An Introductory Guide to Jiu-Jitsu Positions
Brazilian jiu-jitsu can be a great form of physical activity that offers multiple benefits to practitioners. From developing mental fortitude to improving your physical fitness to improving your combat sports competence, a BJJ gym always has something to teach that can improve your life. The goal of traditional Brazilian jiu-jitsu is submitting your opponent—making them say "uncle." But submissions are only possible when you put yourself in an advantageous position. Here are some of the most common positions you should know about and can expect to learn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes.
Back Control
Sometimes called "rear mount," back control is a strong position because your opponent is facing the same way you are, which makes it virtually impossible for them to attack or defend. Your reach, on the other hand, is far less limited. There is an incredibly wide range of submissions available to you in this position, not the least of which is the mata leão, or the rear-naked choke.
Full Mount
Full mount is another very strong position in jiu-jitsu and one you can expect to learn in beginner BJJ classes. When in the full mount position, you straddle your opponent with your weight on them and your knees squeezing in tight, making movement and breathing more difficult for them. You'll be able to execute a range of different submissions, depending on how your opponent reacts. Grapplers in the full mount position typically have a lot of control over the situation, though escapes are possible.
Side Control
If you're a beginner student, there's a good chance you'll find yourself put in a side control position at least a few times. Side control happens when the person on top is facing the person on the bottom and is positioned perpendicularly to them. From this position, it's relatively easy to control your opponent's hips and shoulders with your own and their head with your arm. This can be an especially tricky position to escape from if the opponent on top of you is heavy since the person on top has the advantage of gravity. From here, submissions like the Americana or kimura can work pretty well.
Knee Up / Knee on Belly
Similar to side control, knee up or knee on belly is a tough position to be in and a powerful one to execute. It's decidedly uncomfortable, with the person on top putting their weight into their knee as it presses down on the belly of their opponent. As you can imagine, this can make breathing quite challenging. The discomfort can be incredibly distracting as well. In a sport where a significant portion of the battle happens internally in the minds of the participants, taking your opponent's focus away from escaping the position they're in and directing it towards the discomfort they feel can give you a real advantage.
Closed Guard
In some martial arts, ending up on your back means it's game over for you, but that's not the case in a jiu-jitsu gym. One of the primary positions that every student learns in a beginner BJJ class is the closed guard. While the positions mentioned before this one have focused on the person on top, the closed guard (also called the full guard) focuses on the person on the bottom. Don't mistake this as a purely defensive position, though it can be excellent for that since it allows you to limit your opponent's movement. In this position, your legs are wrapped around the waist of your opponent. From here, you can execute submissions like the kimura lock, armbar, and triangle, or go for sweeps like the scissor sweep or kimura sweep to get yourself in a better position.
Open Guard
Like the closed guard, open guard is a position you can expect to learn in any beginner jiu-jitsu class, whether it's a class for adults or adolescents. Open guard happens when your opponent breaks open your closed guard. That may sound like a problem, given the control you gain from a closed guard, and it can be, but that isn't always the case. The open guard is a position of transition. From this point, whoever is able to best execute their skills is going to have the advantage.
Half Guard
If you haven't ended up on your back yet, the half guard may be a good option for keeping you from getting there. Half guard happens when you, as the one on the bottom, wrap one of your legs around your opponent's leg to control it. From here, you can try for a sweep, guillotine, kimura, or to change your position to something more advantageous. Your opponent may have control of your other leg, so that will impact the options you have. You do have to watch out, though. If your opponent is able to get control over your head, you may not have much choice but to end up on your back.
If you spend time in a brazilian jiu-jitsu gym, you'll find yourself in all of these positions at some point—as well as several variations we didn't cover here. By thoroughly understanding each position's strengths and weaknesses and what submissions you can make from each position, you'll become extremely effective at Brazilian jiu-jitsu.