For Competitors

InGrappling for Competitors

Competitive performance in submission grappling is not just a function of technical ability — it is a function of understanding your ruleset, your meta, and your own game at a level that lets you train specifically rather than generally. InGrappling gives you the ruleset analysis to know what your target format rewards, the competitive meta content to understand what is actually working at elite level right now, and the invariables framework to analyse your own technique the way the best coaches in the sport do.

Ruleset reference

Technique by ruleset

Strategic preparation

Competition health

The rules and the referee

Full library for Competitors

Every page on InGrappling tagged relevant to competitors. Grouped by content type, sorted by ability floor.382 pages.

Technique334

  • AmericanaKimura systemFoundations

    Americana — figure-four to the mat in external rotation. Inverse of the kimura. Primary submission from mount. Submission grappling reference.

  • ArmbarArmbarFoundations

    Armbar — elbow hyperextension with hip as fulcrum, arm isolated from body. Connects to triangle and kimura via chain attacks. Submission grappling reference.

  • Body Lock PassGuard PassingFoundations

    The body lock pass in no-gi: wrapping both legs to eliminate hooks and drive through the guard. The primary answer to butterfly Submission grappling reference.

  • Butterfly GuardGuardFoundations

    Butterfly guard uses both hooks inside the opponent's thighs to elevate and destabilise a kneeling passer. The underhook Submission grappling reference.

  • Butterfly Hook SweepSweepsFoundations

    Butterfly hook sweep — underhook controls direction, hook elevates and tips the top player. Foundation of the butterfly system. Submission grappling reference.

  • Closed GuardGuardFoundations

    Closed guard — legs locked around the top player’s waist, passing blocked until opened. Sweeps and submissions from bottom. Submission grappling reference.

  • Closed Guard Break — KneelingGuard PassingFoundations

    Kneeling closed guard break — open the closed guard without standing. Sit back onto heels, wedge elbow to far knee, push outward while keeping posture. Low-risk alternative to standing.

  • Closed Guard Break — StandingGuard PassingFoundations

    Standing closed guard break — the primary method of opening a closed guard in no-gi. Post on the hips, stand with one knee up, and drop weight through the wedge to open the lock.

  • Double Leg EntryStandingFoundations

    Double leg — head at the hip, shoulder through both legs. Deepest level change of any takedown. Primary defence is the sprawl. Submission grappling reference.

  • Four-Point PositionFront HeadlockFoundations

    The transitional four-point position: both players' knees on the mat, both hands posted. The breakdown chain for the top Submission grappling reference.

  • Front Headlock — Ground ControlFront HeadlockFoundations

    Front headlock ground control — cervical spine control that leads the body. Primary platform for guillotine, D’Arce, anaconda. Submission grappling reference.

  • Front Headlock — StandingFront HeadlockFoundations

    The standing front headlock: head-and-arm control from the upright position. The clinch-level position that precedes the ground Submission grappling reference.

  • Fundamental Escape MovementsEscapes & DefenceFoundations

    Escape movements — bridge, shrimp, Granby roll, sit-out, stand-up, kipping. All named escapes are built from these six. Submission grappling reference.

  • Guard PullStandingFoundations

    Guard pulling is a deliberate strategic choice to initiate ground fighting from the bottom — not a failed takedown. The Submission grappling reference.

  • Guard RetentionGuardFoundations

    Guard retention in no-gi: the universal principles for keeping guard when the passer is threatening. Covers the three-stage Submission grappling reference.

  • Half Guard — BottomGuardFoundations

    Half guard — trapping one of the top player's legs. One side of the foot line conceded; underhook battle determines the outcome. Submission grappling reference.

  • Half Guard PassGuard PassingFoundations

    Half guard passing in no-gi — extracting a trapped leg from half guard. Flatten the bottom, win the whizzer-underhook fight, then branch to smash, knee-cut, back-step, or leg-drag.

  • Headquarters (HQ)Guard PassingFoundations

    Headquarters is the kneeling top position between passing and control — one knee up, one knee down beside the opponent's hip. Submission grappling reference.

  • Hip Bump SweepSweepsFoundations

    Hip bump sweep — sit-up, wrist control, and hip explosion from closed guard. Creates immediate sweep or kimura entry. Submission grappling reference.

  • Knee Cut PassGuard PassingFoundations

    The knee cut pass in no-gi: driving the knee across the bottom player's thigh to clear the guard and establish side control. Submission grappling reference.

  • Mount — BottomTop PositionsFoundations

    Mount bottom — defending full mount, the highest-danger pin. Top player across the hips; preventing high mount is the priority. Submission grappling reference.

  • Mount — TopTop PositionsFoundations

    The mount is the highest-percentage finishing position in top grappling. The top player sits on the opponent's torso Submission grappling reference.

  • Mount Escape TechniquesEscapes & DefenceFoundations

    Mount escape — trap and roll, elbow-knee, ghost, kipping, foot drag, bridge to turtle. Written from the defender's perspective. Submission grappling reference.

  • Over-Under ClinchStandingFoundations

    Over-under clinch — overhook over the near shoulder, underhook under the far arm. Primary no-gi contact position. Submission grappling reference.

  • Pendulum SweepSweepsFoundations

    The pendulum sweep from closed guard: trapping the arm and driving the leg to rotate the passer. The fundamental closed guard Submission grappling reference.

  • Rear Naked ChokeBack PositionFoundations

    The primary submission from back control. Bilateral carotid compression applied from the seatbelt or body triangle. The most Submission grappling reference.

  • Rear Naked Choke EscapeEscapes & DefenceFoundations

    Rear naked choke escape — chin tuck, grip fight, seat drop, strong-side turn, Peterson roll. Prevention is the primary defence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Scissor SweepSweepsFoundations

    The scissor sweep in no-gi: shin-across-the-thigh and heel-hook-behind-the-knee mechanics as a fundamental weight-unloading Submission grappling reference.

  • Scramble PrinciplesTransitionsFoundations

    Scramble framework — three-task hierarchy, height and hip height principle, position selection and decision-making. Submission grappling reference.

  • Seated GuardGuardFoundations

    Seated guard is the foundational open guard — feet active between the passer's knees, head up, hands ready to frame or attack. Submission grappling reference.

  • Shin-on-ShinLeg EntanglementsFoundations

    Shin-on-shin is a fundamental seated guard entry position — the connecting configuration between seated guard and single leg X Submission grappling reference.

  • Side Control — BottomTop PositionsFoundations

    The defensive view of side control — when the opponent has completed a pass and holds the pin. The most common situation Submission grappling reference.

  • Side Control — TopTop PositionsFoundations

    Side control — chest-to-chest pin after a guard pass. Primary platform for kimura, arm triangle, D’Arce, and transitions. Submission grappling reference.

  • Side Control Escape TechniquesEscapes & DefenceFoundations

    Side control escape techniques — hip escape, ghost escape, Granby roll, single leg escape, underhook recovery. Submission grappling reference.

  • Single Collar TieStandingFoundations

    The single collar tie — one hand on the back of the opponent's head — is the standard initial engagement position. It controls Submission grappling reference.

  • Single Leg EntryStandingFoundations

    Single leg — penetration step to the outside of the near leg; shoulder drives through to complete the takedown. Submission grappling reference.

  • Sit-Out and Stand-Up MechanicsTransitionsFoundations

    Sit-out and stand-up mechanics — highest-priority exit in the scramble hierarchy. Technical execution from bottom positions. Submission grappling reference.

  • SprawlFront HeadlockFoundations

    Sprawl — defensive hip-weight transfer against single- and double-leg shots. Entry to the front headlock family. Leads to ground control, guillotine, D'arce, and anaconda.

  • SprawlStandingFoundations

    Sprawl — primary takedown defence: hips down, legs behind the attacker. Creates front headlock for guillotines and anacondas. Submission grappling reference.

  • Stack PositionGuard PassingFoundations

    The stack position is a guard passing pressure tool in which the top player drives the bottom player's hips up over their Submission grappling reference.

  • StandingStandingFoundations

    Standing — the default start of all grappling exchanges. Stance, base, and distance management determine what is available. Submission grappling reference.

  • Straight Ankle LockLeg LocksFoundations

    The straight ankle lock — Achilles lock — is the foundational lower limb submission. Legal in all major rulesets. Understanding Submission grappling reference.

  • Straight Ankle Lock EscapeEscapes & DefenceFoundations

    Straight ankle lock escape — boot defence, hide the heel, pommel the knee line, pull out to combat base. Foundational leg lock defence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Supine GuardGuardFoundations

    Supine guard — lying on the back with feet active, used as a transitional state to reach seated guard or leg entanglement entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • Top Butterfly GuardGuardFoundations

    Top butterfly — low base requirement to manage hook exposure; passing frameworks from butterfly top. Submission grappling reference.

  • Top Half GuardGuardFoundations

    Top half guard — underhook battle and flattening mechanics; passing options: back step, knee cut, and toreando. Submission grappling reference.

