Most Common Submissions In Jiu-Jitsu Competitions

Below is a chart of the submissions most commonly used to win jiu-jitsu competitions. It’s originally from a study by High Percentage Martial Arts (link no longer available). Certain submissions are only possible when the gi jacket is worn – i.e. collar, sleeve and bow and arrow chokes. In nogi competitions on the other hand, submissions like the RNC and guillotine are significantly easier.

Some of the submissions are leg locks – i.e. locks on parts of the leg. These may involve sudden strain on vulnerable joints like ankles and knees, and are some of the hardest submissions to control safely. Because of this, they are typically not taught to beginners/kids.

As I’m mainly involved with nogi training, and tend to avoid leg locks, I thought I’d narrow down the top submissions as follows:

As a nod to the under-appreciated historical crossover between jiu-jitsu/judo and English catch wrestling, here’s a list of the submissions pictured above, with their catch names added:

1. RNC = sleeper hold or rear choke
2. Armbar = armbar (see here for history of word)
3. Triangle = figure 4 leg choke
4. Guillotine = front headlock choke
5. Kimura = double wrist lock or chicken wing
6. Darce choke = inverted head and arm choke (see here for history)
7. Arm triangle = head and arm choke
8. Americana = top wrist lock or keylock
9. North south choke = reverse headlock