Tap Out

The tap out is the most fundamental safety mechanism in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, representing the universal signal of submission and the practitioner’s acknowledgment that they have been caught in a technique they cannot escape. This critical protocol transcends technique and competition, serving as the cornerstone of safe training that allows practitioners to push their limits while minimizing injury risk. Understanding when and how to tap is essential for longevity in the sport, as pride-driven resistance to tapping leads to unnecessary injuries that can end careers. The tap out requires no technical skill but demands mental discipline, ego management, and trust in the training environment. Every practitioner from white belt to black belt must respect the tap, both as the person applying submissions and as the one caught in them. This mutual respect for the tap creates the safe training environment that allows BJJ to be practiced at full intensity without the injury rates seen in other combat sports.

Starting Position: Defensive Position Ending Position: Lost by Submission Success Rates: Beginner 95%, Intermediate 98%, Advanced 99%

Key Principles

• Tap early and tap often - protect yourself for long-term training
• Pride has no place in the gym - every tap is a learning opportunity
• Clear communication through verbal or physical tap signals
• Immediate release upon detecting partner’s tap signal
• Respect the tap as both the giver and receiver
• Recognize submission danger before joint damage occurs
• Distinguish between discomfort and actual submission threat

Prerequisites

• Recognition that a submission is locked in and escape is not possible
• Awareness of joint or choke positioning that indicates danger
• Mental acceptance that continuing resistance risks injury
• Clear decision-making despite the stress of being submitted
• Understanding of the specific submission being applied
• Physical ability to execute tap signal (hand or verbal)
• Partner awareness to receive and respond to tap signal

Execution Steps

1. Recognize submission danger: Identify that you are caught in a submission position where escape is no longer possible or where continuing to resist will result in injury. This includes recognizing joint hyperextension, airway restriction, or blood choke that is progressing to completion. The key is early recognition before damage occurs. (Timing: Immediately upon recognizing inescapable position)
2. Make tap decision: Override ego and pride to make the rational decision to tap. This mental step is often harder than the physical tap itself, especially for competitive practitioners. Remember that tapping preserves your ability to train tomorrow, while resisting may cause injury that prevents training for weeks or months. (Timing: Within 1-2 seconds of recognition)
3. Execute physical tap: Tap your partner’s body firmly with an open palm at least two to three times in rapid succession. The tap should be on any part of their body you can reach - arm, leg, torso, or head. Use enough force to be clearly felt but not so much as to be aggressive. The standard is multiple taps to ensure the signal is not mistaken for incidental contact. (Timing: Immediately upon decision to tap)
4. Verbal tap if necessary: If your hands are trapped and you cannot execute a physical tap, verbally tap by clearly saying ‘tap’ or ‘tap tap tap’ loudly enough for your partner to hear. Some practitioners also make sounds or grunt urgently to indicate submission when speech is restricted. This is especially important in chokes where you may have limited time to signal. (Timing: Immediately if physical tap is impossible)
5. Tap the mat if partner unreachable: If you cannot reach your partner’s body and verbal tap is not possible or heard, tap the mat firmly with your hand or foot. While less ideal than tapping the partner directly, mat taps are universally recognized submission signals. Use multiple firm slaps to ensure the sound is heard over gym noise. (Timing: As alternative when partner contact impossible)
6. Stop all resistance: Upon tapping, immediately cease all resistance and movement. Do not continue trying to escape or adjust position. Your tap signals complete submission and your partner should release immediately. Continuing to move after tapping can cause confusion about whether you actually tapped or are still fighting. (Timing: Simultaneous with tap signal)
7. Wait for release: Allow your partner to release the submission in a controlled manner. Do not explosively pull away or yank free, as this can cause injury even after tapping. The person applying the submission should release pressure immediately but may need a second to safely disengage grips and position. Trust the process and remain calm. (Timing: 1-2 seconds after tap)
8. Reset and analyze: After the submission is released and you are safe, take a moment to understand what happened. Ask your partner about the setup if needed, analyze where you made the mistake that led to the submission, and mentally prepare to avoid that situation in the future. Every tap is valuable feedback for improvement. (Timing: Immediately after release)

