What “Submissions” Mean in Day-to-Day Training
In practical training, bjj submissions are controlled ways to make your partner tap using chokes or joint locks. They appear from every major position: guard, half guard, side control, mount, back control, and leg entanglements. A good submission game is not just knowing names on an all BJJ submissions list—it’s understanding control, alignment, bite, and timing so your opponent runs out of safe options.
You’ll use submissions in three ways: as a finish, as a threat to force defensive reactions, and as a trap that converts their defense into your next attack. For example, threatening a cross-collar choke from mount exposes the arms for armbar and Americana. Threatening a guillotine during a takedown can force a defensive turtle that sets up back takes. Learning submissions means learning these chains so your offense never stalls.
Submissions Videos on BJJ University (Top 20 Videos, Top 10 Courses)
All Access Pass by Gordon Ryan
$11899.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video is an advertisement for the "Gordon Ryan All Access Pass", offering access to Gordon Ryan's vast library of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructionals on BJJ Fanatics. Gordon Ryan is an accomplished student of famous coach John Danaher, recognized for his competitive experience and his ability to explain complex grappling concepts clearly. This collection aims not just to teach techniques but to provide a comprehensive grappling education. The All-Access Pass is promoted as a valuable resource but does not include future releases.
Enter The System Bundle by John Danaher
$999.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The bundle includes six modules addressing different systems of submissions. The leg lock system which revolutionized no-gi grappling, the back system for more precise rear strangles, the kimura system for better submissions and positioning, the juji gatame armbar system for precision and control, the guillotine choke system from front headlocks, and the triangle choke system with adjustments for shorter legs are all covered in depth. These systems have all been instrumental in the success of Danaher's students.
Filthy, Brutal, No Good Attacks Bundle By Neil Melanson
$467.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, Neil Melanson presents his unique catch wrestling techniques. It's part of his "Filthy, Brutal, No Good Attacks Bundle." Through his unique perspective on grappling, stemming from a catch wrestling base, Melanson unfolds some of his best submission tactics. The video includes six full-length instructional segments, with a total of over 12 volumes available for students looking to enhance their grappling and submission skills.
Systematically Attacking The Front Headlock by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this 8-part instructional video, Gordon Ryan presents an advanced system for attacking from the front headlock position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He demonstrates how to conduct elite attacks such as guillotines, anacondas, and d'arces, and counters to common defenses. He also underlines the key differences between wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu when it comes to executing front headlock techniques. Gordon shares top-tier finishing and control concepts, and provides strategies on defeating defensive reactions from opponents.
Systematically Attacking The Kimura by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, ADCC champion Gordon Ryan provides a detailed teaching of his systematic approach to attacking the Kimura from various situations. He explains how Kimura can be used as a controlling position as well as a submission, and emphasizes the importance of techniques in real-time motion. The video includes training footage of Gordon executing the Kimura in a genuine rolling situation, followed by a thorough breakdown of what he does and why. The video aims to give viewers an understanding of the complete Kimura system as employed by one of the greatest No-Gi grapplers in the world.
Systematically Attacking The Guillotine by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video is a comprehensive guide by Gordon Ryan, focusing on targeting the guillotine in a systematic way. He not only portrays the guillotine as an accessible and high-percentage submission in no-gi but shows how it can be used to sweep, submit, pass and pin. Apart from the techniques, he also explains his approach and thought process during a match. The tutorial spans 8 volumes and includes rolling commentary by Ryan himself.
Systematically Attacking From Closed Guard by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video teaches learners about Gordon Ryan's system for sweeping and submitting opponents from the closed guard position. Developed with John Danaher, the system is designed to be effective regardless of age or skill level. With emphasis on these fundamentals, learners can elevate their closed guard game and improve their overall performance in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Systematically Attacking The Back by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features ADCC double gold champ, Gordon Ryan, sharing his signature back attack system consisting of strangles, armlocks, triangles and combinations. Gordon explains and demonstrates these techniques, detailing how he and his coach, Professor John Danaher, have developed them. These methods have been instrumental in his success, including achieving multiple submission wins as a black belt. The video also includes real-time gym breakdowns of Gordon's proven submission game.
Systematically attacking From Top Pins: Side Control & North South by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, Gordon Ryan provides detailed instruction on how to effectively execute submissions such as Kimuras, triangles, and armbars from Side Control & North South positions. He explains the concept of isolating and submitting limbs and how to stop escape attempts, thereby ensuring constant control. The system he demonstrates is the one he uses in no-gi grappling, with guidance from his coach, John Danaher. He also breaks down live footage to clearly illustrate the application of the techniques in real-time combat scenarios.
