Jiu Jitsu Flowchart: A Visual Guide to Decision Making on the Mat

Learning jiu jitsu can feel overwhelming. You're trying to remember dozens of techniques and transitions.

You might forget which move comes next or how to escape from a bad position during rolling. This happens to everyone, from white belts to folks who've been training for years.

A jiu jitsu flowchart is a visual diagram that maps out technique sequences, showing you the logical connections between positions, submissions, and transitions. It turns complicated chains of moves into simple, easy-to-follow paths.

You can see at a glance how one technique leads to another and what your options are from any given position. That's a pretty big deal when you're in the thick of a roll.

These training tools help you organize your knowledge and spot gaps in your game. You'll learn how to create flowcharts that match your skill level and personal style.

The right mapping system makes it easier to remember techniques and actually use them when you need them most. Sometimes you just need a bit of structure to see the bigger picture.

Principles of Technique Mapping

Technique mapping in jiu jitsu means figuring out basic movements, understanding how positions connect, and actually applying these patterns when you roll with a partner.

Understanding Core Movements

Every jiu jitsu technique builds from a handful of basic movements. These include bridging, shrimping, framing, and gripping.

When you map techniques, you start by spotting which core movement drives each position change. Bridging lifts your hips off the ground to create space or escape.

Shrimping moves your hips away from danger while staying on your side. Framing uses your arms and legs to keep distance from your opponent.

Common Core Movements:

• Bridge - Hip elevation for escapes
• Shrimp - Hip escape while on your side
• Frame - Arm and leg barriers
• Grip - Hand control on gi or body
• Post - Hand or foot placement for base

You can break down complex techniques into these simple parts. That makes it easier to remember sequences and understand why techniques work.

Connections Between Techniques

Techniques in jiu jitsu link together through common positions and transitions. Your flowchart shows these connections as paths between moves.

A sweep from closed guard might lead to mount, which then connects to multiple submission options. Position-based mapping groups techniques by where they start and end.

You can map all techniques that begin from side control or all submissions available from back control. This creates a clear picture of your options from any position.

The same technique often pops up in multiple positions. An armbar works from guard, mount, and side control.

These shared techniques create important connection points in your map. It's pretty cool when you start to notice those overlaps.

Problem-Solving in Live Scenarios

Live rolling means you need to make quick decisions based on your opponent's reactions. Your technique map turns into a decision tree, and each branch represents a possible response.

If your partner defends your first attack, you just follow the map to your next option. You start to recognize patterns through repetition.

When someone defends your triangle choke the same way over and over, you learn to anticipate it and plan your counter. Your mental flowchart updates every time you train.

If path A gets blocked, you immediately shift to path B without hesitation. That's why mapping multiple techniques from each position matters.

You need options when your first choice fails. Sometimes, it's the backup plan that saves the day.

Building Effective Training Tools

A well-designed flowchart helps you track your development and customize your training based on what you want to achieve on the mat.

Visualizing Progression Pathways

Your flowchart should map out clear steps from basic techniques to advanced positions. Start by organizing techniques into skill levels like beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Use different colors or shapes to show how techniques connect to each other. For example, you might show how a basic closed guard leads to a scissor sweep, which then opens up mount position options.

Key elements to include:

• Starting positions (guard, mount, side control, back control)
• Entry techniques for each position
• Submission options from each position
• Escape routes when things go wrong

Include decision points that show what to do when your opponent responds in different ways. This creates a branching path that reflects real sparring situations.

Mark techniques that work well together with connecting lines or arrows. Sometimes, just seeing those connections on paper makes everything click.

Adapting to Training Goals

You want your flowchart to reflect exactly what you're aiming to improve. If you're gearing up for competition, highlight those high-percentage techniques that actually hold up under pressure.

Focus your chart on areas that match your current needs. A beginner might map out just guard passes and a couple of basic submissions.

Someone with more experience could break things down into detailed charts for something like half guard attacks or maybe even just leg lock sequences.

As your skills change, update your flowchart every few months. Toss in new techniques you've picked up, and ditch the ones that just don't suit your body or style.

It helps to make separate flowcharts for gi and no-gi training. The techniques can be surprisingly different.

Keep your chart handy during training, maybe on your phone, or print a small copy to tuck in your bag. Glance at it between rounds to reinforce the patterns you're drilling. Over time, the flowchart becomes less of a reference and more of a reflection: a living map of how your game has grown, where you've been, and where you're headed next on the mat.