Opponent Counters

• Partner does not feel or hear the tap (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Tap louder, tap multiple body parts simultaneously, or make urgent vocal sounds. If truly desperate and injury is imminent, tap extremely aggressively or make loud verbal exclamation. This is rare with attentive training partners but possible in competition or with beginners.
• Ego resistance preventing tap decision (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Cultivate long-term thinking and recognize that one tap in training means you can train again tomorrow, while one injury from not tapping could mean months away from the mats. Build a training culture where tapping is respected as intelligent self-preservation, not weakness.
• Unclear whether position warrants tap (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: When in doubt early in your training, tap. As you gain experience, you will better understand the difference between uncomfortable pressure and actual submission danger. Until then, err on the side of caution. Better to tap unnecessarily than to sustain injury testing your limits.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Waiting too long to tap, trying to tough it out
  • Consequence: Joint damage, ligament tears, loss of consciousness from chokes, or broken bones in extreme cases. Recovery time can range from weeks to months, or permanent damage in worst cases.
  • Correction: Tap early when you recognize the submission is locked. There is no shame in tapping, and protecting yourself ensures you can continue training long-term. Remember that even world champions tap in training.
• Mistake: Tapping too lightly or only once
  • Consequence: Partner may not feel or recognize the tap signal, continuing to apply pressure and potentially causing injury despite your attempt to submit.
  • Correction: Always tap firmly at least 2-3 times in rapid succession. Make it unmistakable. Your partner should clearly feel each tap. If using verbal tap, repeat ‘tap tap tap’ clearly and loudly.
• Mistake: Not tapping because it’s ‘just training’
  • Consequence: Training injuries are the most preventable and most detrimental to your BJJ journey. Injuries from failing to tap in the gym serve no purpose and only delay your progress.
  • Correction: Training is where tapping should be easiest and most frequent. Save your resistance for competition if you choose, but in training, tap early and often to learn positions without injury risk.
• Mistake: Continuing to fight after tapping
  • Consequence: Creates confusion about whether you actually submitted, may cause partner to re-apply the submission, and demonstrates poor training etiquette that damages trust.
  • Correction: The moment you tap, stop all movement and resistance completely. The round is over. Reset, discuss if needed, and start again. Treat the tap as a definitive end point.
• Mistake: Being embarrassed or angry after tapping
  • Consequence: Negative emotional reactions to tapping create unhealthy training dynamics, may cause you to tap less frequently (increasing injury risk), and slow your learning by preventing objective analysis of mistakes.
  • Correction: View every tap as tuition paid for knowledge gained. Thank your training partner, analyze what led to the submission, and focus on preventing that setup in future rolls. Elite practitioners tap constantly in training.

Training Progressions

White Belt (Months 1-6) - Learning when and how to tap safely New practitioners must develop the habit of tapping early and often. Focus on recognizing basic submissions like rear naked choke, armbar, and americana. Practice physical tap signals during technique drilling. Cultivate ego-free mindset toward tapping. Instructors should encourage tapping and create safe environment where beginners feel comfortable submitting immediately when caught. (Resistance: None)

Blue Belt (Year 1-2) - Understanding submission mechanics and danger points Develop deeper understanding of when submissions become dangerous versus when you still have escape opportunities. Learn to distinguish between pressure discomfort and actual joint/choke danger. Begin recognizing submission setups earlier so you can escape before getting fully caught. Still maintain quick tap reflex but with more nuanced understanding of timing. (Resistance: Light)

Purple Belt and Beyond (Year 3+) - Intelligent risk assessment and advanced escape timing Advanced practitioners can better assess submission danger and may work technical escapes from deeper positions, but must maintain discipline to tap before injury. Develop ability to recognize the exact point where escape is no longer possible. Practice advanced escape sequences but always with the mental trigger to tap if escape fails. Continue tapping freely in training while potentially taking more calculated risks in competition. (Resistance: Medium)

Ongoing - All Levels - Respecting partner taps and maintaining safety culture Equally important as knowing when to tap is immediately releasing submissions when partner taps. Develop sensitivity to feeling taps on your body during submissions. Practice controlled release of submissions. Build training culture where tapping is normalized and respected. Encourage training partners to tap early. Never judge or criticize someone for tapping. Model professional tap etiquette. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Competition Tap Strategy: In competition, some practitioners choose to defend submissions longer and take more risks before tapping, accepting higher injury potential for chance of victory. This is personal choice but should never be practiced in training. Competition taps may come later but must still happen before serious injury. (When to use: Competition matches only, never in training)

Verbal Tap Only: When both hands are trapped or controlled (such as in some kimura positions or while defending chokes), verbal tap becomes the only option. Practice making clear verbal submission signals during appropriate drilling. Some training environments also use verbal-only taps during specific positional training. (When to use: When hands are completely trapped or controlled)

Preventive Tap: Tapping before a submission is fully locked in, when you recognize that your partner has achieved position where the submission is inevitable and you cannot escape. This is highest-level tap awareness and maximizes safety by preventing even momentary joint stress or choke pressure. (When to use: When you recognize submission is inevitable even before it is fully applied)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: Why is it important to tap early and often in training rather than testing your limits? A: Tapping early in training prevents injuries that would prevent you from training at all. The purpose of training is to improve skills over time, which requires consistent mat time. One preventable injury from not tapping can mean weeks or months away from training, dramatically slowing your progress. Additionally, tapping early allows you to learn the submission mechanics and setups without the distraction of pain or injury fear, making it a superior learning tool. Elite practitioners tap constantly in training to preserve their bodies for competition and long-term practice.

