What Are the Best Jiu Jitsu Techniques for Beginners?

Starting your jiu jitsu journey can feel overwhelming. With so many techniques out there, it’s hard to know where to begin. Don’t worry—this guide breaks down the most essential techniques for beginners so you can focus on building a solid foundation.

Hopefully the gym you go to offers a beginners class or at least provides some direct attention to get you caught up to speed if it’s you’ve never done it before. However, if your new to the sport and want to go down some of the YouTube rabbit hole, here are some really simple, but note-worthy techniques to get started on.

The Basics: Master These First

1. Breakfalls (Ukemi):

   • Learning how to fall safely is non-negotiable. Practice backward rolls, side breakfalls, and front rolls to protect yourself during takedowns.

2. The Hip Escape (Shrimping):

   • This is the cornerstone of movement in jiu jitsu. It’s used to create space and escape bad positions like side control or mount. Despite the ‘hate’ it gets during warm-ups (some gyms make their athletes do these in the beginning of class), the movement in itself is very practical.

3. Closed Guard:

   • Start by mastering the closed guard, where your legs are wrapped around your opponent’s waist. From here, you can set up sweeps, submissions, or control.

4. Mount (staying in mount) and Escaping Mount:

   • Mount is a position of control. Learning to stay in mount while maintaining top pressure is a must. Here, you are able to weather the storm and conserve energy. On the other hand, escaping mount is key. There are several techniques an specific strategies to get out of mount. Understanding these will definitely help you sanity.

Key Concepts to Focus On

• Position Before Submission:

  • Before chasing submissions, make sure you have control of the position. Control leads to opportunities.

• Frames and Posture:

  • Use your arms and legs to create frames, giving you the leverage to escape or control your opponent. Maintaining proper posture in guard will prevent sweeps and submissions.

Bonus Tip

If you’re training gi, focus on gripping fundamentals. Knowing where and how to grip your opponent’s gi is critical to controlling them effectively.

Grips are the first stage of attack. If you don’t have the grip advantage, you are already heading into a losing battle.

There are many other techniques. However, like anything else, start small, and focus on one or two things at at a time. If you are thinking about trying your first class, just do it.