Walking into a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym for the first time often feels like trying to drink from a firehose. You are immediately exposed to an endless stream of movements, leverages, and concepts. It is common to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to focus your energy during those initial months on the mats.
The secret to surviving the white belt phase isn’t learning a hundred different spinning attacks. It is mastering a select few high percentage moves. Advanced black belt techniques are often just basic moves performed with incredible timing and precision. Building a strong foundation now is the fastest route to progress later.
This guide focuses on the top bjj techniques for beginner classes that will help you survive sparring sessions and start understanding the “gentle art.” These aren’t just training wheels; they are the bread and butter of world champions. Whether you are day one or year ten, these techniques remain relevant.
Part 1: Survival and Escapes
As a beginner, you will likely spend the majority of your time in bad positions. It is a rite of passage. Therefore, learning how to escape is your first priority. You cannot win a fight if you are stuck under someone heavier than you.
1. The Bridge and Roll (Upa)
The Bridge and Roll, often called the Upa, is the primary escape from the Full Mount position. When an opponent is mounted on top of you, they are dangerous. This escape relies on simple mechanics rather than brute strength.
Key Detail: The secret lies in trapping the opponent’s arm and foot on the same side. If you trap their left arm and left foot, they have no “table legs” to post for balance on that side. Once they are trapped, bridge your hips explosively high and roll over your shoulder.
Why it matters: This move teaches you the importance of hip movement and timing. If you try to bench press your opponent off you, you will exhaust yourself. If you use your hips, you can move someone much larger than you.
2. The Elbow Escape (Shrimping)
If there is one movement that defines Jiu-Jitsu, it is shrimping. The Elbow Escape uses this movement to recover a safe position when someone is crushing you in Side Control or Mount.
Key Detail: You must use “frames”—usually your forearms—against the opponent’s neck or hip to create a small amount of space. Once you have that space, you move your hips away (shrimp) to slide your legs back between you and your opponent, recovering your guard.
Application: This is useful for escaping almost every bad position. Learning to move your hips independently of your upper body is a skill you will use forever.
Part 2: Dominant Positions & Control
Before you can submit an opponent, you must control them. These positions allow you to dictate the pace of the fight and keep yourself safe from strikes or counter attacks.
3. The Closed Guard
The Closed Guard is a definitive BJJ position. You are on your back, but you have your legs wrapped around the opponent’s waist with your ankles crossed. It is a defensive fortress that can quickly turn offensive.
Benefit: It allows you to control the opponent’s posture. By using your legs to pull them forward, you break their alignment, making it difficult for them to strike you or pass your guard.
Tip: Keep your legs crossed and ankles locked tight. If your legs are loose, your opponent can easily push them open and pass to a dominant position.
4. Side Control
This is a dominant pinning position where you are chest to chest with your opponent, perpendicular to them. It is the most common position you will land in after passing someone’s legs.
Key Detail: To maintain this position, you need to apply “cross face” pressure. This involves using your shoulder against the opponent’s jaw to turn their face away from you. If they can’t look at you, they can’t turn into you to escape.
Why learn it: Gravity is your friend here. By staying low and heavy, you make the opponent carry your weight, tiring them out while you look for attacks.
5. Full Mount
Full Mount is arguably the most dominant position in fighting. You are sitting on top of the opponent’s torso, facing their head. From here, you have gravity and leverage on your side.
Key Detail: Focus on balance and keeping your weight heavy on the opponent’s hips. If you lean too far forward, you risk getting rolled. If you sit too far back, they can sit up.
Goal: From here, you have many submission options—chokes and armlocks—while the opponent has very few options other than desperate escape attempts.
Part 3: Basic Submissions
Once you can survive and control, you can look to finish the fight. These BJJ techniques for beginners are simple, high percentage attacks that work at every belt level.
6. The Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
The Rear Naked Choke is the “king” of chokes. It is applied from the Back Mount, where you are behind your opponent. It is highly effective because it doesn’t require a Gi (kimono) and cuts off blood flow to the brain, leading to unconsciousness if the opponent doesn’t tap.
Mechanics: The critical detail is getting your choking arm deep under the chin. The crook of your elbow should be aligned with their chin. Once deep, grab your own bicep and hide your hand behind the opponent’s head to secure the lock.
7. The Americana (Keylock)
The Americana is a shoulder lock often done from Side Control or Mount. It attacks the shoulder joint by bending the arm at a 90 degree angle and rotating it backward.
Why it’s great for beginners: It relies on simple leverage and doesn’t require complex body movement. It teaches you how to isolate a limb and use the floor as a tool against your opponent.
Caution: Shoulders are flexible but fragile. When practicing this, apply pressure slowly. You want your training partner to tap, not get injured.
8. The Armbar from Guard
The Armbar is a classic submission that hyperextends the elbow joint. It is one of the first attacks you will learn from the Closed Guard.
Key Detail: To finish an armbar, you must control the opponent’s posture and raise your hips. The higher your hips are, the more leverage you have against the elbow.
Concept: This technique teaches beginners the vital concept of attacking from their back, proving that being underneath doesn’t mean you are losing.
9. The Triangle Choke
The Triangle is a stranglehold using your legs against the opponent’s neck and arm. It is usually applied from Closed Guard when the opponent has one arm inside your legs and one arm out.
Detail: Most beginners squeeze with their legs and burn out their muscles without finishing the choke. The secret is the angle. You must cut an angle with your hips to tighten the space around the neck.
10. The Kimura
Named after the legendary judoka Masahiko Kimura, this shoulder lock is similar to the Americana but directed the opposite way. It is often applied from the Guard or Side Control.
Versatility: The Kimura is more than just a submission. The “Kimura grip” (grabbing the wrist and your own wrist) is a powerful point of control. It can be used to sweep opponents, take their back, or transition to other submissions like the armbar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long does it take to master these techniques?
A: Mastery is a lifelong pursuit in Jiu-Jitsu. However, consistent practice of these fundamentals for a few months will make you proficient enough to use them effectively in sparring.
Q: Which BJJ techniques for beginners should I learn first?
A: Prioritize escapes, specifically the Bridge and Roll and the Elbow Escape. You will spend a lot of time in bad positions early on. You cannot win a match if you cannot survive the initial onslaught.
Q: Are these techniques safe to practice?
A: Yes, provided you respect your training partner. The rule of the gym is to “tap early and tap often.” Once you feel pressure or pain, tap your partner or the mat to signal the stop.
The Journey Begins
These 10 moves form the vocabulary of Jiu Jitsu. Just as you need to learn the alphabet before writing a novel, you must understand these movements before developing your own “game.”
However, reading about them isn’t enough. Jiu-Jitsu is a physical language. You need “mat time” to build the muscle memory required to execute these moves under pressure. Don’t worry about being perfect; just worry about showing up.
Pick one technique from this list—perhaps the Bridge and Roll—and focus on it during your next class. Ready to roll? Grab your gi and hit the mats!