10 Essential Jiu Jitsu Submissions for Gi and No-Gi Mastery

You're probably in one of two spots right now. You're either new to the mats and wondering which jiu jitsu submissions matter first, or you've trained long enough to realise that knowing a move name isn't the same as being able to finish it under pressure.

Level up your grappling with these submissions. Whether you're rolling in the Gi or moving through fast scrambles in No-Gi, the right attacks give your game structure. These 10 jiu jitsu submissions form the backbone of a practical attacking system, with clear setups, defence awareness, belt-level guidance and kid-safe drilling notes that make sense for real training.

At Locals Jiu Jitsu Zetland, that mix matters. The academy teaches a beginners pathway, an advanced curriculum, and a fast-paced No-Gi program built around wrestling-based grips, transitions and submissions as a core part of training, as outlined on the Locals Zetland programs page. That means students don't just memorise finishes. They learn where each submission fits, when to chase it, and when to let it go and improve position first.

Safety matters just as much as technique. A 2024 Sports Medicine Australia report noted a 22% increase in reported joint injuries among Australian children aged 10 to 14 in grappling sports over the previous 12 months, with shoulder dislocations and elbow hyperextensions from premature submission attempts listed as the most common issues in the verified summary from Kingz beginner submission coverage. For kids, that means slower progressions, early tapping habits and controlled partner work.

1. Rear Naked Choke

If you could pick one submission to build your whole attacking game around, this is the one. The rear naked choke works because it starts from one of the best positions in grappling: back control. Once you're attached behind your partner, your job gets simple. Keep your chest glued to their upper back, control the hips, slide your choking arm under the chin, then connect your hands before you squeeze.

In Australian competition data, the rear naked choke accounted for about 34% of all submission victories across major national tournaments from 2018 to 2023, with the armbar next at 19%, according to the verified summary tied to Elite Sports coverage of top jiu jitsu submissions. That's a strong reminder that good fundamentals still beat flashy choices.

How to make it work

At beginner level, don't rush the finish. First win the seatbelt grip, then place your hooks, then hide your choking hand. If you skip those steps, people spin out before the choke is ever tight.

A common gym example is simple. You take the back after a guard pass, your partner defends the neck with both hands, and instead of forcing the choke, you flatten them, trap an arm and attack again.

• Best entry: Back takes from mount, turtle or after a scramble.

• Main mistake: Pulling with your arms instead of closing space with your chest and elbows.

• Kid-safe drill: Practise seatbelt to back control with no finish. Add the choke only after coaches are happy with control and partner awareness.

Practical rule: Position first, choke second.

Locals Zetland students often build this in the beginner pathway because it links directly to back control habits taught through the Locals Zetland fundamentals curriculum.

2. Armbar

The armbar teaches one of the most important lessons in jiu jitsu submissions. Your hips are stronger than your arms. When you isolate an elbow and line it across your centre, you don't need brute force. You need angle, leg control and patience.

This submission appears from everywhere. Guard, mount, side control and transitions all lead to it. That's why beginners should learn it early. It forces you to control posture, pin a shoulder and clamp your knees, which are habits that carry across the whole art.

A clean beginner sequence

From closed guard, pull your partner forward, control one arm, shift your hips out, and swing your leg over the head. Then pinch your knees and raise your hips slowly. If their thumb is pointing up, the elbow line is usually in the right place.

This also has clear self-defence value because it teaches distance management and control over a posting arm. That's part of why it fits well with practical training goals discussed in Locals Zetland's self-defence article.

Here's a realistic training scenario. Your partner posts on your chest to sit up inside your guard. Instead of trying to bench-press them away, you trap that arm, angle off and let your legs do the work.

• For white belts: Finish slowly and stop at control if your partner's elbow line isn't clear.

• For kids: Coaches should focus on the setup and leg position before any extension.

• For advanced students: Link failed armbars into triangles, omoplatas or sweeps.