  • Toreando PassGuard PassingFoundations

    The toreando (bullfighter) pass in no-gi: controlling both shins and redirecting the legs to pass around to the side. The Submission grappling reference.

  • Tripod PassGuard PassingFoundations

    The tripod pass: using a foot-on-hip and shin-control combination to break the guard and step through. A standing pass complementary to the toreando.

  • Tripod SweepSweepsFoundations

    Tripod sweep — opposing push-pull forces; one foot on the hip, one hand on the ankle, removing the opponent’s base. Submission grappling reference.

  • Turtle — Bottom (Defending)Front HeadlockFoundations

    Turtle bottom — four-tier escape hierarchy and common defensive failures. Exit before seatbelt or headlock is established. Submission grappling reference.

  • Turtle — Top (Attacking)Front HeadlockFoundations

    Turtle top — Jones attack hierarchy, back take pathways, crucifix entry, four-point breakdown. Attacking the turtled opponent. Submission grappling reference.

  • Underhook Half Guard (Bottom)GuardFoundations

    Underhook half guard — offensive half guard with the underhook on the shoulder. Base for dogfight, lockdown, and sweeps. Submission grappling reference.

  • Wrestling Up (Turtle Bottom)StandingFoundations

    Wrestling up is the act of returning to a standing base from the turtle bottom position. It is the primary proactive escape Submission grappling reference.

  • Z-Guard / Knee ShieldGuardFoundations

    Z-guard (knee shield) — elevated knee frame against the hip; underhook battle and exits to scorpion, butterfly, back takes. Submission grappling reference.

  • 50/50Leg EntanglementsDeveloping

    The 50/50 is the symmetric leg entanglement — both players have equal structural access to each other's heel. Understanding Submission grappling reference.

  • Ankle PickStandingDeveloping

    The ankle pick is a precision takedown — controlling one ankle and pulling it forward while the opponent's weight is on it. Submission grappling reference.

  • Arm DragStandingDeveloping

    Arm drag — opponent’s arm used as a handle to redirect their body; pulling across the centreline exposes the back. Submission grappling reference.

  • Arm Triangle (Kata Gatame)Front HeadlockDeveloping

    Arm triangle (kata gatame) — near arm pressed against the opponent’s neck; attacking arm wraps to complete the blood choke. Submission grappling reference.

  • Arm Triangle EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Arm triangle escape — hide the shoulder, turn into the attacker, step back the leg to prevent mount, fall off the far side. Head-and-arm choke defence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Armbar EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Armbar escape — grip fight, stack, elbow pummel, leg trap, hitchhiker. The hitchhiker is the canonical no-gi armbar escape. Submission grappling reference.

  • Ashi GaramiLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    Ashi garami (single leg X) — foundational leg entanglement; inside space prevents extraction and creates heel hook access. Submission grappling reference.

  • Back Defence — Hand FightBack PositionDeveloping

    Back hand-fight defence — chin tuck, two-on-one on the strangle wrist, elbow-to-hip control, palm shield against the jaw pry. The pre-RNC grip system that buys time for the full escape.

  • Back Defence — Turtle RecoveryBack PositionDeveloping

    Back escape to turtle — when face-out isn't available, belly-down and recover to turtle. Flattens the attacker's strangle threat, exits via all-fours posture. Submission grappling reference.

  • Back ExposureBack PositionDeveloping

    The transitional moment of first back access — before any grip system is established. The hub that connects every back take Submission grappling reference.

  • Back Step PassGuard PassingDeveloping

    Back step pass — near leg stepped backward to extract from top half guard or stalled knee cut. Creates the passing angle. Submission grappling reference.

  • Back Take Entry RoutesBack PositionDeveloping

    Back entries — every route into back control from standing, guard, top, and leg entanglements. Hub for the back attack system. Submission grappling reference.

  • Backpack PositionBack PositionDeveloping

    Backpack position — chest-to-back back control without leg hooks. Double overhooks or seatbelt with no hooks set. Transitional or standing back control context. Submission grappling reference.

  • Bulldog ChokeFront HeadlockDeveloping

    Bulldog choke — both forearms under the chin from turtle top. Bilateral carotid compression; effective when the chin is exposed. Submission grappling reference.

  • Bulldog Choke EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Bulldog choke escape — chin tuck denies both arms the insertion window; strip one arm to break bilateral compression; turn to one side to eliminate the geometry. Submission grappling reference.

  • Butterfly Arm Drag SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Butterfly arm drag — arm drag clears the near arm, exposing the back or creating a single leg angle. Back take or sweep. Submission grappling reference.

  • Butterfly Ashi GaramiLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    Butterfly ashi — butterfly hook becomes ashi garami when top player steps in. Entry to the leg entanglement cluster. Submission grappling reference.

  • Butterfly Hook BreakGuard PassingDeveloping

    Butterfly hook break — kill the hook elevation, fold the knees down, pin a thigh to engage passing. Prerequisite for body-lock, knee-cut, and smash passes against butterfly guard.

  • Butterfly Sumi GaeshiSweepsDeveloping

    Butterfly sumi — sacrifice throw from butterfly guard: backward fall, hook lift, chest connection. Weight drives the reversal. Submission grappling reference.

  • Can OpenerGuard PassingDeveloping

    The Can Opener is a cervical hyperflexion submission from inside the opponent's closed guard. Both hands grip the head and force it forward, loading the cervical spine. Legal in ADCC.

  • Clamp PositionGuardDeveloping

    Clamp — deep overhook and body lock isolating one arm from guard. Platform for triangle, armbar, omoplata, kimura, leg locks. Submission grappling reference.

  • ClawFolkstyle ControlsDeveloping

    The claw grip is a transitional upper body control from the folkstyle wrestling family. The curved-finger grip on the near Submission grappling reference.

  • De Ashi HaraiSweepsDeveloping

    De ashi harai — lateral foot sweep at the moment of weight transfer. Too early or too late and the sweep fails. Submission grappling reference.

  • De La Riva BreakGuard PassingDeveloping

    De La Riva hook break — kill the hook by killing the foot-on-hip frame, defeat the sleeve/ankle grip, step back to clear the hook. Prerequisite for passing DLR guard. Submission grappling reference.

  • De la Riva GuardGuardDeveloping

    De la Riva guard in no-gi: the DLR hook and shin grip as an entry platform to leg entanglements, tripod sweeps, and back takes. Submission grappling reference.

  • Deep Half Back TakeSweepsDeveloping

    Deep half back take — when the opponent posts forward to defend the sweep, the bottom player converts to the back take. Submission grappling reference.

  • Deep Half GuardGuardDeveloping

    Deep half guard — bottom player scoops under, head near the far hip. Sweeps from underneath as the top player tries to flatten. Submission grappling reference.

  • Deep Half SweepSweepsDeveloping

    The deep half sweep in no-gi: from deep half guard, secure the hip underhook and roll the opponent over the top to mount. The Submission grappling reference.

  • DogfightGuardDeveloping

    The dogfight is the neutral kneeling scramble that arises from half guard when both players are fighting for the underhook. Submission grappling reference.

  • Double Collar TieStandingDeveloping

    The double collar tie — both hands on the back of the opponent's neck — creates the clinch snap and the hip throw entry. The Submission grappling reference.

  • Double Shin Guard SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Double shin guard sweep in no-gi: controlling both shins to disrupt posture and force a sweep or leg entanglement. Covers Submission grappling reference.

  • Double Under PassGuard PassingDeveloping

    Double under pass — both arms under the bottom player’s legs; stack upright, cartwheel or dump to complete. Submission grappling reference.

  • Double UnderhooksStandingDeveloping

    Double underhooks give the most hip control of any clinch position — both arms under the opponent's, both hips accessible. The Submission grappling reference.

  • Duck UnderStandingDeveloping

    The duck under dips the head under the opponent's near arm and emerges on their far side, converting a front clinch into rear or side body control. A fundamental wrestling back-take from a tie-up.

  • Ezekiel Choke EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Ezekiel choke escape (no-gi) — chin tuck before the insertion, peel the inserting arm's wrist, turn into the elbow side, bridge and recover. Submission grappling reference.

  • False ReapLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    False reap — outside leg threads across the near leg, mirror of the reap. Access to ashi, outside ashi, cross ashi, and 50/50. Submission grappling reference.

  • Fireman's CarryStandingDeveloping

    Fireman's carry — drops under the arm and through the legs to load the opponent across the shoulders. Shoulder is the fulcrum. Submission grappling reference.

  • Front Body LockStandingDeveloping

    The front body lock — both arms wrapped around the opponent's torso from the front — provides the highest level of positional Submission grappling reference.

  • Go BehindStandingDeveloping

    The go behind is a standing position change from a front or side position to a full rear position, stepping or spinning around the opponent's side. Foundation for standing back takes and body locks.

