You need understanding more than power when learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Learning BJJ submissions, whether locks or chokes, is a gradual process. The goal is to develop control through consistent practice. Progress comes from repetition, not rushing.

Let’s review the top 10 submissions, focusing on foundational techniques from essential jiu-jitsu guard positions and effective BJJ drills.

The Top 10 Submissions

As a beginner, there are many details to explore and plenty of BJJ submissions to learn. These ten techniques offer a reliable starting point. They teach control through angles and positioning rather than reliance on strength. Simply put, they build technical understanding on the mat.

These BJJ submissions are chosen because they are safe to drill while still being effective for building fundamental skills early. More importantly, all grapplers should learn these techniques, as they set the stage for more advanced movements later.

Rear-Naked Choke (RNC)

The Rear-Naked Choke is one of the most efficient submissions in jiu-jitsu.

1. From back control, slide one arm around your partner’s neck.

2. Keep your elbow tight directly under their chin. Lock your hands together — either a figure-four grip or palm-to-bicep works fine.

3. The pressure comes from three-dimensional contraction and chest-to-back connection, not arm strength. Stay glued to their back and release immediately on the tap.

Drilling this choke builds your sense of back control and understanding. The awareness you develop here makes every other submission easier to learn.

Armbar from Guard

Another foundational BJJ submission to learn is the Armbar. It teaches timing, leverage, and patience.

1. From the jiu jitsu guard position, isolate your partner’s arm.

2. Create space with a small hip escape, bring your legs around the body, and pivot so their arm lines up between your thighs.

3. Bridge your hips while pulling the wrist down. Knees tight. Posture broken.

This submission rewards clean mechanics. Strength helps very little if the angles aren’t right. Keep your knees tight, control your opponent’s posture. Don’t rush.

 Triangle Choke

The triangle choke develops patience and an understanding of angle changes. To execute this BJJ submission:

1. Isolate one arm first. Then swing your leg over your partner’s shoulder.

2. Form a figure-four lock with your legs around their neck and trapped arm, squeezing as you pull their head forward.

3. The trapped arm must stay tight against the neck to maintain pressure. Adjust angles with your hips, not by force.

4. Apply steady pressure instead of muscling the finish. 

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Cross Collar Choke from Mount

A classic BJJ submission relying on precision plus control.

1. From the mount, dig deep grips into your opponent’s collars, one hand positioned high, one low.

2. Apply pressure with your wrists and forearms while your knees maintain a stable base.

3. Stay chest-to-chest. Don’t pull hard right away. Let your weight do the work, not your arms.

By using this choke, grip placement matters more than force.

Americana from Side Control

The Americana is a foundational shoulder lock from side control.

1. Isolate your opponent’s far arm and secure a figure-four grip, one hand on the wrist, the other under the elbow.

2. Lift the elbow while keeping the wrist pinned to create shoulder pressure.

3. Stay tight and apply pressure gradually; shoulder locks escalate quickly. Drilling this helps you understand angles and how much pressure is actually needed.

Learning the Americana helps you control your opponent from side control. The key lesson is how small angle changes create effective pressure.

Kimura from Guard

The Kimura teaches control and leverage as a BJJ submission, helping you think two moves ahead. 

1. From the jiu-jitsu guard position, grab your opponent’s wrist and thread your other arm under their elbow, making that figure-four grip solid.

2. Use your legs and hips to shift angles, then rotate their arm behind their back slowly. 

Pro tip: Grip integrity is critical; once it slips, the submission collapses.

Drill it often, and the mechanics become clear. You stop guessing where pressure is and start feeling it.

Guillotine Choke

Standing or in guard, it doesn’t matter; this BJJ submission works from multiple positions. Timing and recognizing openings are central to this choke.

1. Get your arm around your opponent’s neck so their head's trapped under your forearm

2. Lock your hands together. The squeeze comes from your core; that's where the real pressure comes from, not your arms

Your hips can make or break the Guillotine Choke. Correct hip positioning creates the pressure; without it, the choke stalls; stay flat, and you're just hugging their neck. Arms by themselves won't get the tap.

Bow and Arrow Choke

The bow and arrow choke becomes effective once the mechanics are understood.

1. Control the back using a seatbelt grip and hooks. Grab a deep collar grip with one hand and control your opponent’s near leg at the knee with the other.

2. Create a strong angle with your body, then throw your leg over your opponent’s shoulder and arm. Cross your feet to establish additional control.

3. Make small adjustments by rotating your collar-gripping hand and using the sharpest part of your wrist to tighten the choke. Pulling harder does not help and, in most cases, makes it less effective.

With consistent drilling, body alignment becomes clearer, and collar control improves significantly. 

Omoplata

Solid body awareness, along with timing and creativity, shapes the Omoplata from the jiu-jitsu guard position.

1. Sweep your leg across your opponent’s arm and shoulder, then hip rotation drags that arm behind their back.

2. Hands and legs must work together to keep posture under control while pressure gradually builds up. Transition smoothly, or else you lose it.

3. Keep your grips tight, or they will slip out. Shoulder locks can break sooner than you think, so don’t excessively turn it.

The Omoplata leads to familiarity with nontraditional angles and transitions. A lot of beginners have difficulties with the setup initially, but patience pays off in the end.

Straight Ankle Lock

The straight ankle lock is a technique that prioritizes control, leverage, and attention to detail.

1. From open guard or the top position, isolate your opponent’s foot and trap it between your arms while staying close to their body. Focus on keeping their heel tight to your rib cage to limit movement.

2. Apply pressure by extending the ankle slowly and gradually.

3. Maintain tight grips and avoid sudden twists or jerking motions. Ankles give way much faster than shoulders.

BJJ Submissions Chart

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Effective BJJ Drills: Practicing Safely

Structured BJJ drills reinforce mechanics and build reliable muscle memory. Train leg locks and advanced shoulder/neck submissions only under coach supervision; tap early.

BJJ Solo Drills

Partner Drilling Tips

Conclusion 

Learning BJJ submissions takes time. No real shortcut exists. Drilling the techniques, working positions with resistance, and applying them in sparring are what get you to your destination.

Three things: learn the basics, take care of the people you train with to avoid injuries, and show up consistently. Advanced techniques happen later without you forcing them.

FAQs

How many submissions are there in BJJ?

There’s no fixed number — different academies categorize techniques differently — but most agree on a core set of foundational submissions, with many variations built around them.

Are there submissions that are illegal in BJJ?

Heel hooks, knee reaps, neck cranks, spinal twists, wrist locks, and small-joint manipulations are not allowed in most beginner divisions.

What's the best submission for a beginner in jiu-jitsu?

Rear Naked Choke and Armbar are considered the simplest for beginners. Kimura is also quite easy. The Triangle and Guillotine require more time to get used to.

How do I progress from basic to advanced submissions?

Start with the basics and then play around with different setups and variations. Solo drilling, positional sparring, and guard retention exercises will all help. Just make sure not to jump into intricate techniques before you are ready.

What's the first submission in jiu-jitsu?

The cross-collar choke is commonly taught early because it introduces essential concepts like grip placement, pressure, and efficient finishing mechanics.