Q2: What are the three primary methods of signaling a tap, and when should each be used? A: The three primary tap methods are: (1) Physical tap on partner’s body - the preferred method, using open palm to tap their arm, leg, or torso 2-3 times firmly; (2) Verbal tap - saying ‘tap’ or ‘tap tap tap’ clearly when hands are trapped or unavailable; (3) Tapping the mat - using hand or foot to slap the mat when you cannot reach your partner and verbal tap may not be heard. Physical tap on partner is most reliable and should be used whenever possible, as it provides direct tactile feedback they cannot miss.

Q3: How should you respond when a training partner taps to your submission? A: You should immediately release all pressure from the submission the moment you feel or hear your partner’s tap. Release should be controlled but immediate - do not continue applying pressure even for a split second. After releasing, check that your partner is okay and help them return to a neutral position safely. Never hold a submission after a tap or judge your partner for tapping. Building trust through immediate release is essential for safe training environment.

Q4: What is the difference between discomfort and actual submission danger, and how does this affect tapping decisions? A: Discomfort refers to pressure, weight, or awkward positioning that is unpleasant but not threatening injury - such as heavy shoulder pressure in side control. Submission danger indicates that a joint is approaching hyperextension, a choke is restricting airway or blood flow, or a compression lock is threatening soft tissue damage. Beginners should tap liberally to both as they learn to distinguish them. Advanced practitioners can better differentiate and may work through discomfort while still immediately tapping to actual danger. The key is that when uncertain, always err on the side of tapping, especially with joint locks that can cause instant injury.

Q5: Why is tapping considered a sign of intelligence rather than weakness in BJJ culture? A: Tapping demonstrates intelligence because it shows the practitioner prioritizes long-term development over short-term ego. It indicates understanding that preserving your body allows continued training, which is the only path to improvement. Refusing to tap due to pride leads to injuries that prevent training, which is the actual weakness. High-level practitioners tap frequently in training because they understand this principle. The tap is respected as mature decision-making and self-awareness. In BJJ culture, the person who trains consistently for years by tapping appropriately will always surpass the person who trains intermittently due to injuries from not tapping.

Q6: How should tap protocol differ between training and competition, and what are the risks of each approach? A: In training, practitioners should tap early and often, prioritizing safety and learning over resistance. This allows maximum mat time and skill development with minimal injury risk. In competition, some choose to defend submissions longer and accept higher injury risk for potential victory, though they must still tap before serious damage occurs. The competition approach accepts risks like minor joint strain or temporary unconsciousness from chokes. However, this risk-acceptance mentality should never transfer to training, as training injuries serve no purpose and only delay development. Clear mental separation between training taps (early, frequent) and competition taps (potentially later, more risky) is essential for longevity in the sport.

Safety Considerations

The tap out is the fundamental safety mechanism that makes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practice possible at full intensity with minimal injury risk. Both practitioners in any training exchange share responsibility for safe tapping protocol. The person being submitted must overcome ego and tap early when caught, recognizing that training injuries are counterproductive to development. The person applying submissions must remain sensitive to partner taps, releasing immediately upon feeling or hearing the tap signal. Never hold submissions after a tap, never judge partners for tapping, and never encourage partners to ‘tough it out’ when caught. Beginners should be explicitly taught tap protocols in their first classes and reminded frequently until it becomes automatic. In drilling, practice tapping at the appropriate point so it becomes reflexive during live training. For chokes specifically, understand that loss of consciousness can occur in seconds, so tap immediately when you recognize a choke is locked rather than waiting to feel effects. For joint locks, recognize that joints can be damaged before pain signals register, making early tapping critical. Create training culture where tapping is normalized, respected, and encouraged as intelligent self-preservation.

