If you train Jiu Jitsu, I’m sure you have heard the mantra “POSITION BEFORE SUBMISSION” at least a thousand times, but what does it mean and when it should be applied?
Position before submission is one of the core principles in Jiu Jitsu. It basically means you should establish a dominant position before initiating your attacks. When you have a dominant position (e.g. mount, back…) you have not only greater control over your opponent, but he also has to expose himself much more in order to escape, thus creating the opportunities to end the fight.
On the other hand, talking about defense now, you should take the approach of SUBMISSION BEFORE POSITION. Don’t think about position if you are being threatened by a TIGHT submission. For instance, when you shoot for a double leg and your opponent counters it with a guillotine, if you keep insisting on taking him down to land in a good position, there is a high probability he will submit you with the choke, because while you are driving to finish the takedown he will be adjusting his hands to catch you. Another example is when someone takes your back, if you try to use your hands to get rid of his hooks in an attempt to escape, there is a high probability he will submit you with a choke, because your hands are busy trying to escape the position not the submission!
– Professor Gustavo Gasperin.
Filed in: BJJ Techniques