BJJ Transitions: Complete Technique Guide
Transitions are the movements that connect positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Mastering transitions is essential for both advancing your position and preventing your opponent from advancing theirs. This comprehensive guide organizes all 68+ BJJ transitions by their strategic purpose and tactical application.
Quick Navigation
- Sweeps - Bottom to top reversals
- Guard Passes - Passing opponent’s legs
- Takedowns & Throws - Standing to ground
- Escapes - Defensive movements
- Back Takes - Achieving back control
- Position Advancements - Improving position
- Guard Entries & Pulls - Establishing guard
Understanding Transitions
Every transition in BJJ has:
- Starting State: Where you begin
- Ending State: Where you finish
- Success Probability: Varies by skill level (Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced)
- Execution Complexity: Technical difficulty
- Energy Cost: Physical demand
- Risk Level: Chance of backfire
Successful transitions require:
- Setup: Creating the right conditions
- Timing: Executing at the optimal moment
- Technique: Proper mechanics and leverage
- Follow-through: Securing the new position
Sweeps
Sweeps reverse bottom positions to top control, often scoring 2 points in competition.
Closed Guard Sweeps
Hip Bump Sweep - Fundamental closed guard sweep
- From: Closed Guard Bottom → To: Mount
- Success: Beginner 50%, Intermediate 70%, Advanced 85%
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Sit-up motion + hip bump + shoulder push
Scissor Sweep - Classic closed guard sweep
- From: Closed Guard Bottom → To: Mount or Side Control
- Success: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Leg scissors + push-pull mechanics
Pendulum Sweep - Dynamic closed guard sweep
- From: Closed Guard Bottom → To: Mount
- Success: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 40%, Advanced 60%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Momentum + leg swing
Flower Sweep - Technical closed guard sweep
- From: Closed Guard Bottom → To: Mount
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Ankle control + hip movement
Balloon Sweep - Explosive closed guard sweep
- From: Closed Guard Bottom → To: Mount
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Both legs under opponent + lift
Waiter Sweep - Arm control sweep
- From: Closed Guard Bottom → To: Mount
- Complexity: Low-Medium
- Key Principle: Wrist control + angle creation
Open Guard Sweeps
Butterfly Sweep - Hook-based sweep
- From: Butterfly Guard → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Butterfly hooks + lift
Basic Butterfly Sweep - Fundamental butterfly
- From: Butterfly Guard → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Low
- Best For: Beginners learning butterfly guard
De La Riva Sweep - DLR guard sweep
- From: De La Riva Guard → To: Top Position
- Success: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Hook + grip control
Tripod Sweep - Spider guard sweep
- From: Open Guard → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Foot on bicep + base removal
Tomahawk Sweep - X-guard sweep
- From: X-Guard → To: Top Position
- Success: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Leg control + rotation
Half Guard Sweeps
Old School Sweep - Classic half guard sweep
- From: Half Guard Bottom → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Leg capture + roll
Lumberjack Sweep - Half guard to mount
- From: Half Guard Bottom → To: Mount
- Success: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Underhook + leg control
John Wayne Sweep - Lockdown sweep
- From: Lockdown → To: Top Position
- Success: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Lockdown control + hip switch
Specialized Sweeps
100% Sweep - De La Riva variation
- Success: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 40%, Advanced 60%
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Deep DLR hook + inversion
Muscle Sweep - Power-based sweep
- From: Closed Guard Bottom → To: Mount
- Success: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Strong grips + lifting power
Omoplata Sweep - Submission to sweep
- Success: Beginner 15%, Intermediate 30%, Advanced 50%
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Omoplata control + roll
Foot Grab Sweep - Ankle control sweep
- Success: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 65%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Foot control + off-balancing
Heel Grab Sweep - Heel control sweep
- Success: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Heel grip + momentum
Guard Passes
Guard passes advance from guard to side control or mount, scoring 3 points in competition.
