Jiu Jitsu is more than a collection of submissions. It was designed to be a comprehensive fighting art. People new to the art often get confused with what they see as endless options. They know they want the fight on the ground, but they don’t think it matters how it gets there. They don't know if they should learn takedowns, wait to get taken down themselves, or just flop on their back and pull guard. This is unfortunate because there is absolutely a preferred strategy and ideal path for BJJ practitioners.

There are four phases in the ideal flow of a Jiu Jitsu fight - this is true in a sport BJJ, self-defense, or MMA context.

         To move from one phase to the next, techniques are employed. Understanding these four phases and how to drive the fight from phase 1 to 4 is critical. I’ll detail these 4 phases next and then describe the 4 logical paths to get from phase 1 to phase 4