Get Better at Jiu Jitsu Grappling with These Tips

When you think of Jiu Jitsu, grappling is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Grappling forms the backbone of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), emphasizing control, leverage, and technique over brute strength. 

Whether you’re exploring martial arts for competition, self-defense, or personal growth, mastering the art of Jiu Jitsu grappling opens the door to endless possibilities. 

Let’s break down the essentials of grappling, its key techniques, real-world applications, and how you can sharpen your skills to become a force to be reckoned with on the mat.

What is Jiu Jitsu Grappling?

Grappling in Jiu Jitsu is like a game of chess, but instead of pieces on a board, you’re using your body to control and outmaneuver your opponent. 

It’s all about precision and strategy—leveraging positioning, clinches, and takedowns to either gain the upper hand or secure a submission. 

Unlike striking martial arts, grappling isn’t about hitting your opponent. Instead, you’re focused on closing the distance and dominating the engagement without brute strength.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu takes grappling to another level. It was built on the idea that a smaller, less powerful person can effectively neutralize someone larger by using leverage and technique. 

That’s what makes it so practical—on the mat or in real-life situations, you don’t need to be the biggest or the strongest. You just need to know how to position yourself and control the flow of the fight.  

Fundamental Grappling Techniques in Jiu Jitsu

Grappling doesn’t happen by chance; it’s built on a foundation of skills you’ll use again and again. These core techniques give you the tools to control, attack, and defend, no matter who you’re up against.

Positional Hierarchy

Positioning isn’t just important in grappling—it’s everything. If you’re in a good position, you’re in control. If you’re not, you’re fighting an uphill battle. Here are the key positions every grappler needs to know:

Guard

Imagine lying on your back while keeping your opponent in check with your legs. That’s the guard. 

Closed guard is like locking them in place, open guard gives you freedom to move, and half-guard puts you halfway between attack and defense. 

A strong guard isn’t passive—it’s your launchpad for sweeps, submissions, and counters.

Mount

Picture yourself sitting on your opponent’s chest. From here, you have full control while they’re stuck trying to escape. You can attack with strikes or submissions and keep the fight completely on your terms.

Side Control

Side control is all about pinning your opponent flat on their back. By keeping their hips and shoulders locked down, you limit their movement and create opportunities to transition or attack.

Back Control

When you take someone’s back, you’re in the most dominant position possible. You’re behind them, they can’t see what you’re doing, and their options to escape are slim. This is the perfect spot to set up chokes or other submissions.

Mastering these positions doesn’t just give you control—it gives you options. You’re always thinking one step ahead, setting the stage for your next move.

Submission Techniques

If positions are about control, submissions are about finishing the fight. Submissions force your opponent to give up to avoid injury, and they’re where grappling shows its true effectiveness. Here are some key submission types:

Chokes

The rear-naked choke is a classic for a reason—it’s simple, powerful, and hard to defend when applied correctly. Then there’s the triangle choke, which uses your legs to cut off blood flow. Both are designed to leave your opponent with no choice but to tap.

Joint Locks

Armbar, kimura, omoplata—these are all about targeting specific joints, isolating them, and applying controlled pressure. They don’t require brute strength, just the right angles and timing to get the job done.

Submissions are the ultimate equalizer. They show that skill and technique matter more than size or strength.

Escapes and Counters

Nobody wins every exchange, and that’s where escapes and counters come in. Knowing how to get out of bad spots, like being stuck under a mount or pinned in side control, is just as important as knowing how to dominate. 

Escapes like shrimping or bridging create space to regain control, while counters let you turn your opponent’s attack into your own opportunity.

In grappling, defense isn’t just survival—it’s part of your strategy. When you’re comfortable escaping or countering, you can stay calm under pressure and make smart decisions, even when things aren’t going your way. 

That’s what separates a good grappler from a great one.

Applications of Grappling in Jiu Jitsu

Grappling isn’t about flashy moves—it’s about practical, results-driven techniques that work in real situations. 

Whether you’re competing, defending yourself, or adapting Jiu Jitsu to other martial arts, grappling forms the core of what makes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu so effective. 

The versatility and depth of grappling make it an essential skill set for anyone serious about martial arts.

Grappling in Competition

In BJJ tournaments, grappling dominates the scoreboard. Judges award points for securing dominant positions like the mount, guard passes, and back control. 

Executing takedowns and transitioning smoothly between positions also earns points. These fundamentals require precision and an understanding of how to maintain control over your opponent while conserving energy.

The beauty of grappling in competition is the strategy involved. It’s not just physical—you have to think ahead, anticipate your opponent’s moves, and time your attacks perfectly. 

