Does BJJ have a standardised syllabus?

Question

Judo has a standardised syllabus of techniques maintained and occasionally revised by the Kodokan, divided into throwing and grappling (pins, joint-locks, strangles) techniques.

Most national organisations maintain a list of techniques based on this syllabus which a student is required to demonstrate some degree of proficiency in as a component of each grading.

Does a similar standardised syllabus exist for BJJ?

Answer 1

IBJJF referenced techniques

BJJ does not have a canonical list of techniques, however, the IBJJF makes reference to a number of techniques in its rules:

• Takedown: Single or double-leg takedown, Suplex, Scissor takedown*
• Positions: Side-control, North-south, Knee on belly, Mount, Side-mount, Sideways mount, Technical mount, Back mount, Back control, Hooks, Ground fighting
• Guard: Closed guard, Half-guard, Reverse half-guard, guard pull
• Guard pass
• Sweep
• Submission:
  • Triangle, Flying Triangles, Choke with spinal lock, Forearm choke, Ezequiel choke, Frontal guillotine choke, Arm triangle
  • "Lock inside the closed guard with legs compressing kidneys or ribs"
  • Armbar, Flying Armbars, Omoplata, Wristlock
  • Bicep slicer, Calf slicer
  • Straight foot lock, Toe hold, Knee bar, Heel hook,* Lock twisting the knees,* Knee reaping*
  • Triangle (pulling head), Spinal lock*

<sup>References: (1.3.8), (2.5.2), (4.1.7), (4.1.8), (4.2), (4.4), (4.4.1), (4.5), (6.2.2 W), (6.2.3 L), (6.2.3 M)
* banned in competition</sup>

Common techniques

The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of techniques generally recognized in the BJJ community:

Takedowns

• Judo (gi) throws
• No-gi throws (Single leg takedown, Double leg takedown, Fireman's carry, Suplex, Slam)
• Arm drags (Overhook, Underook)

Guards

• Closed guard
• Half guard (Quarter guard, Lockdown, Z-guard)
• Open guard (X, De la Riva, Spider, Butterfly, Rubber, 50/50)

Guard passes

• Simple guard pass
• Stacking guard pass
• Near knee guard pass

Guard sweeps

• Scissor sweep
• Push sweep
• Xande sweep
• Flower sweep

Pins

• Side control (Scarf hold)
• Mount (Full, Seated, Technical, Back)
• Back control
• Knee on belly
• North-South
• Crucifix

Submissions

Joint-locks

• Armlocks
  • Wristlocks (flexing, supinating, abducting)
  • Armbar (straight, inverted)
  • Biceps slicer
  • Shoulder-locks
    • Americana, Kimura, Hammerlock
    • Omoplata, Baratoplata, Monoplata/Marceloplata
• Leglocks
  • Ankle-locks (Straight, Toe hold)
  • Kneebar
  • Calf slicer
  • Heel hook* (inside, outside)
  • Banana split
• Neck cranks (Can opener, Cattle catch, Crucifix, Twister, Guillotine)

Chokes/Strangles

• Gi chokes
  • Baseball choke
  • Cross choke (Palm up/palm down, Palm up/palm up)
  • Breadcutter/Papercutter
  • Thrust choke
  • Loop choke
  • Ezequiel
  • Bow and Arrow, Arm and collar, Clock, Crucifix
• No-gi chokes
  • RNC (Figure-four grip, Gable grip)
  • Guillotine
  • North South Choke
  • Gogoplata
  • Triangle
  • Arm triangle
    • Kata-gatame choke, North South choke (arm-in), Von Flue
    • Anaconda, Peruvian necktie, D'Arce/Brabo/Japanese necktie

Pressure submissions

• Body-scissors
• Knee on belly