Best BJJ Submissions Ranked by Data (2026)

Opinions about the “best” BJJ submission are everywhere in this sport. Walk into any gym and you will hear a different answer depending on who you ask — the purple belt who just discovered heel hooks, the black belt who has finished every match with the same bow and arrow for fifteen years, or the coach who swears nothing beats a well-timed guillotine.

The problem with opinions is that they are shaped by personal experience, which is limited. The data is not.

This guide ranks the most effective BJJ submissions using verified competition statistics from the IBJJF World Championships, ADCC, the 2025 IBJJF Europeans, and professional no-gi events covering more than 7,500 finishes. We separate gi and no-gi because they are genuinely different sports with different answers. And we explain not just what finishes matches, but why — so you can make informed decisions about where to invest your training time.

Why the data matters more than opinions

Every submission you drill seriously is an investment. You have a finite number of hours on the mat. Drilling a low-percentage technique at the expense of a high-percentage one is a costly mistake that compounds over years.

Data from elite competition cuts through bias. It does not care which technique looks impressive on social media or which one your favourite athlete is known for. It tells you — across thousands of matches at the highest levels of the sport — what is actually finishing opponents who know what they are doing.

Two important caveats before we get into the rankings:

Gi and no-gi are different sports with different answers. The bow and arrow choke — one of the highest-percentage finishes in IBJJF gi competition — does not exist in no-gi. Heel hooks — dominant in ADCC — are mostly banned in IBJJF gi. The data below is separated accordingly.

Success rate and attempt rate are different things. The guillotine choke is the most attempted submission in competition but has only a 9.3% finish rate. The Ezekiel choke is attempted rarely but finishes at over 60% when it does appear. Raw frequency is not the same as effectiveness.

The key numbers at a glance

Submission	IBJJF Gi %	ADCC No-Gi %	Success Rate	Notes
Rear naked choke	45%	20%	Very high	Dominates both formats — applied from back control
Armbar	21%	15–18%	~50%	Most versatile — works from guard, mount, side control
Inside heel hook	N/A (banned)	21%	34.85%	#1 in ADCC; banned in IBJJF gi at most belt levels
Bow and arrow choke	High (gi only)	N/A	~89%	Highest success rate when attempted — gi only
Triangle choke	Variable	Variable	~38%	Works in both; chains with armbar and omoplata
Guillotine	Common	Most attempted	9.3%	Most tried, lowest finish rate — better as a threat
Kimura	Common	Common	~35%	Strong as both submission and sweep/control tool
Overall submission rate	—	—	40.5%	Of all professional BJJ matches, 40.5% end in submission

Sources: IBJJF World Championships 2023, ADCC 2023, analysis of 7,567 competitive submissions (BJJ Blog CA), jiujitsu-news.com compilation 2024–2025.

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Gi competition rankings — IBJJF

Gi Rank #1

Rear Naked Choke

45%

of all submissions at the 2023 IBJJF World Championships

This might surprise you. The rear naked choke is a no-gi staple — but even in gi competition it dominates because back control is the most dominant position in all of grappling and the RNC is its primary weapon. When you achieve back control, your opponent has no offensive options. That fundamental asymmetry is why the RNC consistently tops every dataset regardless of ruleset.

Training implicationIf the RNC finishes 45% of gi matches, your back-taking system deserves more drilling time than almost anything else. Every technique that leads to back control — the arm drag from guard, the half guard back take, the kimura roll — feeds directly into your most productive finishing position.

Gi Rank #2

Armbar

21%

of all submissions at the 2023 IBJJF World Championships

The armbar is the most versatile submission in the sport. It can be attacked from guard, mount, side control, and back control. It works across all weight classes, genders, and belt levels. What makes the armbar particularly valuable from a training investment perspective is its transfer — every hour you spend refining your armbar from guard also improves your guard retention, hip movement, and posture control understanding. The return on investment extends beyond the submission itself.

Training implicationThe armbar-triangle pair from closed guard is the most productive two-submission drilling combination in gi BJJ. Train them together — each defence to one opens the other. This duo alone accounts for the majority of guard submission finishes at every belt level.

Gi Rank #3

Bow and Arrow Choke

~89%

success rate when properly established — highest of any gi submission

Raw frequency does not tell the whole story. The bow and arrow choke is attempted less often than the armbar or triangle, but when it is set up correctly it almost always finishes. The 89% success rate makes it the highest-percentage gi submission by this measure. It is applied from back control using a collar grip to rotate the opponent — the gi fabric does work the arms alone cannot. This is why the bow and arrow does not exist in no-gi and why gi-specific practitioners who invest in this technique see such high returns.

Training implicationIf you play gi seriously and already have solid back control, adding the bow and arrow to your RNC system gives you two near-unstoppable finishes from the same position. Opponents who tuck their chin to defend the RNC open the bow and arrow. Opponents who defend the collar grip open the RNC. Train them as a pair.

Gi Rank #4

Triangle Choke

~38%

success rate when properly established in IBJJF competition

The triangle choke is the most important guard submission in gi BJJ. Its frequency varies significantly by format and belt level, but its value is consistent — it is the submission that most naturally chains with the armbar and omoplata, creating the three-way closed guard attack system that defines elite guard play. At the 2019 IBJJF Worlds, the triangle had a 50% success rate when attempted — above average for any submission at that level of competition.

Training implicationTrain the triangle as part of a chain — not as a standalone submission. Armbar fail → triangle. Triangle defended → armbar. Triangle stacked → omoplata. This three-way system is where the triangle’s real value lives in competition.

