16 Best BJJ Submissions to Take Your Game to the Next Level

Learning to submit an opponent from the guard and other positions, either from the top or bottom is the pursuit of any addicted grappler. In this case, you should understand, master, and have a comprehensive list of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) submissions at your disposal.

Submissions are one of the most important aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling martial arts. They signify an instantaneous triumph and a sense of satisfaction for those who successfully submit to their adversary. Every grappler knows that submissions are one of the most effective ways to overcome an opponent and win the battle.

However, getting proficient at submitting to others involves hours of sparring, good timing, solid body control, strength, and a technical grasp of each submission. However, it is not complicated as you think!

This article is for you if you want to compile a comprehensive list of the most effective and successful BJJ grappling submissions. Keep an eye out!

What Are the Most Effective BJJ Submissions?

Here is a list of the best submissions to help you build an effective attacking game in BJJ and other grappling martial arts:

  1. Triangle Choke
  2. Arm Triangle Choke
  3. Armbar
  4. Omoplata
  5. Wrist Lock
  6. Kimura Lock
  7. Guillotine Choke
  8. Bow and Arrow Choke
  9. Rear Naked Choke
  10. Ezekiel Choke
  11. Clock Choke
  12. Cross Collar Choke
  13. Baseball Bat Choke
  14. North-South Choke
  15. Loop Choke
  16. Heel Hook

Triangle Choke

inverted and reverse triangle choke

The triangle choke is among the best submission in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. As a result, several competitors have used this technique to outclass their opponents, even in the top challenging competitions in BJJ and MMA, etc.

You can achieve a triangle chokehold when wrapping your legs around an opponent’s neck with a triangle shape. Meanwhile, you put one of his arms between the opponent’s legs.

A triangle submission is a blood choke that creates massive pressure across an opponent’s neck and disturbs his blood flow, forcing him to surrender or fall asleep.

Aside from that, you can obtain a triangle chokehold from various positions, including the closed guard, full mount, back-controlhalf guardside control, and other variations of these positions.

Here is a list of the best triangle choke variations that you should know:

Closed Guard Triangle Choke

how to do flying triangle choke

The triangle choke from the closed guard is another excellent submission for beginner and advanced fighters. It is a fundamental attack that works well in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts.

Here are the essential steps for setting up a triangle choke from a closed guard:

  1. Reach and maintain the closed guard using the proper grips and body positioning.
  2. Control the opponent’s wrist or sleeve using a monkey or C-Clamp grip, depending on whether you’re training gi or no-gi
  3. Reach a high guard by driving your legs up near the opponent’s head-shoulder. Yet, Make sure to move smoothly to avoid losing the dominant position. Otherwise, you must put one opponent’s arm between his knees toward achieving the triangle choke during these movements.
  4. Adust your hip position and lock your legs.
  5. Finish the closed guard triangle choke by bridging up, squeezing your legs, and pulling down on the opponent’s head if necessary.

Watch the following video for additional details on executing a successful triangle choke from the closed guard position.

Source: MMA Leech

Mounted Triangle Choke

The triangle choke from mount is one of the most compelling submissions in BJJ. Nevertheless, it may be a little advanced for novices because executing is challenging.

Here are the necessary steps for setting up a triangle choke from mount:

  1. First, reach the mount position and maintain proper control over your opponent.
  2. Get rid of the opponent frames and move to the high mounting position. Meanwhile, tuck one opponent’s arms between your legs and keep it there.
  3. Move one leg under the opponent’s head.
  4. Bring the other leg near the opponent’s head and lock both your legs while maintaining a good weight distribution since you’re vulnerable to getting swept in this situation. 
  5. Finish the mounted triangle choke by driving your weight toward the opponent’s neck to create an unsupportable pressure leading him to give up.

Watch the following video for more details on establishing this triangle chokehold variation.

Source: MMA Leech

Triangle Choke from Back

Watch the video below to discover how to do the rear triangle choke from the back, where John Danaher goes into great depth on creating this submission.

Source: BJJ Fanatics

Related: The triangle choke is one of the most excellent attacks you should add to your BJJ arsenal. This firm chokehold is a must-know for any serious practitioner. Click here to learn more!

Arm Triangle Choke

arm-triangle choke

The arm triangle choke is another fantastic and successful submission in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts (MMA). It’s an excellent move for beating even the toughest grapplers.

Consequently, you should start learning the arm triangle submission from the first day you step foot on the mat to develop a challenging attacking game. 

In the following video tutorial, Neil Melanson teaches you how to set up an arm triangle choke correctly:

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

Armbar

The armbar is one of the most compelling submissions in grappling martial arts like BJJ, MMA, etc. As a result, it can outperform even the most formidable opponents in top challenging competitions. 

Aside from that, regardless of your level of grappling experience or knowledge (beginner or advanced competitor), the armbar is a submission anyone can learn.

A jiu-jitsu practitioner can get an armbar submission when isolating one opponent’s arm and controlling it between his legs. Then, using your full-body leverage, drive your hips up and your opponent’s wrist down to extend his elbow, forcing him to submit.