Pressure Passes
Smash Pass - Pressure-based pass
- From: Half Guard → To: Side Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Crossface + shoulder pressure
Stack Pass - Stacking pressure pass
- From: Closed/Open Guard → To: Side Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Stack opponent + pressure
Knee Cut Pass - Knee slice pass
- From: Open Guard → To: Side Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Knee cut through legs
Speed Passes
Toreando Pass - Bullfighter pass
- From: Open Guard → To: Side Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Control pants + circular motion
Leg Drag Pass - Leg control pass
- From: Open Guard → To: Back exposure
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Leg drag + back step
Leg Weave Pass - Leg weaving
- From: Open Guard → To: Side Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Weave legs around guard
Specialized Passes
Body Lock Pass - Body control pass
- From: Open Guard → To: Side Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Body lock + pressure
Leg Drag Setup - Setting up leg drag
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Grip control + positioning
Takedowns & Throws
Takedowns bring the fight from standing to the ground, often scoring 2 points.
Wrestling-Based Takedowns
Double Leg Takedown - Classic double leg
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Low-Medium
- Key Principle: Level change + penetration step
Double Leg Entry - Double leg setup
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Setup + timing
Single Leg Takedown - Single leg
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Leg capture + finish
High Crotch - High single variation
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Success: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 75%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Head control + leg lift
Ankle Pick - Ankle attack
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Hand on ankle + off-balance
Knee Tap - Knee attack
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Knee control + push
Snap Down - Pressure takedown
- From: Standing → To: Front Headlock
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Head control + snap
Judo Throws
Osoto Gari - Major outer reap
- From: Standing → To: Side Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Leg reap + back rotation
Ouchi Gari - Major inner reap
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Success: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Inside leg reap
Seoi Nage - Shoulder throw
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Success: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 65%
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Hip rotation + shoulder lift
Fireman’s Carry - Shoulder lift throw
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Success: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Shoulder carry + dump
Sacrifice Throws
Tomoe Nage - Circle throw
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Success: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 60%
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Sacrifice + foot in belly
Sumi Gaeshi - Corner throw
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Sacrifice + leg hook
Tani Otoshi - Valley drop
- From: Standing → To: Top Position
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Block legs + back rotation
Escapes
Escapes return you from bad positions to better ones.
Mount Escapes
Bridge and Roll - Upa escape
- From: Mount → To: Guard Recovery or Top Position
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Bridge + trap arm + roll
Hip Escape - Elbow-knee escape
- From: Mount/Side Control → To: Half Guard/Guard
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Frame + hip escape
Movement Escapes
Sprawl - Takedown defense
- From: Takedown attempt → To: Standing/Front Headlock
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Hips back + weight down
Forward Roll - Rolling escape
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Tuck + roll
Granby Roll - Inverted escape
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Inverted roll + momentum
Technical Stand-up - Getting to feet
- From: Ground → To: Standing
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Base hand + technical stand
Back Takes
Achieving back control is the highest-scoring advancement (4 points).
Turtle to Back Control - From turtle
- From: Turtle → To: Back Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Hook insertion + harness
Back Step - From leg drag
- From: Leg Drag → To: Back Control
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Leg drag + back exposure
Arm Drag - Upper body back take
- From: Standing → To: Back Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Arm control + circle
Collar Drag - Collar control back take
- From: Standing → To: Back Control/Top Position
- Complexity: Low-Medium
- Key Principle: Collar grip + pull
Position Advancements
Moving from good to better positions.
Side Control to Mount - Classic advancement
- From: Side Control → To: Mount
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Knee slide + control
Transition to Mount - Generic mount entry
- To: Mount
- Complexity: Varies
- Key Principle: Leg positioning + control
Mount to Armbar - Mount to submission
- From: Mount → To: Armbar Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Arm isolation + leg swing
Back Control to Crucifix - Back to crucifix
- From: Back Control → To: Crucifix
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Arm trapping
North-South to Kimura - Submission transition
- From: North-South → To: Kimura Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Arm isolation
Transition to Omoplata - Shoulder lock entry
- To: Omoplata Control
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Leg over shoulder
Transition to Truck - Truck position entry
- To: Truck Position
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Leg capture + back exposure
Truck Entry - Entering truck
- To: Truck Position
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Leg control + rotation
Guard Entries & Pulls
Establishing guard from standing.
