As a newcomer in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submissions are never easy. It’s one thing to drill and learn a move, but it’s a completely different scenario to pull off a submission during sparring. Because of this, white belts in particular are often focused on submissions more than other belts.
For instance, when a white belt hits a submission for the first time it is a special feeling. However, to consistently get submissions is no fluke. This is why it’s important to learn some of the easiest submissions before looking at more complicated ones.
For the record, we have gathered the easiest submissions to hit on other white belts. As this article is aimed at beginners, we will try to keep things simple and assume the opponent only has a few months of training which means little in terms of defense or positional knowledge.
Table of Contents
The Americana
The Americana is often one of the first moves taught. Although considered by some as a strong mans move, it is also quite simple to put together compared to other submissions. Regardless, one of the reasons why the Americana is easier to finish than other submissions is because of the entry. For example, a lot of new white belts will leave their arm out whilst in bottom side control.
By isolating their arms for you – the hard work is done. From here, you can wrap up the figure four grip around the same arm and begin to finish the submission. Of course, this move is much harder against experienced opponents who will not leave their arms out as easily.
One of the main benefits of the Americana is that it doesn’t require any flexibility. Unlike shooting a Triangle choke or Armbar from guard – the Americana requires no hip flexibility or dynamic movements. In this sense, it is simplistic and even newcomers can attack it when the move is learned. Compared to something like an Omoplata for instance, the Americana is not as alien in terms of learning new moves with your body.
The Rear Naked Choke
The Rear Naked Choke (RNC for short) is also quite an easy submission for beginners. Similar to the Americana, it doesn’t require hip flexibility or unusual movements. Instead, whilst on the opponent’s back you can get a strangle position and squeeze. Like all moves, there are intricate details and it isn’t always simple at all. However, there is something quite natural about strangling compared to other submissions. Humans choking others from the back has been done for thousands of years and is documented in Ancient Greek times. Because of this, it’s somewhat easy and instinctual.
Again, similarly to the Americana – it doesn’t even have to be done perfectly against other white belts. Often you can even finish the RNC without hooks if the opponent is unable to escape. As most new students are naturally poor at escaping the back position and offer little defense, the RNC can be an easy way to get a submission. Here, your technique doesn’t always need to be perfect and the hard part is getting to the back. However, once on the back things may be relatively easy.
The Straight Ankle Lock
The Straight Ankle Lock is another move in which newcomers are typically poor at defending. In some cases, people can have successful competition stats at white belt with this move alone as newbies often panic and suffer massively at the hands of leglocks. Legal for all belts, the Straight Ankle Lock involves wrapping your legs around your opponent’s leg, gripping their ankle with your arm and leaning backwards.
Again, this may not always work against experienced opponents – but it can be a sneak attack against other new people. In BJJ, people are often taught leglocks last as there is typically a priority to teach upper body submissions first. Because of this, you can easily catch people off guard and there’s a good chance the opponent’s knowledge of the position is weak.
Not only this, but some people have a rear fear of leglocks. Whilst it’s correct to fear heel hooks and toeholds, the same shouldn’t apply with Straight Ankle Locks as they aren’t as dangerous. Nonetheless, some will tap quickly out of fear as much as anything – and this can even work on other belts if their technique is sloppy.
The Guillotine
The Guillotine is actually a very technical move with a lot of intricacies and fine details. However, white belts are naturally attracted to this submission as it is relatively common in MMA. It’s true that the Guillotine can be caught more whilst doing takedowns, but even on the floor, it can be hit from various positions. This is beneficial as lots of newbies will often have poor head control and leave their necks open for chokes. Because of this, you can often expect to hit Guillotine chokes on new people.
Be warned however, if you haven’t choked them after 10 seconds of squeezing then it’s probably more of a crank than a choke. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with this, it can lead to losing energy which eventually leads to your opponent capitalizing on this.
With this in mind, always try to get under the chin before finishing. Nobody wants to be that guy who tries to Guillotine from bottom side control either. Remember, it is a technical move that must be respected. Nonetheless, as far as easy submissions go against new students, the Guillotine is up there.
The Ezekiel Choke
This is similar to the Americana in the sense that whilst it happens to newcomers so much, they will eventually get paranoid and overcompensate with a strong defense against the submission in the future. For example, whilst in mount, a new student is less likely to protect their throat. They may not tuck their chin or hand fight against their choke which leads them free to attack.
This means you can sneakily thread your arm behind the head and connect with the sleeve of your other arm. To finish, you can squeeze and hold the sleeve grips to cut off the blood supply. This is something very common with new people who aren’t naturally used to defending the position and lack paranoia around their neck. Whilst this defense will eventually improve, it can be very easy to submit people early on with this attack. Like the other moves on this list, you don’t need to be the most athletically gifted either – it’s an option available for all.
The Cross Collar Choke
Like most on this list, there’s actually a lot of technique behind this submission. Having said this, it’s often one of the first moves to be taught. The cross collar choke involves getting grips in either lapel and twisting, cutting off the blood supply. Like the Ezekiel – this just isn’t respected enough at the beginner levels. Here, people won’t fight to strip grips as much as an experienced opponent would. The result is that the cross collar choke can be applied with little defense.
It also helps that this move is done in closed guard which again, is one of the first positions taught. In short, this move will be available to those who aren’t paranoid enough. With this said, sneaking collar grips around your opponent’s lapel can lead to a number of submissions. A key tip in finishing the choke is to pull your hands down instead of moving your arms which is often a beginner’s mistake.
Summary
The submissions on this list are all beginner friendly. Not only are they fundamentally sound, but they can also be used up until black belt. Like most parts of BJJ, your technique will always start out sloppy and slowly expand. So don’t be sad if your submissions don’t always work or they aren’t perfect. This is what being a white belt is about, failing, and learning from your mistakes.
One thing which should also be addressed is that these submissions are also excellent in setting up counter moves. As mentioned, experienced players will defend the likes of Americana’s and Ezekiel’s with great fear. This doesn’t mean you still can’t hit them – but it also means they will open up other moves.
For instance, if someone overly-defends their neck then you can attack the arm instead. Because of this, these moves may eventually submit less – but gain more dominant positions as your BJJ evolves. In conclusion, they are an excellent bunch of relatively basic moves which can be used throughout and will definitely work on other white belts.