The armbar is also one of the most statistically reliable finishes in both Gi and No-Gi according to the verified summary in Gymdesk's jiu jitsu submissions article. That lines up with what most coaches see every week. It keeps working because the mechanics are clean.

3. Triangle Choke

The triangle choke is the move that convinces many beginners that jiu jitsu really does let smaller people control larger training partners. You use your legs to trap one arm and the neck, then create a tight figure-four that blocks blood flow and collapses posture.

The best triangles don't look explosive. They look tidy. One leg cuts across the back of the neck, the other locks behind the knee, and your hips climb high enough that your partner can't posture out.

What makes the triangle hard to defend

Most failed triangles die early. The attacker leaves too much space, doesn't break posture, or locks the legs before adjusting the angle. A small hip shift usually changes everything.

A very common example happens from closed guard. Your partner places one hand on the mat and one arm inside your legs. You control the head, kick one leg over the shoulder, cut the angle and lock once your shin is in the right place.

Keep your knee line active. If your legs go loose, the triangle becomes a stall instead of a finish.

Useful triangle drills include:

• Posture break reps: Pull the head and arm into place before you ever lock the legs.

• Angle-change reps: Pivot on your shoulders so your body faces the trapped arm.

• Kid-safe version: Teach the leg shape and release on command, with no squeezing contest.

This submission also helps women and lighter grapplers because it rewards timing, hip mobility and leg positioning more than upper-body strength. In both Gi and No-Gi, it's one of the best ways to turn guard from a defensive shell into an attacking platform.

4. Guillotine Choke

The guillotine is one of the first front headlock attacks people fall in love with because it can appear almost anywhere. Standing exchanges, sloppy shots, half guard scrambles and seated guard wrestle-ups can all hand you the neck if you recognise the opening quickly.

In No-Gi, this matters even more. Locals Jiu Jitsu Zetland's fast-paced program integrates wrestling-based grips and transitions, so students spend time learning how to punish poor head position instead of only reacting to takedowns.

The feel you want

A good guillotine isn't just your forearm around the neck. You want your wrist high, your elbow tight, and your training partner's head connected to your body. If there's space, they'll often pop their head free.

One everyday scenario is a beginner shooting a loose double leg with their head outside and posture bent. If you sprawl, wrap the neck and sit into a controlled finishing angle, the choke starts to build with far less effort.

Try these training cues:

• Head control first: Lift the chin line and keep their posture broken.

• Whole-body finish: Curl your ribs and hips into the choke instead of yanking with the arms.

• Safety note for kids: Young students should learn front headlock control and positional awareness before full neck pressure.

This choke also improves your defence. Once you understand where guillotines come from, your own takedown entries get cleaner because you stop leading with your head in bad positions.

5. Kimura Lock (Shoulder Lock)

The kimura is one of the most useful connection points in jiu jitsu submissions. It's a shoulder lock, but it's also a control system. Even when you don't finish it, the grip often gives you sweeps, back takes, passes and transitions.

You create a figure-four grip on your partner's arm, pin the shoulder, and rotate the arm behind their back. The finish looks simple, but the key is control before rotation. If the elbow drifts or the shoulder starts floating, the lock becomes weak and messy.

Why coaches love the kimura

The move teaches students to connect upper-body control with hip movement. That's valuable in Gi and No-Gi because the principle stays the same even when the grips change.

A realistic example is from half guard top. Your partner reaches for an underhook or frames lazily across your body. You catch the wrist, thread your second arm over, connect your hands and begin turning their shoulders before they realise the trap is set.

For safer training, keep these habits in mind:

• Pin before pressure: Control the shoulder line so the arm can't spin free.

• Move your body, not just your hands: Step around and tighten the angle.

• Tap early: Shoulder locks often come on faster than people expect.

• Kids and newer students: Focus on the grip and pinning structure first, then stop before finishing range.

