BJJ Study Guide

Level 1 (Orange Green Belts)

Side Control and Half Guard Curriculum

Modified Side Control
Basic Position: From our sit-out side control, our opponent uses their outside
arm as a blade across our neck. We will take our top arm over their head and pin our
elbow to their neck. We will engage our smart knee, and then transition our other
hand to that hip as we disengage the smart knee. Hips low, hug onto a bridging
opponent. If the blade is removed, we can transition back: south hand, smart knee,
then north hand, back to a sit out or defensive side control.

High Step to Mount: From our modified sit-out side control, our opponent does
not remove the blade. We will scissor our legs to a reverse sit-outside control. North
knee sliding under us to our opponents hip. Chest low, top hand under our
opponents leg. We will use our top hand to pull our opponents legs towards us and
perform our high step. Immediate insertion of the hook.

False Ribs: From modified sit out Side Control, our opponent raises their inside
knee to block our high step. We will use our top arm to swim under their thigh and
create a small gap so we use our high step.

Sling-Shot Step: From modified sit out Side Control, our opponent raises their
outside knee to block our high step. We will grab our back toes with same side hand.
Extend our leg across their body and shoot for immediate hook insertion.

High-Low Guard
Basic Position: Our outside leg is biting over our opponents head. The other knee
is slid across our opponents hips. The outside hand is pulling our opponents north
elbow across our body and our inside hand is blocking their hips from coming
towards our head. Hips are up and we stick to our opponent.

 Basic Entry: From under side control we cannot re-guard because our opponent
has our hips pinned with their elbow. We will bridge up and into them the best we
can. Keeping our elbow frames, we will shoot our bottom knee in as if we are reguarding, but our outside knee will wrap over the head. Most importantly, we must
extend our inside thigh to become perpendicular with our opponent.

Modified Entry: Our opponent is in a modified side control. We will bridge and
hip away, but when we shoot our knee in it must go around the arm at our hips. BE
ready to transition directly to the triangle as described below.

Transitions: When our opponent begins to peel our inside leg off the hip, we will
release the bite on the head and quickly loop it to the other side. We will hip
towards our still trapped leg and egg beater it around to finish in triangle guard.

Safe Hands
Outside Hook: We are on the bottom of side control and our opponent has head &
arm control. We will use our inside arm to hook and peel on their head locking arm.
Our outside arm wraps the head and holds them to us. We will lift our head and stick
it to their shoulder. When they try to create space, we slide our outside hand across
the neck. If they sit and control, we either go to high low guard or re-guard. If they
try to reach over our head, we hide our outside arm under the armpit. If they go for
the mount, we use our elbow escape.

Inside Hook: When we get the blade across the neck, our opponent releases the
headlock to attack the blade. Our inside hand will frame on their bicep. If they reach
over, we will hide under the armpit. If they swim around, pin your head and swim
back in.

Swim South: If we cannot get our hand across the neck, we will use hip bumps to
swim under the south armpit.

Body Lock: Last resort, our opponent has the rat trap and the elbow cup ready if
we move. We will gable grip behind our opponent. Head up to prevent chokes. When
opponent lifts to pry us off, we will take our hand across the throat, or under the
south armpit.

Re-Guard Prevention
Heavy Hips: We are on top in side control. Our opponent begins a re-guard
attempt; their knee comes across our body. We will cup their outside shoulder and
pin our head. Our other hand will block the knee and we will drop our hip onto their
knee. Lastly, we will circle our extended leg into the hip ending a smart knee
position. We can use our blocking hand to break the elbow knee wall.

Ankle Grab: If our opponent extends their body away from us after getting their
knee across our hip, we will use our outside arm to wrap under their thigh and grab
their ankle/foot. The other hand will block inside our opponents same side arm,
and we will walk around the trapped leg, sliding our back knee into the smart knee
position. If our opponents knee is too active or long, we can use our front knee to
step around it, then reverse high step to sit into a modified sit-out side control.

Ankle Hug: Opponent attempts re-guard from a modified side control. Their leg
comes across our south arm and hips. Wrap under the ankle and onto their hips to
keep their leg trapped. Tuck your head to their belly to prevent the high-low guard.
Tighten your elbow on opponents neck to prevent extension. Move north and slide
your back knee in and back stroke your arm back to the hip.

