Encyclopedia
Top 100 BJJ Submissions
A comprehensive reference of the most effective submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with video breakdowns for each technique.
Rear Naked Choke
The highest-percentage submission in grappling. Arm wraps under the chin from back control.
Cross Collar Choke (Gi)
Classic gi choke using cross grips on the collar from mount position.
Triangle Choke
Legs form a triangle around the opponent's neck and arm from closed guard.
Armbar from Guard
Hyperextension of the elbow joint controlled from closed guard.
Armbar from Mount
High-percentage armbar executed from the dominant mount position.
Guillotine Choke
Front headlock choke wrapping the neck, finished standing or in guard.
Kimura
Double wristlock attacking the shoulder joint. Named after Masahiko Kimura.
Americana (Keylock)
Shoulder lock using a figure-four grip, rotating the arm outward.
Ezekiel Choke
Choke using the sleeve of the gi, named after Ezequiel Paraguassu.
Bow and Arrow Choke
Powerful gi choke from the back using collar grip and leg control.
Loop Choke
Quick collar choke using a looping motion, often from half guard.
Baseball Bat Choke
Gi choke gripping the collar like a baseball bat, finished from side control.
North-South Choke
Arm-in choke applied from the north-south position using chest pressure.
D'Arce Choke
Arm-in choke threading under the neck and arm, named after Joe D'Arce.
Anaconda Choke
Arm-in choke similar to D'Arce but threaded from the opposite side with a gator roll.
Arm Triangle (Head and Arm Choke)
Choke using the opponent's own shoulder and your arm to compress the neck.
Omoplata
Shoulder lock using the legs to isolate and rotate the arm from guard.
Gogoplata
Rare choke using the shin bone across the throat from rubber guard.
Straight Ankle Lock
Fundamental leg lock hyperextending the ankle joint.
Heel Hook (Inside)
Devastating rotational attack on the knee via the heel, inside variation.
Heel Hook (Outside)
Outside heel hook attacking the knee ligaments from outside ashi garami.
Kneebar
Hyperextension of the knee joint, similar concept to an armbar on the leg.
Toe Hold
Twisting foot lock attacking the ankle and knee simultaneously.
Calf Slicer
Compression lock on the calf muscle using the shin as a fulcrum.
Wrist Lock
Often unexpected submission bending the wrist beyond its normal range.
Peruvian Necktie
Front headlock choke using the legs to apply downward pressure on the neck.
Japanese Necktie
Variation of the D'Arce finished by stepping over and sprawling.
Von Flue Choke
Shoulder pressure choke countering a guillotine attempt from side control.
Mounted Triangle
Triangle choke applied from the mount position for extra control.
Inverted Triangle
Triangle applied from bottom with legs inverted, often from side control.
Brabo Choke (No-Gi D'Arce)
No-gi variation of the D'Arce choke, also called the Brabo.
Paper Cutter Choke
Gi choke from side control using a cross collar grip and forearm pressure.
Clock Choke
Gi choke applied against the turtle position, walking around like a clock.
Crucifix Choke
Choke from the crucifix position with both arms trapped by the legs.
Breadcutter Choke
Variation of the paper cutter using a deeper collar grip from side control.
Arm-In Guillotine
Guillotine variation trapping the arm inside for a tighter squeeze.
Marcelotine (High Elbow Guillotine)
High-elbow guillotine variation popularized by Marcelo Garcia.
Flying Armbar
Spectacular jumping armbar from standing, high risk but devastating.
Belly-Down Armbar
Armbar finished face-down for maximum control and breaking pressure.
Spinning Armbar
Dynamic armbar using a spinning motion to catch the arm.
Baratoplata
Shoulder lock hybrid between omoplata and kimura from guard.
Tarikoplata
Kimura-omoplata hybrid invented by Tarik Hopstock.
Monoplata
Shoulder lock using one leg to isolate and attack the arm.
Bicep Slicer
Compression lock on the bicep using the forearm or shin as a fulcrum.
Twister
Spinal lock from the truck position, popularized by Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet system.
Electric Chair
Groin/hip stretch submission from the lockdown half guard, 10th Planet system.
Buggy Choke
Modern submission from bottom side control using the legs to choke.
Suloev Stretch
Hamstring compression from back control, named after Amar Suloev.
Banana Split
Groin stretch from the truck position, splitting the legs apart.
Pace Choke (Short Choke)
Short arm choke using a palm-to-palm grip around the neck.
Mounted Gogoplata
Gogoplata applied from mount, extremely rare and flexible.
