Core Concepts
What is a submission?
A submission is a choke or a joint lock applied to the point where your partner taps to end the exchange. In training it is a full stop, not an injury — the tap comes before any damage.
The two families
Chokes cut off blood to the brain or, less commonly, air to the lungs. Blood chokes such as the rear naked choke work in seconds and are the reason a much smaller person can end an exchange decisively.
Joint locks take a joint past its range in a direction it does not travel — armlocks at the elbow, shoulder locks, and leg locks at the knee and ankle. Each one isolates a single limb against the leverage of your whole body.
Why position comes first
A submission attempted from a bad position usually costs you the position. This is the origin of the sport's oldest piece of advice: position before submission. Control someone first, then finish; reaching for a finish before you own the position hands it back.
In practice this is why beginners are taught escapes and positional control long before they are taught anything flashy. Submissions are the consequence of good position, not a shortcut around it.
Tapping is the safety mechanism
You tap when you know the position is lost — ideally before it hurts. Your partner releases immediately, you reset, and nobody is injured. This is what makes it possible to practise chokes and joint locks several times a week for decades.
New people often resist tapping out of pride and get hurt for it. Experienced grapplers tap constantly and think nothing of it. Treat the tap as data about what you need to work on.
Common questions
Are leg locks dangerous?
Heel hooks in particular give little warning before damage, which is why many gyms introduce them later and expect controlled application. Applied slowly with a partner who taps early, they are trained safely every day.
What happens if someone will not tap?
A good partner releases anyway rather than causing an injury. Refusing to tap is a way to get hurt, not a way to win a training round.
Do I have to submit people to be good at jiu jitsu?
No. Plenty of highly skilled grapplers win positions and control rather than hunting finishes. Control is the skill; the finish is the punctuation.