One of the most popular martial arts today is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or BJJ. It is the gentle art and consists in the employment of technique and leverage rather than brute strength. Tall and strong, or slim and agile, BJJ will train you to dominate, protect and even defeat an opponent through intelligent and efficient movement.
This tutorial will take you through the seven most important techniques of BJJ that every beginner is expected to learn. You will know what every move is, how it works and why it is so crucial to know at the very beginning.
What Is Special about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
It is beneficial to see what makes BJJ different from other martial arts before we move on to the moves. Opposite to boxing or karate, where the idea is to hit, BJJ is more about grappling and ground fighting. It is not about injuring your opponent but domesticating him to the point of him or her tapping out, which means s/he has had enough.
The beauty of BJJ is that it gives the weaker individuals the opportunity to protect themselves against their stronger opponents with leverage and positioning. This is the reason why it is such a large component of mixed martial arts (MMA) and self-defence training in the world.
1. The Guard Position: Your First Line of Defense
One of the most significant roles in BJJ is the role of the guard. It comes at the time when you are lying down and moving around with your legs that are at the top of your opponent.
Various types of guard exist such as closed guard, open guard and half guard. In closed guard, you have trapped your legs round the waist of your opponent, and it is difficult to move or attack. It is also possible to manage their posture, place sweeps to roll them upside down or perform submissions such as the armbar or triangle choke.
Why it is important: The guard will teach you balance, control and patience. It is the initial place of defence and a way of making defence offence.
2. The Mount: The Position of Power
One of the most dominant positions in the Jiu-Jitsu is the mount. It is when you are sitting on the top of your opponent and you keep your knees on each side of his or her body.
In this stance, you are able to manage their movements and to anticipate attacks like armbars, chokes or going to their back. The trick is to maintain a balance and avoid weight loss. Novices tend to lose the mount through leaning forward too much or being too upright.
Why it is important: The mount provides you with power and assurance. It is either one of the best places to complete a match or hold your rival at bay.
3. Side Control: Remaining Heavy and Steady
When you are lying perpendicular to the front of your opponent, it is called side control. It is one of the most powerful dominating positions in BJJ.
Your primary objective is to ensure that you keep your body heavy and chest virtually low and that your weight is balanced out. This restricts the motion of your opponent and allows you to exert some pressure or step into a submission such as a Kimura or arm triangle choke. The key to holding this position is the control of their hips and head.
Why it is important: Side control will develop your pressure and time application skills. It is also the point of higher positions and submissions.
4. Back Control: The Ultimate Advantage
When performing BJJ, the back position of a person is the most optimal. You are on the back of your opponent, sometimes with legs round his waist (so-called hooks in) and arms round his upper body or neck.
It is a great place to start with one of the most notorious submissions in this sport, the rear naked choke. Your opponent cannot see your attacks, and thus they have difficulties in defence. Remaining tight and in contact with the chest to back keeps you in control.
Why it is important: Back control is total domination. It has the highest number of matches that are lost due to its difficulty in getting out.
5. The Triangle Choke: Over Power
One of the most famous submissions of Jiu-Jitsu is the triangle choke. It applies your legs to your opponent's neck and arm to cut off the blood to its brain, leaving it with no option but to tap out.
This move is normally established by the guard. It is an excellent lesson of the power of timing and positioning to defeat strength. Well executed, the opponent will not be able to last long.
Why it is important: The triangle choke demonstrates that cleverness is always more effective than brutality.
6. The Armbar: A Conventional Submission
Armbar is one of the most important BJJ submissions that can be used when you are in different positions such as guard and mount. This is aimed at putting one arm of your opponent in an isolated position and putting your hips in a way that you exert pressure on the elbow joint.
It is easy yet very efficient. When used correctly, the opponent must tap in order to prevent harm. Knowing the armbar will assist beginners to appreciate how leverage, body alignment and control co-exist.
Why it is important: It teaches accuracy, patience and correct movement of hips, all of which are mandatory in Jiu-Jitsu.
7. The Sweep: Making Defense the Assault
A sweep is a manoeuvre that enables you to undo an unfavourable situation. When lying on your back, one can sweep the opponent and get on top of them.
It is all about timing and momentum. You do not oppose to strength with strength but rather utilize the movement of your opponent to your benefit. When you have succeeded in the sweep, you can assume charge and position yourself in a stronger position, such as mount or side control.
Why it is important: Sweeps demonstrate the Jiu-Jitsu secret to leverage to win, not force, to be smart.
Training Shrewdness and Minding Safety
In the exercise of these methods, emphasise control and safety. Always begin at a slow pace, have a partner with equal ability and speak using clear words. There is nothing weak about tapping early; it is a way of protecting oneself and learning in a better manner.
Whenever you do not know about a move, ask your coach. The more you know every finer detail, the more your skills will increase.
The Mental Side of Jiu-Jitsu
BJJ is not just about physical strength or flexibility. It builds mental toughness too. Every time you step on the mat, you learn patience, problem-solving, and discipline. You’ll get comfortable being uncomfortable, and over time, that mindset carries into everyday life.
Final Thoughts
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not just about fighting—it’s about learning to control your body, your mind, and your reactions. These seven beginner techniques—guard, mount, side control, back control, triangle choke, armbar, and sweep—form the building blocks for everything else you’ll learn.
Stay patient, practise regularly, and remember: every black belt once started as a white belt. The journey itself is what makes BJJ truly rewarding.
