Gracie 20 Basic Techniques

Made famous by the Gracie family, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a grappling martial art in which competitors attempt to perform choke holds or joint submission maneuvers on their opponents. Although the sport is highly intricate, with countless techniques and maneuvers, learning 20 basic techniques will allow you to hold your own as you learn the sport.

  1. Guard on Top

    • The guard is the most basic position in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, with one practitioner on top, enclosed between his opponent's legs. While this may seem a dominant position for the grappler on top, it is a neutral position, so a top grappler should look to pass his opponent's guard. To move to half guard, first break your opponent's legs apart, then push down on one thigh and slide your corresponding thigh over the leg pushed on so only one leg is secured by your opponent's legs.

    Guard on Bottom

    • Working from the bottom, a grappler has many options in guard. Place both feet on your opponent's hips and push off to perform an escape to your feet. Grab your opponent's wrist with one hand to gain control of that arm and set up either an arm bar or a triangle submission. For an arm bar, pull the opponent's arm across your chest, then turn your hips and throw your leg on that side over your opponent's head, allowing you to put pressure on the trapped arm. For a triangle, the reverse is used, pushing the arm back so the leg matching it can be passed across your opponent's back and secured under your opposite knee.

    Half Guard Top

    • To pass from the half guard into full side control, place the top of your free foot on the thigh closest to it and push down as you pull your trapped leg free. While still in the guard, you can also perform a kimura, grabbing your opponent's wrist opposite the side you popped free to with your near hand, then slipping your other arm under your opponent's biceps to grab your own wrist. Twist the arm to finish the submission.

    Half Guard Bottom

    • From the bottom you can regain your guard by turning your hips back on the side of your leg between your opponent's legs, then pulling the leg out and wrapping it around his waist again. Just as your opponent can kimura you, you can kimura him. Grab the wrist on the side your opponent has popped free with your near hand, then thread the far arm over your opponent's biceps. This is actually two techniques in one, as it can be used either as a submission or to sweep your opponent and end up on top.

    Side Control Top

    • Side control is a very dominant position. To move to mount, slide the foot opposite the side you are on over your opponent's stomach, so you are sitting on his stomach. A kimura is very useful from side control. Attack the far arm, then step over your opponent's head with the leg nearest it for extra torque.

    Side Control Bottom

    • On the bottom in side control, it is important to improve your position. Press your opponent up and then swivel your hips underneath to regain half guard or full guard. To escape to your feet, buck your hips when your opponent is low and then push him off you as his balance is altered.

    Mount Top

    • The mount is a highly dominant position in grappling. Although you do not have strikes as in mixed martial arts, a mounted opponent is in an ideal position for you to attack with submissions. Grab an extended arm, then swing the leg nearest it over your opponent's head and lean back to perform a mounted arm bar.

    Mount Bottom

    • If your opponent has mounted you, it is vitally important to defend properly and look for an escape. For proper mount defense in grappling, where strikes are not a concern, keep your arms in tight to avoid an arm bar. If your opponent is high, by your chest, buck your hips and then roll to your stomach and tuck down to sneak out the back door and return to your feet.

    Back Mount Offense

    • On back mount, there is little offense from an opponent to worry about, as long as your feet are never crossed inside his legs. Place each foot against the thigh nearest it and press out to secure back hooks. Drape a leg fully across the stomach of your opponent, then drape your other knee over it to secure a body lock. Sneak an arm across your opponent's neck, grab your other biceps, then tuck the back of your second hand behind your opponent's head to perform a rear naked choke.

    Back Mount Defense

    • The most important technique on back mount defense is defending against the choke. By maintaining two hands on one of your opponent's, you can prevent him from securing either the arm across your neck or the hand to push on your head and finish. To escape, roll to your stomach and buck to escape out the back door.