Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
BJJ is THE ground fighting system, period. If you want to learn to fight or defend yourself on the ground, and you should, you need to train BJJ. The system takes a "position then submission" approach, where practitioners learn to maintain, attack, and escape from every conceivable position on the ground. BJJ has roots in judo, but has gone far beyond with respect to ground fighting.
Self Defense Considerations
For self defense, it's important to keep in mind that there are no strikes in BJJ. You'll need to add striking and dirty tactics to the mix. But like our recommendations for stand up grappling, it makes sense to begin training without strikes and add them in once you've got a solid grappling base. Although "going to the ground" is not ideal in a self defense situation, you never know where you'll find yourself. And, the best way to avoid ending up on the ground and being dominated there is to train clinch and Brazilian jiu jitsu + striking, so you'll be better able to avoid it.
BJJ Techniques
There are countless techniques and variations on positions in BJJ. The positions and techniques listed below are those that we feel are fundamental and a necessary base for ground grappling training for self defense.
Ground vs. Stand Up
Ground vs. Kneeling
- Kicking, pushing
- Scissors Sweep
- Push Sweep
The Guard
Maintaining the Guard
- Closed Safe Guard
- Closed and Open Striking Guard
Basic Escapes from Guard
Locks and Chokes from Guard
- Kimura
- Guillotine
- Straight Arm Bar
- Getting the Back
- Triangle
- Omoplata
The Mount
Basic Escapes from Mount
Attacking from Mount
- Striking
- Chokes
- Straight Arm Bar
- Americana
The Headlock
Escape from Headlock
- Face push with head lock (leg)
- Arm Frame
- Step Over
- Climb Over
- Walk Around
Attack from Headlock
- Striking
- Arm Bar with Leg
- Bent Arm Lock with Leg
- Step Over Arm Bar
Knee-in-Stomach
Escapes from Knee-in-Stomach
- Push and Shrimp
- Scoot Under
Attacks from Knee-in-Stomach
- Striking
- Face Turns
- Straight Arm Bar
The Side Mount
Escape from Side Mount
- Shrimp to Guard
- Leg Over Head
- Shrimp to North-South
Attack from Side Mount
- Arm Across Face w/ Striking
- Arm Bar
- Americana
- Kimura
BJJ Training
All training in BJJ revolves around sparring or wrestling. A technique is learned, drilled in isolation with progressive resistance, and then quickly thrown into the sparring mix, just as detailed in our training and clinch sections.
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
BJJ is THE ground fighting system, period. If you want to learn to fight or defend yourself on the ground, and you should, you need to train BJJ. The system takes a "position then submission" approach, where practitioners learn to maintain, attack, and escape from every conceivable position on the ground. BJJ has roots in judo, but has gone far beyond with respect to ground fighting.
Self Defense Considerations
For self defense, it's important to keep in mind that there are no strikes in BJJ. You'll need to add striking and dirty tactics to the mix. But like our recommendations for stand up grappling, it makes sense to begin training without strikes and add them in once you've got a solid grappling base. Although "going to the ground" is not ideal in a self defense situation, you never know where you'll find yourself. And, the best way to avoid ending up on the ground and being dominated there is to train clinch and Brazilian jiu jitsu + striking, so you'll be better able to avoid it.
BJJ Techniques
There are countless techniques and variations on positions in BJJ. The positions and techniques listed below are those that we feel are fundamental and a necessary base for ground grappling training for self defense.
Ground vs. Stand Up
Ground vs. Kneeling
The Guard
Maintaining the Guard
Basic Escapes from Guard
Locks and Chokes from Guard
The Mount
Basic Escapes from Mount
Attacking from Mount
The Headlock
Escape from Headlock
Attack from Headlock
Knee-in-Stomach
Escapes from Knee-in-Stomach
Attacks from Knee-in-Stomach
The Side Mount
Escape from Side Mount
Attack from Side Mount
BJJ Training
All training in BJJ revolves around sparring or wrestling. A technique is learned, drilled in isolation with progressive resistance, and then quickly thrown into the sparring mix, just as detailed in our training and clinch sections.
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