Submission Chains

Submission Chains is a high complexity BJJ principle applicable at the Intermediate level. Develop over Intermediate to Expert.

Principle ID: Application Level: Intermediate Complexity: High Development Timeline: Intermediate to Expert

What is Submission Chains?

Submission Chains represent the systematic linking of multiple submission attempts into cohesive offensive sequences where each defensive response opens a new attacking opportunity. Rather than viewing submissions as isolated techniques, chain thinking creates a web of interconnected attacks where the opponent’s escape from one submission feeds directly into the setup for another. This conceptual framework transforms submission attempts from binary win-lose scenarios into continuous offensive pressure systems that compound defensive errors and create submission inevitability.

The fundamental principle underlying submission chains is that defensive actions are predictable and can be systematically exploited. When an opponent defends an armbar by pulling their arm out, they create specific mechanical opportunities for triangle attacks. When they posture up to escape a triangle, they expose their arms for kimura grips. This action-reaction relationship forms the basis of all effective chain systems, where the attacker maintains initiative by staying one step ahead of defensive responses.

At the highest levels of competition, submission chains represent the difference between occasional submission success and systematic finishing ability. Elite grapplers like Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon don’t hunt for single submissions—they create submission ecosystems where every defensive option leads to another attack. Understanding and developing chain-based offensive systems is essential for advancing beyond intermediate-level grappling and achieving consistent submission success against skilled opponents.

Core Components

• Every defensive action creates specific offensive opportunities that can be systematically exploited
• Submission attempts should be viewed as positional improvements even when they don’t finish, as they force reactions that open new attacks
• Chain effectiveness increases exponentially with the number of linked submissions in your system
• The attacker must maintain superior position and control throughout the chain to prevent counter-attacks
• Timing transitions between submissions is more critical than the strength of any individual attack
• Defensive patterns are predictable and can be studied to build opponent-specific chain systems
• Energy efficiency in chains comes from using opponent’s defensive movements to facilitate transitions rather than fighting against them
• The threat of submissions creates positional opportunities, and positional improvements create submission opportunities in a continuous cycle

Component Skills

Recognition of Defensive Patterns: The ability to identify and categorize opponent defensive responses in real-time. This includes recognizing when an opponent is pulling their arm out versus stacking, posturing versus turning, or using specific grip patterns that indicate their defensive strategy. Pattern recognition allows the attacker to anticipate the next move in the chain before the defender fully commits to their escape.

Positional Retention During Transitions: Maintaining dominant position and control while moving between submission attempts. This skill involves keeping key control points (hooks, grips, weight distribution) even as you release one submission to attack another. Losing position during transitions negates the entire chain concept by allowing the opponent to escape or counter-attack.

Grip Management and Reconfiguration: The technical ability to release, adjust, and reestablish grips smoothly during chain transitions without telegraphing your next attack or losing control. This includes understanding which grips can be maintained across multiple submissions and which must be abandoned and re-acquired. Elite chain attackers can transition grips so smoothly that opponents feel constant pressure without clear breaks.

Tempo Control and Pace Variation: Controlling the speed and rhythm of chain attacks to prevent defensive anticipation while managing your own energy expenditure. This includes knowing when to explode through a transition versus when to maintain steady pressure, and how to use pauses strategically to bait defensive movements that open new attacks.

Multiple Submission Mechanics Mastery: Deep technical proficiency in at least 4-6 submissions that can be linked together based on their mechanical relationships. This goes beyond knowing how to finish each submission in isolation—it requires understanding the transitional mechanics that connect them and being able to execute each one from compromised positions during active chain sequences.

Contingency Planning and Adaptive Sequencing: The strategic ability to adjust chain sequences based on opponent responses, including having backup options when primary chains are defended and being able to restart chains from different entry points. This skill separates rigid chain followers from creative chain builders who can improvise new connections in real-time.

Distance and Angle Management: Controlling the spatial relationship with your opponent throughout the chain to optimize each submission setup while preventing escapes. This includes understanding how to close distance for chokes, create space for joint locks, and adjust angles to maximize mechanical advantage at each transition point in the sequence.