  • Guillotine (High-Elbow)Front HeadlockDeveloping

    Guillotine — primary vascular choke from the front headlock. High-elbow finish from guard and standing. Submission grappling reference.

  • Guillotine EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Guillotine escape — posture, side step pass, chin tuck, roll through, arm-in escape. Side step pass is the canonical escape. Submission grappling reference.

  • Half Butterfly GuardGuardDeveloping

    Half butterfly guard in no-gi: one leg trapped in the half guard configuration while the free leg inserts a butterfly hook Submission grappling reference.

  • Heel Hook EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Heel hook escape — hide the heel, clear the knee line, mechanics for ashi, outside ashi, cross ashi. Tap at late-stage rotation. Submission grappling reference.

  • Heist SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Heist sweep — from X-guard; hip-under entry and leg-lift finish disrupts the opponent’s base. Submission grappling reference.

  • High CrotchStandingDeveloping

    High crotch — between single and double leg: head at hip level, arm under the crotch. Converts to double leg or spins to back. Submission grappling reference.

  • High Guard / MeathookGuardDeveloping

    High guard — closed guard variant with elevated hips and legs riding high. Primary platform for triangle and armbar entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • Hip Throw FamilyStandingDeveloping

    Hip throw — attacker turns in, places hip inside the opponent's, loads them over the fulcrum. O-goshi, Mune-nage, and variants. Submission grappling reference.

  • Inside Heel HookLeg LocksDeveloping

    The inside heel hook — primary submission from cross ashi / saddle. Loads the ACL and medial structures through internal Submission grappling reference.

  • Inside TripStandingDeveloping

    The inside trip hooks the opponent's near leg from inside with the practitioner's near leg and trips or sweeps it outward, while upper body pressure drives the opponent over the tripped leg.

  • Kata GatameTop PositionsDeveloping

    Kata gatame — head-and-arm control for the arm triangle. Shoulder into neck, arm trapped; creates bilateral carotid compression. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kata Gatame — BottomTop PositionsDeveloping

    Kata gatame bottom — defending head-and-arm control. Top player's shoulder driven into the neck with the defender's near arm trapped against their own throat; arm triangle is the primary finish.

  • Kesa GatameTop PositionsDeveloping

    Kesa gatame — hip-seated position securing head and near arm. Weight distribution and arm structure are the control mechanism. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kesa Gatame — BottomTop PositionsDeveloping

    Kesa gatame bottom — defending the scarf hold. Top player seated perpendicular with head-and-arm control; near arm trapped under the top player's armpit. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kesa Gatame Escape TechniquesEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Kesa gatame escape — posting frame, bridge and roll reversal, granby exit, pummelling to recover the trapped arm, hip-out to half guard. Written from the defender's perspective.

  • KimuraKimura systemDeveloping

    Kimura — figure-four shoulder lock in internal rotation and extension. The submission finish of the system; powers back takes. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kimura ControlKimura systemDeveloping

    Kimura control — figure-four grip used positionally. From this grip: back take, turtle control, mount, or submission chain. Submission grappling reference.

  • Knee on Belly — BottomTop PositionsDeveloping

    Knee on belly bottom — top knee into the abdomen. Instinctive push opens the armbar. Two-hand removal is the correct response. Submission grappling reference.

  • Knee on Belly — TopTop PositionsDeveloping

    Knee on belly — knee into the torso; reactions are exploited. Pushing opens the armbar; reaching opens the triangle. Submission grappling reference.

  • Knee on Belly Escape TechniquesEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Named escape techniques from knee on belly — ankle grip and hip escape, underhook escape, knee shield push, and roll under. Submission grappling reference.

  • Knee Shield BreakGuard PassingDeveloping

    Knee shield break — neutralise the Z-guard / half-guard shield by crushing, stepping over, or pummelling under the blocking knee. Required for passing any shield-style half guard.

  • Knee TapStandingDeveloping

    The knee tap taps the opponent's near knee inward from a single leg grip or clinch, buckling the knee and dropping the opponent to the mat. Effective vs stepping opponents and as a single leg finish.

  • KneebarLeg LocksDeveloping

    Kneebar — hyperextends the knee by trapping the foot and driving the hip into the back of the knee. Legal in ADCC and EBI. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kneebar EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Kneebar escape — bend the knee, hip in toward the attacker, stack and step over, roll with the extension. Elevated-risk leg lock defence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kouchi GariSweepsDeveloping

    Kouchi gari — inner reap hooking inside the near ankle, reaping backward. Weight must be on the reaped leg at contact. Submission grappling reference.

  • Leg Drag PassGuard PassingDeveloping

    Leg drag pass — one leg controlled and dragged across the body to create a passing angle. Primary pass from open guard. Submission grappling reference.

  • Leg Drag PositionLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    Leg drag position — the held state between completing the leg drag and achieving side control, where the top player controls the legs but has not yet pinned. Submission grappling reference.

  • Leg RideFolkstyle ControlsDeveloping

    The leg ride is the foundational ride-based control in the folkstyle wrestling family. One leg threaded over the opponent's Submission grappling reference.

  • LockdownGuardDeveloping

    Lockdown — half guard with the top leg in a figure-four. Controls mobility; foundation of dogfight and electric chair. Submission grappling reference.

  • Long Step PassGuard PassingDeveloping

    Long step pass — outside leg steps wide around the guard player’s legs; hips follow to complete the pass. Submission grappling reference.

  • Lower Leg Shift SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Half lower leg sweep — from Z-guard or half guard, near-knee hook and underhook sweep. Ducking to defend opens the back. Submission grappling reference.

  • Near Ankle RideFolkstyle ControlsDeveloping

    The near ankle ride grips the bottom player's near ankle from turtle top, controlling the near leg to prevent standup and enable tilts and turns. A foundational leg-control top position in folkstyle.

  • Ninja Choke EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Ninja choke escape — chin tuck denies forearm insertion; prevent figure-four closure during the hook phase; posture and step through in guard; level change against the standing finish.

  • North-South — BottomTop PositionsDeveloping

    North-south bottom — opponent facing the feet, weight on the chest. Kimura threat is immediate. Primary escape: bridge and hip. Submission grappling reference.

  • North-South — TopTop PositionsDeveloping

    North-south is an underutilised control position where the top player is chest-to-chest with the opponent but facing the feet. Submission grappling reference.

  • North-South Escape TechniquesEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    North-south escape techniques — hip escape, Granby roll to deep half, arm drag counter, sit-up scramble. Early movement is key. Submission grappling reference.

  • Octopus — Top PerspectiveTop PositionsDeveloping

    Octopus top — passer's view against octopus guard. Back take and kosoto sweep are the threats. Near hip away is the defence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Octopus Butterfly SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Butterfly sweep mechanics applied from octopus guard: combining the underhook and body-lock control with a butterfly hook lift to sweep the passer forward.

  • Octopus GuardGuardDeveloping

    Octopus guard: the deep overhook from a seated position as a back take platform, sweep system, and front headlock entry. Covers Submission grappling reference.

  • Octopus Kosoto SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Kosoto gake (small outside reap) from octopus guard: using the body-lock and leg connection to reap the far ankle while pulling Submission grappling reference.

  • Omoplata EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Omoplata escape — posture forward, forward roll, cartwheel over, step over the head. Shoulder defence from guard. Submission grappling reference.

  • Outside Ashi — Standing ContextLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    Outside ashi standing — transitional leg control while the opponent is upright; entry into ground leg entanglement system. Submission grappling reference.

  • Outside Ashi GaramiLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    Outside ashi garami — outside leg entanglement variant; outside heel hook is the primary submission from this position. Submission grappling reference.

  • Outside Heel HookLeg LocksDeveloping

    The outside heel hook — primary submission from ashi garami and outside ashi. Loads medial knee structures through external Submission grappling reference.

  • Outside TripStandingDeveloping

    The outside trip hooks the opponent's near leg from the outside — stepping behind or around the lead leg — and trips it inward while upper body pressure drives the opponent over the tripped leg.

  • Outside Tripod SweepSweepsDeveloping

    The outside tripod sweep places the pushing foot on the outside of the opponent's hip rather than the belly. This angle is Submission grappling reference.

  • Over-Under PassGuard PassingDeveloping

    The over-under pass in no-gi: one arm over the leg and one arm under to create a body lock and drive through the guard with controlled pressure.

  • Overhead SweepSweepsDeveloping

    The overhead sweep from closed guard in no-gi: using the passer's forward pressure against them to roll them overhead and come up on top.

  • Pinch HeadlockFront HeadlockDeveloping

    Pinch headlock — underhook at the elbow with head pulled tight. Threatens sumi gaeshi, back take, and leg entanglement entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • Power NelsonFolkstyle ControlsDeveloping

    Power nelson — arms under armpits, hands behind the head. Shoulder blade pressure; legal and distinct from the full nelson. Submission grappling reference.