The kimura is especially useful for adults who want practical self-defence skills. If the finish isn't there, the grip often still gives strong control over a resisting arm.

6. Heel Hook

Heel hooks sit in the advanced category for a reason. They attack rotational structures around the leg, and the danger can arrive before pain gives a clear warning. That's why this is one of the jiu jitsu submissions that demands coaching, rules awareness and training maturity.

In Australian competition guidance summarised in the verified data, early 2025 ABJJF rule updates permit heel hooks in green belt and above categories but still restrict knee reaping for white belts. The same verified summary notes that at the 2025 ABJJF National Championships, 38% of white belt submissions in NSW were attempted rear naked chokes or triangles, while 0% involved heel hooks, as outlined in Grapplearts beginner submission coverage. For beginners, that legal gap matters. You need to know not just how a move works, but when it's allowed.

How to learn it safely

Start with the position, not the finish. Control the hips, isolate the leg, expose the heel and understand where your own knees and feet are before you ever apply pressure.

If you train this at an advanced level, the best sessions are calm. Both partners know the entry, acknowledge the catch, and tap at the first sign of control. That's smarter than testing toughness.

For deeper technical work, advanced students can explore systems like those discussed in Locals Zetland's advanced jiu jitsu training article.

A visual explanation can help when the leg positioning feels abstract:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/fVPgnA0iAII

Recovery matters too. If you've tweaked a knee, smart rehab and patient return-to-training decisions matter more than rushing back, and resources on effective knee ligament rehab exercises can help frame that process.

Advanced submission. Advanced responsibility.

7. Anaconda Choke

The anaconda choke rewards pressure and patience. From a front headlock-style position, you thread your arm under the neck and through the far armpit, connect your grip, then trap the shoulder and neck together. It's one of the cleanest attacks for people who like wrestling-style entries and chest-heavy control.

This fits naturally into No-Gi training because the grips are direct and the transitions are fast. If your partner turtles during a scramble or reaches badly during a shot, the anaconda can appear before they settle.

Pressure over speed

Most beginners chase the roll too early. The tighter version usually starts with chest pressure and a connected grip before you move at all. If your arms are loose, the spin only helps your partner escape.

One good training example is a front headlock after a failed single leg. You snap the head down, thread your arm deep, connect your hands and walk your body into a stronger angle before deciding whether to roll through.

Use these cues:

• Shoulder trap: One of your partner's arms should stay caught inside the choke.

• Chest connection: Keep your body heavy on the upper back and neck line.

• Controlled drilling: Practise the lock-up and positional finish before adding rolling entries.

• For younger students: Teach front headlock movement and top control. Save full chokes for appropriately supervised classes.

The anaconda also pairs well with guillotines and D'Arce chokes. If one neck attack opens space, the next one often appears without forcing anything.

8. Americana Lock (Side Shoulder Lock)

The Americana is one of the friendliest shoulder locks for learning control from top position. From side control, you pin the wrist to the mat, bend the elbow to ninety degrees, then lift the elbow while dragging the hand down. The key isn't speed. It's keeping your partner flat while the shoulder rotates in a safe, predictable line.

For beginners, this move teaches pressure, patience and how to isolate one arm without losing the whole position. That's why coaches often use it to introduce the link between pinning and finishing.

Why it works so well early

The setup is visible. You can feel when your partner's elbow escapes, when their wrist slips, and when your chest gets too light. That makes it easier to coach than many faster submissions.

A common gym example happens after passing to side control. Your partner pushes against your neck with an exposed forearm. You swim the arm to the mat, figure out your hand position, and settle your weight before lifting the elbow.

Try this sequence in drilling:

• Step one: Hold side control without hunting the finish.

• Step two: Pin the wrist and check the elbow angle.

• Step three: Lift slowly and stop the moment your partner taps.

• Kid-safe note: Children should focus on the pin and control shape, not on cranking the shoulder.

A smooth Americana feels like pressure building in a straight line, not a sudden jerk.

