BJJ positions

A position is how two people are placed on the mat. Some positions are good for the top player. Others are good for the bottom player.

Learn the names first. When you know where you are, you know what to do next.

Positions ranked for the top player

Pins: top positions

A pin holds the other person on their back or side. The top player is past the legs.

• MountYou sit on the other person's chest or belly, knees on the mat. Worth 4 points.
• High MountMount with your knees up near their armpits. Their arms are easy to attack.
• S-MountA high mount with one leg folded under their head. It sets up the armbar.
• Technical MountMount when they turn on their side. You sit on one hip, between mount and the back.
• Side ControlYou lie chest to chest across them, past their legs. Most passes end here.
• Kesa GatameYou sit beside them and hold their head and one arm. Also called the scarf hold.
• North-SouthYou lie chest on chest, your head toward their hips.
• Knee on BellyYour shin lies across their belly and your other foot is wide. Worth 2 points.

Back, turtle and front headlock

• Back ControlYou are behind them, chest on their back, with an arm grip and both heels in. Worth 4 points.
• TurtleThe bottom player is on knees and elbows, tucked tight. A short stop, not a place to stay.
• Front HeadlockYou are in front of a bent-over person, with their head under your arm.
• CrucifixYou lie across their back and trap both of their arms. They cannot protect the neck.

Standing and kneeling

• StandingBoth people on their feet. Every match starts here.
• ClinchStanding with your arms tied up with theirs. Most takedowns start here.
• Combat BaseInside the guard, one knee down and one foot up. A strong base to start a pass.

Guard positions

A guard is a bottom position where your legs block the top player. See every guard in BJJ guards.

• Closed GuardYou are on your back with your ankles locked behind their waist.
• Open GuardAny guard where your ankles are not locked. Feet and grips keep the distance.
• Half GuardYou hold one of their legs between your legs.
• Butterfly GuardYou sit up with your feet hooked inside their thighs.
• Knee ShieldA half guard with your knee across their body to keep their weight off. Also called Z guard.
• Deep Half GuardA half guard where you go under their hips and hug the trapped leg.
• LockdownA half guard where your legs wrap the trapped leg and stretch it out.
• DogfightBoth players on their knees side by side, fighting for the underhook.
• Sit-up GuardYou sit tall on one hand and hold them with the other hand.
• De la Riva GuardYour leg hooks the outside of their front leg while they stand.
• Reverse De la RivaYour leg hooks the inside of their front leg while they stand.
• Spider GuardGiYou hold both sleeves and put your feet on their arms. Gi only.
• Collar-and-Sleeve GuardGiYou hold one collar and one sleeve, with a foot on that arm. Gi only.
• X-GuardYou are under a standing person, your legs crossed around one of their legs.
• Single Leg XYou hug one of their legs to your chest from underneath.

Controls that hold a position

These are grips and arm positions. They do not score by themselves, but they keep you in a position.

• CrossfaceYour forearm pushes across their jaw and turns their head away.
• UnderhookYour arm goes under their arm. It helps you lift, turn and get up.
• WhizzerYour arm goes over their underhook and clamps it. Also called the overhook.
• SeatbeltThe grip of back control: one arm over the shoulder, one under the armpit.
• HooksYour heels inside their thighs from back control.
• Two-on-OneBoth your arms hold one of their arms.
• Arm DragYou pull their arm across you and move to their side or back.
• Back Take from TurtleHow you go from on top of turtle to back control.