10 Fundamental BJJ Submissions and When to Use Them

BJJ submissions are chokes and joint attacks that give a training partner a clear reason to tap. For a beginner, the useful question is not just “How do I finish this move?” It is “What position do I need, what must I control, and when should I abandon the attempt?” This guide introduces ten fundamental submissions by position so you can recognize them in class without treating the list as a substitute for coaching.

You will see chokes and joint attacks from guard, mount, side control, back control, front headlock, and a leg entanglement. If those positions are unfamiliar, start with our beginner guide to BJJ positions. The names below will make more sense when you can identify where each attack begins.

Safety, consent, and control come before technique

A submission is an agreement to stop, not a challenge to endure pain. Learn each technique from a qualified coach, practice with a consenting partner, and agree on intensity before drilling or rolling. A coach may restrict certain submissions by experience, age, or class. Competition rules also differ by division and organizer; the IBJJF rulebook is one example of a ruleset with technique restrictions, not a universal list for every gym or event.

• Tap early and clearly. Tap your partner or the mat repeatedly, or say “tap” or “stop” if your hands are not free. Either partner can end a drill or round at any time.
• Release immediately. When your partner taps, asks you to stop, or the coach calls stop, let go of the submission and pressure. Do not wait to finish the movement.
• Apply pressure slowly. A controlled entry gives your partner time to recognize the attack and respond. Never use a sudden twist or jerk to force a tap.
• Control the position first. If you must give up your balance or ignore an escape to keep attacking, the entry was probably premature.
• Speak up about discomfort. Stop for sharp, unusual, or worrying sensations and tell your coach. A tough training culture still requires attentive partners and prompt tapping.

In practice, recognize the position, secure the control your coach taught, and only then explore the submission. If the position disappears, release or reset rather than chasing the finish.

From guard: triangle choke and armbar

Guard keeps your legs between you and your partner, creating opportunities to manage posture and isolate an arm. These basic BJJ submissions begin with upper-body control; simply closing your legs or grabbing a wrist is not enough.

1. Triangle choke

What it is: a choke that uses your legs around the partner's neck and one trapped arm. It is commonly taught from closed guard, although triangles appear from many other positions.

When to use it: consider it when you have disrupted the partner's posture and isolated one arm while controlling the head and upper body. The familiar guard cue is one arm inside your leg configuration and the other outside, but your coach should show you the required angle and controls.

Common entry mistake: throwing the legs up before controlling posture. That usually leaves the partner free to sit up, stack, or pass while you struggle to close the triangle. Reset to guard control instead of squeezing an unfinished position.

2. Armbar from guard

What it is: an elbow-focused joint attack in which you control an extended arm while your body and legs limit the partner's movement. The same armbar concept appears from mount and other positions.

When to use it: consider it when the partner's arm is genuinely separated from their defensive structure and you can control their posture and hips during the transition. The arm must stay connected to you as you change angles.

Common entry mistake: pulling on the wrist and swinging a leg over before securing the upper body. This gives the partner space to withdraw the arm or move around your legs. Abandon the entry if you cannot maintain the controls demonstrated in class.

From mount: cross-collar choke and americana

Mount can provide strong upper-body attacking opportunities, but reaching for a submission changes your base. Stay balanced enough to respond when the defender bridges or turns.

3. Cross-collar choke

What it is: a gi choke using controlled collar grips around the neck. It is often introduced from mount or closed guard.

When to use it: consider it from a stable mount when the collar is accessible and you can establish the grips without giving the defender an easy route to reverse you. Grip placement and finishing mechanics should come from your coach.

Common entry mistake: reaching deeply for both collars while sitting upright and ignoring your base. A defender can use that loss of balance to bridge or trap an arm. If the grips cost you the position, recover mount rather than pulling harder.

4. Americana

What it is: a shoulder-focused joint attack on an arm bent near the mat, sometimes called a figure-four armlock because of the grip configuration.

When to use it: consider it when you have isolated the arm and can control the upper arm and elbow region without sacrificing chest and hip control. The defender's arm should not be free to straighten or turn out of the position.

Common entry mistake: treating the wrist as a handle and forcing it downward. That can become uncontrolled pressure without addressing the rest of the arm. Use only the slow movement your coach demonstrates, and release as soon as the partner taps.

From side control: kimura and arm-triangle choke

Side control places you across the partner's torso after clearing their legs. Attacks become relevant when you can limit their frames and prevent them from recovering guard.

