Embracing the 32 Principles of Jiu-Jitsu Part 1 of 2
Elevate your Jiu-Jitsu by following the 32 Principles to improve your marital arts proficiency by unlocking the dimensions that shape the techniques, strategies and tactics of Jiu-Jitsu.
Amid the backdrop of the global COVID-10 pandemic, the entire world found itself grappling with isolation and uncertainty. For Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the US and across the globe, this translated into the near impossibility of training in a traditional school setting. Many academies, including Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, were forced to temporarily shutter their doors.
However, during this period Rener and Ryon Gracie, the head instructors of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, were able to utilize this closure as a unique opportunity to rethink and revamp their Purple Belt curriculum at Gracie University. The outcome of their innovative endeavor - The 32 Principles of Jiu-Jitsu. This groundbreaking approach to Jiu-Jitsu resulted not only in changes to the Purple Belt program, but the creation of a stand-alone seminar that was made available for all belt levels through their website. Rener also went on to author, The 32 Principles - Harnessing the Power of Jiu-Jitsu to Succeed in Business, Relationships and Life. In this book, he explores how the principles of Jiu-Jitsu can be implemented to elevate not only marital arts skills, but to enhance relationships, to foster professional success and to enrich one’s overall life.
Anyone that practices Jiu-Jitsu knows that it has the profound ability to transcend the boundaries of the training mat and weave its principles into the fabric of everyday lives. Below, I will provide concise explanations of these principles within Jiu-Jitsu and brief examples that will be relevant for beginners and immediate level ranks of Jiu-Jitsu. While the descriptions below are focused on the mat, it is worth keeping in mind that these techniques can be applied off the mat. For a more comprehensive grasp of their significance in both Jiu-Jitsu and beyond, I highly recommend exploring the seminar course and delving into the pages of The 32 Principles - Harnessing the Power of Jiu-Jitsu to Succeed in Business, Relationships and Life. The 32 Principles of Jiu-Jitsu are designed to elevate your marital arts proficiency by unlocking the dimensions that shape the techniques, strategies and tactics of Jiu-Jitsu.
The 32 Principles and Examples of Jiu-Jitsu in Action
Principle #1 - Connection: Control or predict the movement of your opponent to optimize your success.
Be as close to your opponent as possible to create movement, prevent movement or predict movement. Leave no space between you and your opponent and this will allow you to feel even the tiniest shift in their body positioning. Strategically use all parts of your body to dominate an opponent;s movements and effectively execute techniques. See Harnessing the Jiu-Jitsu Alphabet for 32 body parts that can be used with the Connection Principle.
Example of the Connection Principle in Action:
Top Mount Position
The mount position is a dominant top position where you are on top of your opponent. Maintaining base is essential to keepi your opponent from escaping or executing effective attacks. When in top position on the ground, use your body weight to maintain pressure and leverage on your opponent’s chest or hips to make it challenging for them to escape or counter your move. Limit their mobility and options to create opportunities for your own positional control and submissions.
Principle #2 - Detachment: Know when to let go.
By knowing when to disconnect from an opponent you can strategically control your transitions to advance towards your goal.
Example of the Detachment Principle in Action:
Bottom Mount Position
While in bottom position your opponent is attempting to apply pressure and control from the top. By shrimping or bridging your hips, you can move away from your opponent and regain control over your own positioning.
Principle #3 - Distance: Manage distance to neutralize your opponent’s ability to pace the fight or to inflict damage.
Use distance to impact the effectiveness of an opponent’s move against you by disrupting the optimal distance they need to perform the move effectively.
Example of the Distance Principle in Action:
Standing
While standing, if you are striking, you can use jabs and front kicks to maintain a safe range from your opponent while you circle around. This prevents your opponent from getting close for a takedown or clinch.
Principle #4 - Pyramid: Maintain at least three points of contact in the horizontal and vertical plane with the ground and your opponent to aid control and to help maintain balance.
Invest in a strong foundation to maximize control of your balance and center of gravity at all times. Be aware of your relationship with the ground and your opponent as if a pyramid to stay well-balanced and resistant to attack.
