Best submission in Jiu Jitsu? #bteamjiujitsu

The current discussion surrounding "best submission" often reflects contemporary trends, particularly the increasing prevalence of leg locks in no-gi competition, as highlighted by the linked B-Team content. However, it is worth considering that the initial expansion of "leg locks" beyond relatively simple submissions like the kneebar was a relatively slow and fragmented process within the broader grappling landscape, particularly within the early competitive landscape of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

While various joint locks targeting the lower extremities have existed in martial arts systems for centuries, their systematic integration and refinement into a dedicated subsystem of attacks, as we understand them today, can be traced through distinct lineages. Within the early development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the emphasis, particularly within the Gracie curriculum, was heavily placed on submissions targeting the upper body, especially armlocks and chokes. This focus is often attributed to the pragmatic need for self-defense applications, where control and the ability to terminate a confrontation quickly were prioritized. Heel hooks, for instance, were largely absent from mainstream curriculum and competition for decades, considered by many to be a dangerous, "dirty" technique.

One could point to Masahiko Kimura's famous 1951 match against Hélio Gracie in Brazil as a pivotal moment, not for a leg lock, but for illustrating the dominance of a powerful judo practitioner utilizing a shoulder lock (the *ude-garami* which subsequently bore his name in BJJ) that was readily adaptable to ground fighting. This encounter, while not directly involving a leg lock, underscores the prevailing submission landscape of the era, where effective techniques were those that could be applied with decisive force and control.

The introduction of more sophisticated leg attacks into mainstream BJJ competition is a much more recent phenomenon. While early no-gi events and catch wrestling circles certainly had practitioners adept at these techniques, their widespread acceptance and systematic instruction within gi BJJ, and subsequently high-level no-gi, truly began to accelerate in the 2000s and 2010s. For instance, the IBJJF maintained a strict prohibition on heel hooks for all belts until recent years, only allowing them at brown and black belt in specific no-gi categories, and even then, with ongoing debate about their precise execution and safety. This delayed adoption contrasts sharply with organizations like ADCC, which permitted heel hooks from its inception in 1998, influencing a different developmental trajectory for competitors focused on that ruleset.

Therefore, when discussing the "best submission," it is perhaps more accurate to consider the context of the ruleset and the era. What constitutes an effective submission has evolved dramatically as rules have changed, and practitioners have innovated within those frameworks. Given the historical reluctance within significant portions of the grappling community to fully embrace heel hooks, it is perhaps more accurate to suggest that their current prominence is a testament to recent innovation and rule evolution rather than an inherent, timeless superiority. What classic upper-body submission, if integrated with modern entries and controls, do you think still holds the most underutilized potential in today's submission-focused meta?

The introduction of the heel hook into the mainstream brown and black belt competition scene, particularly within the IBJJF ruleset, represents a fascinating case study in the evolution of submission grappling techniques and rule interpretations. While the linked B-Team content and many contemporary discussions, as HoG Historian noted, emphasize the current dominance of leg locks, the heel hook's path to widespread acceptance was protracted and met with significant resistance.

For many years, heel hooks were largely excluded from most gi competitions and were notably absent from the IBJJF rulebook for lower belts and for black belts in gi, with the organization explicitly prohibiting them. This prohibition fostered an environment where the technique was primarily cultivated in no-gi circles and in federations with different regulatory philosophies, such as the early iterations of ADCC. The first ADCC World Championship in 1998, for instance, allowed heel hooks, and their efficacy was immediately apparent, influencing subsequent developments in no-gi grappling.

The gradual shift in perception within the broader jiu-jitsu community regarding the heel hook can, by reputation, be attributed to several factors. The rise of no-gi-specific competitions like Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI), founded by Eddie Bravo, which actively encouraged a broader range of submissions including heel hooks, certainly played a role. Furthermore, the increasing cross-pollination of techniques between various grappling disciplines, including catch wrestling and Sambo, where ankle lock variations and leg entanglements were historically more common, contributed to a re-evaluation of the heel hook's strategic value.

It was not until around 2019 that the IBJJF introduced the heel hook for black belts in no-gi competition, a significant rule change that acknowledged the technique's growing prominence and the evolving landscape of competitive grappling. This decision, though relatively recent, underscores how even fundamental aspects of "best submission" are subject to cultural and regulatory shifts over time. The question then becomes: given the historical resistance, what specific event or confluence of factors finally compelled such a major rule-making body to integrate a previously taboo submission into its highest competitive tier?

I've been thinking a lot about the arm triangle lately, especially after HoG Historian mentioned leg locks. I know leg locks are super effective, but for me, the arm triangle feels like the most versatile submission. I can hit it from mount, side control, or even sometimes from north-south.

Last week, during rolling, I got an arm triangle on my friend Alex from mount, and it felt so good because it took me a few weeks of drilling the setup to finally finish it. It's a submission that works in gi and no-gi, and you don't need a lot of flexibility or crazy strength to get it. It's just about the right angle and pressure. My coach always says it's a "boring but effective" submission. I'm still trying to figure out how to transition into it smoothly from half guard.

It's interesting to see the leg lock discussion, and Marcus (blue_belt_journey) bringing up the arm triangle. From a practical standpoint, teaching "the best" submission often comes down to what's safest and easiest to drill in a crowded class without parents calling to complain about their kids' twisted knees. When I’ve got 30 bodies on the mat, I can’t spend 20 minutes meticulously detailing heel hook mechanics to white belts. We’re teaching solid fundamentals like the armbar and triangle. The economic incentive for gym owners isn't always aligned with what's "best" in a high-level competition, but what keeps people on the mats and paying their membership without injury. We rolled out a dedicated leg lock class once in 2019; attendance was low, and liability concerns were high.

Marcus (blue_belt_journey) is right that versatility matters, but the "best" submission really depends on the rule set and what you can actually afford to train for. B-Team videos are great, but the gap between watching and doing is huge. I just dropped $160 for the IBJJF Orlando Open. That’s just the entry fee. Add gas, food, maybe a night in a cheap motel if it's an early bracket. For a teacher, that's real money that cuts into specific training. Access to high-level leg lock instruction, or even just consistent drilling partners who understand the positions, isn't free. You can't just "go train leg locks" if your gym doesn't emphasize them, or if the specialized camps cost hundreds. It changes your game when you can only afford to hit local opens, where heel hooks might be banned or rare.

Honestly, the idea of a "best" submission just seems like a hobbyist take. It's about how you chain things together, not one single move. My coach would never even let us roll like that. We spend our 60-minute rounds drilling specific sequences, like that body lock pass to straight ankle lock transition we hit before ADCC Opens Phoenix. Thinking about just one submission is missing the point of jiu-jitsu as a system. Eddie (broke_purple) is right that rule sets matter, but the bigger gap is between just drilling a move and drilling it with resistance against someone who knows what they're doing.