Escape to Turtle
Standard: We are under an offensive side control. Using our safe hands, we achieve
an under hook on their south armpit. From here, we will shoot the under hook high
as we use our legs to pull us down. Our legs will switch and we will tuck our bottom
elbow. We should slip out the side to end in back control

Modified: If our opponent modifies when we achieve our under hook. We will use
a hip bump to get up on our side facing our opponent. Our under hooking hand goes
to the hip as well as our inside elbow. Moving our hips away to become parallel with
our opponent, we will switch our hips and bring our knees into turtle as we attack
the leg. Either pull the leg to the inside, or circle to sit on the leg and take the back.

Guard Retrieval: If our opponent sprawls away from our leg attack. We will bring
our outside arm across the hips. Our other arms elbow should be down on the mat.
Our outside leg will post up and we will shoot our back knee in across the hip. If our
opponent.

 Outside Turtle: If our opponent has only their south hand modified, but their
north hand is still under our head. We will bridge them up, and, as we come down,
we will turn away and get our inside hand clear. We give a push with our north
elbow as we turn away, switch our hips and quickly face our opponent. We will
either attack the leg or retrieve guard depending on our opponents distance.

Adv. Americana
Rat Trap: From offensive side control, we will make sure both arms are over our
opponent, isolating the arm. We should cup the isolated elbow with our south hand.
Our north hand will wait on our cheek. When they bring their hand around to push
on our neck, we drop the trap and finish the lock.

Shoulder Drive: From the rat trap position, our opponent does not circle the arm
around. They may hug our head out of desperation. We will use our south hand to
peel their neck hug as loose as possible, then, pushing off our south leg, we drive our
shoulder to the mat. As soon as it hits, we attack the wrist and slide back to our
offensive side control.

Armlock Transition: When we lock up the americana our opponent extends their
arm. We will follow all the way out and shoot our south arm in deep all the way to
the elbow pit. Getting the attacked thumb up, we will extend our south arm to finish.

Elbow Cup Armbar

From offensive side control on our opponent, their outside arm is isolated. We will
use our outside arm to bite under their tricep. Coming up to our smart knee
position, we will pull our under hooking elbow across the body and drop it heavy to
the mat. We will use our north arm to put some pressure on their neck. Next, we
slide our inside knee to their armpit and step our outside foot all the way over their
head to behind their hips and use our hand on their neck to grab their pants. Our leg
across their body will slide heel to ribs, then to armpit and we will secure our
control on the arm we are attacking. Lastly, we retract our south leg and extend it
across the body for the armbar position.

Shin Split Position

From our smart knee position, we will use our north hand to bug the neck. When
their hand goes to defend, we will grab the wrist and shoot our top knee over the
bicep. Our north hand stays out for base and our ankle sticks to their elbow.

Kimura
Leg Under-Hook: We are in our shin split position. Our north arm will reach back
and grab the wrist of our opponents trapped arm. From here, we will lean forward
to lift the arm off the ground. Our south leg will slide under the arm and our north
leg will straighten to come off the arm. When ready, we will step our knee to the far
side of our opponents head, essentially sitting on their face. Our north arm will go
under the isolated tricep and we will establish the double wrist grab. Pin the wrist
to the mat and slowly extend the north arm to finish the shoulder lock.

Leg Over-Hook: If our opponent does not allow us to grab the trapped wrist from
the shin split position, we will slide our south leg over the trapped arm. Our north
leg will perform a high step over the head and we will post up on our foot, pulling
our opponent to their side. We will hand off arm control to our north arm while
maintaining good posture. Lastly, establish the double wrist grab and take their
wrist to your foot to finish the shoulder lock.

Armbar Transitions: If our opponent straightens their arm at any point during
our low control, we can transition to a straight armlock. If they grab onto their belt,
uniform or other hand, we can spin and sit for an armbar.

North-South
Basic Transition: We are in a modified side control on top of our opponent. We
begin to walk our body north. As we clear their inside arm, we will take our north
elbow over their outside arm. Both elbows are in their armpits, our belly in on their
head. We begin to walk our hips to the cross side and remove the previously south
and take it elbow to ear. We end in modified side control on the opposite side.

One Thumb Choke: We begin the north south transition. When we clear their
inside arm, our south arm will reach under it and grab the collar. We walk back into
our side control and circle back to our head control with our north arm. Lastly, we
drive our north blade across the neck, turning their head away from us, thumb in.
We drop our hip and elbow and push north to finish.