  • Quarter MountTop PositionsDeveloping

    Quarter mount — top position at 45 degrees between side control and mount. Natural intermediate in the mount entry sequence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Quarter Mount — BottomTop PositionsDeveloping

    Quarter mount bottom — defending the 45-degree transitional mount before it consolidates to flat mount or converts to kimura. The defensive window is short; the framing elbow is your only tool.

  • RDLR Back Step SweepSweepsDeveloping

    RDLR back step sweep — when the passer back steps out of RDLR, the bottom player reads the reaction and completes the sweep. Submission grappling reference.

  • RDLR Back TakeSweepsDeveloping

    The RDLR back take in no-gi: from reverse de la riva, invert through the space under the opponent's hips and take the back. The Submission grappling reference.

  • Rear Body LockStandingDeveloping

    Rear body lock — both arms around the opponent’s torso from behind, hip-to-hip. Standing precursor to back take entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • Reverse De la RivaGuardDeveloping

    Reverse De la Riva in no-gi: the inside hook as a transition hub between DLR, K-guard, and leg entanglements. Covers the hook Submission grappling reference.

  • Reverse GuardLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    Reverse guard is a facing-away guard position — the bottom player's back is toward the opponent. Provides direct outside ashi Submission grappling reference.

  • Reverse Kesa GatameTop PositionsDeveloping

    Reverse kesa gatame — kesa rotated 180 degrees, top player facing the feet. Near arm and leg controlled from the reverse side. Submission grappling reference.

  • Reverse Kesa Gatame — BottomTop PositionsDeveloping

    Reverse kesa gatame bottom — defending the reverse scarf hold. Top player hip-seated facing the defender's feet; primary threat is the near-arm kimura. Submission grappling reference.

  • Reverse Tripod SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Reverse tripod sweep — push-pull base disruption from the reverse DLR hook. Same mechanics as the standard tripod. Submission grappling reference.

  • Rolls and Reversal MechanicsTransitionsDeveloping

    Rolls and reversals — Granby roll, inside arm roll, outside arm roll. Guard recovery mechanics from turtle and bottom positions. Submission grappling reference.

  • Russian TieStandingDeveloping

    Russian tie — two hands on one arm; superior arm control for single leg, double leg, ankle pick, and arm drag entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • Scorpion / Lower Leg ShiftGuardDeveloping

    Scorpion — half guard variant with trapping foot outside the top player's knee. Opens waiter sweep and back take. Submission grappling reference.

  • Scorpion SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Half scorpion sweep — near knee hook and underhook tip the top player to side control. Back take opens when top player ducks. Submission grappling reference.

  • Scorpion to Back TakeSweepsDeveloping

    Half scorpion back take — top player ducks and drives hips up to defend the sweep, exposing the back for the bottom player. Submission grappling reference.

  • Seatbelt ControlBack PositionDeveloping

    Seatbelt back control — over-under grip with strangle hand over the shoulder, control hand under the armpit. Submission grappling reference.

  • Seatbelt DefenceBack PositionDeveloping

    Back escape from seatbelt — chin tuck, hook removal, hip turn, face the opponent. Three-step system with staged defence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Seated Guard EngagementGuard PassingDeveloping

    Seated guard engagement — first-contact actions that convert a live seated guard into a passable supine guard. Closing distance, hand-fighting, denying butterfly hooks, flattening the bottom.

  • ShelfFolkstyle ControlsDeveloping

    Shelf — leg ride variant with the near leg lifted across the top player’s thigh, exposing the back. Submission grappling reference.

  • Shoelace Heist ReversalSweepsDeveloping

    Shoelace heist — stand-up reversal from single leg X with heel-outside grip. Bottom player stands and converts to top. Submission grappling reference.

  • Short SitFolkstyle ControlsDeveloping

    The short sit is a folkstyle bottom escape — sit out to the near side, swinging the near hip and leg out from referee's position bottom, to face the top player from seated. Initiates the reversal.

  • Side Scissors SweepSweepsDeveloping

    The side scissors sweep from closed guard: hip-escaping laterally to attack a perpendicular angle and sweep the passer with crossed-leg pressure.

  • Single Leg XLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    Single Leg X in the guard context — where ashi garami is established as a guard configuration before the entanglement is Submission grappling reference.

  • SLX Back TakeSweepsDeveloping

    SLX back take — from Single Leg X, invert toward the opponent’s back and take the seatbelt position. Submission grappling reference.

  • SLX Stand-Up SweepSweepsDeveloping

    SLX stand-up sweep — from Single Leg X, extend the inside hook to force the opponent up, then finish the takedown. Submission grappling reference.

  • Smash PassGuard PassingDeveloping

    Smash pass — stack and flatten the guard player’s legs; drive through the knee shield with shoulder pressure to complete. Submission grappling reference.

  • Snap DownStandingDeveloping

    The snap down pulls the opponent's head sharply downward from a collar tie or head control, forcing them to turtle or four-point. A foundational setup for front headlock and back control entries.

  • Split Squat PassGuard PassingDeveloping

    The split squat pass: a pressure-based half guard pass using a wide split stance to flatten the bottom player and grind through the guard.

  • Standard TriangleTriangle systemDeveloping

    Triangle — bilateral carotid compression from guard. Opponent's inside arm presses against their neck to close half the choke. Submission grappling reference.

  • Standing Front HeadlockStandingDeveloping

    Standing front headlock — after a snap down; guillotine, D’Arce, and back take entries before the opponent recovers. Submission grappling reference.

  • Standing vs Seated GuardStandingDeveloping

    Standing passer against a seated guard player — butterfly, shin-on-shin, seated. Grip fighting, distance management, and preventing wrestle-ups. Submission grappling reference.

  • Standing vs Supine GuardStandingDeveloping

    Standing passer against an opponent lying on their back — closed guard, De la Riva, X-guard. Gravity-assisted pressure, leg stretching, and footwork around extended legs.

  • Straight Arm Shoulder LockArmbarDeveloping

    Straight shoulder lock — arm in extension; downward shoulder pressure. Available from mount, side control, and knee on belly. Submission grappling reference.

  • The ReapLeg EntanglementsDeveloping

    The reap — seated guard entry threading inside leg across. Creates ashi, outside ashi, or cross ashi depending on the response. Submission grappling reference.

  • Toe HoldLeg LocksDeveloping

    The toe hold attacks the foot and ankle through rotation. Available from multiple leg entanglement positions. Restricted in some competitive formats.

  • Toe Hold EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Toe hold escape — deny the grip, straighten the knee, rotate the foot internally, stack and counter. Elevated-risk leg lock defence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Transition Chains — What Follows What and WhyTransitionsDeveloping

    The complete positional transition map: what follows what and why, derived from the canonical relationship table. Covers all Submission grappling reference.

  • Triangle Choke EscapeEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Triangle escape — posture, hide the arm, spin before the lock, double under, tilt, stack and walk. Early defence is essential. Submission grappling reference.

  • TurkFolkstyle ControlsDeveloping

    Turk — folkstyle control under the near arm and around the neck. Kimura is the primary submission; flattening is the objective. Submission grappling reference.

  • Turtle Escape TechniquesEscapes & DefenceDeveloping

    Turtle escape techniques — Granby roll, sit-out, switch, Peterson roll, hip heist. Transitional position exit. Submission grappling reference.

  • Waiter PositionGuardDeveloping

    Waiter position — deep half guard variant; far leg underhook creates sweep leverage and back take entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • Waiter SweepSweepsDeveloping

    Half waiter sweep — far leg lifted to remove the top player’s base, then hip escape to come on top. From waiter position. Submission grappling reference.

  • Wrist RideFolkstyle ControlsDeveloping

    Wrist ride — folkstyle base-disruption tool; pinning the opponent’s wrist to the mat exposes the back and prevents recovery. Submission grappling reference.

  • X-GuardGuardDeveloping

    X-guard controls one of the standing opponent's legs with both of the bottom player's legs in an X configuration. Hip elevation Submission grappling reference.

  • X-Guard Back TakeSweepsDeveloping

    The X-guard back take in no-gi: from X-guard, turn the opponent and thread behind to take the back rather than sweeping. Used Submission grappling reference.

  • X-Guard Tilt SweepSweepsDeveloping

    The X-guard tilt sweep in no-gi: from X-guard, elevate the captured leg and tilt the opponent to either the near or far side. Submission grappling reference.

  • 3/4 ArmbarArmbarProficient

    The 3/4 armbar is the bent-arm counter to the standard armbar — entered when the opponent bends their arm to defend. Rather Submission grappling reference.

  • Anaconda ChokeFront HeadlockProficient

    The anaconda choke: the arm threads under the near arm and under the far side of the neck — the reverse of the D'arce. Requires Submission grappling reference.

  • Aoki LockLeg LocksProficient

    The Aoki lock attacks the medial knee through a specific reverse leg configuration from ashi garami. A compression and torsion Submission grappling reference.