Systematically Attacking The Arm Bar by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video is an instructional course by Gordon Ryan that spans over 7 hours and is focused on a systematic, championship-level approach to executing the armbar submission, also known as Juji Gatame. The course includes detailed instruction on different variations of the technique, proper grips, opponents' escape options, and effective strategies. It also highlights the differences between performing the submission from the bottom vs the top position. Specific variations such as the Shoulder Sankaku are emphasized. Gordon's instructions also prepare the student to handle common escape attempts by seamlessly transitioning between different armbar variations to secure a submission.
Why Submissions Matter: Leverage, Control, and High-Percentage Paths
Submissions are the ultimate scoring condition in grappling: one clean finish ends the round, whether in gi or no-gi. Training them teaches leverage, weight distribution, and breaking mechanics, which also improves your passing, pinning, and guard retention.
High-percentage submissions come from strong control and repeatable entries. Think rear naked choke from back control, triangle or armbar from closed guard, kimura from top side or north-south, guillotine from front headlock, and straight ankle lock from ashi garami. These work across skill levels because they pair solid control with clear finishing mechanics and predictable opponent reactions. Chase reliability first; add flash later.
Submissions Back Control (12 Videos, 4 Courses)
Systematically Attacking The Back by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features ADCC double gold champ, Gordon Ryan, sharing his signature back attack system consisting of strangles, armlocks, triangles and combinations. Gordon explains and demonstrates these techniques, detailing how he and his coach, Professor John Danaher, have developed them. These methods have been instrumental in his success, including achieving multiple submission wins as a black belt. The video also includes real-time gym breakdowns of Gordon's proven submission game.
Control and Submissions: EBI Back Attacks by Nick Rodriguez
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, premier competitor Nick Rodriguez teaches tactics for controlling the opponent and executing successful submissions from the back position, specifically under the ruleset of EBI and EBI-style competitions. He presents a variety of back controls designed to distract the opponent and sets up the strangle, shares tips for effective starting posture, and demonstrates how to prevent escape using upper body controls and body triangles. He also reveals his own tournament-tested strategies, including his offensive cycles aimed at exploiting expected back escapes, which can significantly improve your finishing rate during EBI Overtime. The instruction involves real-time troubleshooting with Rodriguez’s students for an understanding of practical application.
The Fastest Way: To Increase Your Submission Percentage (No Gi) by John Danaher
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video features John Danaher, a legendary coach and instructor, teaching high-percentage techniques, back takes, and powerful submission strategies to increase your submission percentage in BJJ No Gi. The focus of the video is on the rear strangle, a king of submissions, and its variations. It also includes development of a diverse armdrag system from open guard that forces opponents to expose their back for high-percentage back takes. The video shows how to take the back from various positions like standing, half guard, open guard, closed guard, mount, side mount, and even from inferior positions.
The Submission Land Bundle by Ryan Scialoia
$167.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video, presented by Ryan Scialoia, demonstrates a systematic way to perform various high-percentage submissions like the Rear Naked Strangle, Sliding Collar Strangle, Triangles, Arm-Bars, Kimura’s, and Ezekiel’s using a single technique. This technique, known as the twister hook, allows you to transition into these submission positions with efficiency. The video details 40+ ways to utilize the twister hook, which proves useful in different martial arts disciplines. Additionally, the video emphasizes how mastering the twister hook technique can make it an effective 'pathway' into submission and a submission system in itself.
Core Concepts, Common Mistakes, and Key Decisions
Control before submission: establish wedges and immobilize the shoulders, hips, or neck line before you hunt the limb or neck. If the opponent can rotate, they can escape. From mount, grapevines, crossface, and head control stabilize the torso before you isolate an arm for armbar bjj or arm triangle bjj.
Breaking mechanics and alignment: understand where the joint or neck is weakest. For arm locks jiu jitsu, glue the end of the lever (wrist) and control the proximal joint (shoulder) while extending the hips. For chokes, remove space and align your forearms or lapels to compress the carotids. Small angle changes often matter more than strength.
Bite and slack removal: winning submissions comes from eliminating slack—pinching knees on armbar, hiding your choking hand on rear naked, or taking the slack out of the lapel on cross choke bjj. Set the bite first, then apply gradual pressure.
