Free Martial Arts learning guide
Intermediate Jiu Jitsu Techniques for Blue Belts
Intermediate Jiu Jitsu Techniques for Blue Belts — a free intermediate-level guide covering intermediate jiu jitsu techniques for blue belts. Learn...
What you will learn
- Guard Retention and Fundamental Sweeps
- Closed Guard Attacks and Submissions
- Open Guard Variations – De La Riva, Spider, and Lasso
- Half Guard – Deep Half, Lockdown, and Attacks
- Side Control – Pressure, Control, and Submissions
- Knee‑on‑Belly – Control and Transition Mechanics
- Mount – Dominance, Attacks, and Positional Maintenance
- Back Control – Seatbelt Grip, Hooks, and Finishing Chokes
- Escapes and Defensive Counters
1. Guard Retention and Fundamental Sweeps
When the Pressure Builds: A Real‑World Snap‑Decision Imagine you’re on the bottom in a high‑stakes competition. Your opponent slides his knee across your thigh, drops his weight, and begins to flatten you with a classic knee‑slide pass. In that split‑second, you have three options: 1. Give up the guard and hope to scramble later. 2. Attempt a desperate escape that will likely cost you points. 3. Activate the guard‑retention toolkit you’ve been drilling for months—frames, grips, and a hip‑escape that not only stops the pass but flips the situation into a sweep. The third option is the one every blue belt should be able to execute reliably. This chapter breaks down the exact frames, grips, and movement patterns that turn a looming pass into an opportunity to sweep and gain top control. --- 1. The Architecture of Guard Retention Guard retention is not a single movement; it is a system of interlocking frames, grips, and hip mobility that keep the opponent’s weight off your hips and prevent their base from collapsing. 1.1 Primary Frames | Frame | Purpose | Typical Placement | |-------|---------|-------------------| | Knee‑on‑hip frame | Blocks the opponent’s knee‑slide and creates space for hip‑escape | Inside knee (your knee) against their thigh or hip | | Shin‑to‑shin frame | Controls the opponent’s leg when they attempt a leg‑drag or over‑under | Your shin across their thigh, palm on the back of their knee | | Hip‑to‑hip frame | Maintains distance and prevents the opponent from flattening you | Hip or thigh against their hip/torso, often combined with a hand on the collar | Key tip: Each frame should be hard (muscle engaged) yet mobile—you must be able to shift the angle without losing the pressure barrier. 1.2 Essential Grips - Collar‑to‑sleeve (or lapel‑to‑sleeve) – Provides leverage for both retention and sweeps. - Ankle‑to‑ankle (or foot‑on‑hip) – Secures the opponent’s leg, especially useful against knee‑slide and over‑under passes. - Inside‑outside lapel control – Allows you to pull the opponent’s upper body forward while keeping your hips free. Grip hierarchy: Start with a high‑control grip (collar or lapel) that can be used to pull the opponent’s weight towards you. Add a low‑control grip (ankle/foot) to lock the leg and create a fulcrum for hip movement. --- 2. Hip‑Escape (Shrimp) Drills: Rebuilding the Guard After Pressure Hip‑escape, or shrimping, is the backbone of guard recovery. It re‑establishes the distance needed for frames and grips to be effective. 2.1 The Fundamental Shrimp 1. Start on your back, knees bent, feet flat. 2. Plant one foot firmly on the mat; the opposite knee points toward the ceiling. 3. Push off the planted foot, sliding your hips away while turning onto your side. 4. …
2. Closed Guard Attacks and Submissions
A Split‑Second Decision You’re on your back, the opponent has just secured a knee‑slide pass and is driving his weight forward. Your hips are low, the inside‑outside lapel control is tight, and your collar‑to‑sleeve grip is humming. In the split second before the pass fully settles, you snap a high‑control grip on his wrist, swivel his arm across your body, and—without breaking the closed guard—launch a triangle that forces him to tap. That moment encapsulates the power of a well‑structured closed‑guard attack: control, quick transitions, and the ability to keep the opponent guessing. The techniques below build on the retention fundamentals you already mastered, turning a defensive guard into a launchpad for high‑percentage submissions and sweeps. --- Grip