BJJ Position Map & Beginner Reference
Mat Manual companion guide to "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: An Instructor's Overview." Print it. Keep it in your gym bag.
Key Facts
| Art | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
|---|---|
| Family | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Level | all-levels |
| Format | reference |
| Topics | groundwork, submissions, rules, safety |
PreviewThe opening of the guide
Mat Manual companion guide to "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: An Instructor's Overview." Print it. Keep it in your gym bag.
The Positional Hierarchy
Read it from both chairs: the top row is where you want to be, the bottom row is what you escape first. Position before submission. Climb first, attack second.
The Positional Hierarchy
| Rank | Position | If you're winning it | If you're losing it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back control (both hooks in) | Attack the neck and arms, the fight is yours to finish | Protect your neck, clear a hook, turn into them |
| 2 | Mount | Settle your weight, isolate an arm, attack | Frame, bridge, elbow-knee escape, get out now |
| 3 | Knee on belly | Drive pressure, threaten mount and armbars | Frame the knee and hip, shrimp away, recover guard |
| 4 | Side control | Pin chest to chest, hunt the far arm | Frames in, bridge, shrimp to guard or to your knees |
| 5 | Top of half guard | Flatten them, free the trapped leg, pass | Keep the leg trapped, get the underhook, come up or recover guard |
| 6 | Guard (closed/open) | Bottom player attacks: break posture, sweep, submit | Top player: posture up, open the guard, pass. Do not reach back |
| 7 | Under side control | (you are losing this one) | Don't panic: frames first, then create space with the bridge-and-shrimp |
| 8 | Mounted / back taken | (the floor of the hierarchy) | Mounted: trap-and-roll or elbow-knee. Back taken: hand-fight the choking arm, clear a hook, turn in |
The Companion Guide
BJJ Position Map & Beginner Reference
Mat Manual companion guide to "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: An Instructor's Overview." Print it. Keep it in your gym bag.
What's Inside
- The Positional Hierarchy
- The Seven Core Positions
- Holding the Position: Controls and First Jobs
- Scoring: IBJJF Points and Match Lengths
- Per-Position Annex: Attacks, Escapes, and the Counter to Watch For
- Guard Catalog
- …and 5 more sections
The full guide is a paid Mat Manual product. Checkout is not connected yet — no payment is taken on this page.
Free companion article: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: An Instructor's Overview — the full article, free in full.
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