Sometimes it’s about patience, waiting for the right opening, and other times it’s about creating pressure to force your opponent into making a mistake. It’s a mental chess game played out on the mat, where every move counts.

Grappling for Self-Defense

When it comes to protecting yourself in real-life scenarios, grappling is one of the most reliable skills you can have. Most confrontations involve some level of grabbing, pushing, or attempts to overpower you physically. 

Grappling techniques give you the tools to manage these situations effectively, even against larger or stronger opponents.

Knowing how to clinch and control someone neutralizes their ability to harm you. For example, the guard position lets you stay protected if you’re on your back, giving you options to attack or escape. 

Meanwhile, the mount allows you to establish dominance and control until help arrives or you can safely leave the situation. Grappling empowers you to respond calmly and decisively, turning potentially dangerous encounters into manageable situations.

Grappling in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

In MMA, grappling separates good fighters from great ones. It’s the skill that allows you to dictate where the fight takes place. 

Strong grapplers can take opponents to the ground and keep them there, controlling the pace of the fight and neutralizing striking threats. 

On the ground, grappling opens up opportunities for submissions like arm bars or rear-naked chokes, or even delivering strikes safely from a dominant position.

What makes grappling indispensable in MMA is its ability to complement striking. You can use takedowns to avoid an opponent’s powerful punches or kicks and force them into a range where you have the upper hand. 

Fighters who master grappling often dominate because they can control both the pace and the outcome of a fight.

How to Improve Your Grappling Skills

Getting better at grappling is about consistency and intentional practice. Everyone starts as a beginner, but with a structured approach and a commitment to learning, your progress can accelerate quickly. Here’s how you can take your skills to the next level.

Drilling and Repetition

Repetition is the foundation of mastery in grappling. Drilling techniques like guard passes, takedowns, and escapes trains your body to react instinctively in a match. 

Muscle memory allows you to perform these moves under pressure without hesitation, which is crucial in both competition and self-defense situations.

To drill effectively, focus on one aspect of grappling at a time. For example, spend a session working exclusively on transitioning from side control to mount or escaping from an opponent’s back control. 

The goal isn’t speed—it’s precision. When you drill with proper form repeatedly, the movements become second nature.

Sparring and Rolling

Live sparring, or rolling, is where you put your training to the test. It’s not about winning every exchange—it’s about experimenting, learning, and improving. 

Sparring helps you identify weaknesses, refine your techniques, and develop your timing. It’s also an opportunity to see how well you can adapt to different opponents and scenarios.

During sparring, challenge yourself to work from disadvantaged positions, like escaping mount or defending submissions. This approach builds confidence and ensures that you’re prepared for any situation. 

After each roll, take a moment to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what you’ll focus on improving next time.

Studying Grappling Theory

Grappling isn’t just physical—it’s deeply intellectual. Understanding the principles behind each technique gives you a strategic edge. 

Study videos of high-level grapplers to see how they set up submissions or escape tricky positions. Pay attention to their control, timing, and efficiency.

You can also learn by analyzing your own matches or sparring sessions. Ask questions like, “Why did my guard pass fail?” or “How could I have avoided that submission?” 

Breaking down your performance helps you see areas for growth and develop a more thoughtful approach to grappling.

Cross-Training and Conditioning

While grappling itself is physically demanding, supplementing your training with strength and conditioning can enhance your performance. Core exercises, for instance, improve stability and power in positions like side control or mount. Flexibility training, such as yoga, helps you move fluidly and avoid injuries.

Cardio is equally important. Grappling matches can be exhausting, so building your stamina ensures you can maintain a high level of performance from start to finish. 

A well-rounded conditioning routine complements your grappling skills and prepares you for the physical challenges of competition or sparring.

Why Grappling Stands Out

What sets grappling apart is its emphasis on technique and strategy over brute strength. A smaller, skilled grappler can dominate a larger, less experienced opponent by applying principles of leverage, timing, and positioning. 

This focus on efficiency makes grappling accessible to people of all sizes and strengths.

The beauty of grappling is its adaptability. Beginners can quickly learn and apply basic techniques, while advanced practitioners can spend years refining the finer details. 

This depth ensures that grappling stays engaging and rewarding at every level, whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or competing at the highest levels.

Find Your Flow on the Mats with Eye2Eye Combat

Grappling in Jiu Jitsu is about building confidence, strategy, and control over your body and mind. The skills you develop on the mats can prepare you for challenges far beyond the dojo. 

At Eye2Eye Combat, we specialize in helping people like you unlock their potential, offering practical, immediately applicable training in a supportive and focused environment​​. 

Whether you’re brand new to grappling or ready to refine your skills, there’s a place for you here. Check out our Bujutsu classes and take your training to the next level—because confidence starts with action. Let’s get started!

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