Foundations for Closed‑Guard Attacks A solid grip hierarchy is the backbone of every closed‑guard attack. The grips you choose dictate the line of attack, the leverage you generate, and the defensive windows you keep closed. | Grip Type | Primary Purpose | Typical Use in Submissions | |-----------|----------------|----------------------------| | High‑control grip (e.g., lapel‑to‑sleeve, collar‑to‑sleeve) | Dictates opponent’s posture and limits his ability to drive forward | Sets up arm‑bar, kimura; creates a strong frame for the triangle | | Low‑control grip (ankle‑to‑ankle, foot‑on‑hip) | Controls lower body, prevents hip‑escape and leg‑drag | Stabilizes the triangle leg‑hook; assists in sweeping after an arm‑bar | Key tip: Always establish a high‑control grip first; it is the “gatekeeper” that lets you transition to low‑control grips without sacrificing the closed guard. When you feel the opponent’s weight shifting, activate the guard‑retention toolkit (knee‑slide frame, shin‑to‑shin frame, hip‑to‑hip frame) while simultaneously tightening your grip hierarchy. This dual focus keeps the guard intact while you prepare the submission. --- The Closed‑Guard Submission Toolbox For a blue‑belt practitioner, three submissions dominate the closed‑guard landscape: 1. Arm‑Bar – isolates a single arm, hyper‑extends the elbow. 2. Triangle – traps the neck and an arm between the legs, creates a choke. 3. Kimura – leverages the shoulder joint, often leading to a sweep or a transition. All three share a common prerequisite: secure the opponent’s posture with a high‑control grip, then transition to the appropriate low‑control grip for finishing. Mastery of these “core” attacks gives you the confidence to explore variations (omoplata, gogoplata) later in the curriculum. --- Arm‑Bar from Closed Guard The arm‑bar is the most frequently attempted submission from closed guard and a reliable gateway to a sweep when the opponent defends. Step‑by‑Step Breakdown 1. Establish the high‑control grip – lapel‑to‑sleeve on the far side arm; pull the sleeve toward your hips while pushing the lapel away to break his posture. 2. Control the arm – slide your same‑side hand under his triceps, grasp his wrist with a thumb‑in‑palm …
3. Open Guard Variations – De La Riva, Spider, and Lasso
Imagine you’re on the mat at a blue‑belt tournament. Your opponent snaps a knee‑slide pass and you feel the pressure building as his hips close in. Instead of scrambling for a desperate escape, you drop a quick De La Riva hook, establish a spider‑type foot‑on‑hip, and within three seconds you’ve turned the tide, sweeping him onto his back. The ability to fluidly move between De La Riva, Spider, and Lasso guards is what separates a static guard player from a dynamic open‑guard specialist. --- De La Riva Guard Setting the Grip | Step | Action | Why it matters | |------|--------|----------------| | Start | From standing, step your right foot outside your opponent’s left ankle and plant the sole on the mat. | Creates the classic “outside hook.” | | Plant | Grab the opponent’s left sleeve with your left hand (high‑control grip) and the right lapel near the collar with your right hand (low‑control grip). | Establishes a grip hierarchy that gives you leverage for both frames and sweeps. | | Push | Pull the sleeve toward you while pushing the lapel away, opening a diagonal angle. | Generates the inside‑outside tension needed for the next phases. | | Extend | Extend your right leg, hooking the opponent’s left ankle. Simultaneously, keep the left foot ready to post on the mat for balance. | Locks the hook and prevents the opponent from re‑establishing a tight base. | | Reset | If the opponent attempts to step over, release the lapel grip, re‑grab the sleeve, and shift the hook to the opposite leg. | Maintains the guard despite his movement. | Tip: Use the shin‑to‑shin frame from the previous chapter to keep your hook firm while you work the grips. Primary Sweep – The Classic De La Riva Sweep 1. Control the opponent’s sleeve and lapel as described. 2. Kick the hooked leg outward, creating a “push‑pull” motion. 3. Bridge your hips toward the hooked side while pulling the sleeve across your body. 4. Roll the opponent over the hooked leg, finishing in mount or side‑control. Key point: The sweep relies heavily on angle creation—the farther the hook is pushed outward, the easier the opponent’s balance is broken. Transitioning Out of De La Riva - To Spider: After securing the sleeve, release the lapel and replace it with a foot‑on‑hip (plant the same leg on the opponent’s hip). This converts the outside hook into an inside control point. - To Lasso: While maintaining the sleeve grip, swing your hooked leg under the opponent’s arm and lock the ankle around his wrist, forming the Lasso hook. The transition is seamless if you keep the hip‑to‑hip frame active. Foot Placement & Angle …