Example of the Pyramid Principle in Action:
Top Mount Position
When in mount position, where you are on the top of your opponent, it is essential to prevent your opponent from escaping and to execute effective attacks. After establishing the mount position, keep your weight centered over your opponent’s chest and maintain a low center of gravity. Keep your knees close to your opponent’s torso for control with your feet tucked close to their hips and an arm wrapped behind their neck. By keeping your base low and balanced, with 3 or more points of contact, you make it difficult for your opponent to knock you off and escape.
Principle #5 - Creation: Focus on how certain actions can elicit specific responses from your opponent and how those responses often open new opportunities.
Begin with the end goal in mind to use targeted actions to engineer specific reactions from your opponent. This is the art of the counter-attack: create openings that maneuver your opponent to react in predictable ways. As Rener and Ryron say, you want to be first and you want to be third.
Example of the Creation Principle in Action:
Armbar
The armbar targets an opponent’s arm. To initiate the armbar technique, you must create the opportunity. For example, by beginning in closed guard, work on controlling your opponent’s posture and arms. Wait for the right moment to break this posture and force a reaction to attack their arm and implement the armbar.
Principle #6 - Acceptance: Recognize when it is better to yield than to resist.
By accepting the inevitability of a move not going as planned, you are better prepared for the outcome than your opponent. Use this to control an outcome rather than be forced into it.
Example of the Acceptance Principle in Action:
Bottom of Closed Guard
In the Closed Guard position, you must acknowledge the initial situation that your opponent is on top and you are on your back with your legs wrapped around them. Accepting that your opponent has you in a positional advantage allows you to avoid panicking or resisting and instead focus on control of your opponent’s posture and arms to limit their options. If your opponent attempts to posture, you can then adapt to their actions and turn their attempt to escape into an opportunity for a sweep.
Principle #7 - Velocity: Adapt your speed to maintain balance and optimize outcomes.
Changing your speed makes it difficult for your opponent to know how to react. Alternate between fast and slow. By constantly confusing your opponent with dynamic changes in speed will allow you to be less predictable.
Example of the Velocity Principle in Action:
Arm Drag
The arm drag is a technique that involves quickly redirecting your opponent’s arm to gain back control or set up various attacks. With one hand grab your opponent’s wrist or sleeve and with the other hand grab their triceps. Using a burst of speed, catch your opponent off guard. Create momentum to disrupt their balance when they are the most vulnerable. Ideally, the motion is seamless and efficient and implemented using the precise timing.
Principle # 8 - Clock: Alter your timing to confuse your opponent’s timing.
Disrupt your opponent’s anticipated timing of their technique to reduce or eliminate its effectiveness.
Example of the Clock Principle in Action:
Guard Pass
In the guard pass you move past your opponent’s legs to establish a dominant position. Alter your timing to confuse your opponent. By strategically, “jumping around the clock” you can force your opponent to overcommit or under-react. As they try to adjust, seize the opportunity to complete the guard pass and establish a dominant position.
Principle #9 - River: Overcome obstacles by flowing around them.
Focus on the use of negative space. Instead of stopping resistance, move around it like water flowing past a rock in a river.
Example of the River Principle in Action:
Triangle Choke
The triangle choke uses your legs to trap your opponent’s head an arms, creating pressure on their neck. In the initial setup of this move you will need to flow with your opponent’s movements. If your opponent postures up or attempts to stack you to counter the choke, you use your hips, legs or torso to adjust and maintain control. Adapt to their reactions and stay connected to maintain the position and control the distance.
Principle #10 - Frame: Conserve energy and increase leverage by using your body’s frame rather than your muscles.
By substituting muscular strength with skeletal structure, you can mechanically position your body to conserve energy as you create space or take it away.
Example of the Frame Principle in Action:
Bridge and Roll Escape from the Mount
In the mount position, your opponent is controlling you from a dominant position. Create a structural frame to initiate the bridge and roll escape. Using your arms as frames, place your hands on your opponent’s hips or thighs. With bent elbows, create a sturdy structure to keep your opponent’s weight off your chest. Utilize the fame to generate leverage as you bridge - arching your body - and roll. This creates space between your chest and your opponent, making it challenging for them to maintain control. Use the frame to direct your opponent’s weight and position as you set up the escape. After bridging and creating distance, continue to maintain the frame to keep your opponent off balance and create an opening for your escape. By extending your arms and maintaining the frames, you roll your opponent on their side, effectively reversing the position.
