The Foundation Own these before anything advanced. Every high-level game is built on these positions — escapes, passes, takedowns, submissions. Master them here first.
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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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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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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.