4. Half Guard – Deep Half, Lockdown, and Attacks
The Power of the Deep Half Guard Imagine you’re on your back, your opponent has just sandwiched you in a traditional half‑guard. He’s already heavy on your hips, looking to pressure‑slide into side‑control. Instead of fighting the pass, you slip a knee between his legs, drop your hips low, and “lock‑down” his leg. In the next breath he’s scrambling for balance while you already have a line of attack on his arm and his leg. That split‑second transition from a passive half‑guard into a deep, lockdown position is the difference between surviving a pass and dictating the next sequence. The deep half guard gives you three simultaneous advantages: Control of the opponent’s base – By inserting the knee deep and locking his leg, you collapse his pressure and limit his ability to drive forward. Frames that neutralize hip pressure – Proper frames recreate the hip‑to‑hip and shin‑to‑shin concepts you honed in Guard Retention, but now they work from a lower, more compact posture. Direct pathways to submissions and sweeps – The locked leg creates a lever for the arm‑triangle, kneebar, and the classic deep‑half sweep, all while keeping the opponent’s weight off your spine. --- Lockdown – The Core of Deep Half Establishing the Lockdown 1. Entry – From a standard half guard, drive your inside knee (the knee closest to the opponent’s body) between his legs. Aim the knee toward his far hip, keeping your foot planted on the mat for stability. 2. Knee‑to‑Knee Contact – Slide the inside knee against the opponent’s inside thigh, then bring your outside knee up to meet it, forming a “figure‑four” with his leg. 3. Foot Placement – Hook the sole of your inside foot on the opponent’s far thigh or hip, creating a solid anchor point. This foot‑on‑hip concept mirrors the “ankle‑to‑ankle” frame you practiced earlier. 4. Hip Alignment – Drop your hips low, tucking your chin and keeping your back flat. Your weight should sit on the inside knee, while the outside knee acts as a “lock” that prevents the opponent from straightening his leg. Key tip: Keep the pressure on the opponent’s thigh rather than his shin; this prevents him from sliding the leg out and regaining mobility. Maintaining the Lockdown with Frames Hip‑to‑hip frame – Place your left forearm across his right hip, pushing his hip away from you. This recreates the hip‑to‑hip frame from Guard Retention, now used to keep his hips from collapsing onto your torso. Shin‑to‑shin frame – Extend your right shin against his left shin, creating a “wall” that blocks his hip‑to‑hip drive. This is the same shin‑to‑shin frame you used to stop a knee‑slide pass, but applied from a lower angle. Upper‑body frame – …
5. Side Control – Pressure, Control, and Submissions
When Pressure Becomes a Weapon Imagine you’re on the mats at a regional tournament. Your opponent scrambles to recover guard after a successful knee‑slide pass, but you already have the top‑side of his torso. Your hips are low, your chest is anchored on his chest, and you feel the weight of your body sinking into his ribs. Within three seconds you lock an underhook, slide your knee toward his hips, and finish with an arm‑triangle. The referee blows the whistle; the match ends before the clock hits zero. That split‑second decision—how to maintain heavy pressure while staying mobile enough to attack—is the essence of side control for the blue belt. The following sections break down the mechanics, grips, and submission pathways that turn a simple position into a dominant, finishing platform. --- 1. Building Pressure Without Sacrificing Hip Mobility Heavy pressure is the backbone of side control, but a static weight distribution can leave you vulnerable to hip‑escapes and reversals. The goal is to anchor your weight while keeping a functional hip hinge that lets you adjust angles, transition, or explode into a submission. 