One Thumb Choke Details: If they defend with their inside arm, we will go for
the choke, pin the defending wrist with our choking hand and cut our south knee
over it to finish as usual. If they use their outside hand to defend the neck, we will
use our head to pin their arm, slice hand from the outside-in, and insert the thumb
to finish. If they block our north arm from re-controlling the head, we will open the
hand as much as we can, shoot our head in the hole and back stroke our arm to the
head control to finish as usual.

 Two Thumb Choke: We are on top in side control. We will modify our south
hand, but our north hand will go thumb inside the collar. We begin to walk north
and step up with our north leg so we can drop the knee to block our opponents
head. Our head will switch sides and our back leg does a large back step. Insert the
second thumb palm down. Transition back to N/S and frame the head with knees.
Pull hands to hips to finish.

Two Thumb Choke Details: If his inside hand begins to block, we can drop our
knee at the head to the hip and our outside knee can shoot into the shin split
position. Thumb insert and finish as usual.

Adv. Knee on Belly

Moving Around: From the basic KOB position on top of our opponent. Our outside
hand goes to chest, and our inside hand goes below our same side knee. With our
weight on our hands, we will perform a set up step with our south foot, taking toes
to their shoulder. Our north foot will swing all the way around to the cross side hip,
and our back leg will perform a back step to end out wide.

Moving Across: Lean forward, hands on mat or neck, Begin to slide knee across,
and throw the back leg over on top. Wind shield wiper the bottom foot off and set it
out wide.

Cross Collar Choke: Just like from the mount or guard. We will insert our outside
thumb to the cross side collar. Put neck pressure to distract and shoot the other
hand, palm up into the other side of the collar. Drop head, lower hips and pull hands
to hips to finish.

Baseball Choke: From KOB position, we will insert our outside thumb into the
collar. Our other hand will shoot fingers into the other side of the collar. Pivoting on
our thumb-in fist, we will step around and over the head, knees down. Our head
should be on the outside of their hip. Expand chest and pull hands to hips to finish.

Baseball Choke Details: If they block with the inside arm to their ear, we will use
our south knee to cut through it. If they block with their outside arm to the ear, we
will swim in and drop our elbow immediately. If their inside arm block the elbow
from dropping, our south knee will pin the blocking hand and expend the arm to
break the grip, and then cut the elbow down.

Americana Counters
Heavy Elbow: Our outside wrist is pinned, but they do not have the double wrist
grab. Prevent the double wrist grab by turning towards the attacked arm, using our
inside foot to bridge our weight into the elbow. Our same side knee can come up to
add an extra layer of defense. Our inside hand will reach over and grab their pinning
wrist, lifting it and allowing us to pull our pinned wrist in towards our shoulder.
Once free, our hand hides under their north armpit.

Outside Turtle Fake: If we cannot reach the pinning wrist with our inside hand.
We will reach it over and switch our hips as if going to an outside turtle escape.
When they base out, we will turn back into them immediately.

North Reach: If our opponent does achieve the double wrist grab, the best defense
is a tap. In desperation we can bridge up and shoot our hand north as we come
down form our bridge. Turning into our opponent, we would bring the hand back to
our chest in safety position. Our inside hand does not grab, it helps to frame on our
opponents hips during the bridge

Armbar Counters
Block and Sit: As our opponent spins for the armbar, we will tuck our un-attacked
elbow before their heel gets to our armpit. As they sit, we will slip the leg off our
head and sit up into our opponents guard, both hands come in.

Figure 4: If possible, we want our attacked arm to grab the bicep of our safe arm as
our opponent begins to sit. Our safe arm anchors under their north thigh and we are
momentarily safe. We escape by hipping away, turning towards our opponent, and
extending the safe arm. Sit in or push yourself on top of their north leg.

Back Roll: If our opponent does not grab our pants as they step around, we will
initiate a back roll during their sit. Knees go over the un-attacked shoulder.

Single Thumb Choke Defenses

Under-Hook & Isolation Prevention: A tucked inside elbow and hand at safety
position will prevent the under-hook and isolation of the inside arm. Look for the
outside turtle as they try to isolate the arm.

Inside Arm Recovery: If our opponent isolates our inside arm, but has not yet reestablished the head control, we will use our isolate arm to push our head under
their hips, coming into a line with our opponent and allowing us to swim our isolate
arm back into the mix so we can protect our neck. This can also be done as they are
going from the head control to reach for the choke.

