The hardest Jiu-Jitsu technique can mean a few things. It could be the most ‘technical’, the least understood by any given individual, the hardest to perfect, or the least practiced among the sport.
- A lot of the time the hardest Jiu-Jitsu technique is dependent on the individual. Someone may find one technique more difficult to learn than someone else. This could also depend on the teacher.
- Some teachers may understand and teach a certain technique better than other teachers.
- Other things like the average belt type in a gym could affect this. If you’re at a gym with a lot of blue belts, then you might naturally pick up the techniques that they’re trying to learn over techniques that are more focused on in a white belt curriculum.
- Other moves may be dependent on flexibility. If you have really tight hamstrings, this can decrease the flexibility in your back which can make basic moves like rolling difficult.
So it really comes down to a number of individual factors.
Hardest Jiu-Jitsu Techniques
The hardest Jiu-Jitsu techniques may also depend on the size of the muscle or joint. Smaller joints and muscles are going to be easier to manipulate while larger joints may need more leverage to apply enough force. Sometimes moves can also be more ‘technical’. This could mean that there are a high number of individual steps to be able to accomplish a move.
Twister
This was originally taken from wrestling. It applies flexion from the neck to the bottom of the spine but mainly in the neck. If you have back control leave one leg hooked. Then thread the same arm as the hooked leg under the opponent’s opposite armpit and behind the neck. Once you get the arm around you can grab your wrist and pull the head towards your chest while pulling the hooked leg in the opposite direction.
Brabo Choke / D’Arce Choke
This is a variation of an arm-triangle choke where your opponent is choked between their shoulder and your arm. Brabo is used with a gi and D’Arce is used with no-gi. It is known as a blood choke because it blocks the blood flowing to the head from all sides of the neck. Facing your opponent, get your body on top of their head and upper back. Get your opponent in a turtle position and apply pressure to their back with your chest to gain control. Thread one of your arms under their armpit and out the other side grabbing your palm. Twist your opponent on their side, then place your forearm under their chin then grab your bicep. Now squeeze with your body as you push their neck down.
North-South Choke
This is applied when your opponent is on their back and you on your stomach. You and your opponent’s feet are pointing in opposite directions. You then wrap your arm around your opponent’s neck so their neck is in your armpit. You then do a gable grip.
Gogoplata
The Gogoplata is a shin choke. To get into the position you will be in a guard position. Wrap one of your legs so your lower shin is against your opponent’s throat. Place your other leg on top of the shoulder next to the ear and pull their neck down with both hands.
Calf-Slicer
This is a compression lock that works by pressing muscle into bone, causing pain. In this case, it presses the calf muscle into the shin bone. Place a leg in the backside of the knee and pull with the shine facing the calf.
Flying scissor heel hook
Start with a neutral pummel clinch position, do an over the hook with your arm then touch your chest with your hand. Take a step outwards so you are almost parallel, then bend down slightly. Place your back leg over the front of your opponent’s legs. Your other leg will be used to sweep the legs using your hand on the ground to catch yourself. Thread your top leg in between the opponent’s legs, locking your ankles. Fall back so their foot is in your armpit. You then squeeze and turn in the opposite direction.
Inverted Triangle
This is a leg choke where you and your opponent are in the north-south position. Place one leg over the back of the neck with the opponent’s arm threaded between the legs. Place the other leg on top of the foot and flex your leg down.
Most Common Moves
Rear-naked choke
The rear-naked choke is when you’re behind your opponent and have them in a traditional chokehold.
Guillotine
This happens a lot when standing when you may be going for a takedown and your opponent gets you in a chokehold when your head is on their side by their waist.
Armbar
The armbar is when you hyperextend your opponent’s elbow using your legs and body.
Arm-Triangle Choke
The arm triangle choke is when you get your opponent’s shoulder to choke themselves.
Triangle Choke
A triangle choke is used by choking your opponent with your legs.
Easiest Moves
The easiest moves tend to also be the most common moves. This includes the arm-triangle choke, the rear-naked choke, and the armbar.
Least common
Generally speaking, takedowns tend to have a little less attention when compared to bottom and top ground games. This has been pointed out by multiple practitioners and trainers such as John Danaher.
In conclusion, the most difficult to perform Jiu-Jitsu techniques tend to be the ones that are least studied and typically involve multiple steps or threading of limbs to get into place.