  • Arm-In GuillotineFront HeadlockProficient

    Arm-in guillotine — near arm inside the choke; tighter vascular compression than the arm-out variant. Submission grappling reference.

  • Arm-In TriangleTriangle systemProficient

    Arm-in triangle — neck and one arm inside the triangle. The arm creates a barrier; tighter mechanics required for compression. Submission grappling reference.

  • Back Defence — HarnessBack PositionProficient

    Harness back control escape — over-under (gable grip) is inert as a finish but robust as a hold. Force the RNC transition and defend it. Granby roll works against the over-arm side.

  • Back Defence — StandingBack PositionProficient

    Standing back defence — piggyback/backpack escape. Hand-fight the standing RNC, controlled fall to disrupt hooks, wall-pin to crush the attacker's ribs, shoulder-roll to land on top.

  • Back TriangleBack PositionProficient

    Leg-based strangle from back control — legs lock in a triangle figure-four around the neck and near arm. Distinct from the rear Submission grappling reference.

  • Backside 50/50Leg EntanglementsProficient

    Backside 50/50 — asymmetric 50/50 where one player has back exposure advantage; primary submission is the outside heel hook. Submission grappling reference.

  • Banana SplitLeg LocksProficient

    The Banana Split is a hip and adductor submission applied from cross ashi / saddle / honey hole. One leg is pushed forward Submission grappling reference.

  • Baseball Bat ChokeFront HeadlockProficient

    Baseball bat choke — cross-grip forearms against the neck with a torquing finish. Available from back, knee on belly, crucifix. Submission grappling reference.

  • Belly Down Back MountBack PositionProficient

    Belly down back — both players prone; entered when opponent rolls from seated back. Opens heel hooks and cross ashi entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • BerimboloGuardProficient

    Berimbolo — inverted rolling from De la Riva, RDLR, 50/50, seated guard. Exits to back control, crab ride, leg entanglements. Submission grappling reference.

  • Body TriangleBack PositionProficient

    Body triangle — figure-four legs around the torso from back control. Removes the bridge, loads the ribs, compounds the strangle. Submission grappling reference.

  • Body Triangle DefenceBack PositionProficient

    Body triangle back control escape — bridge unavailable; lateral rotation toward the opponent is the primary exit. Submission grappling reference.

  • Brabo ChokeFront HeadlockProficient

    The brabo choke in no-gi: a D'Arce variant entered from top guard or top half guard rather than from turtle. The attacker's arm Submission grappling reference.

  • Buggy ChokeGuardProficient

    The buggy choke in no-gi: a self-defence roll executed from bottom mount or bottom side control that threads the attacker's own Submission grappling reference.

  • Calf SlicerLeg LocksProficient

    Calf slicer — calf compressed against attacker’s bone; loads the knee through combined compression and rotation. Submission grappling reference.

  • Chicken Wing RideFolkstyle ControlsProficient

    Chicken wing ride — the near arm is levered behind the opponent's own back, elbow bent upward behind the shoulder blade, maintaining turtle top control. A breakdown platform, not a submission.

  • Choi BarArmbarProficient

    Choi Bar — shoulder rotation submission; arm pulled across the body while the shoulder is externally rotated. From side control. Submission grappling reference.

  • Clamp PassGuard PassingProficient

    Clamp pass — recover posture against the overhook, defeat the closed guard lock, and disengage the submission platform. How to pass the clamp position. Submission grappling reference.

  • Cross Ashi GaramiLeg EntanglementsProficient

    Cross ashi garami — inside heel hook position: saddle, inside sankaku, honey hole. Hardest to escape; shortest injury timeline. Submission grappling reference.

  • Cross-Chest ArmbarArmbarProficient

    Cross-chest armbar — attacks the arm crossing the chest when opponent frames from side control. Compresses the elbow downward. Submission grappling reference.

  • Crucifix — BottomTop PositionsProficient

    Crucifix bottom — near arm trapped between top player legs, bottom player on the side. Entry prevention is the primary defence. Submission grappling reference.

  • Crucifix — TopTop PositionsProficient

    Crucifix — near arm trapped between top player legs, far arm separately controlled. Both arms isolated; opponent cannot defend. Submission grappling reference.

  • D'Arce and Anaconda EscapeEscapes & DefenceProficient

    D’Arce and anaconda escape — clear the arm early, tight turtle, roll to back take counter, arm drag counter, stack and post. Submission grappling reference.

  • D'arce ChokeFront HeadlockProficient

    The D'arce choke: arm-in triangle applied from the front headlock when the near arm is posted. The choking arm threads under Submission grappling reference.

  • Electric ChairKimura systemProficient

    Electric chair — from deep half, far leg captured and extended to stretch the inner thigh. Categorised in the kimura system. Submission grappling reference.

  • Estima LockLeg LocksProficient

    The Estima lock is a rapid foot and ankle submission using a rear-naked-choke-style grip on the foot, finished by driving the foot into the attacker's own body. Distinct from the toe hold.

  • Ezekiel Choke (No-Gi)Front HeadlockProficient

    The Ezekiel choke in no-gi: the attacking arm is inserted under the opponent's chin, the gripping arm holds the wrist. The Submission grappling reference.

  • Folding PassGuard PassingProficient

    The folding pass pins the opponent's knees to their chest and folds the legs to one side, removing framing and clearing the path to side control. Applied against half guard and closed guard.

  • Garrot ChokeBack PositionProficient

    Garrot choke — wrist and bicep compress both carotids without a figure-four grip. Applied from back control and turtle. Submission grappling reference.

  • Gift WrapTop PositionsProficient

    Gift wrap — the opponent's arm is taken from mount or side control and folded across their own face and neck. A one-arm control that opens back takes, arm triangles, and rear naked choke setups.

  • Gift Wrap — BottomTop PositionsProficient

    Gift wrap bottom — your own arm folded across your face and controlled from mount, neutralising a primary defensive tool. Defence is a race against the back take, not a pin escape.

  • Granby RollFolkstyle ControlsProficient

    The Granby roll is a defensive rolling escape from turtle or referee's position bottom — roll across one shoulder while threading a leg through, creating a 180-degree reversal to guard or a scramble.

  • Half Butterfly PassGuard PassingProficient

    Half butterfly pass — kill the butterfly hook, flatten the bottom player, and pass the hybrid half guard. How to defeat the half butterfly position. Submission grappling reference.

  • HammerlockKimura systemProficient

    The hammerlock folds the opponent's arm behind their back, attacking the shoulder via internal rotation and extension. Applied from side control and back control when the arm is exposed.

  • Harai GoshiStandingProficient

    Harai Goshi — sweeping hip throw; full hip insertion with outer thigh/hip sweep. Companion to Uchi Mata; similar entries, different leg target. Submission grappling reference.

  • Harness ControlBack PositionProficient

    Over-under back control — one arm over the shoulder (overhook), one arm under the armpit (underhook). Less immediate strangle Submission grappling reference.

  • High Elbow GuillotineFront HeadlockProficient

    High elbow guillotine — elbow points upward alongside the head. Different mechanical action; enables a seated guard finish. Submission grappling reference.

  • High Elbow Guillotine EscapeEscapes & DefenceProficient

    High elbow guillotine escape — chin tuck alone is not enough; shoulder-to-ear denies the carotid angle, clear the elbow to break the grip, step through from guard.

  • High Guard PassGuard PassingProficient

    High guard pass — defeat the elevated closed guard with legs high on the back, strip the meathook arm control, and escape the triangle-omoplata-armbar platform. Submission grappling reference.

  • High Step PassGuard PassingProficient

    High step pass — lifts the near foot high over the opponent's near leg and steps it to the far side, creating a sudden angle change that bypasses hook-based guards. Applied vs butterfly and X-guard.

  • Homer Simpson SweepSweepsProficient

    Homer Simpson sweep — hooks the bottom player's near leg behind the standing opponent's far leg while the hand pulls the near leg forward, sweeping the opponent over their far foot. From seated guard.

  • Inverted ArmbarArmbarProficient

    Inverted armbar — attacks the elbow in supination with the arm rotated so the elbow faces upward; the attacker's chest or shoulder is the fulcrum. Entries from half guard top and closed guard top.

  • Iowa RideFolkstyle ControlsProficient

    The Iowa ride combines a tight waist with near arm or leg control for sustained top pressure. The signature finish is the tight waist tilt — rotating from turtle to the back via the waist grip.

  • Ippon Seoi NageStandingProficient

    Ippon Seoi Nage — single shoulder throw; drop variant most used in no-gi competition. Arm over shoulder, hip and back rotation. Submission grappling reference.

  • Japanese Necktie EscapeEscapes & DefenceProficient

    Japanese necktie escape — deny the figure-four by pinning the near arm, posture the neck before grip locks, roll into the attacker to unload the crank, and tap early to dual mechanisms.