Even if the finish fails, the Americana often opens transitions to mount, straight armlocks or back exposure. That makes it a strong teaching tool, not just a single attack.

9. Darce Choke (D'Arce Choke)

The D'Arce choke is one of those submissions that suddenly feels obvious once you understand the angle. Your arm threads under your partner's near arm and across the neck, then your second arm locks the grip while your body drives in to close the space.

In Australian No-Gi events, verified background data notes increased adoption of heel hooks and D'arce chokes in formats aligned with ADCC-style rules, as summarised in Future Data Stats on the submission grappling market. That same verified summary describes growing interest in submission-only formats across Australian martial arts communities. You can see why the D'Arce is rising. It suits scrambles, front headlock transitions and fast passing exchanges.

The angle matters more than the squeeze

Beginners often lock their hands too early. If your shoulder isn't deep enough, your partner just feels pressure on the jaw and starts turning free.

A strong example appears from half guard top or side control when your partner turns in and leaves an arm threaded across. You shoot your arm deep, sprawl your hips, lock the grip and walk into the choke rather than pulling backward.

A few coaching cues help:

• Deep first arm: Reach through until your shoulder clears the neck line.

• Sprawl pressure: Let your hips and chest tighten the attack.

• Drill the transition: Move between front headlock, anaconda and D'Arce so you can recognise whichever opening appears.

For advanced students, this choke becomes part of a submission chain rather than a stand-alone trick. That's when it starts landing consistently.

10. Omoplata (Shoulder Lock)

The omoplata is one of the most creative jiu jitsu submissions because it turns your legs into a shoulder lock and a control system at the same time. You isolate an arm from guard, rotate your hips out, and use your legs and body angle to fold your partner forward.

At first, it can feel like a move for flexible people only. It isn't. Flexibility helps, but timing and posture control matter more. If your partner's posture breaks at the right moment, the omoplata becomes available even without dramatic range of motion.

Think control, not scramble

The biggest beginner mistake is trying to spin too fast. If you don't control the arm and posture first, your partner rolls or pulls free before the position settles.

One solid example is from closed or open guard when your partner posts an arm wide to defend a sweep. You shoot your leg over the shoulder, pivot your hips, sit up and clamp the angle before chasing the finish.

Use these drills to build confidence:

• Hip turn drill: Practise the pivot and leg placement without a resisting partner.

• Posture-break drill: Pull the shoulder forward before sitting up.

• Sweep connection: Learn to come on top if the finish doesn't happen.

• For kids: Teach the shape and top-position transition. Full finishing pressure should stay light and closely supervised.

The omoplata is also useful for self-defence-minded students because it teaches control during chaotic scrambles. If someone plants a hand in the wrong spot, your legs can turn that mistake into a strong attack.

