Escapes, Sweeps, Passes, Takedowns and Submissions

What it is

Nearly every technique in BJJ is one of six things: an escape, a sweep, a reversal, a pass, a takedown or a submission. The category tells you what the move is for, and the rules say what it is worth: escape 0, sweep 2, reversal 0, pass 3, takedown 2, and a submission ends the match. Learning the six names makes the whole art easier to read.

Where it shows up

• Escape: getting out of their control, for example the upa and elbow escape from mount or the frame and shrimp from side control. Scores nothing, saves everything.
• Sweep and reversal: bottom to top. A sweep from guard or half guard scores 2; a reversal from under a pin scores 0.
• Pass and takedown: a pass gets the top person past the legs for 3; a takedown puts a standing fight on the ground with you on top for 2.
• Submission: a choke or joint lock that makes them tap. The beginner set is the rear naked choke, collar choke, guillotine, triangle, armbar, kimura and americana.

Key details

• Escapes first. The Path teaches survival and escapes before any attack, because you cannot attack from under a pin.
• Sweeps and passes are the same race from opposite sides: the guard player wants to sweep, the top person wants to pass.
• Points follow position. The number tells you how much the rules think a move improves your position.
• A submission ends the match whatever the score, so every category eventually feeds one.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: hunting submissions from under side control. Nothing works from there for a beginner; escape first.
• Mistake: treating an escape as a failure because it scores nothing. An escape takes away their 3 or 4 points.
• Mistake: mixing up a sweep and a reversal. You plan for 2 points that the referee never gives.