  • K-GuardLeg EntanglementsProficient

    K-Guard is a specific guard configuration designed as a direct inside heel hook entry system. The leg arrangement naturally exposes the inside heel for attack.

  • K-Guard (Entanglement Context)Leg EntanglementsProficient

    K-Guard in the entanglement context — when the K-guard configuration transitions from a guard position to a confirmed leg Submission grappling reference.

  • Kata GatameFront HeadlockProficient

    Kata gatame from front headlock — chest pins near arm against neck; attacking arm over the neck completes the triangle. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kimura EscapeEscapes & DefenceProficient

    Kimura escape — elbow to body, thigh grip, walk the wall, kimura counter roll. Early connection prevents arm isolation. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kimura TrapKimura systemProficient

    Kimura trap — figure-four grip as a dilemma. Keeping position while defending is impossible; each defence opens a new attack. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kiss of the DragonFront HeadlockProficient

    Kiss of the Dragon — Granby roll under the opponent from turtle bottom to expose the back. Direct back take entry. Submission grappling reference.

  • Lateral DropStandingProficient

    The lateral drop drops the practitioner to the side while pulling the opponent's upper body across, throwing them over the dropping body. Applied from body locks, underhooks, and collar ties.

  • Leg Weave PassGuard PassingProficient

    The leg weave pass threads the top player's arm between the opponent's legs to control the near leg from inside, creating a passing platform that limits hip escape. Vs half, Z-guard, and butterfly.

  • Lockdown PassGuard PassingProficient

    Lockdown pass — defeat the figure-four calf hook, recover the trapped leg, and pass the half guard. How to escape and pass the lockdown position. Submission grappling reference.

  • Lumberjack SweepSweepsProficient

    The lumberjack sweep grabs the top player's far ankle from half guard or seated guard while creating a lateral tipping force, sweeping the top player over their far leg.

  • Mexican Necktie EscapeEscapes & DefenceProficient

    Mexican necktie escape — keep a flat back to deny the leg hook, stand from turtle before the leg lands, drag the hooking foot off the back, and strip the choking arm.

  • Mir LockArmbarProficient

    Mir Lock — straight arm shoulder and elbow submission; arm extended then cranked to load both the elbow and shoulder. Submission grappling reference.

  • Mounted TriangleTriangle systemProficient

    Mounted triangle — triangle choke from mount. Legs encircle neck and one arm from above; bilateral carotid compression from top. Submission grappling reference.

  • Mounted Triangle EscapeEscapes & DefenceProficient

    Mounted triangle escape — prevent the S-mount arm isolation, block the leg crossing the neck, stack-and-drive the trapped arm out, posture up through the lock. Submission grappling reference.

  • Ninja Choke (No-Gi)Front HeadlockProficient

    Ninja choke — no-gi guillotine-D'Arce hybrid. No arms inside; figure-four RNC-style grip. Counter to single leg and defended guillotine. Submission grappling reference.

  • North-South ChokeFront HeadlockProficient

    North-south choke — arm wraps around the far side of the neck under the opponent’s arm; applied from north-south top position. Submission grappling reference.

  • North-South Choke EscapeEscapes & DefenceProficient

    North-south choke escape — deny the far-arm thread, prevent chest-to-face contact, chin tuck against the scoop, bridge and turn before the rotation finishes. Submission grappling reference.

  • Octopus Guard PassGuard PassingProficient

    Octopus guard pass — strip the deep overhook, recover posture, flatten or backstep to pass. How to deal with the seated overhook back-take platform. Submission grappling reference.

  • OmoplataTriangle systemProficient

    Omoplata — legs trap the arm and drive the shoulder into internal rotation. Positional use is on a separate page. Submission grappling reference.

  • Omoplata ControlTriangle systemProficient

    Omoplata control — arm trapped in the legs; submission always available as a threat. Platform for sweeps and back takes. Submission grappling reference.

  • Outside SankakuLeg EntanglementsProficient

    Outside sankaku in no-gi: the triangled leg control around the opponent's outside leg that serves as the primary outside heel Submission grappling reference.

  • Peruvian NecktieFront HeadlockProficient

    Peruvian Necktie — front headlock choke using one leg to assist the choking arm. Triangle compression against the neck. Submission grappling reference.

  • Peruvian Necktie EscapeEscapes & DefenceProficient

    Peruvian necktie escape — deny the front headlock, block the leg swing, base against the roll, and extract the head on the exposed side. Submission grappling reference.

  • Peterson RollFolkstyle ControlsProficient

    Peterson roll — executed from near-arm underhook control on a turtled opponent. The top player drives the opponent's near arm across the body and rolls them over their far shoulder to the back.

  • Rear TriangleBack PositionProficient

    Rear triangle — legs-around-neck blood choke applied from behind the opponent. Triangle configuration applied with the legs. Submission grappling reference.

  • Reverse Guard (Entanglement Context)Leg EntanglementsProficient

    Reverse guard in the entanglement context — facing away from the opponent with a leg captured. Outside heel hook and kneebar Submission grappling reference.

  • Reverse TriangleTriangle systemProficient

    Reverse triangle (hantaisankaku) — leg crosses the front of the neck from the opposite direction. Available from north-south. Submission grappling reference.

  • Rubber GuardGuardProficient

    Rubber guard — leg-behind-neck guard pinning posture and freeing both hands. Platform for omoplata, gogoplata, and triangle. Submission grappling reference.

  • S-MountTop PositionsProficient

    S-mount — high mount with one leg over the far arm. Opens armbar, mounted triangle, and kimura from the top position. Submission grappling reference.

  • S-Mount — BottomTop PositionsProficient

    S-mount bottom — defending the high mount with one leg over the far arm. Armbar, mounted triangle, and kimura are all seconds away; defence must prevent arm extension and the fall-back.

  • S-Mount Escape TechniquesEscapes & DefenceProficient

    S-mount escape — hide the elbow, stack the fall-back, hitchhiker escape, stuff-and-spin. Arm protection is the primary priority because the arm is already isolated. Submission grappling reference.

  • Scorpion PassGuard PassingProficient

    Scorpion pass — defeat the outside knee hook, deny the hip extension sweep, and pass the lower-leg-shift half guard. Submission grappling reference.

  • Short ChokeBack PositionProficient

    Short choke — rear strangle using the under-chin arm path. Primary option when chin tuck blocks the rear naked choke. Submission grappling reference.

  • Sickle SweepSweepsProficient

    The sickle sweep hooks the bottom player's leg behind the standing opponent's far ankle in a scything motion, pulling the ankle out while pushing the upper body. From seated and sitting guard.

  • Spiral RideFolkstyle ControlsProficient

    Spiral ride — top control in a spiral path around the turtle. Breaks the base; opens back take and leg entanglement routes. Submission grappling reference.

  • Standing KimuraKimura systemProficient

    Standing kimura — figure-four shoulder lock applied and finished from standing. Russian tie, underhook, and single leg defence entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • Standing vs Entangled GuardStandingProficient

    Standing passer against an opponent in a leg entanglement — ashi garami, outside ashi, cross ashi, 50/50. Stacking pressure, staying vertical, and countering leg-lock entries.

  • StraitjacketBack PositionProficient

    Straitjacket back control in no-gi: the opponent's near arm is trapped between the attacker's legs while back control is Submission grappling reference.

  • SuplexStandingProficient

    The suplex lifts the opponent from a rear body lock and arches backward, throwing them overhead. A high-amplitude Greco-Roman throw with German, headlock, and belly-to-back variants.

  • Tani OtoshiSweepsProficient

    Tani otoshi (valley drop) — one leg steps behind and between the opponent's legs; the attacker drops backward, pulling the upper body down while the blocking leg removes the opponent's base.

  • Technical MountTop PositionsProficient

    Technical mount — one knee grounded, the other leg stepped out flat beside the opponent's hip. Opens back take entries, arm triangle access, and armbar opportunities. Distinct from S-mount.

  • Technical Mount — BottomTop PositionsProficient

    Technical mount bottom — defending the stepped-out mount. One foot posted beside the defender's hip, back take and arm triangle imminent; the defender is mid-turn between flat mount and back exposure.

  • Technical Mount Escape TechniquesEscapes & DefenceProficient

    Technical mount escape — spin out to re-flatten, roll back to half guard, reverse-technical when the opponent stays high. Seatbelt hand-fighting and back-take denial. Submission grappling reference.

  • Tozi PassGuard PassingProficient

    The Tozi pass drops the near shoulder under a butterfly or X-guard hook, trapping it to the mat with body weight and passing over the trapped leg. Also known as Sao Paulo Pass and Wilson Pass.

  • Twister HookFolkstyle ControlsProficient

    Twister hook — one leg threaded between the opponent's legs to limit spinal rotation. Entry to the truck position. Submission grappling reference.

  • Uchi MataStandingProficient

    Uchi mata — inner thigh reap throw. One of the highest-percentage judo throws, increasingly dominant in elite no-gi competition. Submission grappling reference.

