My 10 Pillars for Jiu Jitsu (1/28/2011):

[Slick Rick]

Sure thing Tammo!

Position before submission is a concept. You establish a position first and hold your ground. For instance, in side control, if the person can bump out and get free, you haven't secured your dominant position.

If s/he can't move, then it's safe to know you scored your points and you can begin to run through your submission chains...
If X -> do Y, if Y doesn't work, do Z....

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Think of how we do this in the game of Chess: You just don't bring your Queen out and start attacking at your opponent to see what sticks. A dominant gameplan would be to secure position, control the center of the board with your ponds up front, protecting the Rook area by moving your ponds one spot up, and then castling your Rook and King. This is your dominant position. From here, you can start attacking. If he blocks a certain piece, go to option 2,3,4 and so on. If you have to regroup, it doesn't matter because you have a good solid stronghold and you can change your strategy.

[Slick Rick]

I like it! But can you explain number one.

Record all techniques... yes. Number 1.. When I first started, there were so many moves being thrown at me to learn, I forgot them the next day. I got to writing in a journal after each class(stick figures, text, scribbles)... Anything to help me remember that move should I have to go back to it a year later.

That got old, so after a while I started putting everything in Excel: mount bottom, mount top, side control bottom, side control top, North south control... etc...

To supplement this, I now use a flip video cam(use whatever you want to use to record), because it was super simple to take vid, and refer to it later by filename: WHO_POSITION_NAME_RATING.mp4 ---> SBOLLINGER_BUTTERFLY_ARM-DRAG-TO-BACK_10.mp4

Now, when I look back at my moves, I'll simply sort by name, and then I'll find what I'm looking for.


When I say record all techniques, my "record" is probably the extreme. But even my recording techniques had its own evolution!!

[Jonathan Wylie]

Record all techniques... yes. Number 1.. When I first started, there were so many moves being thrown at me to learn, I forgot them the next day. I got to writing in a journal after each class(stick figures, text, scribbles)... Anything to help me remember that move should I have to go back to it a year later.

That got old, so after a while I started putting everything in Excel: mount bottom, mount top, side control bottom, side control top, North south control... etc...

To supplement this, I now use a flip video cam(use whatever you want to use to record), because it was super simple to take vid, and refer to it later by filename: WHO_POSITION_NAME_RATING.mp4 ---> SBOLLINGER_BUTTERFLY_ARM-DRAG-TO-BACK_10.mp4

Now, when I look back at my moves, I'll simply sort by name, and then I'll find what I'm looking for.


When I say record all techniques, my "record" is probably the extreme. But even my recording techniques had its own evolution!!

Ok, I got it thanks and yes thats a great idea I have started doing this with the mts techs.

[Sean Marshall]

can someone explain this submission over position and pos over sub stuff quick? like in two example scenarios?

Submission over position to me is im securing the position to get a better submission or Im thinking moves ahead on the submission more than Im thinking about the position. Or during the scramble Im thinking about the submission but Im worried about the position. Percentages in my head I guess. If Im in something like half guard bottom then Im mostly thinking about the position

Could also be misused to avoid learning proper technique in other areas trying to learn to many submissions.

I originally heard Erik Paulson talking about it. Catch wrestling Philosophy. I dont like to be to rigid about it. Depends whats going on.

Seems like there are a lot of ways of looking at it

[Harry Evans]

I love it. Gotta move "position b4 submission" to #1 on my list, though. Hell, I have been telling some of my gym's white belts "position b4 position". In other words, before you try to transition to a new position, set up the minor shifts, hand positions, leg pressure, etc that will make the move work. Don't just sit in a good guard and try to dive through it, or hit a pass without a good setup.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Rick, I have noticed that at most of the high level competitions, lots of guys are landing their finishes in transition, instead of waiting on the guy to settle. This is especially true among the lighter weight classes.

In the heavier weight divisions, position seems to always come first. And when you watch all the old classic guys (especially in the gi) position usually comes first. Roger Gracie's mount to cross choke series is a good example that comes to mind right away.

Why do you think this holds true? Or do you even believe it does hold true?

[Slick Rick]

Rick, I have noticed that at most of the high level competitions, lots of guys are landing their finishes in transition, instead of waiting on the guy to settle. This is especially true among the lighter weight classes.

In the heavier weight divisions, position seems to always come first. And when you watch all the old classic guys (especially in the gi) position usually comes first. Roger Gracie's mount to cross choke series is a good example that comes to mind right away.

Why do you think this holds true? Or do you even believe it does hold true?

I'm loving your posts Brandon! So true about the finishes before position for high level jits, and pos before sub for heavier weights, or even smaller vs heavy.. As we all get to the higher levels, the way we are going to beat the next guy is to not only:
1) recognize a submission once you gain position,
but
2) use trickery
3) speed of execution
4) efficient movement

I believe you want the positional grappling in every level, but so important in the belts coming up. How am I a 150 lb-er, but I'm able to keep a 250 lb-er flat on their back? It's because of positional dominance. I put those reps in to attain that level. I would love to present my first move to a person, only to catch them in the 4th move(my goal).

Thank you so much Brandon.. It's great to have these conversations. They are enlightening to me.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

I believe you want the positional grappling in every level, but so important in the belts coming up.

I think you're on it, right there. Submission in transition can never make sense to me if I haven't learned the fundamental principles of control.

In the beginning of your grappling journey, without control over an inexperienced opponent your body doesn't learn to feel the necessary conditions that make the submission possible. Without a refined feeling (which obviously increases dramatically with time and mat experience) for those conditions, your body learns to "fall into place" whenever the condition arises, even from an unorthodox spot.

An example I can think of within my own game is the D'arce choke. I began by learning the D'arce from the top of the halfguard. Eventually, I began to see it from the mount. Then side control. Then Twister side. Then butterfly guard. Then in the transition of a double underhook guard pass, etc... Without establishing the fundamental and precise movements from a controlled position (top half guard), the transitional submission would never be very realistic. I would just find myself "almost" landing it a bunch of times.

[Tammo Haarhuis]

I love both yout posts :P have to work on my positioning, because i usually feeing safe and good on my back. because of that im not good on top or in my opponents guard. gotta work on that...

[Tammo Haarhuis]

sorry, my last post is full of mistakes...