7 Essential Submissions Every White Belt Should Know
You’ve survived the warm-up. You’ve drilled the technique of the day. Now it’s time to roll. You find yourself in a good position—maybe you’ve even passed the guard—but then... you freeze. "What do I do now?"
It’s the classic white belt dilemma. You know of submissions, but you don't know them well enough to catch them in the wild.
The truth is, you don’t need to know 100 different submissions. You need to know a handful of high-percentage, fundamental techniques that work at the highest levels. As the legendary Roger Gracie proved, basic doesn't mean easy to stop. It means tested, proven, and efficient.
Here are the 7 essential submissions every white belt should focus on mastering first, along with key details to help you actually finish them.
1. The Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
The King of Chokes. If you take the back, this is your primary weapon. It requires no gi grasp, making it universal for Gi and No-Gi.How to Finish It:
1. Seatbelt Control: Secure one arm over the shoulder and one under the armpit. 2. Trap the Hand: Use your underhook hand to trap their defending hand if possible. 3. Snake the Neck: Slide your "choking arm" deep under their chin. Your elbow should be in line with their chin. 4. Bicep Grip: Grab your own bicep with the choking hand. 5. Hide the Hand: Slide your non-choking hand behind their head (palm facing you) to "hide" it from being grabbed. 6. Squeeze: Expand your chest and squeeze your elbows together. Do not pull back; squeeze in.Common Mistake: Squeezing before the arm is deep enough. If you’re squeezing the chin, you’re just annoying them. Get deep!
2. The Closed Guard Armbar
The Classic Joint Lock. This teaches you the crucial hip movement required for almost all guard attacks.How to Finish It:
1. Control the Arm: Grip their tricep and wrist. Pull the arm across your centerline. 2. Foot on Hip: Place your foot (same side as the arm you're attacking) on their hip to pivot. 3. Clamp & Pivot: Push off the hip to spin your body 90 degrees. Your head should move towards their knee. 4. Leg Over: Throw your top leg over their head. 5. Finish: Squeeze your knees together, heels down, and bridge your hips up while controlling the wrist (thumb pointing up).Common Mistake: Leaving space between your hips and their shoulder. Your hips must be glued to their shoulder joint as the fulcrum.
3. The Triangle Choke
The "Leg Choke." One of the most versatile attacks from the guard. It catches opponents who get lazy with their posture.How to Finish It:
1. Push/Pull: Push one of their arms into their stomach while pulling their head down. 2. Shoot the Legs: Jump your hips up and shoot one leg over their shoulder and the other under their armpit. 3. Lock Position: Cross your feet first to control posture. 4. Adjust: Grab your shin (not your foot) to pull it across their neck. Pivot your angle. 5. Figure-Four: Lock your "choking leg" knee over your own ankle. 6. Squeeze: Squeeze your knees together and pull their head down.Common Mistake: Not cutting the angle. Looking straight at your opponent makes the choke harder to finish. Pivot so you are looking into their ear.
4. The Guillotine Choke
The Opportunist's Best Friend. Available from standing, guard, and transitions. If they leave their neck out, take it.How to Finish It:
1. Wrap the Neck: When their head dips, wrap your arm over and around their neck. 2. High Wrist: Pull your wrist up high towards your own shoulder. 3. Close the Guard: Jump or pull close guard to limit their movement. 4. The Crunch: Do a side crunch towards the side of the head you have trapped. This sharpens the angle.Common Mistake: Arching your back away. This creates space. You want to crunch in and compress the neck.
5. The Kimura
The Power Lock. An incredible double-joint shoulder lock that also serves as a great position for seeking the back or armbars.How to Finish It:
1. Wrist Control: Grip their wrist with your same-side hand. 2. Loop & Grab: Reach your other arm over their tricep and under their arm to grab your own wrist (Figure-Four grip). 3. Hip Out: Shrimp your hips out to break their posture and isolate the arm. 4. Paint the Floor: Push their hand toward the back of their head (like painting a brush stroke on the mat).Common Mistake: Using arm strength alone. Use your whole bodyframe and core to rotate their shoulder.
6. The Americana
The "Paintbrush." A staple finish from Mount or Side Control. It's often the first submission white belts learn because students often leave their arms exposed.How to Finish It:
1. Pin the Wrist: From mount/side control, use your hand (monkey grip) to pin their wrist to the mat. Your arm should be bent 90 degrees. 2. Elbow to Ear: Slide your other arm under their tricep and grab your own wrist. 3. Squeeze & Drag: Pull their elbow down towards their hip to take out the slack. 4. Lift: Keep the wrist pinned and lift only their elbow/shoulder joint up.Common Mistake: Trying to lift the whole arm. Keep the back of their hand glued to the mat; lift the elbow.
7. The Cross Collar Choke
The Helio Gracie Special. It looks simple, requires deep grips, and is devastatingly effective when done right.How to Finish It:
1. First Hand Deep: Open their collar and slide your first hand (four fingers in) all the way to the tag at the back of the neck. This needs to be DEEP. 2. Second Hand: Reach your second hand either under or over their arm to grab the opposite collar. 3. Wrists Straight: Don't curl your wrists. Keep them straight like iron bars. 4. Elbows & Head: Pull their head down while bringing your elbows to your ribs.Common Mistake: Shallow grips. If the first hand isn't deep enough, the choke won't work, no matter how hard you squeeze.
Final Thoughts: Position Before Submission
Remember the golden rule of Jiu Jitsu: Position before Submission.
Don't desperately hunt for these finishes from unstable positions. Secure your Mount, stabilize your Side Control, or control the Closed Guard first. Once you have control, these 7 tools will give you the ability to end the fight.
Pick ONE of these this month. Drill it every class. Try to hit it in every roll. That is the path to mastery.
--- Disclaimer: Train safely. Tap early, tap often. These techniques should only be practiced under the supervision of a qualified instructor.