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Map of Combat - Quick Start

New to BJJ?

Start with The Four Combat Fundamentals for a beginner-friendly introduction before diving into this technical map.

Overview​

We divide the fight into four main stations and present the possible progressions from each position. The idea is to work as a map, so each practitioner knows how to locate themselves in the middle of combat and understand what to expect from the opponent.

Station Flow Diagram​

Standing​

Top Guard​

Bottom Guard​

  • Executing sweeps → reaching top guard or immobilizations
  • Seeking submissions → directly from the guard

Immobilizations (Bottom)​

Immobilizations (Top)​

General Observations​

The fight does not necessarily follow this linear course. At any moment:

  • The person on bottom may stand up
  • The one passing guard may attempt a submission that reverses positions

The flow of the fight depends on:

Be prepared to adapt and react to every change of scenario.

💡 Competition Note: In a sport context, each progression generates points that, at the end of the match time, determine the winner.

Next Steps​

After understanding the map of combat:

  1. Learn the terminology → Glossary
  2. Understand body mechanics → Body Reading
  3. Deep dive into positions → Guard System or Immobilizations