Position Integration

The tap out represents the terminal state in the BJJ state machine, ending the current exchange and resetting to neutral position. It is the universal exit from any submission control position, whether Armbar Control, Triangle Control, Rear Naked Choke Control, Kimura Control, Guillotine Control, or any leg lock position such as Saddle or Inside Ashi-Garami. Understanding tap protocol is essential before learning any submission techniques, as it provides the safety foundation that allows practitioners to train submissions at full intensity. The tap transitions the match from active competition to the Lost by Submission state, then typically returns to Standing Position or Closed Guard for the next roll. In the larger context of BJJ training, frequent tapping in the gym paradoxically accelerates improvement by allowing practitioners to explore positions and submission escapes they would avoid if injury risk prevented experimentation. The tap also serves as critical feedback, indicating exactly where defensive skills need improvement. Advanced practitioners use their tap frequency as a diagnostic tool, noting which positions or submissions they tap to most often and systematically addressing those weaknesses through dedicated training.

Related Techniques

• Lost by Submission - Terminal state reached by tapping
• Armbar Control - Common position requiring tap
• Triangle Control - Common position requiring tap
• Rear Naked Choke - High-percentage submission requiring quick tap
• Kimura Control - Joint lock requiring early tap to prevent injury
• Guillotine Control - Choke position with fast tap requirement
• Heel Hook - Dangerous leg lock requiring immediate tap
• Kneebar Control - Leg lock position requiring tap awareness
• Straight Ankle Lock Control - Fundamental leg lock requiring tap
• Omoplata Control - Shoulder lock requiring tap before injury
• D’arce Control - Choke position requiring tap
• Anaconda Control - Choke position requiring tap
• Armbar Finish - Completion requiring immediate tap
• Triangle Choke - Common submission requiring tap
• Submission Defense - Principle that includes knowing when to tap

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The tap represents the ultimate expression of rational decision-making under pressure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From a systematic perspective, we must understand that the tap is not an admission of defeat in training - it is an intelligent acknowledgment that your opponent has achieved a position of mechanical advantage that will result in injury if you continue resistance. The mathematics are simple: tapping costs you nothing in training except momentary ego, while not tapping costs you training time, which is the only currency that matters for skill development. I teach my students to view each tap as data collection - you have discovered a hole in your defensive game that requires systematic addressing. The most dangerous practitioners are not those who never tap, but those who tap frequently in training because they are constantly exposing themselves to difficult positions, learning the escape mechanics, and developing submission awareness without accumulating injuries. Elite competition performance requires years of consistent training, which is only possible if you tap intelligently in the gym to preserve your body. Consider the tap as the safety mechanism that allows you to train submissions at one hundred percent intensity without the catastrophic injury rates you would see if practitioners tried to resist every submission to completion.
• Gordon Ryan: Look, I tap all the time in training - probably more than most people watching my matches would expect. Why? Because I want to train tomorrow, next week, and next year. Every time I don’t tap and get injured, that’s weeks I’m not improving, not learning, not getting better. In the room, I’ll tap to stuff I’d never tap to in competition because the stakes are completely different. In ADCC finals, maybe I’m willing to risk an arm or let a choke go deeper because there’s a gold medal and money on the line. In the training room on a random Tuesday? I’m tapping the second I realize I’m caught. That’s the difference between being a hobbyist who gets injured constantly and can’t train consistently, versus a professional who’s available for every training session and every competition. My advice to everyone is tap early in training, save your heroics for competition if you want, but even in competition, know your limits. I’ve seen guys get injured badly refusing to tap in matches that didn’t matter, and it cost them months or years. The tap is your friend - use it liberally and you’ll actually get good at jiu jitsu instead of spending half your time recovering from preventable injuries.
• Eddie Bravo: The tap is sacred, man. In 10th Planet, we create this environment where everyone knows they can tap anytime and nobody’s going to judge them for it. That’s how you build trust in the room, and trust is what lets you actually work the crazy positions and take risks without people getting hurt. I tell my guys, tap in training, save the tough guy stuff for competition if that’s your thing. But here’s the real secret - the more you tap in training, the better you get at recognizing when submissions are coming, and eventually you tap less because you’re not getting caught in the first place. It’s counterintuitive but true. The guys who refuse to tap in the gym are the ones who never develop good submission awareness because they’re too busy protecting their ego to learn. We do a lot of experimental stuff at 10th Planet, positions that are unconventional, and the only way we can safely explore that innovation is if everyone taps the moment they’re caught. No ego, no tough guy nonsense, just pure learning. And honestly, some of the best learning comes right after you tap - that’s when you ask your partner ‘how did you get that?’ and you figure out what you missed. The tap isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of understanding.