Psychological Pressure Application: Using the relentless nature of chains to create mental fatigue and panic in opponents, forcing rushed defensive decisions that create larger offensive opportunities. This skill involves maintaining composure and systematic pressure even when individual submissions fail, demonstrating to the opponent that escaping one attack only leads to another.

Related Principles

• Position-Over-Submission Approach (Complementary): Submission chains integrate with position-first philosophy by using submission attempts as position improvement tools—failed submissions often result in better control points
• Action and Reaction (Prerequisite): Understanding action-reaction principles is fundamental to chain building, as chains exploit the predictable defensive reactions that submissions create
• Offensive Combinations (Extension): Submission chains represent the most advanced form of offensive combinations, extending combination principles from strikes and sweeps into the submission domain
• Control Point Hierarchy (Prerequisite): Maintaining control points during chain transitions requires deep understanding of which control elements can be sacrificed and which must be preserved
• Timing and Rhythm (Complementary): Effective chains require sophisticated timing to transition between attacks at the precise moment when defensive movements create new opportunities
• Energy Management System (Complementary): Chains must be executed with energy efficiency in mind, using opponent’s defensive energy against them rather than fighting through each transition with strength
• Dilemma Creation (Advanced form): Submission chains are the ultimate expression of dilemma creation, where every defensive option leads to another offensive threat
• Position Chains (Complementary): Submission chains and position chains work together—positional advancement creates submission opportunities, and submission threats create positional advancement
• Transition Sequences (Extension): Submission chains are specialized transition sequences focused specifically on linking finishing attempts rather than positional movements
• System Building (Advanced form): Developing comprehensive chain systems represents systematic approach to building interconnected offensive frameworks

Application Contexts

Mount: Classic mount submission chains include armbar-to-triangle-to-armbar sequences where arm extraction leads to triangle setups, and triangle defense via posturing opens opposite-side armbars. The mounted attacker maintains head and hip control throughout transitions.

Back Control: Back attack chains typically center on rear naked choke-to-armbar-to-triangle sequences, with each hand-fighting defensive response opening new submission angles. Maintaining hooks and seat belt control throughout the chain is essential.

Closed Guard: Guard chains often flow through triangle-kimura-omoplata-armbar sequences, using opponent’s posture changes and arm positioning to determine the next attack. Hip movement and angle creation drive the transitions between submissions.

Triangle Control: From triangle position, chains typically include armbar when opponent pulls arm out, omoplata when they turn into the choke, and kimura when they attempt to posture and push. The triangle position itself serves as a control platform for multiple finishing options.

Armbar Control: Armbar chains include triangle when opponent pulls arm free, omoplata when they roll, and kimura when they attempt to stack. Maintaining leg control on the shoulder and head is critical for all transitions.

Kimura Control: Kimura chains from top positions flow to guillotine when opponent turtles, to armbar when they try to roll out, and to back take when they turn away. The kimura grip serves as both submission and steering wheel for position advancement.

North-South: North-South chains typically involve kimura-to-armbar-to-north-south choke sequences, with opponent’s defensive turns and arm movements dictating the transition path. Weight distribution and shoulder pressure maintain control between attacks.

Side Control: Side control chains include kimura-to-armbar-to-triangle-to-crucifix sequences as opponent attempts various escapes. Maintaining chest-to-chest pressure and controlling the far arm creates the control base for chain attacks.

Crucifix: Crucifix chains flow between rear naked choke and various armbar variations as opponent defends their neck or arms. The crucifix’s inherent control allows for methodical chain progression with minimal position risk.

Omoplata Control: Omoplata chains include triangle when opponent rolls out, sweep to mount when they post, and wristlock or armbar when they attempt to pull their arm free. Hip control and weight distribution enable smooth transitions.

S Mount: S-mount provides an ideal platform for armbar-triangle-armbar chains with exceptional control. The high position and leg configuration allow for rapid transitions between submissions with minimal position loss risk.