Two Thumb Choke Counters

Thumb 1 Defense: We are under side control. Our opponent seeks to insert their
outside thumb into our same side lapel. We will prevent its entry by keeping an
inside hook on their outside arm with our inside arm. If they establish the 1st thumb,
we will defend with an inside arm frame on our ear. Keeping an active defense, look
for a blade on the neck and re-guard or high low shots.

Thumb 2 Defense: If our opponent spins we need to keep both hands up. Our
new inside hand should be at our collar preventing the second thumbs direct entry.
If they insert their thumb while our hand is still at the collar, we shoot our inside
hand to frame at the ear. As we defend, we should see to bump and swim our
outside arm under to help defend. Keeping an active defense, look for a blade on the
neck and re-guard or high low shots.

BaseBall Choke Counters

Basic Prevention: Our opponent is in KOB position on top of us; they are
attempting to establish their second grip, palm up on our outside lapel. We must
keep our hands and elbows in aa tight safety position. If they achieve the grip, we
will quickly use inside hand to push out on their elbow so our outside hand can
swim to the inside and frame at our ear.

Emergency Escape: If our opponent achieves the grips, has a tight elbow, and
begin to move to N/S to finish, our inside hand will frame at the ear under their grip.
As they rotate, we will pop their arm over our head and turn to face them.

Half Guard Sweep/Roll Combo

Back Take Failure: Under half guard, we achieve the outside arm under hook and
an inside hook on their head locking arm. When we attempt to take the back, our
opponent reaches for a deep over hook on our under hook. Taking our head even
closer to their hips and staying up on our side, we will establish an outside leg trap
and use it to extend our opponents outside foot away from their hips. Their other
foot should be very close to our inside knee. Our inside hand will reach under and
grab their ankle. Our outside hand will release the back and reach around to take
control of the ankle. From here, we will kick our inside leg out and go knee to
shoulder to hand post. We drive into our opponent to finish. Our inside hand can
post to support weigh, or grab their same side knee to help the finish.

Heavy Opponent: When we begin to pick the ankle under our opponent, they may
begin to sprawl out on us. This will begin to flatten our shoulders and kill our
sweep. We will release the ankle and reach for an under hook on their same side
thigh. We pull them towards us with our arm on their back, and turn our hips to the
sky. Pushing off our toes, we roll them over.

Smart Opponent: Our opponent prevents our original sweep and our roll with
balanced weight distribution. We will switch back to an inside leg trap. Our outside
leg will lift and drive down to give us momentum to shoot our inside elbow out to
post under us as we turn towards our opponent. We then use our outside foot to lift
our hips and slide our inside leg out. Now in a kneeling battle with our opponent, we
can attack the knee to drive them over, or, if their deep over hook is too powerful,
we will limp arm out of their hook, attacking the back immediately after.

Half Guard Adv. Butterfly Hook

Basic Sweep: Under half guard, we achieve the outside arm under hook and a
butterfly hook on their trapped leg. From here, we will Get our head low near our
opponents hips and turn up on our shoulders towards them. When ready to sweep,
we will switch our inside hook on our opponents Head control arm to reach under
and suck their elbow down. Releasing our inside trap on their leg, we will bridge
towards our opponent and follow them with little hops and a sticky hook.

Sweep Failure: When we begin to bridge, our opponent bases out their outside
arm, stopping the sweep. We will reach our inside arm to their same side thigh and
reverse our hips and push them over for a roll over the top.

 Roll Failure: Our opponent prevents the roll with hand base. Our outside arm will
push our opponent towards the roll to make them base out more and create space.
We will quickly hip between our opponents legs, insert our other leg to the top of
our opponents thigh and end in X-Guard.

Half Guard Reverse Pass

Standard: On top of half guard, our opponent achieves an under hook. The under
hook is too deep for a sitting pass, so we will tripod up slightly and perform a large
back step with our free leg. Our under-hooked arm becomes a headlock and our top
arm controls our opponents outside leg. Pulling their knees to the ground in front of
us, we will slide out hips north, pushing their legs down as we pull our toes out.

Tripod Transition: When we attempt our reverse pass, our foot gets stuck and we
cannot pull it out of their wrapped legs. First attempting to get our leg out with the
assistance of our free leg pushing on their bottom thigh, the foot is still stuck. Our
free leg will then step over to a full mount. If our opponent still will not release our
leg, we will look for the under hook, and begin a tripod pass to finish in side control.