Pull Guard - Generic guard pull
- From: Standing → To: Guard
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Sit + control
Guard Pull - Specific guard pull
- From: Standing → To: Closed Guard
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Grip + sit
Standing to Single Leg X - SLX entry
- From: Standing → To: Single Leg X
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Leg capture + sit
Single Leg X Entry - SLX setup
- To: Single Leg X Guard
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Leg control + hook
Butterfly Guard to X-Guard - Guard transition
- From: Butterfly → To: X-Guard
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Hook adjustment + elevation
Open Guard to Deep Half - Deep half entry
- From: Open Guard → To: Deep Half
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Dive under + hook
Closed Guard to Triangle - Triangle setup
- From: Closed Guard → To: Triangle Control
- Complexity: Medium
- Key Principle: Arm isolation + leg triangle
Switch to Triangle - Transitional triangle
- To: Triangle Control
- Complexity: High
- Key Principle: Position switch + triangle
Defense Techniques
Defensive movements and counters.
Stack Defense - Defending stacks
- Complexity: Low
- Key Principle: Frame + hip escape
Kiss of the Dragon - Inversion defense/attack
- Complexity: Very High
- Key Principle: Inversion + back take
Learning Path by Skill Level
Beginners Should Master:
- Hip Bump Sweep - First sweep to learn
- Scissor Sweep - Fundamental closed guard
- Bridge and Roll - Essential escape
- Hip Escape - Defensive foundation
- Technical Stand-up - Getting to feet
- Double Leg Takedown - Basic takedown
Intermediate Practitioners:
- Butterfly Sweep - Open guard fundamental
- De La Riva Sweep - Advanced guard
- Knee Cut Pass - Essential pass
- Osoto Gari - Judo fundamental
- Old School Sweep - Half guard staple
- Arm Drag - Back take essential
Advanced Techniques:
- Tomahawk Sweep - X-guard mastery
- 100% Sweep - Complex DLR
- Kiss of the Dragon - Inversion technique
- Leg Drag Pass - High-level passing
- Seoi Nage - Advanced throwing
- Omoplata Sweep - Technical excellence
Transition Families
The Sweep Family
Hip Bump, Scissor, Pendulum, Flower, Butterfly, DLR, Old School, Tomahawk
The Pass Family
Toreando, Leg Drag, Knee Cut, Smash, Stack, Body Lock
The Takedown Family
Double Leg, Single Leg, High Crotch, Ankle Pick, Judo Throws
The Escape Family
Bridge and Roll, Hip Escape, Technical Stand-up, Granby Roll
Success Factors
Every transition succeeds based on:
- Setup Quality - Creating the right conditions
- Timing Precision - Executing at the right moment
- Technical Execution - Proper mechanics
- Opponent State - Their fatigue, knowledge, positioning
- Follow-through - Securing the new position
Competition Strategy
Point Scoring Transitions
- Takedowns: 2 points
- Sweeps: 2 points
- Guard Passes: 3 points
- Back Takes: 4 points
- Mount: 4 points
High-Percentage Competition Transitions
- Hip Bump Sweep (85% advanced)
- Lumberjack Sweep (75% advanced)
- High Crotch (75% advanced)
- Muscle Sweep (70% advanced)
Using This Resource
Each transition page includes:
- Execution Steps: Numbered sequence of movements
- Success Rates: Probability by skill level
- Common Counters: How opponents defend
- Expert Insights: Commentary from Danaher, Gordon Ryan, Eddie Bravo
- Common Errors: Mistakes to avoid
- Training Progressions: How to practice
Explore each transition to understand:
- When to attempt it
- How to set it up
- Proper execution mechanics
- What to do if countered
- How to chain with other techniques
Related Resources
- BJJ Positions - All positions and their hierarchy
- Submissions - Finishing techniques
- Systems - Expert-based systematic approaches
- BJJ State Machine - Complete positional graph
This hub page organizes 68+ BJJ transitions into a coherent strategic framework. Click any transition name to access detailed guides with execution steps, success rates, and expert insights.