1.1 Weight Distribution Blueprint 1. Chest‑to‑Chest Contact – Align the center of your sternum over the opponent’s sternum. This creates a “pressure plate” that is hard to lift. 2. Shoulder‑to‑Shoulder Stack – Drop the shoulder on the same side as your body (the “top shoulder”) onto the opponent’s shoulder. The opposite shoulder stays low, acting as a lever. 3. Hip‑to‑Hip Bridge – Plant the hip nearest the opponent’s hips (the “bridge hip”) on the mat, then lift slightly to press the opponent’s hips downward. The far hip remains supple, ready to swing or shimmy. Key tip: Think of your body as a tri‑point anchor (chest, shoulder, hip). Each point can be adjusted independently, allowing you to shift pressure without losing the whole structure. 1.2 Preserving the Hip Hinge - Micro‑Shifts: From the bridge hip, practice a tiny forward‑backward slide (≈2‑3 in.) every few seconds. This keeps the hips “alive” and prevents the opponent from threading a knee‑slide or re‑guarding. - Knee‑to‑Knee Frame: Use the knee of the bridge hip as a shin‑to‑shin frame (referencing the earlier “Shin‑to‑shin frame” concept) to block the opponent’s hip movement. The frame should be soft enough to move but firm enough to stop a drive. - Breathing Rhythm: Inhale as you settle the pressure, exhale as you micro‑shift. Controlled breathing maintains torso rigidity while the hips stay mobile. 1.3 Leveraging Prior Passes If you arrived in side control via a knee‑slide pass, you already have the opponent’s far leg trapped under your knee. Convert that trapped leg into a hip‑block: - Slide the knee‑slide knee slightly forward, turning it into a …
6. Knee‑on‑Belly – Control and Transition Mechanics
The Weight of the Problem Imagine this: You’ve just passed your opponent’s guard with a smooth knee-slide, but instead of settling into side control, you choose to climb higher—your knee planting just below their ribs, your weight balanced over their torso. Their arms flail, their hips twist, but you feel the tension leave their body as they realize they’re trapped. This is the power of knee-on-belly (often called knee mount or knee-on-stomach): a position that isn’t just control—it’s dominance. Blue belts often treat knee-on-belly as a static waypoint—a place to rest before moving to mount or submissions. But that’s like treating a Swiss Army knife as just a can opener. Knee-on-belly is a dynamic platform, a fulcrum for your entire game. When used correctly, it doesn’t just control—it dictates the flow of the match. In this chapter, we’ll go beyond “where to put your knee.” We’ll dissect how to balance, attack, and transition from knee-on-belly with precision. You’ll learn how to make your opponent feel every ounce of your weight, how to shut down their best escapes, and how to flow seamlessly into submissions or positional advances—without giving them an inch. And if they scramble? You’ll know how to re-establish control faster than they can react. Let’s begin. --- Why Knee-on-Belly Is More Than a Pressure Tool Knee-on-belly is often misunderstood as just a way to tire out an opponent. While pressure is part of it, the real value lies in control architecture. When you’re in side control, your opponent can frame with their hands or hips, create space, or even shrimp. But in knee-on-belly, their upper body is pinned under your weight, and their lower body is isolated. This asymmetry gives you leverage—not just to hold, but to move. Compare it to side control: - In side control, both hips are engaged—you have to manage their hips and their upper body. - In knee-on-belly, you’re only managing their upper body. Their hips are free—but that’s not a weakness. It’s an opportunity. That freedom allows you to manipulate their body in ways that set up submissions or transitions. Want to take the back? Their hips are available. Want to armbar? Their arm is trapped. Want to pass? Their lower body is exposed. So knee-on-belly isn’t just a pressure tool—it’s a positional hub. --- Establishing Knee-on-Belly: Balance Over Force You don’t need to be 250 lbs to make knee-on-belly oppressive. You need balance. The goal is to have your knee just below their ribs, your shin pressing into their side, and your weight distributed so that: - Your core is engaged - Your free leg is posted for base - Your hands are controlling their upper body Step-by-Step Entry 1. From …
