Beginner jiu jitsu tips
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Originally created by forum member Driven. Please add to this list.
Position before submission
This is probably the most well-known one. Basically, you need to have the correct position and control of your opponent BEFORE attempting to apply a submission.
Attack! Attack! Attack!
If you aren't actively attacking and imposing your own game plan, you're giving your opponent time to think up and implement his own game. Make him defend your attacks, or you'll find yourself "behind" -- defending against his attacks with little opportunity to attack for yourself. Even you're in a bad position -- say, under side-control -- don't just lay there waiting for a submission attempt... Sweep! Bridge! Fight for grips! DO ANYTHING but just lay there.
Fight for grips!
This is sooo important, esp. in gi BJJ. Fight for your grips on him -- whether sleeves, collars, pants, belt, whatever -- and vigorously fight his grips off you. Grips give you tremendous control over your opponent -- they're great for positioning for an attack, and they're great for blocking his attacks. I had to learn this lesson the hard way: I got choked out over 10 times in one class with simple collar chokes before it sunk in that I needed to vigilantly fight his grips off and, in return, fight for my own grips on him.
Block posts on the side you want to sweep to
This is one of my favorites, sorta discovered it myself and I use it A LOT. I used to think balance was some sort of innate ability, like intelligence or endurance, but I see it now as something more mechanical: Your opponent's posts (generally feet, hands, elbows, and knees) are what keeps you from being able to roll him to that side. So if he's on top of you, say in a full mount, if you can block in his left arm (maybe with a grip from your left hand) and his left leg (maybe by hooking with your right foot), there's nothing keeping you from simply bridging and rolling him to your right. And sometimes they'll block their own posts FOR you, by sinking a deep cross-face on you in your half-guard, for example. Or, especially on lower ranks, they may FORGET that they can post out a leg, for example.
I'm too new to know many pre-determined sweeps, but since learning this simple rule, I can basically invent sweeps on the fly. Does he have a post free on that side? No? Then sweep away! I get tons of reversals even on higher ranks and much larger opponents by simply doing this: block his leg, block his arm, bridge and roll. Be quick about it -- don't telegraph or they'll wriggle a limb free and post out. Even better, set it up with a diversion so he's thinking about something else. I like faking a collar choke first, haha. (Like I'm gonna get a collar choke when fully mounted -- I like to think he's thinking about what an idiot I am for trying that, then SWEEEEEP!!!)
Conversely, if you want to keep from getting swept, keep at least one limb available to post out at all times. Even though I'm a newb, I almost never get swept anymore.
Get your opponent over your hips before bridging.
If you want to bridge your opponent, get him over your hips first. If he has a high mount, for example, even a strong bridge will move him only a few inches. But if you can skootch yourself up so that he's over your hips, that same bridge will move him several feet and create a lot of space or possibly even buck him off over your head.
Maybe this is obvious, but planting your feet (or one foot, if that's what you have to work with) right near your own butt will give you a much higher, more explosive bridge than just pulling your feet in a little.
Both arms in or both arms out
(Oh man, I got triangled BAD the first couple classes...) When in your opponent's guard, either keep both arms between his legs or keep them both outside his leg. Otherwise you're putting yourself in great position for your opponent to get an easy triangle choke on you.
Keep your hands off the mat
Putting a hand on the mat while in guard is just asking for a kimura, upa sweep, oma plata, and... I'm not sure what else. Also, if that hand is on the mat, it's probably not doing anything useful -- it should be gripping and controlling if nothing else.
Elbows always close to the body
Elbows closed=strong elbows. open=weak. if you open your elbows you're open for attacks as well as in a bad position to push/defend yourself from you partner's attacks or positions. Always keep your elbows close to your body, this will save you from a lot of attacks will also help you to prevent passing attempts and sweeps.
Keep your weight on your opponent, not on the floor
When in side-control/north-south, rather than propping yourself on your elbows and knees and just laying across your opponent, instead get the weight off the floor and put as much of your weight as possible right in the middle of their chest. This will keep them well-pinned and easier to control as well as restrict their breathing and sap their strength. For extra fun, dig your shoulder into their chin. This probably won't submit them, but it'll give them something to occupy their brain while you look for a submission (kimura or arm bar are my favorites) or mount opportunity. Your knees should be off the floor at all times unless you are using one to block the hips so your opponent cant replace guard.
Fight for the underhook
Its almost always advantageous to fight for underhooks and to prevent your opponent from getting underhooks on you. Always keep your eblows tight to prevent underhooks.
Don't be timid when it comes to executing techniques
You drill and drill and drill for a reason. Just do the technique how you've practice and it should work. Even if it doesn't work you'll learn what it's like to do it on a live opponent and be able to adjust what needs to be adjusted.