  • Von Flue ChokeFront HeadlockProficient

    The Von Flue choke is a counter submission applied when the opponent attempts an arm-in guillotine from the bottom. The top Submission grappling reference.

  • Waiter Guard PassGuard PassingProficient

    Waiter guard pass — recover the far leg from the under-hook, deny the sweep and leg entanglement entries, and pass the deep half variant. Submission grappling reference.

  • Williams GuardGuardProficient

    Williams guard uses an overhook around the opponent's head (meathook grip) from half guard or butterfly base, controlling posture and opening arm triangle, rear naked choke, and back take options.

  • Williams Guard PassGuard PassingProficient

    Williams guard pass — strip the head control overhook, recover posture, and defeat the arm triangle and back take platform. Submission grappling reference.

  • Woj LockLeg LocksProficient

    The Woj lock is a heel hook variant that prioritises rotational torque through a specific grip and hip extension combination. Submission grappling reference.

  • WristlockArmbarProficient

    Wristlock — radiocarpal joint attack via hyperextension or deviation. Shorter injury window; restricted in beginner contexts. Submission grappling reference.

  • 70/30Leg EntanglementsAdvanced

    70/30 (80/20) — asymmetric leg entanglement where one player controls a larger share of the leg, creating heel hook advantage. Submission grappling reference.

  • Back CrucifixFront HeadlockAdvanced

    Back crucifix — behind the turtle with the near arm trapped. Kimura, triangle, and RNC available from this position. Submission grappling reference.

  • BaratoplataArmbarAdvanced

    Baratoplata — shoulder lock from omoplata-family positions; the shin or forearm lever rotates the shoulder against its range. Submission grappling reference.

  • Berimbolo DefenceGuard PassingAdvanced

    Berimbolo defence — deny the hip rotation, counter the back-take chain, and convert the scramble into passing or leg entanglement opportunities. Submission grappling reference.

  • Bicep SlicerArmbarAdvanced

    The bicep slicer traps the arm against a forearm, shin, or knee fulcrum, crushing the bicep and brachialis to attack the elbow in flexion. Legal at advanced levels in no-gi competition.

  • Buggy Choke EscapeEscapes & DefenceAdvanced

    How to escape the buggy choke — removing the leg from the choking configuration and the body positioning principles. An emerging area of the competitive canon.

  • Cement MixerFolkstyle ControlsAdvanced

    The cement mixer is a rotational wrestling turn where the top player grabs the far arm and near leg, creating a rotating cradle that rolls the bottom player continuously. A scramble turnaround.

  • Diagonal Ashi GaramiLeg EntanglementsAdvanced

    Diagonal ashi garami is a transitional leg entanglement position — the specific angle that makes the Z-lock hip submission Submission grappling reference.

  • DomplataTop PositionsAdvanced

    The domplata slides one shin across the opponent's throat from mount while trapping their arm, creating a combined throat compression and shoulder lock. Niche mount submission from 10th Planet.

  • Domplata — BottomTop PositionsAdvanced

    Domplata bottom — defending the shin-to-throat compression from mount with one arm trapped. Defence is pre-emptive (deny the arm isolation) or immediate (tap on first throat pressure).

  • Electric Chair SweepSweepsAdvanced

    Electric chair sweep — extends the top player's far leg outward from the lockdown in half guard, levering them over their own trapped leg. Distinct from the electric chair submission (groin stretch).

  • Game OverLeg EntanglementsAdvanced

    Game Over (Z-lock, Leg Knot) — an entanglement in which the attacker controls both of the opponent's legs in a crossed configuration. Immediate heel hook and toe hold access.

  • GogoplataGuardAdvanced

    The Gogoplata is a choke applied by pressing the shin or instep into the opponent's throat from the high guard position. The Submission grappling reference.

  • Grasshopper GuardGuardAdvanced

    Grasshopper guard — the bottom player lies on their side, one leg controlling the opponent's near leg from outside (like a grasshopper's leg). Creates leg entanglement entries and back take access.

  • Imanari RollLeg EntanglementsAdvanced

    Imanari roll — inverted standing-to-ground entry threading directly to ashi garami or cross ashi garami. Submission grappling reference.

  • Inverted GuardGuardAdvanced

    Inverted guard — the guard player's hips are elevated above the head, back toward the mat, feet pointing at the opponent's head. Primary entry to berimbolo back takes and outside heel hook sequences.

  • Inverted Guard PassGuard PassingAdvanced

    Inverted guard pass — deny the inversion, collapse the hips, and pass the transitional hub that feeds berimbolo and leg entanglement entries. Submission grappling reference.

  • Irimi Ashi SweepSweepsAdvanced

    The irimi ashi sweep: stepping into the opponent's space while controlling a leg to unbalance and force the sweep. A Submission grappling reference.

  • Japanese NecktieFront HeadlockAdvanced

    The Japanese Necktie is a combined neck crank and compression choke from a turtle-top front headlock. The attacker's forearm compresses the throat while body position augments the cranking force.

  • Junny LockLeg LocksAdvanced

    Junny lock — inside heel hook variant using a wrist and forearm wrap that creates a different lever geometry on the knee. Applied from ashi garami and outside ashi. Submission grappling reference.

  • Lateral Knee BarLeg LocksAdvanced

    Lateral knee bar — kneebar applied from back exposure or leg ride positions, where the attacker is positioned behind the opponent's leg. Mechanically distinct from the standard kneebar.

  • LocoplataGuardAdvanced

    The locoplata is a gogoplata-family submission from inverted guard, using the shin across the opponent's face or jaw while controlling the arm. Distinct from the standard gogoplata in entry angle.

  • Mexican NecktieFront HeadlockAdvanced

    The Mexican Necktie augments a front headlock choke with one leg hooked over the opponent's back — leg extension tightens the choke and prevents posturing. Applied from turtle top.

  • Mikey LockLeg LocksAdvanced

    Mikey lock — calf compression applied from cross ashi / saddle, transitioning from inside heel hook attempts. Same mechanical target as the calf slicer but entered from a different position.

  • MonoplataTriangle systemAdvanced

    The monoplata uses a single-leg triangular configuration to attack the shoulder — one leg controls the far arm, the other creates rotation force. Related to the omoplata but distinct in entry.

  • Mutual Ashi GaramiLeg EntanglementsAdvanced

    Mutual ashi — also called criss-cross ashi — is the position where both players are in overlapping single-leg entanglements. Submission grappling reference.

  • Opposite-Side TriangleTriangle systemAdvanced

    Opposite triangle — catches the far arm. Available when standard entry is blocked but the far arm creates the geometry. Submission grappling reference.

  • Pato LockLeg LocksAdvanced

    Pato lock — ankle and lower leg compression from ashi garami and outside ashi via an arm wrap around the ankle. Same mechanical target as the tren lock, different entry path.

  • Reverse XLeg EntanglementsAdvanced

    Reverse X is the inverted X-guard variant that creates direct cross ashi entries and back takes. The leg configuration exposes Submission grappling reference.

  • Shotgun ArmbarArmbarAdvanced

    Shotgun armbar — rolling armbar entry from turtle top or folkstyle ride. The attacker traps the near arm and rolls through to finish. Entry mechanics distinct from the standard armbar.

  • Side TriangleTriangle systemAdvanced

    Side triangle — triangle from a lateral position. Hip drive is lateral. Available from side control and north-south. Submission grappling reference.

  • Standing RNCBack PositionAdvanced

    Standing RNC — rear naked choke applied from standing back control before hooks are established. Different technical demands from the ground RNC. Submission grappling reference.

  • Suloev StretchLeg LocksAdvanced

    The Suloev stretch is a posterior knee submission from back control, hyperextending the opponent's isolated leg by driving hips down against posterior knee structures. Distinct from the kneebar.

  • TarikoplataTriangle systemAdvanced

    Tarikoplata — shoulder lock using a leg triangle over the arm from guard. Leg-based rotation loads the shoulder joint. Submission grappling reference.

  • Trapped TriangleTriangle systemAdvanced

    Trapped triangle — triangle around a trapped arm and neck; the arm presses against the carotid as the triangle tightens. Submission grappling reference.

  • Tren LockLeg LocksAdvanced

    Tren Lock — ankle lock from the truck position using both arms around the near leg with a rotational body drive. Submission grappling reference.

  • Truck / Crab RideLeg EntanglementsAdvanced

    Truck (crab ride) — elevated control of one leg behind the turtled opponent; heel hook and back take access. Submission grappling reference.

  • TwisterFolkstyle ControlsAdvanced

    The Twister is a spinal rotation submission executed from the truck (crab ride) position. One leg hooks between the opponent's Submission grappling reference.

