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BJJ Positions - Complete Guide | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 20259 min read

BJJ Positions: Complete Positional Hierarchy Guide

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is fundamentally a game of positions. Understanding the positional hierarchy, point values, and strategic relationships between positions is essential for both competition and self-defense applications.

This comprehensive guide organizes all 90+ BJJ positions by their tactical characteristics, helping you understand where each position fits in the broader strategic landscape.

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Understanding the Positional Hierarchy

In BJJ competition, positions are scored based on their dominance and control:

  • 4 Points: Mount, Back Control - highest dominance
  • 3 Points: Side Control, Knee on Belly - strong control
  • 2 Points: Guard passing completion - positional advancement
  • 0 Points: Guard positions, standing - neutral or defensive positions

Beyond points, positions vary in:

  • Control Level: How much you control your opponent
  • Submission Threat: How many submission options are available
  • Energy Cost: How much energy is required to maintain
  • Risk Level: Vulnerability to reversals or escapes

Dominant Positions

4-Point Positions (Maximum Dominance)

Mount - The premier top position

  • Point Value: 4
  • Position Type: Offensive/Controlling
  • Key Advantages: Weight distribution, submission options, positional stability
  • Common Submissions: Cross collar choke, americana, armbar, triangle
  • Success Rate: 75% retention

Back Control - Ultimate control position

  • Point Value: 4
  • Position Type: Offensive/Controlling
  • Key Advantages: Opponent cannot see you, limited defensive options
  • Common Submissions: Rear naked choke, bow and arrow, armbar
  • Success Rate: Very high submission rate

Variations:

3-Point Positions (Strong Control)

Side Control - Fundamental pinning position

  • Point Value: 3
  • Position Type: Offensive/Controlling
  • Key Advantages: Multiple advancement options, pressure control
  • Common Submissions: Paper cutter choke, americana, kimura
  • Success Rate: 85% retention

Knee on Belly - Dynamic control position

  • Point Value: 3
  • Position Type: Offensive/Controlling
  • Key Advantages: Mobility, quick submissions, transitions
  • Common Submissions: Baseball choke, armbar
  • High risk but high reward

Variations:

Controlling Positions

Top Control Positions

Half Guard Top Positions:

Passing Positions:

Transitional Control:

Guard Positions

Closed Guard System

Closed Guard Bottom - Foundational guard position

  • Point Value: 0 (Neutral)
  • Position Type: Defensive with offensive options
  • Key Advantages: Control, sweep options, submission threats
  • Success Rates: Beginner 60%, Intermediate 70%, Advanced 80%

Variations:

Open Guard System

Open Guard Bottom - Dynamic guard play

  • Position Type: Defensive/Offensive
  • Key Advantages: Mobility, variety of attacks
  • Common Sweeps: Butterfly, scissor, hook sweeps

Major Open Guards:

Half Guard System

Half Guard Bottom - One leg trapped

  • Position Type: Defensive/Offensive
  • Key Advantages: Control, sweeps, back takes
  • Common Sweeps: Old school, electric chair

Variations:

Inverted & Dynamic Guards

Leg Entanglement System

Ashi Garami - Standard leg entanglement

  • Position Type: Controlling/Offensive
  • Key Advantages: Heel exposure, back takes
  • Common Submissions: Straight ankle lock, heel hook

Inside Sankaku - Inside position control

  • Position Type: Offensive/Dominant
  • Key Advantages: Heel hook, back takes
  • Submission threat: Very high

Other Leg Positions:

Submission Control Positions

These positions represent transitional states where a submission is being secured:

Arm Attacks:

Choke Positions:

Leg Attacks:

Specialty Submissions:

Transitional Positions

Defensive Transitions:

Standing Transitions:

Scramble Positions:

Standing Positions

Neutral:

Clinch Work:

Guard Interaction:

Terminal Position

Won by Submission - Victory state

  • The ultimate goal of positional advancement
  • Represents successful completion of a submission
  • Ends the match in victory

Strategic Position Families

Pin Positions (Top Control)

Mount, Side Control, Knee on Belly, North-South, Kesa Gatame

Guard Family (Bottom Control)

Closed Guard, Open Guard variations, Half Guard variations, Leg Entanglements

Back Attack System

Back Control, Turtle Top, Crab Ride, Truck Position

Submission Positions

Triangle, Armbar, Guillotine, Leg attacks

Learning Path by Skill Level

Beginners Should Master:

  1. Closed Guard Bottom - Foundation
  2. Mount - Basic dominance
  3. Side Control - Fundamental pin
  4. Back Control - Ultimate control
  5. Half Guard Bottom - Common position

Intermediate Practitioners:

  1. Open Guard Bottom - Dynamic guard
  2. Butterfly Guard - Active guard
  3. De La Riva Guard - Advanced guard
  4. X-Guard - Sweeping guard
  5. Knee on Belly - Dynamic control

Advanced Techniques:

  1. Leg Entanglement System - Modern game
  2. Rubber Guard - Eddie Bravo system
  3. Inverted Guard - Complex movement
  4. Truck Position - Advanced back attacks
  5. 50-50 Guard - Complex leg game

Position Relationships & Flow

Understanding how positions connect is crucial:

Typical Advancement Path: Standing → Guard → Side Control → Mount → Back Control → Submission

Guard Player’s Path: Standing → Guard Pull → Guard → Sweep → Top Position → Submission

Leg Lock Path: Standing → Guard → Leg Entanglement → Submission

Competition Strategy

Point Optimization

  • Focus on positions that score points (mount, back, guard passes)
  • Maintain dominant positions to maximize points
  • Advance through positions systematically

Submission Hunting

  • Use positions as submission platforms
  • Chain submissions from strong positions
  • Risk vs reward in submission attempts

Defensive Priority

  • Prevent opponent from scoring positions
  • Escape dominant positions quickly
  • Guard retention is crucial

Using This Resource

Each position page includes:

  • State Properties: Point value, type, risk level, energy cost
  • Success Metrics: Position retention rates by skill level
  • Transitions: Available moves from the position
  • Expert Insights: Commentary from Danaher, Gordon Ryan, Eddie Bravo
  • Common Errors: Mistakes to avoid
  • Decision Trees: Situational responses

Explore each position to understand:

  1. When to use it
  2. How to maintain it
  3. What attacks are available
  4. How to escape if opponent has it
  5. How it fits in your overall game

This hub page organizes 90+ BJJ positions into a coherent strategic framework. Click any position name to access detailed guides with success rates, transitions, and expert insights.

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