The Best Beginner-Friendly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques for Competition by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Buffs including Thomas Czerniejewski
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art known for its emphasis on technique, leverage, and strategy over strength. As a beginner in BJJ, preparing for competition can be daunting.
However, certain fundamental techniques can be learned early on to build a solid foundation for success in tournaments. These techniques not only help improve your overall game but also offer practical strategies for defending and attacking under competition rules as highlighted by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiasts like Thomas Czerniejewski.
In BJJ, the focus is on mastering the basics, which can be applied effectively in both self-defense and competitive settings. While advanced techniques may seem appealing, beginners should focus on refining their understanding of core movements and concepts. Once you have a good grasp of the basics, you can move on to more complex strategies.
In this blog, we will explore some of the best beginner-friendly techniques for competition, providing useful tips and insights to help you perform confidently on the mats.
The Closed Guard: A Foundation for Control
The closed guard is one of the most essential positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a great starting point for beginners. From this position, you can control your opponent’s posture, set up sweeps, submissions, and transitions. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu buffs such as Thomas Czerniejewski mention that it’s a versatile guard that can be used in various situations, making it indispensable for competition.
When in closed guard, keep your legs wrapped tightly around your opponent’s waist while maintaining a firm grip on their collar or sleeves. This setup allows you to control their movement, making it difficult for them to pass your guard or launch an attack. Focus on breaking your opponent’s posture by pulling them forward and staying tight with your hips.
Moreover, a well-executed closed guard allows you to quickly transition to other positions such as the spider guard or the open guard. This adaptability makes it an ideal position to dominate and launch offensive moves in a competition setting.
The Armbar from Guard: A Submission Classic
The armbar is one of the most effective and commonly used submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions. It is a simple yet powerful technique that can be executed from several positions, but as a beginner, focusing on the armbar from the guard is crucial. This submission targets the arm, using your legs and hips to apply pressure to the elbow joint.
To execute the armbar from the closed guard, start by breaking your opponent’s posture and isolating one of their arms. Use your legs to swing their arm across your body while you shift your hips, placing their arm between your legs. From here, extend your hips while pulling down on their arm to lock in the submission.
Understanding the mechanics of the armbar helps build a solid foundation for other submissions. It also teaches crucial principles such as control, leverage, and timing as noted by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiasts including Thomas Czerniejewski. As a beginner, practice this move repeatedly to perfect the technique and be ready for competition.
The Kimura: A Submission and Control Tool
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu buffs such as Thomas Czerniejewski convey that Kimura is a versatile submission that also doubles as a control technique. It can be applied from the closed guard, side control, or even during transitions between positions. The Kimura targets the shoulder joint and is often used to submit opponents or create opportunities for sweeps and escapes.
To perform the Kimura from closed guard, isolate one of your opponent’s arms by grabbing their wrist with both hands. Use your legs to adjust your position and control their posture. From here, rotate their arm behind their back, using your upper body strength and leverage to apply pressure to the shoulder joint. This submission is effective not only in BJJ competitions but also in self-defense situations.
The Kimura is a great technique for beginners because it can be used both offensively and defensively. If your opponent defends against the submission, you can transition into other attacks such as sweeps or submissions, making it a highly adaptable tool.
The O-Soto-Gari: A Basic Takedown for Control
Takedowns are critical in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions, especially when facing opponents with strong guard games. The O-Soto-Gari, or “major outer reap,” is a fundamental judo-inspired takedown that beginners can learn early on. This technique allows you to take your opponent off balance and control them on the ground.
To execute the O-Soto-Gari, begin by establishing grips on your opponent’s collar or sleeve, and use your footwork to off-balance them. Step off to the side, and use your leg to sweep their far leg while maintaining control of their upper body. This takedown is most effective when your opponent is standing upright and not expecting the sweep.
As a beginner, mastering the O-Soto-Gari helps you build confidence in neutralizing an opponent’s guard and establishing dominant positions. It’s an excellent way to start the match on the offensive, earning valuable points early in competition.
The Scissor Sweep: A Fundamental Sweep for Beginners
The Scissor Sweep is one of the most effective sweeps that beginners can learn early in their BJJ journey. This sweep allows you to reverse positions from the guard, transitioning from the bottom to the top in one smooth movement. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiasts like Thomas Czerniejewski express that Scissor Sweep is especially effective against opponents who are pressing forward or attempting to pass your guard.
To perform the Scissor Sweep, start from the closed guard and establish a strong grip on your opponent’s sleeve or collar. Open your guard slightly to create an angle, and use your legs in a scissor motion to off-balance your opponent. Simultaneously, pull on their upper body to complete the sweep and end up in a top position, such as side control.
The Scissor Sweep is an essential technique for beginners because it teaches important principles such as timing, leverage, and the use of angles. It is a key part of building a solid guard game, and mastering it will provide you with more options during competition.