Principle #11 - Kuzushi: Fracture the balance of your opponent.
Japanese for breaking the balance or unbalance - 崩し. By disrupting your opponent’s balance, you disrupt their ability to control the fight. Shift a fight to your favor by deliberately impacting your opponent’s ability to maintain their center of gravity.
Example of the Kuzushi Principle in Action:
Sweep from Half-Guard
Typically, in the half-guard position, your opponent maintains a strong base to prevent you from sweeping. Using grips, hip movements and leverage to disrupt their balance shift their weight slightly off center. Doing so allows you to create an opportunity for a sweep.
Principle #12 - Reconnaissance: Gather and apply new information about your opponent’s behavior.
Every exchange with your opponent allows you an opportunity to learn something about their strategy and tactics. You can use this against them.
Example of the Reconnaissance Principle in Action:
Guard Pass
Observe your opponent’s reactions as you attempt to pass their guard and establish a dominant position. Do they prefer to frame with their arms, use their legs for leverage or attempt to recover guard immediately? Note their reactions to build a mental profile of their guard game. Test your opponents reactions for preferences by attempting different pass variations. Let the principle guide you to adapt your strategy based on their reactions. Observe, anticipate and adjust accordingly.
Principle #13 - Prevention: Stop progress and disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
Sometimes the only way to win is to avoid losing. This doesn’t necessarily mean attacking, it just means preventing your opponent from progressing. Put your opponent’s objectives before your own to prevent their progress. Provoke an overreaction by your opponent that will open up a counterattack for you.
Example of the Prevention Principle in Action:
Turtle Position
In this defensive posture, you prevent your back from being taken by your opponent by tucking your chin to protect against chokes and keeping your hands in a defense position to block your opponent’s grips. Maintain a low compact posture like a turtle to reduce hooks and secure back control. Be alert to recognizing moments when your opponent’s control weakens or when they make mistakes. This allows you to prevent being submitted and to also create opportunities to regain a more dominant position.
Principle #14 - Tension: Create and release tension during a fight.
Recognize when tension is an asset and when it is a liability. By doing this, you can capitalize on the offensive and defensive opportunities available from the creation and release of tension.
Example of the Tension Principle in Action:
Side Control
From top position, control your opponent from the side by constantly applying pressure to their body to prevent movement. Maintain a low center of gravity, keeping your chest, hips and knees in contact with your opponent. Prevent them from escaping by applying continuous pressure, making it challenging from them to breathe comfortably. Use your arms and shoulders to pin your opponent’s upper body to restrict their mobility. Your hips and legs work in conjunction to control their lower body, ensuring they are unable to escape or recover guard. By maintaining tension and control, you can transition to other dominant positions or set up submissions.
Principle #15 - Fork: Put your opponent into a dilemma.
Optimize outcomes for win-win equations in your favor. Create positional dilemmas where your opponent only has two options and both of them are advantageous to you.
Example of the Fork Principle in Action:
Spider Guard Sweep
Control your opponent’s arms at the sleeves with your handgrips and stretch and control their arms with your legs. This makes it challenging for your opponent to maintain balance or pass your guard. Doing this puts them into a dilemma: break your grips or prevent a sweep? Depending on how they react, you can redirect your energy.
Principle #16 - Posture: Neutralize an opponents technique by disrupting an opponent’s posture.
Make it impossible for them to do certain moves because their body needs to be in a specific position or posture to successfully complete the move.
Example of the Posture Principle in Action:
Mount Position
As you control your opponent from the mount, keep your knees spread wide and your feet tucked in at your opponent’s hips. Sit tall with your weight centered and evenly distributed. Continue to control your opponent at the torso or arms and limit their options for escape. By posturing high you can generate attacks and maintain control.
Embracing the Journey
Join us for Part 2 as we examine the last of the 32 Principles of Jiu-Jitsu to aid us in attaining a more profound comprehension of how to explore and how to apply the techniques, strategies and tactics of Jiu-Jitsu.
Interested in learning more about Jiu-Jitsu? For a more detailed look at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu’s Combative Beginner Course and their Master Cycle see Journey into Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Your Comprehensive Guide to What Lies Ahead.