Reverse Triangle
Triangle choke applied from the back or top with reversed leg positioning.
Kata Gatame
Shoulder lock choke (arm triangle) with specific judo-style finishing details.
Ezekiel Choke (No-Gi)
No-gi variation using the fist or palm instead of the sleeve.
Collar Drag to Back Take
Collar drag leading to back take and rear naked choke finish.
Smother Choke
Chest pressure choke from mount, smothering the opponent's breathing.
Arm Crush (Americana from Guard)
Americana applied from closed guard, less common but effective.
Straight Armbar from Side Control
Armbar transitioned from side control, stepping over the head.
Armbar from Knee on Belly
Armbar attacked when opponent pushes the knee from knee on belly.
Armbar from S-Mount
High-percentage armbar from the S-mount variation of mount.
Helicopter Armbar
Acrobatic spinning armbar, extremely flashy and rare in competition.
Reverse Armbar
Armbar applied in the reverse direction, often a surprise attack.
Mir Lock (Shoulder Lock)
Shoulder lock named after Frank Mir, attacking from bottom position.
Hammerlock (Chicken Wing)
Shoulder lock bending the arm behind the back from top position.
Mounted Kimura
Kimura applied from mount, using body weight for extra leverage.
Kimura Trap System
Using the kimura grip as a control system to chain multiple attacks.
Guillotine from Half Guard
Guillotine choke applied specifically from the half guard position.
Ninja Choke (Rearward Guillotine)
Guillotine variation applied from behind or during a scramble.
Mounted Cross Choke
Fundamental gi choke from mount using cross collar grips.
Single Wing Choke
Back choke variation trapping one arm while choking with the other.
Short Choke (Palm-to-Palm RNC)
Short RNC variation using a palm-to-palm grip for a quick finish.
Sliding Collar Choke
Gi choke sliding the hand deep into the collar from top position.
X-Choke (Cross Choke from Guard)
Cross collar choke applied from closed guard, a fundamental technique.
Okuri Eri Jime (Sliding Lapel Choke)
Judo-style lapel choke from the back using a sliding collar grip.
Sankaku Jime (Judo Triangle)
Traditional judo triangle choke, same mechanic as BJJ triangle.
Leg Triangle from Mount
Triangle choke locked from mount, transitioning to a finish.
Estima Lock
Foot lock attacking the ankle, popularized by the Estima brothers.
Aoki Lock
Rare hamstring/knee lock named after Shinya Aoki.
Texas Cloverleaf
Double leg lock twisting both legs, adapted from pro wrestling.
Vaporizer
Calf slicer variation from the truck, a 10th Planet technique.
Dogbar
Kneebar variation attacking from an unorthodox angle.
Inside Heel Hook from 50/50
Inside heel hook specifically from the 50/50 guard position.
Outside Heel Hook from Ashi
Outside heel hook from standard ashi garami leg entanglement.
Belly-Down Straight Ankle Lock
Ankle lock finished belly-down for maximum breaking pressure.
Calf Slicer from Back
Calf slicer transitioned from back control when hooks are in.
Scissor Choke
Choke using a scissoring motion of the legs around the neck.
Rape Choke (Push Choke)
Simple push choke from mount using both hands on the throat.
Can Opener to Submission
Neck crank from inside guard, often used to open closed guard.
Neck Crank (Can Opener)
Cervical spine lock forcing the chin to the chest.
Cattle Catch (Lasso Choke)
Lapel-fed choke wrapping the gi around the neck like a lasso.
Lapel Choke from Guard
Using the opponent's or your own lapel to create a choke from guard.
Worm Guard Choke
Lapel guard choke system popularized by Keenan Cornelius.
Berimbolo to Back Take
Inverting sweep to back take, finishing with RNC. Mendes Bros specialty.
Flying Triangle
Jumping triangle choke from standing, extremely athletic and risky.
Mounted Ezekiel (No-Gi)
No-gi Ezekiel from mount using the fist to create the choke.
Arm-In Ezekiel
Ezekiel variation trapping the arm inside for added control.
Inverted Armbar
Armbar applied from an inverted position, often from De La Riva guard.
Crucifix Armbar
Armbar from the crucifix position with both arms trapped.
Z-Lock (Straight Arm Lock)
Straight arm lock bending the arm into a Z-shape.
Pace Choke from Closed Guard
Short choke variation applied from closed guard bottom.
Technique names, categories, and belt levels verified against IBJJF competition rules and established BJJ curricula.