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ

You can achieve an armbar submission from various positions, including the mountback control, knee-on belly, and more. Here are some of the best armbar variations:

Closed Guard Armbar

The closed guard armbar is considered one of the most basic BJJ submissions. However, when it comes to submitting an opponent, this is one of the essential techniques for beginners to master as soon as possible on the mat.

The video below teaches in-depth details about performing the armbar from a closed guard.

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

Mounted Armbar

The mounted armbar is another essential and frequently utilized technique in grappling. Any BJJ practitioner worth their salt should be familiar with this attack, as it is one of the most effective moves in the art of BJJ, MMA, etc.

In the following instructional video, Dave Camarillo teaches you how to make a successful armbar submission from the mount position.

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

Side Control Armbar

The side control armbar is one of the most basic and well-known jiu-jitsu submissions. Therefore, to be a knowledgeable grappler, you should learn and master it when you start training on the mats as soon as possible.

Demian Maia is a professional submission grappler and mixed martial artist with a fifth-degree black belt in BJJ. In the following video, he guides you through the stages necessary to accomplish an armbar submission from the mount position properly.

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

Related: Unleash the power of the armbar and elevate your BJJ game to new heights! This devastating armlock is a must-have technique for any serious practitioner. Click here to learn more!

Omoplata

The omoplata has the potential to be one of the most versatile submissions in grappling martial arts, especially in gi jiu-jitsu. It is a shoulder lock where the attacker uses his legs and hip to extend the opponent’s shoulder.

In addition, you may finish an opponent with an omoplata submission from various positions, such as the closed guard, side control, back control, etc.

The following is a rundown of the top omoplata variants that you need to be familiar with:

Triangle Choke to Omoplata

In the video below, you’ll learn how to get an omoplata from the triangle choke position.

Source: Stephan Kesting

Armbar to Omoplata

You’ll learn how to get an omoplata from an armbar position in the video below.

Source: MMA Leech

Wrist Lock

The wristlock may be originated from diverse martial arts such as Aikido, Hapkido, and Aiki-Jitsu. It is regarded as one of the most sneaky and straightforward grappling submissions.

A successful wrist lock technique isolates the opponent’s wrist from any suitable position (there are plenty). Then, when applying the submission, you put massive pressure on this little joint of the opponent’s arm, compelling him to give up and tap out.

Watch the video below to learn how to complete a wrist lock submission correctly.

Source: Knight Jiu-Jitsu

Kimura Lock

The Kimura lock is one of the best submission techniques used effectively in Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments and MMA fights.

You should first isolate the opponent’s elbow with a good hold to do a Kimura. This may be done from various positions, including standing, side mount, half guard, closed guard, and open guard.

Watch the video below to learn more about getting a kimura submission or sweep in your path of developing a powerful offensive method.

Source: Knight Jiu-Jitsu

Guillotine Choke

guillotine choke from guard

The guillotine choke is one of the most reliable and successful attacks of rapidly tapping out an opponent in BJJ, mixed martial arts (MMA), etc. It can be performed from several grappling positions, including the closed guard, standing position, etc.

In the following, you’ll learn how to do the guillotine choke from a closed guard position:

Source: Chewjitsu

Bow and Arrow Choke

how to do a bow and arrow choke

The bow and arrow choke is one of the highest ten most successful submissions. Sure, you will use many of these choke attacks once you get to the upper ranks (brown and black belts).

Aside from that, the bow and arrow choke is one of the top effective submission techniques in BJJ gi tournaments

Watch the video below to discover more about gaining a bow and arrow submission in your route to creating a huge offensive game.

Source: The Grappling Academy

Rear Naked Choke

The Rear Naked Choke (RNC) is the most dangerous submission in No-Gi Grappling. It’s a brutal, dominating attack mainly performed from the back position.

Follow the instructions below to perform a proper rear naked choke from the back position:

  1. Take your opponent’s back. And then, install the seat belt and hook your opponent to control his back.
  2. Dominante hand fighting and insert one of your arms around your opponent’s neck.
  3. Reach the rear of the opponent’s head using your free arm far enough down so that he can’t escape.
  4. Push and squeeze the top forward and down with your locked arms to produce the necessary pressure on your opponent’s neck, leading him to submit. 

See the following video for more details about effectively applying an RNC choke submission by John Danaher.

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ

Ezekiel Choke

The Ezekiel choke is one of the brutal chokes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu that you can apply in the BJJ Gi and No Gi.

Additionally, it’s one of the foremost effective BJJ submissions, and you’ll apply it with no risk. 

The BJJ Gi chokes submissions may be dangerous weapons. And the Ezekiel choke is one of the particularly effective that Brazilian jiu-jitsu has taken to a certain level.

The Ezekiel choke combines the utilization of a sleeve and, therefore, the wrist. The mechanics behind the choke are within the scissoring-like motion that blocks the opponent’s trachea. The Ezekiel choke can also be utilized as a blood choke in certain situations.

The video below demonstrates how to perform a No-Gi Ezekiel choke properly.