Decision tree thinking: every attempt has expected counters. Triangle choke attempts invite posture; plan to underhook the leg or switch to omoplata. Kimura attempts invite the opponent to roll; be ready to follow to seated or top crucifix. A good game maps A leads to B or C, not A or nothing.
Common mistakes: chasing grips without control, finishing with loose legs, ignoring your own base, and rushing the tap. Another big one is hunting rare submissions before mastering the basics. Basics win consistently because they pair control with minimal space for escape.
Submissions Side Control (12 Videos, 4 Courses)
Systematically Attacking The Kimura by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, ADCC champion Gordon Ryan provides a detailed teaching of his systematic approach to attacking the Kimura from various situations. He explains how Kimura can be used as a controlling position as well as a submission, and emphasizes the importance of techniques in real-time motion. The video includes training footage of Gordon executing the Kimura in a genuine rolling situation, followed by a thorough breakdown of what he does and why. The video aims to give viewers an understanding of the complete Kimura system as employed by one of the greatest No-Gi grapplers in the world.
Systematically attacking From Top Pins: Side Control & North South by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, Gordon Ryan provides detailed instruction on how to effectively execute submissions such as Kimuras, triangles, and armbars from Side Control & North South positions. He explains the concept of isolating and submitting limbs and how to stop escape attempts, thereby ensuring constant control. The system he demonstrates is the one he uses in no-gi grappling, with guidance from his coach, John Danaher. He also breaks down live footage to clearly illustrate the application of the techniques in real-time combat scenarios.
Master The Move: The American Lock by John Danaher
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
John Danaher, highly esteemed BJJ coach, delivers a masterclass on the American Lock in this video. Danaher highlights different innovative strategies and positions to implement this submission from top, bottom, or even standing. Emphasizing the finishing mechanics of the position, he discusses using the American Lock as a springboard for other effective submissions, passes, sweeps, takedowns. The video aims to equip viewers with a comprehensive understanding of the American Lock, allowing them to master this essential technique of submission grappling.
Kimura: Enter The System by John Danaher
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
John Danaher, a renowned BJJ instructor, introduces his system for the Kimura submission in this instructional video. He advertises this system as an effective and versatile choice both for Gi and No Gi Jiu Jitsu, and even for self-defense purposes. As the teacher of champions including Garry Tonon, Georges St Pierre, and Chris Weidman, Danaher's methods are praised for their efficiency. The Kimura system is said to enhance one's overall understanding and performance in Jiu Jitsu.
Submissions Mount (12 Videos, 4 Courses)
Mount Attacks by Henry Akins
$279.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video features Henry Akins, a professional register Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with over 25 years of experience on the mat. In the tutorial, he focuses on several attack sequences from the mount position. Fundamental techniques covered include the classic armbar, cross-choke, and americana. Akins gives detailed insights into how these techniques can be blended together to consistently find submissions and keep control over one's opponent. He also highlights the importance of having a complete game plan and demonstrates how to chain your attacks together for a hard to stop submission sequence.
Death By Mounted Triangle by Crystal Nadeau
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video features MMA fighter and Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Crystal Nadeau explaining her "Death By Mounted Triangle" system. Nadeau teaches viewers how to effectively achieve high mount on an opponent and then secure a mounted triangle. She also provides solutions to common defensive maneuvers like the bridge and roll, showing viewers how to stay on the attack and force opponents deeper into the triangle choke. Additionally, Nadeau demonstrates scenarios to transition into mount from different positions and showcases real-life examples of using her system against resisting opponents.
Baseball Bat Choke Series by Ryan Gruhn
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video is an in-depth tutorial on the Baseball Bat Choke presented by Ryan Gruhn, a seasoned BJJ competitor and coach. Gruhn shares his unique system that he has honed over the years to efficiently execute this technique. This tutorial is beneficial for those looking to incorporate a powerful, surprise attack choke into their strategy, whether for regular training or competitive scenarios. The instructor's thorough explanation and demonstration of the technique make it easier for viewers to understand and implement the Baseball Bat Choke effectively.
Mount Attacks Beyond The Basics by Thomas Lisboa
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In the video, Thomas Lisboa teaches how to effectively control and attack from the mount position. He covers counter-strategies for common defensive moves, and guides viewers through continuous attacks that leave opponents with no choice but to tap out. Lisboa also demonstrates how to gracefully transition between choke and armbar submissions, providing a more advanced understanding of the mount position.
Training Habits That Build Reliable Finishes
Drill with constraints: isolate entries and finishes under light resistance, then add specific sparring rounds that start in your target position with the goal of either finishing or escaping.
