Every technique in jiu jitsu is a lever. The fulcrum, load, and effort arm are designed so that a mechanically correct application overpowers raw muscle every time. Training leverage means learning where to place your body so physics does the work.
Closed guard uses your legs to control an opponent's posture while your hips generate breaking and sweeping force. A smaller guard player with good hip leverage consistently controls larger passers.
The triangle uses both legs to compress the carotid arteries against the opponent's own trapped shoulder. Leg squeeze plus angle adjustment creates a blood choke that no amount of neck strength can resist.
The omoplata uses the full rotation of your hips to attack one shoulder joint. Even large opponents cannot resist the torque generated by hip extension against a trapped arm.
The De La Riva hook wraps the outside leg around the opponent's lead leg, creating a lever that controls their base at the furthest point from their centre of gravity. A well-placed hook disrupts posture regardless of weight difference.
Knee on belly concentrates your entire body weight through a single point of contact on the opponent's diaphragm. The lever is your hip height — higher hips create more downward pressure with less effort.
The guillotine uses your forearm as a fulcrum under the chin while your body curls downward to close the choke. Arching the hips and squeezing the elbow generates far more force than arm strength alone.
The straight ankle lock uses your wrist bone as a fulcrum against the Achilles tendon while hip extension provides the breaking force. Correct hip positioning finishes the lock where grip strength alone fails.
The bottom half guard player uses an underhook and knee shield to create a frame that amplifies sweeping force through hip extension. Proper leverage from half guard lets lighter grapplers off-balance heavier opponents consistently.
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