  • Twister Side ControlFolkstyle ControlsAdvanced

    Twister side control is the positional platform for the Twister submission sequence. Specific body and leg positioning create access to the truck and the Twister hook. From 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

  • Ushiro X — Reverse X GuardGuardAdvanced

    Ushiro X is an inverted X-guard position in which the bottom player faces the same direction as the opponent. The inversion Submission grappling reference.

  • Ushiro X PassGuard PassingAdvanced

    Ushiro X pass — deny the hip inversion, close the inside space, and defeat the cross ashi / back take dilemma from reverse X guard. Submission grappling reference.

  • Z-LockLeg LocksAdvanced

    The Z-lock is a hip submission — the only submission in the lower limb system that targets the hip joint rather than the knee Submission grappling reference.

  • Flying ArmbarStandingElite

    Flying armbar — standing-to-submission attack; jumping directly to an armbar lock. The highest-risk standing entry. Submission grappling reference.

  • Flying TriangleStandingElite

    Flying triangle — jumping from standing to lock a triangle choke. Elevated risk; precise timing required. Submission grappling reference.

  • Kani BasamiStandingElite

    Kani Basami — scissors takedown. Sacrifice technique with elevated knee injury risk. Elite-level timing and angle requirement. Heavily ruleset-restricted. Submission grappling reference.

Health28

  • AC Joint Injuries in Grappling

    AC joint sprain and separation from americana and shoulder pressure — distinguishing from labrum injuries, recognising the mechanism, and returning to training.

  • Ankle Injuries in Grappling

    Ankle sprains and straight ankle lock injuries — distinguishing the mechanisms, prevention, and management for grapplers.

  • Cauliflower Ear in Grappling

    Cauliflower ear — auricular haematoma — causes, prevention with ear guards, drainage decisions, permanent changes, and what responsible gym culture looks like around this distinctive injury.

  • Concussion and Head Injury in Grappling

    Concussion mechanisms in submission grappling, recognising the symptoms, red flags requiring emergency care, and the graded return-to-training protocol.

  • Eating Disorders in Weight-Class Sport

    Anorexia, bulimia, BED, OSFED, ARFID, orthorexia in weight-class grappling — recognising disordered patterns, clinical urgency, coach responsibilities, and the specific risks of the sport's culture.

  • Elbow Hyperextension in Grappling

    Elbow hyperextension from armbar — understanding the mechanism, the injury timeline, and the tapping culture that prevents it.

  • Eye Injuries in Grappling

    Corneal abrasions, subconjunctival haemorrhage, orbital fracture, retinal detachment, and traumatic hyphaema — how they present, which need emergency care, and the thumb-in-eye reality of scrambles.

  • Female Athlete Health in Grappling

    Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), menstrual cycle and training, iron and bone health, and the specific health considerations for female practitioners that most grappling resources ignore.

  • Hand, Wrist, and Finger Injuries in Grappling

    Jammed fingers, skier's thumb, wrist sprains, scaphoid fracture, and the other hand and wrist injuries that grappling produces — mechanisms, grading, taping, and when to get imaging.

  • Hip Injuries in Grappling

    Hip flexor strain, labrum tears, femoroacetabular impingement, groin strain, and the hip injuries that guard-heavy grapplers are most exposed to — mechanisms, assessment, and return-to-training.

  • Injury Prevention and Prehabilitation

    The most common injury patterns in grappling and a systematic approach to reducing risk before injuries occur.

  • Injury Rehabilitation for Grapplers

    The framework principles behind returning to training after injury — biological healing timelines, graded loading, what 'cleared to train' actually means, and when to work with a physiotherapist.

  • Knee Ligament Injuries in Grappling

    ACL and PCL injuries from heel hooks, kneebars, and reaping — mechanism, severity, prevention, and the honest rehabilitation timeline.

  • Longevity in the Sport

    How to train for decades, not just years — the structural, habitual, and cultural factors that determine how long a grappler can continue training.

  • Lower Back Injuries in Grappling

    Lumbar strain, disc injury, SI joint dysfunction, and the red flags that require emergency care — mechanisms in grappling, return-to-training, and the prevention work that matters.

  • MCL Sprain in Grappling

    Medial collateral ligament sprains from outside heel hooks and knee exposure errors — why they are frequently undertreated and how to manage them.

  • Mental Health and Grappling

    Competition anxiety, training stress, and the psychological pressures of grappling — a health-angle treatment distinct from the social dynamics content.

  • Mobility and Flexibility for Grapplers

    The distinction between mobility and flexibility, and why grapplers need strength through range — not just range.

  • Neck Injuries in Grappling

    Cervical strain and compression injuries from guillotines, front headlock pressure, and neck cranks — mechanisms, distinguishing disc from soft tissue, prehab, and return to training.

  • Recovery and Sleep for Grapplers

    Why grappling recovery is not just rest, and how sleep is the most important adaptation tool a grappler has.

  • Rib Injuries in Grappling

    Rib bruising, cartilage damage, and fracture from side control pressure, body triangle, and knee on belly — frequently undertreated, with breathing implications for training.

  • Shoulder Labrum and Rotator Cuff Injuries in Grappling

    Labrum tears and rotator cuff damage from kimura, americana, and omoplata — distinguishing the mechanisms, recognising the injury, and returning to training safely.

  • Skin Infections in Grappling

    Ringworm, staph, impetigo, and mat herpes — what each is, how transmission works, and the school's duty of care.

  • Strength and Conditioning for Grapplers

    Why generic gym programming fails grapplers, and what a grappling-specific strength and conditioning approach looks like.

  • Supplements and Anti-Doping for Grapplers

    Which supplements have evidence, which are a waste of money, and which carry contamination or anti-doping risk — plus how strict liability works in tested competitions and what certification protects.

  • Training While Pregnant and Return to Sport Postpartum

    What the evidence says about grappling during pregnancy, how to modify training each trimester, return-to-sport postpartum, diastasis and pelvic floor considerations, and when to stop training.

  • Weight Management for Grapplers

    A performance-nutrition approach to body composition — not weight cutting. What healthy, sustainable weight management looks like for a competitive grappler.

  • Youth Athletes in Grappling

    Growth plate injuries, maturation timing, weight-cutting in minors, specialisation versus varied training, and training-load considerations for under-18 practitioners — what youth coaches get wrong.

Social Dynamics13

  • Child Safeguarding in Grappling

    What safeguarding means for minors in grappling, the supervision and reporting standards a responsible youth programme requires, and what parents should verify before enrolling a child.

  • Coach–Student Power Dynamics

    The inherent power imbalance in coaching relationships, the specific risks it creates, and what responsible professional coaching looks like.

  • Consent on the Mat

    Physical contact norms in training, how to establish and respect consent with training partners, and what schools should formalise.

  • Disability and Adaptive Grappling

    Adaptive grappling as primary consideration, not a footnote — the practical, structural, and cultural factors for including grapplers with disabilities.

  • Ego and Aggression in Training

    Managing competitive drive, ego, and aggression in a way that builds everyone in the room — including you.

  • Hazing in Grappling Culture

    What hazing is, how it shows up in schools (sandbag rounds, initiation rolls, beltings, punishment of new students), why it is damaging regardless of intent, and the standards that rule it out.

  • Hygiene Standards and Enforcement

    What responsible mat hygiene looks like, why it matters beyond personal comfort, and how to address violations without shame but without hedging.

  • LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Submission Grappling

    What a genuinely inclusive gym looks like in practice — beyond tolerance to active welcome.

  • Mental Health in Grappling Culture

    The cultural dimension of mental health in grappling — the toughness narrative, identity-sport entanglement, and what a healthy training culture actually produces.

  • Racial and Cultural Dynamics in Submission Grappling

    The sport's history and current dynamics — acknowledging what is real and what equitable mat culture requires.

  • Recognising and Responding to Predatory Coaching

    Warning signs of predatory coaching behaviour, grooming patterns, and what to do — for students, for parents, for school owners.

  • Tapping Culture

    Why tapping culture is not just a safety mechanism — it is the social contract that makes grappling training possible. The full social dynamics treatment.

  • Women in Submission Grappling

    The specific training environment considerations for women in grappling — not a separate inferior track, but an honest account of the challenges and what good looks like.

Standards6

  • Coach Certification Concepts

    What a meaningful no-gi grappling coach certification framework could look like — and why the current absence of one matters.

  • Competition Ruleset Analysis

    ADCC, submission-only, and IBJJF No-Gi formats compared — what each ruleset incentivises, what it discourages, and what it means for competitive preparation.

  • Progression Frameworks

    Ability-based progression that does not rely on belt systems — how to measure and communicate skill development honestly.

  • Referee Standards

    What consistent, competent refereeing looks like in no-gi competition — and why it matters for the sport's development.

  • School Maturity Standards

    What a mature, well-run no-gi school looks like — across culture, safety, curriculum, and community.

  • The Living Standards Document

    InGrappling's evolving institutional position on best practices in no-gi submission grappling — safety, ethics, progression, competition, and coaching. Version 1.0.

Competitive Meta1