Track attempts and finishes: a simple notebook tally of attempts vs. finishes reveals which techniques are high percentage for you and which details need work.
Pressure-test safety: apply pressure gradually, communicate, and tap early. Leg locks and neck attacks demand strict control and clear signals. Know your gym’s and competition’s rules on heel hooks or knee bars before live rounds.
Chain-building: always ask, “What does their best defense expose?” For example, guillotine to anaconda, triangle to armbar to omoplata, kimura to back take, straight ankle lock to sweep when they stand.
Submissions Turtle (12 Videos, 4 Courses)
Strangles & Turtle Breakdowns: BJJ Fundamentals - Go Further Faster by John Danaher
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video, created by the renowned BJJ coach, John Danaher, is a deep-dive into the performance of effective gi strangles and turtle breakdown techniques. A 3x3 approach is adopted for gi strangles - sliding collar strangles, cross collar strangles, and Ezekiel strangles. The video also comprehensively covers the strategic breakdown of a turtle position to assume a dominant stance. Importantly, these teachings are aimed at helping practitioners across all skill levels advance their BJJ competency more swiftly.
The Gregorian Lapel Submissions System by Greg Hamilton
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video is an instructional on the Gregorian Lapel Submission System by Greg Hamilton. The technique can be applied in various positions including turtle, top side control, north/south, mount, half and quarter guard, closed guard, and others. The Gregorian Lapel Submission System forces an opponent to turtle from numerous positions and once applied, does not allow for any escape. This system is novel and has brought about a revolution in the BJJ world.
The G-Lock by Gesias Cavalcante
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video teaches how to effectively perform the G-Lock submission, under the expert guidance of Gesias Cavalcante. The instructor demonstrates how this can be performed from a variety of positions including standing, off arm drags, and from the turtle position. Emphasizing on control and leverage, Cavalcante provides useful tips for executing this submission safely and easily. The video also includes advice on complementing the G-Lock with other submissions such as the triangle and various shoulder locks.
Bulldog Choke Mastery by Bjorn Friedrich
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, BJJ Black Belt, Bjorn Friedrich, teaches how to effectively apply the Bulldog Choke from the Turtle position. He shows various strategies to combine this submission with other techniques, both from top, turtle, and back positions, to create a complete system of attacking. Friedrich explains transitional formulas and submission blueprints to make it easier to integrate this technique into your existing game. He also includes some troubleshooting procedures and discusses other possible submissions from these positions.
Study Submissions on BJJ University
BJJ University is a free, curated learning hub that organizes videos, clips, breakdowns, and instructional resources by instructor, technique, position, category, and training topic. Use the navigation menu to browse submissions by position—closed guard, half guard, mount, side control, back, and leg entanglements—or jump to specific techniques like guillotine, triangle, kimura, armbar, and straight ankle lock.
Each category page stacks concise lessons and situational examples so you can compare coaching styles, understand key details, and build decision trees. Save time searching random feeds—start with structured playlists, then revisit clips as your mechanics improve.
Bookmark the site and share it with teammates who want more free BJJ learning resources. As you watch, add a couple of new details into drilling each week, then test them in specific sparring so your finishing rate steadily climbs. Browse this page on BJJ University.
FAQs
What are the most common BJJ submissions for beginners?
Rear naked choke, cross-collar choke or short choke, armbar from guard and mount, triangle from guard, kimura from side control or guard, and the straight ankle lock. These teach core mechanics and appear often in live training.
How do I pick the best submissions in BJJ for my game?
Start with high-control positions you reach often. If you take the back, focus on rear naked choke and short choke chains. If you play closed guard, study armbar, triangle, and omoplata. Track attempts versus finishes and double down on what works.
Are leg locks safe and legal for beginners?
Safety comes from controlled application, clear tapping, and coaching oversight. Leg lock legality varies by ruleset and belt level. Learn straight ankle lock first, then add knee bar or heel hook only if allowed in your gym and events.
Gi versus no-gi submissions—what changes?
Grips and friction. In the gi, lapel chokes and slower pacing help control. In no-gi, head-and-arm control, guillotines, rear naked chokes, and leg entanglements gain value. The core mechanics stay the same—control first, then finish.
How can I make my finishes more consistent?
Tighten control, remove slack before applying force, understand the key escape routes, and train counters to those escapes. Drill entries, then finish details, then resistance rounds that start from your target positions.