Essential BJJ White Belt Techniques: A Complete Guide!

Starting your journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can feel overwhelming, with numerous techniques to learn and remember. As a white belt, it’s not just about learning to fight; it’s about building a solid foundation in a sport that combines self-defense, fitness, and strategy.

Continue reading to learn about the essential elements of BJJ, providing clear and concise explanations of movements, submissions, guard passing, sweeping, escapes, and other fundamental techniques.

The Most Essential BJJ Movements for White Belts

Mastering the basic moves and techniques is crucial if you want to defend yourself confidently during sparring, escape from uncomfortable positions, or skillfully submit your opponent.

The following are essential BJJ techniques for white belts. The list includes basic positions, submissions, guard passes, sweeps, escapes, and other fundamental techniques.

Basic Movements	Basic Submissions
– Bridging – Shrimping – Technical standups – Sprawl – Forward/backward rolls	– Triangle choke – Armbar submission – Kimura lock – Guillotine choke
Guard Passing Moves	Sweeping movements
– Over-under guard pass – Double underhook pass – Single underhook pass – Toreando guard pass – Knee slide pass	– Hip bump sweep – Scissor sweep – Pendulum sweep – Elevator sweep – Flower Sweep – Double ankle sweep – Lumberjack sweep
Escapes Techniques	Other Techniques
– Side control escapes – Basic mount escapes – Back control escapes – Bottom turtle escapes – Knee on belly escapes	– Single-leg move – Double-leg takedown – Arm Drag Takedown

Essential Movements in BJJ

Starting with basic movements, every white belt should focus on mastering:

• Bridging: A vital for escaping from side control or mount positions. Using your hips, glutes, and hamstrings, you can effectively generate the momentum needed to adjust your position or escape adverse situations.
• Shrimping: An essential move for creating distance between you and your opponent, which is crucial for escaping positions such as knee on belly or side control.
• Technical Standups: These are fundamental for transitioning from the ground to a standing position safely and efficiently, maintaining distance from the opponent.
• Sprawling: Vital for defending against takedowns, sprawling helps you keep your center of gravity low and difficult to manipulate.
• Forward/Backward Rolls: These are crucial for navigating the mat, avoiding injury, and transitioning between positions.

Basic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Submissions

Submissions are a dramatic way to end a match. As a beginner, focus on these critical submissions:

• Triangle Choke: This involves creating a chokehold using your legs around your opponent’s neck, cutting off blood flow. It’s a versatile submission from various positions.
• Armbar: This technique isolates an opponent’s arm and applies pressure to hyperextend the elbow joint, a fundamental move from multiple positions.
• Kimura Lock: A robust shoulder lock that is effective across all levels of BJJ competition.
• Guillotine Choke: A choke that applies pressure on the neck using the arms, effective from standing or guard positions.

Fundamental Guard Passing Techniques for White Belts

Passing the guard is critical for advancing position and controlling the fight:

1. Knee Cut/Slice Pass: Excellent for slicing through the opponent’s guard to achieve a dominant position.
2. Over-Under Pass: A robust technique that uses body weight and control to pass the guard.
3. Single Underhook Pass: Effective for manipulating your opponent’s legs and gaining control.

Basic Sweeping Techniques for White Belts

Sweeps allow you to reverse a disadvantageous position:

1. Hip Bump Sweep: Useful from the closed guard, this can transition into submissions.
2. Scissor Sweep: Effective for manipulating your opponent’s posture and transitioning into attacks.
3. Pendulum Sweep: Ideal for dynamic guard play and effective in Gi and No-Gi settings.
4. Elevator and Double Ankle Sweeps: These are versatile and can set up various offensive options.

Escape Techniques BJJ White Belt

Learning to escape adverse positions is as crucial as any offensive technique:

1. Side Control Escapes: Basic maneuvers to regain a more neutral position.
2. Mount and Back Control Escapes: Techniques to escape some of the most dominant positions in BJJ.
3. Knee on Belly and Bottom Turtle Escapes: For handling pressure and improving your defensive game.

Conclusion

Embarking on your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey as a white belt is both exciting and challenging.

The techniques listed in this article laid the groundwork for understanding and practicing the essential techniques every beginner should know.

From fundamental movements to strategic submissions and escapes, mastering these skills will set the stage for your continued growth in BJJ.

Remember, the key to success in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lies in consistent practice, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn from each session. As you progress, refine these techniques and seek further guidance to enhance your skills.