Positions Before Submissions
One of the most common mistakes beginners make in jiu jitsu is chasing submissions too early.
They see an opportunity for a choke or an armbar and immediately try to finish, often before they have established jiu jitsu positional control. In doing so, they abandon the very thing that would have made the submission possible in the first place.
The position.
In jiu jitsu, submissions are not the foundation of your skill.
Jiu jitsu positional control is the foundation.
Without it, submissions are often brief opportunities that disappear as quickly as they appear.
Why Position Comes First
Every effective submission is built on control.
Jiu jitsu positional control means your opponent cannot easily escape, recover, or reverse the position. When that control is present, you dictate the pace of the exchange.
When it is not, you are reacting instead of leading.
Beginners often rush submissions before establishing jiu jitsu positional control, and the result is predictable—they lose the position.
Experienced grapplers approach this differently. They do not chase submissions.
They build toward them.
Your position is your foundation.
From that foundation comes control.
And from control comes the submission.
What Changes When You Develop Control
When a student begins to understand jiu jitsu positional control, their entire approach to training changes.
They stop scrambling unnecessarily.
They begin to stabilize before attacking.
They hold positions with intention.
This shift leads to:
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Better control during rounds
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Fewer escapes from opponents
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More deliberate decision making
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A calmer pace overall
Instead of reacting to movement, they begin dictating it.
Feeling the Position
Jiu jitsu positional control is not just mechanical—it is something that must be felt.
Over time, students begin to recognize:
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when their weight is properly distributed
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when their opponent is carrying their pressure
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when a position is truly stable
That feeling becomes the signal.
When the position is stable, the submission becomes available.
Not forced.
Earned.
Why Submissions Are Delayed
In many cases, instructors intentionally delay emphasizing submissions so students can first develop jiu jitsu positional control.
This is not because submissions are unimportant. They are the objective of jiu jitsu.
But without control, students develop the wrong habits.
They rush.
They force.
They abandon position too easily.
By focusing on control first, students build patience. And that patience becomes one of the most important traits in their long-term development.
The Problem With Chasing Submissions
Students who never fully develop jiu jitsu positional control often struggle as they progress.
They may rely on speed or athletic movement early on. They may even find occasional success against other beginners.
But over time, their growth becomes limited.
Without control, they cannot slow the match down.
Without control, they cannot hold dominant positions.
Without control, they cannot consistently create submission opportunities.
Their jiu jitsu lacks structure.
And without structure, there is no foundation to build on.
The Strategic Shift
When students commit to developing jiu jitsu positional control, their mindset begins to change.
They become more patient.
More strategic.
More aware of timing and opportunity.
Instead of forcing submissions, they allow them to develop.
They maintain position.
They wait for openings.
They make decisions with purpose.
This allows them to train longer, think more clearly, and improve more consistently.
A Rule to Remember
If there is one principle to carry into every round, it is this:
Learning jiu jitsu positional control allows you to build the patience and principles that will greatly impact your ability in the future.
If you cannot hold the position, you have not earned the submission yet.
Building the Foundation
This stage of training is where everything begins to take shape.
Jiu jitsu positional control becomes the base layer that supports everything that comes next:
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Escapes
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Defensive awareness
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Guard retention
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Pressure and transitions
Without it, those skills are harder to develop.
With it, they become easier to understand and apply.
This is why positional control is not just another concept.
It is the foundation.
And once that foundation is in place, your jiu jitsu begins to evolve in a completely different way.
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