Position Before Submission: Patience as a Virtue in Jiu Jitsu
When you first start training jiu jitsu, a mantra you will hear over and over again is “position before submission,” usually coupled with “patience and control first.” These adages are more than just cliches your coach repeats to break your soul when you have once again tried and failed to nail that cool new submission you just learned in drills. These phrases are the foundation of a true jiu jitsu practitioner.
At its core, the idea of “position before submission” is an important reminder that patience comes first. And I know what you’re thinking, but submissions are cooler. They are- if you can nail them without losing control of your opponent, having to start from square one, or sustaining an injury. However, if you go for a quick submission directly after a take down, the success rate of finishing that submission is statistically a lot smaller. If you wear down your opponent with patience and pressure, emotionally, mentally, and physically- the odds that that tired and frustrated opponent will take obvious white belt bait or present the opportunity for a submission increase dramatically. So, the smarter and less risky approach in jiu jitsu will always be to pressure and control your opponent, maybe make them regret their life choices or consider giving up, before you hit that armbar.
Still don’t believe me? Here’s a practical example: say you have an opponent in side control- arguably one of the worst positions to be caught in in jiu jitsu. You have your knees tucked in tight, a solid base, your arms are locked in an unbreakable underhook and you are smashing their head to the side with good shoulder pressure. Your opponent has very few options here, and they have to use all their physical energy just to keep breathing well and defending themselves. They might get panicky, give up, or even try an ineffective Instagram jiu jitsu escape that they’ve never done before. That is your moment to strike- because you have not spent the last minute short of breath and frustrated; you have spent that time planning how you want to position your body for that armbar or Americana submission.
Oftentimes, there is a lot of competing advice about how to be great at jiu jitsu out there. Instagram and TikTok have exploded with “coaches” offering the latest and greatest tricky moves to submit your opponent in ten seconds or less. However, advice like this from legendary MMA and jiu jitsu coach John Danaher have stood the test of time throughout multiple martial arts:
“They say position before submission, but another very important notion is PRESSURE BEFORE SUBMISSION. Pressure doesn’t have to start with the Classic positional pins of Jiu jitsu – it can be applied from any situation where you have more control over your opponent than he has over you – even in neutral positions. Pressure saps your opponent’s energy as energy decreases an opponent’s will to resist decreases in proportion. When the will is broken, that’s when submissions really have their maximum effect.”
The moral of the story- jiu jitsu isn’t a sport about looking flashy or collecting submissions like Pokemon cards. It’s about control and dominance for a full five minute round- and leaving the mats with not only your joints intact, but also those of your training partners and gym mates. It’s about winning the chess match both physically and mentally. So next time you roll, try slowing things down and focusing on pressure; when the time is right, the submission will be there.