Turtle: Defensive chains from turtle include transitioning between guillotine defense, darce defense, and back exposure based on opponent’s attack choices. Understanding the relationship between these attacks allows systematic defensive sequencing.

Half Guard: Half guard bottom chains link kimura-to-triangle-to-armbar sequences when opponent’s passing attempts expose arms. From top half guard, chain pressure passing with guillotine-darce-anaconda threats based on opponent’s head position.

Ashi Garami: Leg entanglement chains flow between heel hooks, kneebars, and toe holds based on opponent’s defensive leg positioning and hip rotation. Maintaining ashi control while transitioning between leg attacks creates continuous submission threats.

Front Headlock: Front headlock chains include guillotine-darce-anaconda sequences determined by opponent’s defensive hand positioning and shoulder direction. The front headlock position serves as a hub for multiple choke variations.

Decision Framework

1. Assess current position and available primary submission entries: Identify your strongest 2-3 submissions from current position based on opponent’s current posture, grip configuration, and defensive awareness level
2. Initiate primary submission with position retention focus: Execute first submission attempt while maintaining critical control points that will be needed for secondary attacks—do not overcommit to the finish if it requires sacrificing position
3. Monitor opponent’s defensive response pattern: Identify which defensive category opponent employs: arm extraction, posture recovery, rotation/rolling, or stacking—this determines your next attack in the chain
4. Execute chain transition at peak of defensive movement: Release primary submission and transition to secondary attack at the moment of maximum defensive commitment when opponent has the least ability to counter your transition
5. Reassess position integrity during transition: Verify that you maintained dominant position during the transition—if position was compromised, prioritize position recovery over continuing the chain
6. Evaluate submission viability of secondary attack: Determine if secondary submission has high-percentage finish potential or if it should be used to force another defensive reaction that opens a tertiary attack
7. Continue chain or consolidate position: If opponent shows signs of panic or exhaustion, push for immediate finish—if they remain composed and defensive, use current submission to improve position before continuing chain
8. Reset or recycle chain sequence: When chain reaches its natural end or position becomes compromised, either reset to primary submissions or transition to a different chain family based on new positional context

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Abandoning position to chase individual submission finishes
  • Consequence: Losing dominant position during chain transitions, allowing opponent to escape or reverse position, negating all chain advantages
  • Correction: Maintain position-first mindset even during aggressive chain attacks—release submissions early when finishing requires sacrificing critical control points
• Mistake: Telegraphing next submission in sequence
  • Consequence: Opponent anticipates chain progression and defends future attacks preemptively, breaking the chain before it develops momentum
  • Correction: Disguise transitions by maintaining consistent pressure and body positioning—make each submission attempt appear committed even when planning the next transition
• Mistake: Using insufficient variation in chain sequences
  • Consequence: Opponents learn your patterns and can defend entire chain systems once they identify your preferred sequences
  • Correction: Develop multiple chain variations from each position and randomize your attack patterns to prevent opponent pattern recognition
• Mistake: Forcing chains when position doesn’t support them
  • Consequence: Attempting to execute memorized chain sequences in inappropriate positional contexts results in technical failures and wasted energy
  • Correction: Assess positional prerequisites before initiating chains—focus on position improvement when current control isn’t sufficient to support chain attacks
• Mistake: Transitioning too quickly without establishing proper control
  • Consequence: Rushing through chain transitions without securing necessary grips and control points allows opponent to escape during the transition window
  • Correction: Ensure each submission in the chain reaches a minimum control threshold before transitioning—speed comes from efficiency, not from skipping control steps
• Mistake: Neglecting opponent’s specific defensive tendencies
  • Consequence: Executing generic chains that don’t match opponent’s actual defensive patterns results in attacking non-existent opportunities
  • Correction: Study opponent defensive patterns in early exchanges and adapt your chain selections to exploit their specific defensive habits rather than using one-size-fits-all sequences
• Mistake: Overcommitting energy to low-percentage chain continuations
  • Consequence: Exhausting yourself by forcing chains past the point of diminishing returns, leaving no energy for finishing when genuine opportunities arise
  • Correction: Recognize when chains naturally end and be willing to reset to strong positions rather than forcing increasingly desperate transitions

Training Methods

Isolated Chain Drilling (Focus: Building muscle memory for basic chain sequences and establishing baseline technical proficiency in transitional mechanics) Practice specific 3-4 submission chains with cooperative partner who performs standardized defensive responses. Repeat each chain 20-30 times per session until transitions become automatic. Focus on smooth mechanical execution before adding resistance.