7. Mount – Dominance, Attacks, and Positional Maintenance
The Mounted King’s Gambit: From Control to Submission Without Mercy Your opponent has just weathered your guard passes like a storm, frustrating every knee-slice and hip switch you tried. They’re tiring, their base is weakening, and now you’ve slipped past their legs. You’re here. Mount. This isn’t just a position—it’s a throne. From here, you dictate the pace, the pressure, and the outcome. But mount isn’t a static reward—it’s a dynamic duel. One wrong shift, one lazy grip, one moment of static pressure, and suddenly they’re hip-bumping you into the guard you just passed. Worse, they’re starting to threaten submissions of their own. This is where blue belts often plateau: they get to mount, but they can’t stay there without a fight. Today, you won’t just get to mount—you’ll own it. This chapter isn’t about how to get to mount. You already know that—from guard retention drills, to passing, to the knee-on-belly transitions you learned in the last module. This is about how to stay there, how to attack from there, and how to escalate when the moment is right. You’ll learn to turn mount into a pressure cooker, where every breath your opponent takes feels like a debt they’ll never repay. --- Mount as a System: Control Leads to Submission Mount is a hierarchical position. You don’t win it with brute strength—you win it with systematic control. Break it down: - Posture: Their spine is curved, chin tucked. You’re in control. - Hip Pressure: Their hips are off the mat, or anchored. You’re dominant. - Grip Control: Their arms are tied up, or you’re dictating their movement. - Breathing: They’re gasping. You’re calm. Weakness in any of these leads to escape. Your job isn’t just to crush—it’s to monitor and adjust. The Three Pillars of Mount Control 1. Base Stability Your hips need to be low, heavy, and active—not perched like a bird on a wire. - Feet Position: Knees close to their sides, toes pointed inward (not flared out). - Hip Pressure: Sink your weight downward, using your glutes and core. Think of sitting on their sternum, not their hips. - Leg Engagement: Wrap your legs around their torso. Not to squeeze—just to prevent bridge-and-rolls. Your legs are hooks, not vice grips. 🔑 Key tip: Your knees should feel like they’re glued to their ribs. If there’s space, they’re working a bridge. 2. Grip Hierarchy You control their arms before you control their body. - High-Control Grip: Collar or lapel grip (near the shoulder) with your hand deep. This stops their frame. - Low-Control Grip: Wrist or sleeve grip near their elbow. This prevents them from framing on your hip. - Alternate: If they tuck their arms, switch …
8. Back Control – Seatbelt Grip, Hooks, and Finishing Chokes
The Seatbelt Secret: Why Back Control Feels Like a Cheat Code Picture this: You’re rolling hard after class, adrenaline still pumping from your last match. Your opponent is a tough blue belt—solid pressure, good scrambles, but not the most technical. You’re working your guard, but he’s starting to pass. Just as you feel the pressure building, you slip your hooks in deep, secure a seatbelt grip, and suddenly you’re on his back. From here, you’re not just defending—you’re finishing. That shift in power? That’s the magic of back control. Back control isn’t just a position—it’s a weapon. When you’re behind someone, you control their movement, their balance, and their breathing. You dictate the pace. And when you add the seatbelt grip and proper hooks, you create a platform so dominant that finishing submissions becomes almost effortless. This chapter isn’t about how to get to back control. You’ve already learned the entries—sweeps from guard, back takes from top half, or even the trusty seatbelt sweep itself. Now, we’re focusing on what to do once you’re there. How to lock it down. How to stay there. And how to finish. Because once you master the seatbelt grip, hooks, and high-percentage