legs pulling the head down, or scooping under the leg, making the angle even tighter.

The Guillotine - this choke is a highly advantageous one, as it is secured from the front headlock position. Anytime an opponent shoots in for a double leg takedown they are leaving their neck exposed to a guillotine. To secure this choke, the practitioner will wrap their arm around the neck,  leaving no space, as they pull their forearm up into the trachea, causing a significant choke to be administered.

The Kimura - this submission is an old school favourite, which was made famous by Masahiko Kimura, and then by Kazushi Sakuraba. To execute this submission the practitioner will secure a wrist grip, while reaching around the back of their opponent's elbow with their opposite arm, as it threads underneath the elbow and catches control of their own wrist. This position is called the kimura grip, and once it is secured then the practitioner will bend the arm up behind the back of their opponent, causing significant pressure on the shoulder joint.

The Bow And Arrow Choke - this choke is an old school favourite, and is secured from having a back control position. The practitioner will slide their arm in around the neck of their opponent, as if they were going for a rear naked choke, and at the last second grabbing a collar grip pulling it tight across their neck. The next step is to shuffle their leg position so that their leg comes further across their opponent's belly, as they grab a grip on the Gi pants. With these grips secured, they will pull the collar and the Gi pants away from each other, causing an extremely tight choke. 

MODERN JIU JITSU MOVES

The Darce Choke - this choke has become increasingly popular in the last few years, with athletes like the Ruotolo brothers and Jeff Glover showing their expertise in the choke hold. To execute this choke the practitioner needs to insert their near side arm underneath the arm of their opponent, threading it up to the other side of the neck. The next step is to secure their other arm over the top of their opponent's head, as they clasp onto their bicep with the threaded arm. The practitioner will then squeeze, as they trap the back of their opponent's tricep with their chest, in what is seemingly similar to an anaconda choke. This choke can be executed out of every single position in Jiu Jitsu, as the entries to the darce choke are everywhere.

The Heel Hook - this submission is a leg entanglement that was made famous by many superstar athletes like Dean Lister, Gordon Ryan, Eddie Cummings, and Craig Jones. This submission involves a practitioner to use their legs to secure the leg of their opponent. The leg lock is secured above the knee, and is finished by manipulating an opponent's heel while their toes are in the practitioner's armpit. There are different types of heel hooks like the inside heel hook, the inverted heel hook, and the outside heel hook.

The Berimbolo - this transitional move has become an extremely popular way for a practitioner to take an opponent's back. This move can be secured when a practitioner is in the open guard, as they start to manipulate their opponents weight distribution, forcing them to become heavier in the hands and lighter in the feet. Once the practitioner has flicked their opponent over, they will invert, following their opponent's movement as they slide straight into a back take. There are many different versions of the berimbolo, as each one can be used to match the different reaction of their opponent.

The Rubber Guard - this is a comprehensive system designed by Eddie Bravo from the 10th planet Jiu Jitsu academy. The rubber guard has become increasingly popular especially in No GI Jiu Jitsu, as many high level athletes are practising it. To execute this series of movements a practitioner will need to learn different control positions, starting with Mission Control, which is a way to secure an opponent's posture by using their own shin. Eddie Bravo has revolutionised this guard by naming other various movements within the guard to help track his way to different chokes, and joint locks. Some of the bjj position names Eddie has made famous are;the Kung Fu Move, the Pump, the Zombie, Chill Dog, New York and Crackhead Control. 

One of the most decorated American grapplers and martial artists Rafael Lovato Jr. has joined forces with BJJFanatics and shared his secrets to one of his most successfully used submissions at the highest levels to help you expand your game!

These are just some of the moves that are recognised within the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This Martial Art has a diversely broad range of technical movements, and an infinite number of variations of each technique. Learning the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can take a practitioner an extremely long time, as even after decades within the art, there are still techniques they don't know. Nowadays with the innovation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, many athletes are creating their own techniques which have come from many of the foundations of Jiu Jitsu. BJJ is an extremely fun and challenging Martial Art, which has a multitude of basic elements and high calibre techniques to learn. 

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