Positional Chain Sparring (Focus: Developing ability to recognize and exploit defensive opportunities in real-time while maintaining positional control) Start from specific positions (mount, back, guard) with goal of attempting minimum 3 submissions before returning to neutral or allowing escape. Partner provides progressive resistance, defending submissions but not actively trying to escape position. Track submission attempts per round to measure chain depth.

Submission-Only Rounds with Chain Requirements (Focus: Integrating chain mentality into competitive scenarios and overcoming the instinct to abandon chains for single-submission attempts) Engage in submission-only sparring with rule modification requiring minimum 2 submissions to be attempted in sequence before any submission can earn a ‘win’. This forces chain thinking even in competitive contexts and prevents single-submission hunting.

Defensive Pattern Study and Chain Mapping (Focus: Developing strategic chain selection based on opponent scouting and pattern recognition rather than generic chain application) Film training sessions and analyze opponent defensive patterns, then create custom chain diagrams mapping their specific defensive tendencies to optimal attack sequences. Build opponent-specific chain playbooks before competitions.

Energy-Efficient Chain Flow Drilling (Focus: Building energy efficiency in chain execution and learning to use opponent’s defensive energy to fuel your offensive transitions) Practice chains at 40-50% speed and power, focusing on using opponent’s defensive movements to generate momentum for transitions rather than muscling through each move. Partner provides moderate resistance. Goal is to complete 10-minute flow sessions without exhaustion.

Chain Completion Challenges (Focus: Measuring chain proficiency quantitatively and creating specific skill development goals with objective success metrics) Set specific chain completion goals (e.g., ‘Complete triangle-armbar-omoplata chain 5 times in one round’) and track success rates. Gradually increase difficulty by adding resistance or extending required chain length. Gamification increases motivation for chain practice.

Mastery Indicators

Beginner Level:

• Can recognize basic defensive patterns (arm pull, posture, roll) after they occur but struggles with real-time anticipation
• Successfully executes 2-submission chains in drilling contexts with cooperative partners but chains break down under moderate resistance
• Frequently abandons chain attempts to reset position when first submission fails, reverting to single-attack mentality under pressure
• Understands intellectually which submissions connect but lacks smooth mechanical transitions between them

Intermediate Level:

• Anticipates common defensive patterns before they fully develop and begins transitions proactively rather than reactively
• Regularly completes 3-4 submission chains in live sparring against similarly skilled opponents
• Maintains dominant position throughout most chain transitions, demonstrating improved control point management
• Has developed 2-3 go-to chain sequences from each major position and can execute them reflexively

Advanced Level:

• Creates custom chain variations in real-time based on opponent-specific defensive patterns observed during match
• Successfully executes 5+ submission chains with smooth transitions that opponents struggle to identify and defend
• Uses failed submission attempts as intentional position improvements rather than true submission attempts, demonstrating advanced strategic thinking
• Demonstrates opponent-specific chain selection, adjusting sequences based on pre-match scouting or in-match pattern recognition
• Can restart chains from multiple entry points when primary sequences are defended, showing deep chain system understanding

Expert Level:

• Creates entirely new chain connections spontaneously during matches by recognizing novel transitional opportunities
• Submission attempts create such relentless psychological pressure that opponents make defensive errors even when individual attacks aren’t perfectly executed
• Successfully executes chains across position changes (e.g., guard chains transitioning to mount chains), demonstrating mastery of position and submission integration
• Teaches and articulates sophisticated chain concepts to others, including creating opponent-specific chain gameplans for teammates