chokes, back control stops being a transient position and becomes a finishing system. --- Establishing Back Control: Seatbelt Grip and Hook Placement You can’t finish what you don’t control. And you can’t control what you don’t feel. Back control isn’t about leaning or crushing—it’s about feel. Your grips and hooks should act like sensors, giving you real-time data on your opponent’s balance, movement, and weaknesses. The Seatbelt Grip: Not Just a Grip, a Framework The seatbelt grip is named because it wraps around your opponent the way a seatbelt wraps around a driver—secure, tight, and impossible to ignore. - What it is: One arm under your opponent’s far arm (the "seatbelt arm"), gripping their far lapel or collar. Your other arm reaches across their chest and grips their near-side lapel or collar. - Why it works: It stops the opponent from framing under your seatbelt arm or turning into you. It also gives you leverage to control their upper body, making it harder for them to spin or shrimp away. 🔑 Key Tip: The seatbelt arm doesn’t need to be jammed into their armpit like a clamp. Think of it as a lever—your forearm should sit just below their armpit, creating a fulcrum that limits their shoulder mobility. How to Secure It: 1. Start from behind: Once you’ve taken the back, don’t rush. 2. Scoop first: Slide your seatbelt arm under their near arm (the one closest to your chest) and grip their far lapel deeply—thumb inside, fingers outside. 3. Post second: …
9. Escapes and Defensive Counters
The Art of the Reset The buzzer sounds at the end of the round. Your chest is pressed into the mat, arms framing against the hips of your opponent while your legs burn from scrambling. You’ve spent the last ninety seconds fending off their mount, their weight crushing you, their hips driving down like a piston. Every time you try to shrimp away, they adjust, regaining their balance and pressing back down. Your only thought is survival—until the referee’s hand signals the end of the round. You exhale and roll onto your side, shaking out the pins and needles in your arm. As you sit up, you realize: you didn’t escape, but you didn’t get submitted either. And in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, that’s sometimes enough to call a win. But what if it didn’t have to be “sometimes enough”? What if you could turn defense into offense—not just survive, but use your opponent’s pressure against them? What if every escape wasn’t just a recovery, but a setup? This chapter is about reversing the flow of control. We’re not just going to teach you how to escape mount, side control, or back control. We’re going to show you how to escape into opportunities—submissions, sweeps, or even full guard retention that becomes an attack. We’ll focus on hip-escape mechanics, framing precision, and counter-attacks that transform your defensive posture into a launching point for your next move. This isn’t about being passive. It’s about being strategic—using your opponent’s strength against them while minimizing risk. By the end, you’ll have a system, not just a set of moves: a way to assess pressure, prioritize safety, and pivot instantly into offense when the moment is right. --- Why Pressure Becomes Your Best Partner Pressure isn’t the enemy. It’s information. Every time your opponent drives down on you in side control or leans forward in mount, they’re revealing their balance, their commitment, and their intent. If you try to escape without reading that pressure, you’ll waste energy and get stuffed. But if you use their weight as a signal, you can redirect it—turning their force into leverage for your own movement. Let’s start by demystifying a common misconception: Myth: “If I shrimp hard enough, I’ll escape.” Reality: If you shrimp mindlessly, your opponent will just regrip and re-establish control. Escapes aren’t about brute force—they’re about timing, framing, and leverage. The key is the reset. A reset is a micro-escape: a single hip movement that buys you just enough space to re-establish a frame, regain guard, or set up a counter. It’s not a full escape—it’s the first step. From there, you can either: - Re-enter guard and reset your offense, - Create a sweep opportunity, or - …
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