10 Jiu Jitsu Submissions Comparison

Technique	Implementation Complexity 🔄	Resource / Physical Requirements ⚡	Expected Outcomes ⭐📊	Ideal Use Cases	Key Advantages / Tips 💡
Rear Naked Choke	Moderate, requires secure back control and timing	Low equipment; needs core strength and positional control	Very high finish rate from back control (⭐⭐⭐)	Back control, competition finishes, self‑defence	Maintain tight body contact, lock hands, control hips
Armbar	Moderate, many setups and precise hip mechanics	Low strength required; good hip mobility and timing	High when arm isolated (⭐⭐⭐)	Mount/guard/side control transitions, beginner training	Isolate arm, drive hips forward, drill from multiple positions
Triangle Choke	Moderate–High, leg positioning and angle critical	Moderate, leg flexibility and strong core helpful	High from guard with correct positioning (⭐⭐⭐)	Guard play, sweeps, gi/no‑gi guard attacks	Control posture, tighten legs, elevate hips for pressure
Guillotine Choke	Low–Moderate, quick to apply in scrambles	Low equipment; requires neck control and timing	High in scrambles and takedown defense (⭐⭐⭐)	Standing clinch, takedown counters, no‑gi	Secure throat depth, use bodyweight, drill high/low variants
Kimura Lock	Moderate, joint mechanics and grips matter	Low–moderate; shoulder awareness and control	Strong control and sweep potential (⭐⭐)	Side control, transitions, positional advancement	Control posture, use hips/core, avoid excessive force
Heel Hook	High, technical and requires strict safety	High, leg control, trusted partners, rule awareness	Very effective in advanced no‑gi but high risk (⭐⭐⭐)	Advanced no‑gi competition, leg‑lock systems	Train under qualified instruction, warm up, tap early
Anaconda Choke	Moderate, requires front headlock control	Low–moderate; wrestling clinch control useful	Effective from turtled/front headlock positions (⭐⭐)	No‑gi, wrestling‑integrated scrambles	Secure grip early, chest pressure, drive hips through
Americana Lock	Low, beginner‑friendly when in side control	Low; relies on proper side control and arm isolation	Reliable instructional submission (⭐⭐)	Side control fundamentals, beginner classes	Isolate arm, use bodyweight, maintain tight control
Darce Choke	Moderate, angle and hand placement important	Low–moderate; positional control and timing	High from arm‑in side control/transitions (⭐⭐⭐)	Arm‑in side control, transitional scrambles, no‑gi	Focus on hand positioning, drive hips to finish
Omoplata	Moderate–High, requires creative setups and timing	Moderate; hip mobility and leg control beneficial	Good sweep/submission potential when tight (⭐⭐)	Guard work, sweeps, creative leg‑based control	Improve hip mobility, practice smooth transitions and sweeps

Next Steps on Your Jiu Jitsu Journey

Knowing these jiu jitsu submissions is a great start. Being able to apply them at the right time, with control and good judgement, is what really changes your grappling. That takes coaching, repetition and training partners who help you improve instead of turning every round into a brawl.

If you're a beginner, start by building a small core game. Rear naked choke, armbar, triangle and Americana are enough to teach posture control, angle changes, top pressure and safe finishing habits. Once those feel natural, submissions like the guillotine, kimura and omoplata add more ways to attack during movement instead of waiting for a perfect static position.

If you're more experienced, the modern layer matters. Heel hooks, anaconda chokes and D'Arce chokes reward sharp timing, especially in No-Gi rounds where wrestling entries and front headlock transitions show up more often. That's one reason Locals Jiu Jitsu Zetland's curriculum stands out. The academy offers a fast-paced No-Gi program built around wrestling-based grips, transitions and submissions, while still giving beginners a clear pathway and advanced students room to deepen their game.

The practical side matters too. Locals Zetland is at 64 Epsom Rd, Zetland, 2017, and the academy offers a free trial class so newcomers can experience the structure and coaching style before joining. The verified summary also notes the $120.00 Adults Unlimited option and highlights how convenient the location is for people in Waterloo, Kensington and Alexandria, as described in this Locals Zetland academy overview on Facebook.

For parents, safety and progression should guide every decision. Kids don't need the full submission catalogue on day one. They need posture, balance, movement, controlled partner drills and clear tapping habits. A good academy makes that progression obvious and keeps joint locks age-appropriate.

For adults, especially anyone training for self-defence, confidence or fitness, these submissions give purpose to every roll. You'll understand what you're chasing from guard, what you're hunting from top, and how to connect dominant positions to real finishes in both Gi and No-Gi.

Ready to put these submissions into action? Join the community at Locals Jiu Jitsu Zetland or Locals Maroubra for hands-on instruction, progressive drills and a free trial class. Your black belt journey starts here.

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If you want a supportive place to learn jiu jitsu submissions step by step, book a free trial with Locals Jiu Jitsu Zetland. You'll get structured coaching, a safety-first training environment, and clear pathways for kids, beginners, advanced students and No-Gi grapplers.