Source: Invisible Jiu Jitsu

The video below demonstrates how to properly perform the Gi Ezekiel choke from the mount position.

source: The Grappling Academy

Related article: Ezekiel Choke: Helpful Guide to Master This Submission

Clock Choke

The clock choke is one of the sneaky Gi choke submissions. It is an attack applied when your opponent is on his knees in turtle position, and you’re above him.

Otherwise, it can apply it from the side control, the mount, and the guard

The video below demonstrates how to apply the clock choke

Source: Knight Jiu-Jitsu

Cross Collar Choke

The cross collar choke is one of the best submissions in gi competitions. It is an effective blood choke that applies pressure to both sides of the person’s neck’s carotid arteries, forcing him to give up or not; it can put him to sleep.

Since it is easy to learn and master, the cross-collar choke is typically one of the first chokes that white belts should know.

Here is how to do the cross choke from closed guard:

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

Recommended: Did you know you can execute the cross-choke from various positions? I’ve published a thorough instructional post on this choke submission, which you can find here.

Baseball Bat Choke

The baseball bat choke is one of the most effective submission moves in gi training. You can execute this choke variant from various positions, such as guard, side control, knee ride, etc.

Here are some fantastic Baseball Bat Choke variations that you should know:

Top Side Control Baseball Bat Choke

The top-side control is, without a doubt, a dominant BJJ position that provides various choke submissions, including the baseball choke. 

In the following video, Chewjitsu teaches you how to perform the baseball bat choke from the top-side control position. Have fun!

Source: Chewjitsu

Bottom Side Control Baseball Bat Choke

The baseball choke can also be accessed via the bottom side control. However, this submission may be a low success rate unless you properly manage your frames and distance from the bottom.

In great detail in the video below, Ali Knight demonstrates the baseball bat choke from the bottom side control position.

Source: Knight Jiu-Jitsu

Knee-on-Belly Baseball Bat Choke

The Knee on belly (or knee ride) is one of the fundamental jiu-jitsu positions. The top player applies massive pressure to the opponent’s stomach in this position, making it an unpleasant bottom position.

Otherwise, the knee ride helps the attacker earn 2 points in competitions and offers him many submissions, including the baseball choke.

In the video below, Bernardo Faria shows how to choke the baseball bat from knee-on-belly.

Source: BJJ Fanatics

Related article: Everything You Need to Know About the Baseball Bat Choke

North-South Choke

The north-south choke is a superior submission in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. It is one of the most effective BJJ attacks, ranking alongside the guillotine choke, triangle choke, etc.

Aside from that, the north-south position gives you more options for defeating your opponent, such as arm-locks, chokes, etc.

As a result, as a clever fighter, you should learn to complete this move correctly from your first days on the mat.

In the video below, coach Marcelo Garcia demonstrates how to perform a north-south choke submission in gi and no-gi.

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

Loop Choke

The loop choke is one of the top jiu-jitsu submissions you should learn as soon as you start training. It is one of the most basic and valuable chokes in the grappling world.

Otherwise, this choke variation can be obtained from various positions, including the guard, side control, etc.

In the video below, Chewjitsu demonstrates how to perform the loop choke submission from an open guard position.

Source: Chewjitsu

Heel Hook

The heel hook is one of the best advanced no-gi submissions you should learn and master. It’s a high-level submission grappling that can be effectively used in ADCC and no-gi tournaments, but it’s banned in gi competitions.

Here are the necessary steps to perform the heel hook submission:

  1. First, enter a suitable heel hook position from a butterfly guardhalf guard, etc. Then control the opponent’s knee/hip joints.
  2. Apply a force transversely that conducts to twist the heel either medially or laterally. 

The heel hook submission applies a torque force on the ankle forcing the opponent to submit. Therefore, This ankle lock technique may cause injury and damage multiple joints and ligaments.

See the following video for details about applying the heel hook submission effectively.

Source: MMA Leech

Conclusion

You will be able to improve your performance in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with the aid of our list of BJJ submissions mentioned in this article. The term “submission” can refer to various techniques used to submit an opponent, the most common of which are chokes and joint locks.

Chokeholds Joint Locks
– Triangle choke
– Cross choke
– Ezekiel choke
– Arm triangle choke
– Guillotine choke
– Loop choke
– Bow and arrow choke
– Baseball bat choke
Paper cutter choke
– North-south choke
Anaconda choke
D’arce choke
– Peruvian necktie
– Rear naked choke 
– Arm locks: Elbow lock (Armbar, Straight armlock, etc)
– Bicep slicer
– Shoulder locks: Americana, Kimura, Omoplata, etc.
Wrist locks
Leg locks: Straight ankle locks, heel hooks, toe holds, kneebars, electric chair, etc.
– Spinal locks: Twister, etc.

Having a comprehensive list of grappling submissions will surely help to improve your attacking game so far. But remember that good submission can’t happen without a dominant position (Position before submission).

Feel free to tell us; what’s your favorite Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission?

Related Article: Mastering chokes should be at the top of your to-do list if you want to enhance your jiu-jitsu game and raise your chances of submitting your opponent. Chokes are one of the most effective BJJ submissions and may be utilized effectively in Gi and No-Gi competitions. Click here to learn more!