There are over 50 recognized BJJ submissions used in competition and training, ranging from basic chokes every white belt learns to advanced leg locks that take years to master. This guide lists every major submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, organized by category, so you can use it as a reference for building your game.
If you're just getting started, check out the 7 submissions every white belt should know for a focused starting point.
How many submissions are there in BJJ?
The exact number depends on how you count. If you include every variation and entry, there are hundreds. If you count distinct submission types (regardless of position), there are roughly 50 to 60 core submissions in BJJ.
Most of them fall into four main categories:
- Chokes (blood chokes and air chokes)
- Arm locks (attacks on the elbow and shoulder)
- Leg locks (attacks on the knee, ankle, and hip)
- Compression locks (muscle crushes like the calf slicer and bicep slicer)
In IBJJF competition, not all submissions are legal at every belt level. White belts are limited to basic chokes and straight arm locks. Leg locks become progressively more available at higher belts and in no-gi rulesets.
Chokes
Chokes are the highest-percentage submissions in BJJ. They work by restricting blood flow to the brain (blood chokes) or compressing the trachea (air chokes). A properly applied blood choke can cause unconsciousness in seconds, making them the fastest path to a finish.
Rear naked choke (RNC)
The most effective submission in all of grappling. Applied from back control by wrapping one arm around the opponent's neck and using the other arm to create a figure-four squeeze. Works in gi and no-gi. If you learn one submission, make it this one.
Triangle choke
A blood choke applied using your legs. You trap one of your opponent's arms and their neck inside a triangle formed by your legs, then squeeze. Most commonly applied from closed guard, but also effective from mount, back control, and side control.
Learn the triangle from closed guard | Triangle from back control
Guillotine choke
A front headlock choke where you wrap your arm around your opponent's neck and squeeze upward. Effective in both standing and ground positions. Especially useful as a counter to sloppy takedown attempts. Comes in arm-in and no-arm-in variations.
Learn the guillotine from closed guard
Cross collar choke
A gi-specific choke applied by gripping both lapels and crossing your wrists against the sides of your opponent's neck. Most commonly used from mount, but also works from closed guard. One of the first chokes you'll learn in the gi.
Learn the cross collar choke from mount
Bow and arrow choke
One of the tightest chokes in BJJ. Applied from back control by gripping the opponent's collar with one hand and their pants at the knee with the other, then extending your body to create extreme pressure on the neck. Gi-only.
Ezekiel choke
A choke that uses the sleeve of your own gi (or your wrist in no-gi) to create a choking mechanism. Commonly applied from mount or inside the opponent's closed guard. One of the few submissions you can effectively attack from inside someone's guard.
Baseball bat choke
A gi choke where both hands grip the opponent's collar in the same direction (like holding a baseball bat). Often set up from side control or knee on belly and finished during a transition. Catches people off guard because the choke tightens as they move.
D'arce choke
An arm triangle variation where you thread your arm under the opponent's neck and over their trapped arm, connecting your hands in a figure-four. Applied from side control, half guard, or during transitions. Works well in no-gi.
Anaconda choke
The inverse of the D'arce. You thread your arm over the opponent's neck and under their arm, then lock a figure-four and roll to tighten. Often set up from front headlock position. Named after the snake because of its constricting action.
North-south choke
Applied from the north-south position by wrapping your arm around the opponent's neck and pressing your shoulder into their face. A grinding, pressure-based choke that requires good body positioning to finish.
Brabo choke (clock choke variant)
A lapel-based choke often set up from side control or turtle position. You feed the opponent's lapel around their neck and use it as a choking tool. Several variations exist depending on the position.
Loop choke
A sneaky gi choke applied by gripping the opponent's collar and looping your arm around their neck as they drive forward. Often hits during guard passing or from bottom positions. Quick and hard to see coming.
Peruvian necktie
A front headlock choke where you trap the opponent's head and arm, then step over their back and sit through to finish. Similar setup to the guillotine but uses your legs to create the choking pressure.