Related Content

• Triangle from Guard (Submission) - Central submission in most guard chain systems, connects to armbar, omoplata, and kimura
• Armbar from Mount (Submission) - Primary attack in mount chains, creates reactions that open triangle and opposite-side armbar opportunities
• Rear Naked Choke (Submission) - Anchor submission in back attack chains, hand-fighting defense creates armbar and triangle setups
• Kimura (Submission) - Versatile chain connector from multiple positions, leads to back takes, armbars, and positional advancements
• Omoplata from Guard (Submission) - Common endpoint in guard chains when opponent defends triangle or armbar by turning
• Position-Over-Submission Approach (Principle) - Foundational philosophy that integrates with chain thinking by viewing submission attempts as position improvement tools
• Mount (Position) - Optimal platform for submission chains due to high control and multiple attack angles
• Back Control (Position) - Highest-percentage position for submission chains in competition contexts
• Offensive Combinations (Principle) - Broader concept that submission chains represent the highest expression of in the submission domain
• Action and Reaction (Principle) - Fundamental principle underlying all chain logic—chains exploit predictable defensive reactions
• Danaher Leg Lock System (System) - Exemplary systematic approach to submission chains in the leg entanglement domain
• Ryan Hall Triangle System (System) - Comprehensive chain system built around triangle as central hub position

Expert Insights

• John Danaher: The entire conceptual framework of submission chains rests upon a single fundamental truth: defensive actions are not random but instead follow predictable mechanical patterns determined by the structural requirements of escape. When an opponent attempts to escape an armbar by pulling their arm back toward their body, they necessarily create space between their arm and their torso—this is not a choice but a mechanical requirement of the escape. This space is precisely what the triangle requires for its structure. Therefore, the armbar-to-triangle chain is not a clever trick but an inevitable consequence of defensive mechanics. The systematic grappler studies these mechanical relationships exhaustively, building comprehensive chain maps where every defensive action is pre-matched to an optimal attacking response. At the highest level, submission chains become deterministic systems where the outcome is statistically predetermined by the attacker’s superior knowledge of action-reaction relationships. This is why position and control are paramount—you cannot execute sophisticated chains without the positional dominance required to dictate the tempo and observe defensive patterns clearly.
• Gordon Ryan: In competition, submission chains are the difference between being a good grappler and being a dominant champion. I don’t hunt for single submissions—I hunt for positions that allow chain attacks, because that’s where finish rates skyrocket. My entire mount attack system is built around forcing opponents into a triangle-armbar-triangle loop that has no good defensive answer. When they pull the arm out to stop the armbar, triangle. When they posture against the triangle, opposite armbar. When they defend that, back to the original armbar. Three moves, but the opponent has to be perfect on all three defenses while I only need them to make one mistake. That’s the beauty of chains—they compound opponent error rates. In my matches, I’m usually two attacks ahead mentally of where we are physically. I know before they defend the first armbar that they’re going to posture into the triangle, so I’m already preparing that transition. This mental chess game, combined with relentless pressure, creates the inevitable finish that spectators see. Chains also have massive cardio advantages—I’m using their defensive energy to set up my next attack, while single-attack hunters are constantly resetting and burning energy to establish new attacks from scratch.
• Eddie Bravo: Traditional submission chains are good, but where it gets really interesting is when you start creating chains that cross between orthodox and unorthodox positions. From my rubber guard system, I’m not just chaining omoplata to triangle to armbar like traditional closed guard—I’m flowing from zombie to invisible collar to crackhead to kung fu move to the Twister. The beauty is that most people have never seen these chains, so they can’t pattern-recognize the defensive solutions. It’s like speaking a language they don’t understand. I’ve always believed that innovation in chains comes from exploring positions that other people consider ‘weird’ or ‘low-percentage’—those positions often have unexplored submission relationships that create entire new chain families. The 10th Planet system is really just a massive library of unconventional chains that conventional grapplers aren’t prepared for. Plus, when you’re building chains around your own unique positions, you’re not competing with everyone else’s development—you’re pioneering new territory. My advice is to study the classical chains to understand chain logic, then go explore weird positions and discover your own chain relationships. That’s where you find the secret weapons that win ADCC matches.