Combat Positions
Explore the fundamental positions utilized in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, organized by combat phase.
Standing Phase 14 positions
Collar Tie
Single-point contact: one hand controlling the back of the opponent's neck, collar, or upper trapez…
Double Collar Tie
Two-point contact: both hands controlling the opponent's neck/head (also called the Plum), commonly…
Double Underhooks
Both arms underhooked on the opponent's arms, hands not yet locked/clasped — a contested, reversibl…
Front Bodylock
Two-point contact from the front, hands locked together around the opponent's torso — a committed, …
Over-Under
Two-point contact: one arm underhooked, the other overhooked — a mismatched, mutually offensive tie…
Rear Bodylock
Two-point contact from behind, hands locked together around the opponent's torso — the rear counter…
Single Leg
The held, contested moment after a single leg shot lands — one attacker has secured control of one …
Single Overhook
Single-point contact: one arm overhooked on the opponent's arm (e.g. a whizzer), contested and not …
Single Underhook
Single-point contact: one arm underhooked on the opponent's arm, contested and not locked. Can be s…
Standing
Zero contact — the neutral starting stance, feet set, no grips exchanged yet. The root of the stand…
Tie-up
Two-point contact: both hands on collar/elbow (or equivalent bilateral grip), mutual and symmetric …
Wrist/Sleeve Tie
Single-point contact: hand or forearm control on the opponent's wrist or sleeve, without a head/nec…
Clinch/Upper Body Control
General standing grip-fighting engagement: sustained bilateral upper-body contact where both fighte…
Lower Body Engagement
Contact focused on the legs/feet rather than the upper body: reaping, hooking, or picking at the op…
Transitional Phase 7 positions
Front Headlock
Ground Phase 36 positions
Ashi-Garami
A fundamental leg lock control position characterized by specific leg entanglement mechanics where …
Coyote Guard
A deep underhook half guard system developed by Lucas Leite, sitting between standard underhook hal…
Crab Ride
The crab ride is a control that is mainly used to hunt for the back. It is essential knowledge for …
Crucifix
A dominant control position where one practitioner has their opponent's arm trapped across their ch…
False Half Guard
A turtle-adjacent bottom position where the defender has stepped one leg over one of the top player…
Half Back (Truck)
The half back (also called three-quarter back or truck position) is a powerful control position in …
High Ground
An inverted crucifix-family back-control position (aka 'upside-down back control') within Back Cruc…
Knee Reap
A leg lock control position where the attacking player's shin or leg crosses over the opponent's th…
Lockdown
Eddie Bravo's leg-weave control from bottom half guard. The outside leg traps the opponent's shin w…
North South
A dominant top pin in which the top player's chest controls the bottom player's chest or upper body…
Octopus Guard
A hybrid turtle/half-guard position invented by Eduardo Telles. Entered from closed or half guard b…
Quarter Guard
A shallower, weaker cousin of half guard where the bottom player controls only the top player's ank…
Reverse Closed Guard
A leg-entanglement guard where the bottom player closes their legs around the opponent's leg — rath…
Reverse Half Guard
A half guard entanglement with reversed facing: the bottom player still traps one of the opponent's…
Reverse X-Guard
A leg-entanglement open guard where the leg positions are reversed relative to standard X-Guard: th…
Saddle
A dominant control position in leg lock systems where the attacking player sits on top of the oppon…
Shin on Shin Guard
A dynamic open guard position where the bottom player places their shin against the inside of the o…
Stockade
The stockade is an inverted nelson hold achieved by looping your arm behind your opponent's head wh…
Three-Quarter Guard
A transitional position where the top player has nearly achieved full mount but one foot/ankle/heel…
Williams Guard
A closed-guard-derived control position developed by Shawn Williams (also called the Shoulder Pin G…
Back Crucifix
A variation of the Crucifix position taken from the back, where the practitioner traps the opponent…
Reverse Crucifix
A crucifix variation where the practitioner controls the opponent from a modified front headlock po…
Side Crucifix
A variation of the Crucifix position taken from the side, where the practitioner controls the oppon…
Butterfly Guard
A seated open guard position with feet hooked inside the opponent's thighs
De La Riva Guard
An open guard variation where the outside foot hooks around the opponent's leg
Half Guard
Controlling one of opponent's legs. Named from either side, following the same top/bottom naming pa…
Spider Guard
An open guard position where the feet are placed on the opponent's biceps
Lasso Guard
An open guard variation where the leg is wrapped around the opponent's arm
X-Guard
An open guard where the legs form an X around one of the opponent's legs
Understanding Position Hierarchy
BJJ positions are organized in a hierarchical structure, with major positions having variations and sub-positions. This reflects the detailed nature of grappling, where slight adjustments can create entirely new tactical scenarios.
- Root Positions: The main positions that define a major control scenario (e.g., Mount, Guard).
- Variations: Specific modifications of a root position with unique characteristics (e.g., High Mount, Closed Guard).
- Transitions: Movements between positions that can create tactical advantages.
Explore the position details to understand the relationships between different positions and their strategic applications.