5. Kimura

What it is: a shoulder-focused joint attack using a figure-four grip on the partner's bent arm. Although it can appear in many positions, side control is a common place to learn the concept.

When to use it: consider it when the partner's arm is separated from their body and you can control both the arm and their upper-body movement. A kimura grip can also be used as a control, but this article does not turn that into a license to force the shoulder.

Common entry mistake: chasing the wrist while your chest and hips drift away from side control. The defender may recover a frame or turn into you. Keep the positional control, or let the grip go and re-establish it.

6. Arm-triangle choke

What it is: a choke that compresses the neck between the partner's own trapped arm and your upper body and arm configuration. It is also called an arm-in head-and-arm choke in some rooms.

When to use it: consider it when the partner's head and one arm are isolated on the same side and you have a stable side-control base. The relevant control is the head-and-arm relationship, not simply squeezing whatever is near your arms.

Common entry mistake: squeezing before the shoulder, head, and trapped arm are arranged correctly. More force does not repair poor positioning, and an uncontrolled attempt can become uncomfortable neck pressure. Reset if you cannot reproduce the coach-taught shape calmly.

From back control: rear naked choke and bow-and-arrow choke

Back control lets you attack while facing the same direction as the defender. Maintain upper-body and hip connection as they turn; a choke attempt should not be the only thing keeping you there.

7. Rear naked choke

What it is: a blood choke applied with your arms around the neck from behind, without relying on a gi collar. It is one of the most recognizable BJJ submissions.

When to use it: consider it when your back control is established, the defender's hand fighting no longer protects the neck, and you can keep your chest and legs connected during the entry. The goal is a controlled choke, not a crank on the head or neck.

Common entry mistake: releasing the seatbelt or leg controls to reach for the neck too early. The defender can turn or free their shoulders while you are committed to the grip. Return to hand control if the position starts to open.

8. Bow-and-arrow choke

What it is: a gi choke from back control that combines a collar grip with body rotation and control of the defender's posture. Its finishing shape gives the technique its name.

When to use it: consider it when you have secure back control and an appropriate collar grip, and you can follow the defender's movement without losing upper-body or hip connection. Learn the grip and rotation under supervision before trying it live.

Common entry mistake: valuing the collar grip more than the back position. Pulling the collar while the hips and shoulders escape turns the attempt into uncontrolled twisting. Let go and recover control rather than forcing the angle.

From front headlock or turtle: guillotine choke

9. Guillotine choke

What it is: a choke that encircles the neck from the front, often appearing when a partner lowers their head during a takedown attempt or defends from turtle. There are several variations, and their details are not interchangeable.

When to use it: consider it when the head is accessible, your coach-taught arm configuration is available, and you can control the partner's posture and hips. A front headlock without that control is only a starting position.

Common entry mistake: pulling upward on the head while your base is loose and the partner's body is free to move. This can lose the position or create unsafe neck pressure. Prioritize the body control and exact version taught in class.

From a leg entanglement: straight ankle lock

10. Straight ankle lock

What it is: a joint attack that applies controlled pressure through the foot and lower leg while you control the partner's leg in an entanglement. It is different from rotational leg attacks such as heel hooks.

When to use it: consider it only after your coach has taught a suitable leg-entanglement position, its safe entry and exit, and the rules for your experience level. You need control of the leg and an awareness of where the rest of the partner's body can move.

Common entry mistake: falling back for the foot without establishing the entanglement or understanding the partner's route out. Beginners can also create accidental twisting by turning without control. Stay within the position your coach taught, move slowly, and stop immediately for a tap.

How to practice submissions without chasing taps

Choose one submission your coach has already shown and practice recognizing its starting position. In cooperative drilling, pause before applying pressure and check that both partners are comfortable. In positional rounds, give the attacker a limited task and let the defender practice the matching escape. Reset when the control disappears rather than turning every exchange into a scramble.

A tap is information: the attack worked, the defender recognized danger, or someone needed the round to stop. It is not a measure of either person's worth. You can have a productive class by maintaining guard, escaping mount, or abandoning a poor entry at the right time.

Some events use submission-only formats to emphasize a submission victory rather than a points-based outcome. The academy's October 2026 No-Gi Sub-Only Open is a local example of that format. A different scoring system does not change the need for control, prompt tapping, and familiarity with the event's rules.

If you are new, ask a coach which basic BJJ submissions belong in your current classes and which ones to leave for later. Explore our BJJ programs to find supervised instruction, and use the positions guide to review where each attack fits. Learn the map first; the finishes will make more sense in context.