BJJ SUBMISSIONS EXPLAINED
Submissions are finishes built on control. Learn the major submission families, where beginners see them, and why position matters before the final attack.
3 Must-Know BJJ Submissions for Beginners
A beginner breakdown of the armbar, Americana and rear naked choke.
What counts as a submission?
A submission is a technique that makes the opponent tap or otherwise concede. In training, the important skill is recognizing the position early and tapping before a joint or choke becomes dangerous.
Five submissions beginners encounter
Armbar: isolates the arm and attacks the elbow with controlled hip and leg positioning.
Americana: a shoulder lock commonly attacked from mount or side control.
Rear naked choke: a back-control choke that makes control of the defender’s hands and neck position critical.
Triangle: uses the legs to control the opponent’s head and one arm while creating a choke.
Kimura: a figure-four grip used to attack the shoulder and also create movement, sweeps and transitions.
Position before submission
Beginners often chase a finish before they have stable control. A better framework is control → isolate → create the opening → finish.
Submissions should be drilled with a qualified coach and cooperative partner before adding resistance. Never crank a joint lock or choke to “see if it works.”
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