Drive your heels down toward the mat as if you are trying to touch your buttocks. This curls the opponent’s shoulder off the ground, neutralizing their ability to stack you or turn out of the lock. Control the Thumb, Control the Elbow
Originally used by Masahiko Kimura against Hélio Gracie, this submission was adopted and mastered by the Gracie family. The secret is the "double wrist lock" grip and walking your body north-south to isolate the shoulder joint, rendering the opponent’s back muscles useless. The Americana (Keylock)
High-Percentage Submissions and Technical Details Gracie Submission Essentials focuses on “high-percentage” submissions—techniques that work reliably with proper setup. These include rear-naked choke, armbar from mount and guard, triangle choke, kimura, americana, and guillotine variants. The instruction balances technical minutiae (grip placement, head and hand positioning, hip angle) with setups that account for common defenses. For instance, the rear-naked choke is taught not merely as a squeeze of the neck but as a sequence: control the upper body, remove defensive frames, seat the choking arm under the chin with proper forearm alignment, and finish by expanding the chest and compressing the carotids without excessive force. Similarly, joint locks are presented with an emphasis on isolating the limb and controlling the opponent’s base before applying rotational pressure to the joint rather than relying on brute strength.
An essential weapon against wrestlers attempting double-leg takedowns or opponents exposing their heads in the guard. Drive your heels down toward the mat as
In the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the submission is recognized as the definitive conclusion to a match. While scoring points through sweeps, passes, and transitions demonstrates technical proficiency, the submission represents the successful application of the system's core athletic principles.
Grandmaster Hélio Gracie famously engineered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to allow a smaller, weaker individual to defeat a larger, more aggressive opponent. When it comes to submissions, this philosophy manifests as the absolute rejection of muscle.
Relaxing your muscles and letting gravity drive your bone structure directly into the opponent's diaphragm. The secret is the "double wrist lock" grip
| Section | Focus | Key Techniques | | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Helio Gracie’s most trusted gi submissions. | Standing Kimura, Choke from the Mount, Rear-Naked Choke. | | | Stand Up Submissions | Techniques from a standing position. | Standing Chokes, Wrist/Arm Locks, Guillotine. | | | Guard Submissions | Attacking effectively from your back. | Arm-Bars, Triangles, Omoplata, Gogoplata, Crucifix Chokes. | | | Side Control Submissions | Devastating attacks from the side. | Leg-Locks, Knee-on-Stomach Attacks, Americana, Arm-Crushers. | | | Mount Submissions | Techniques from the most dominant top position. | Triangles, Nutcracker Chokes, Knee-Split. | | | Back Control Submissions | Finishing moves from the back. | Techniques designed for scenarios where "opponent bridges" or "stands up". | | | Half Guard/Turtle | A dedicated section for finishing from transitional positions. | Banana Split, Calf-Lock, Kimura. | |
Once the hands are locked behind the head, think of your chest pushing their spine forward while your choking forearm sinks backward into the trachea and carotids. Shrug your shoulders to hide your neck and completely eliminate space before executing a slow, steady expansion of your ribcage. The Cross Collar Choke from Guard
Avoid pulling straight down. Instead, bring your forehead toward the mat and rotate your wrists so your palms face you, flaring your elbows outward to tighten the fabric loop. 3. Joint Locks: The Art of Breaking Levers Are you focusing primarily on applications?
The ultimate goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is the submission. While modern BJJ often emphasizes complex guard configurations and point-scoring strategies, the foundational philosophy of the Gracie family centers strictly on ending a fight efficiently and decisively.
Are you focusing primarily on applications?