Paper cutter choke
A gi choke from side control where you grip the far-side collar and use your forearm across the throat while your other hand controls their hip. The name comes from the slicing motion of the forearm.
Arm locks
Arm locks attack the elbow or shoulder joint. The armbar (hyperextending the elbow) is the most common, but shoulder locks like the kimura and americana are equally fundamental. Arm locks are legal at all belt levels in IBJJF competition.
Armbar
The most versatile joint lock in BJJ. You isolate the opponent's arm between your legs, control their wrist, and extend your hips to hyperextend their elbow. Can be applied from virtually every position: mount, closed guard, side control, back control, and standing.
From mount | From closed guard | From side control | From back control
Kimura
A double-wrist shoulder lock. You grip the opponent's wrist with one hand and thread your other arm behind their elbow, connecting your hands in a figure-four. You finish by rotating their arm behind their back. Works from guard, side control, mount, and as a sweep setup.
From side control | From closed guard
Americana (key lock)
The reverse of the kimura. Same figure-four grip, but you push the opponent's hand toward the mat while lifting their elbow. Typically applied from mount or side control. One of the first submissions taught to beginners because the position is easy to control.
Learn the americana from mount
Omoplata
A shoulder lock applied using your legs. You trap the opponent's arm with your leg and rotate your body to create rotational pressure on their shoulder. Usually set up from closed guard or open guard. If they defend, it transitions well into sweeps and other attacks.
Learn the omoplata from closed guard
Reverse armbar
An armbar where you attack the arm in the opposite direction, bending it against its natural range. Can be applied from closed guard, mount, or during scrambles. Less common than the standard armbar but catches people who defend conventionally.
Learn the reverse armbar from closed guard
Baratoplata
A shoulder lock variation where you trap the opponent's arm using a figure-four with your legs and arms. Combines elements of the omoplata and kimura. An advanced submission that's becoming more popular in modern BJJ.
Tarikoplata
A modern shoulder lock invented by Tarik Hopstock. It's a kimura variation where you use your legs to create additional leverage on the opponent's arm. Gaining popularity in competition because it's hard to defend once locked in.
Wristlock
An attack on the wrist joint by bending it beyond its natural range. Can be applied from almost any position where you control the opponent's hand. Often used as a surprise attack when the opponent is focused on defending other submissions. Legal at blue belt and above in IBJJF.
Leg locks
Leg locks attack the knee, ankle, and hip joints. They've become a central part of modern BJJ thanks to grapplers like John Danaher, Craig Jones, and the Danaher Death Squad. Leg lock rules vary by ruleset and belt level.
Straight ankle lock
The most basic leg lock. You trap the opponent's foot in your armpit and extend your hips to hyperextend their ankle. Legal at all belt levels in IBJJF. This is your entry point into learning leg locks.
Learn the straight ankle lock from single-x
Heel hook (inside and outside)
The most powerful leg lock in BJJ. You control the opponent's leg and twist their heel, creating rotational force on the knee. The inside heel hook attacks the knee with internal rotation. The outside heel hook attacks with external rotation. Both are legal only in no-gi at brown/black belt in IBJJF, but legal at all levels in many other rulesets (ADCC, most sub-only events).
Toe hold
A foot lock where you grip the opponent's foot and twist it, attacking the ankle and knee. Applied by wrapping the foot in a figure-four grip and rotating. Legal at brown belt and above in IBJJF gi, and at all levels in many no-gi rulesets.
Kneebar
The leg equivalent of an armbar. You isolate the opponent's leg between your legs and hyperextend their knee by driving your hips forward. Legal at brown belt and above in IBJJF. Can be applied from many positions including half guard, mount transitions, and leg entanglements.
Learn the kneebar from half guard
Calf slicer (calf crush)
A compression lock where you place your shin or forearm behind the opponent's knee and fold their leg to crush the calf muscle against the bone. Legal at brown belt and above in IBJJF. Often set up from truck position or back control transitions.
Tren lock (inside sankaku lock)
A modern leg lock entry that uses a triangle leg configuration to attack with heel hooks, toe holds, or kneebars. Popularized in recent competition circuits and becoming a staple of modern leg lock systems.
Estima lock
A foot lock variation created by Victor Estima. Applied by trapping the opponent's foot in the crook of your elbow and applying a twisting pressure. Often catches opponents off guard during guard passing situations.
Electric chair
A groin and hip lock applied from the lockdown half guard or truck position. You thread your arm under the opponent's leg and crank it upward while controlling their body with your legs. Popularized by Eddie Bravo and the 10th Planet system.
Compression locks
Compression locks crush muscle against bone, creating intense pain and potential damage. They're less common than chokes and joint locks but effective when applied correctly.
Bicep slicer
A compression lock where you place your forearm or shin into the crook of the opponent's elbow and force their arm to fold, crushing the bicep. Often set up when the opponent straightens their arm to defend an armbar. Legal at brown belt and above in IBJJF.
Chest compressor (body triangle squeeze)
Applied from back control using a body triangle (triangle leg lock around the torso). Extreme pressure on the ribs and diaphragm that restricts breathing. Not always recognized as a submission in competition but can force a tap.
Can opener (neck crank)
Pulling the opponent's head down while in their closed guard, compressing the neck and spine. Considered a neck crank and is illegal in most rulesets. Included here for awareness, not recommendation.
Submission legality by belt level (IBJJF)
Not all submissions are legal at every level. Here's a quick reference for IBJJF gi competition:
- White belt: Chokes (except for certain neck cranks), straight arm locks (armbar, americana, kimura). No leg locks except straight ankle lock.
- Blue and purple belt: All of the above plus wristlocks and straight ankle locks from any position.
- Brown and black belt: All of the above plus kneebars, toe holds, and calf slicers.
- No-gi (IBJJF): Inside heel hooks legal at brown/black belt. Outside heel hooks legal at brown/black belt.
Other rulesets like ADCC and most submission-only events allow heel hooks and reaping at all levels, making leg locks a bigger part of the game in those formats.
How to build your submission game
You don't need to learn all 50+ submissions at once. Here's how to approach it:
As a white belt, focus on the fundamentals: rear naked choke, armbar, triangle, kimura, americana, guillotine, and the straight ankle lock. These seven submissions will serve you for your entire BJJ career. Check our 7 submissions for white belts guide for details on each.
At blue and purple belt, expand into omoplatas, bow and arrow chokes, baseball bat chokes, D'arce and anaconda chokes, and wristlocks. Start learning toe holds and basic heel hook defense.
At brown and black belt, develop a complete leg lock game (heel hooks, kneebars, calf slicers), refine your choke entries from every position, and work on chains where one submission sets up the next.
The goal isn't to collect submissions. It's to build systems where your attacks connect. A triangle attempt should flow into an armbar. A kimura should chain into a sweep or a back take. The best submission artists aren't the ones who know the most techniques. They're the ones whose techniques work together.
For a visual map of how positions and submissions connect, try our game plan tool to map out your personal submission chains.
Key takeaways:
- There are roughly 50 to 60 core BJJ submissions across four categories: chokes, arm locks, leg locks, and compression locks.
- Chokes are the highest-percentage submissions. The rear naked choke is the single most effective submission in grappling.
- Arm locks (armbar, kimura, americana) are legal at all belt levels and should be the foundation of every beginner's game.
- Leg locks have become central to modern BJJ. Start with the straight ankle lock and expand from there as you progress.
- IBJJF restricts certain submissions by belt level. Know the rules for your division before competing.
- Focus on building connected systems rather than collecting individual techniques.
- White belts should master 7 core submissions before expanding their game.
Explore individual techniques in detail in our technique library, or start with the 7 submissions every white belt should know.