Gi Rank #5

Collar Chokes (Cross Collar, Sliding Choke, Ezekiel)

60%+

Ezekiel choke success rate when attempted — highest of any submission

Collar chokes are the most underrated submission category in gi BJJ. The cross collar choke from closed guard — Roger Gracie’s signature finish — works through pure positional pressure rather than explosive athleticism. The sliding choke from back control requires only collar access. The Ezekiel choke, when it appears, finishes at over 60% — because opponents rarely train to defend it. These are gi-specific techniques that have no no-gi equivalent but reward gi practitioners who invest in them heavily.

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No-gi competition rankings — ADCC

No-Gi Rank #1

Inside Heel Hook

21%

of all ADCC 2023 finishes | 34.85% success rate when attempted

The inside heel hook is the dominant submission in modern no-gi competition. At ADCC 2023, it accounted for 21% of all finishes — the most of any single submission. Its success rate of 34.85% is significant given that every elite competitor at ADCC is trained specifically to defend it. That it still finishes at this rate against the world’s best grapplers confirms its place as the single most dangerous submission in no-gi competition today.

Important safety noteThe heel hook is illegal in IBJJF gi competition at all belt levels and in IBJJF no-gi competition below brown belt. It requires specific safe training protocols. See our complete heel hook safety guide before training this technique.

No-Gi Rank #2

Rear Naked Choke

20%

of all ADCC 2023 finishes

The rear naked choke is the only submission that sits near the top of both gi and no-gi rankings. In no-gi, without collar grips to assist the bow and arrow, the RNC becomes the dominant back control finish. The consistency of this submission across every format — gi, no-gi, MMA, self-defence — makes it the single best return-on-investment submission in all of BJJ. Whatever format you train, the RNC is worth drilling.

No-Gi Rank #3

Armbar

15–18%

of major no-gi competition finishes | ~50% success rate

The armbar holds its position as a top-three finish in no-gi just as in gi. The lack of sleeve grips changes some entries, but the mechanics are identical and the finishing rate remains consistent. In no-gi specifically, the armbar from back control — when an opponent tries to defend the rear naked choke with both hands — becomes particularly effective. The two-handed defence they use to protect the choke is often the setup for the armbar.

No-Gi Rank #4

Guillotine Choke

9.3%

finish rate — most attempted submission in no-gi, lowest finish rate

The guillotine is the most attempted submission in no-gi competition — and has the lowest finish rate of any major technique. It is a counter to takedown attempts that every competitor knows is coming, trains to defend, and escapes regularly. Its value is not as a primary finisher but as a control position that leads to back takes, triangles, and positional improvement.

Key insight: The guillotine’s low finish rate does not make it useless — it makes it a threat rather than a finish. Use it to create reactions. When they defend the guillotine, take the back. When they pull free, catch the triangle. The guillotine as a setup is far more valuable than the guillotine as a solo submission attempt.

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How weight class changes the data

Submission statistics are not uniform across weight classes. Lighter divisions tend to produce more submission finishes — smaller, more flexible athletes can often apply joint locks and chokes that heavier opponents cannot escape through strength alone. Heavier divisions see more decisions because the physical attributes of top-level heavyweight grapplers make submission defenses more viable.

Weight class	Pattern	Why
Lightweight (up to 64 kg)	Higher submission rate — more triangle and armbar finishes	Flexibility advantage, less raw strength to muscle out
Middleweight (64–82 kg)	Most balanced submission distribution	Optimal combination of athleticism and technique
Heavyweight (82 kg+)	More RNC and collar choke dominance, fewer armbar finishes	Grip strength makes arm isolations harder; chokes rely less on flexibility
Super heavyweight (100 kg+)	Lowest overall submission rate, highest decision rate	Physical attributes make defensive survival more viable

Training implication: If you compete at lightweight, the triangle-armbar system from guard is particularly productive. If you compete at heavyweight, back attacks and collar chokes deserve disproportionate training time given the data.

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Success rates by belt level — where the data changes

The data looks different depending on who is competing. Belt level dramatically changes which submissions are most likely to finish a match — and why.

White and blue belt

At white and blue belt, armbars and triangles finish at higher rates than at any other level — often well above 50% when properly established. Opponents at this level have not yet developed the muscle memory to escape these techniques automatically. The implication: if you are a blue belt, the closed guard armbar-triangle system is your highest-return investment because the average opponent cannot reliably escape it yet.

Purple and brown belt

At purple and brown belt, submission finishes become harder to achieve — defensive awareness is developing rapidly. The kimura and guillotine as threats become more important here because they force reactions that open other attacks. Success rates for individual submissions drop, but combination chains become more productive.

Black belt

At black belt, the submissions that dominate are not the ones that rely on the opponent making a positional mistake. They are the submissions applied from positions where defence is structurally limited. The rear naked choke (45%), bow and arrow (89% success rate), and inside heel hook lead because they come from positions where the opponent has already lost the positional battle — not because the technique is too fast to defend. The implication: at black belt, position wins matches. Submissions are the consequence of winning position.

Belt level	Highest-return submissions	Why
White/Blue	Armbar, Triangle, Kimura	Opponents lack escape reflexes — technique succeeds on merit
Purple/Brown	RNC, Kimura chains, Guillotine threats	Defensive awareness rising — combination attacks more productive
Black belt	RNC, Bow and Arrow, Inside Heel Hook	Applied from structurally dominant positions opponents cannot escape

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Gi vs no-gi — what the data tells you

If you train both gi and no-gi, the data gives you a clear framework for where to invest in each format.

Question	Gi answer	No-gi answer
Primary submission system	Back control → RNC + Bow and Arrow	Back control → RNC + Heel hooks
Best guard submission chain	Triangle → Armbar → Omoplata	Triangle → Armbar → Heel hook entry
Highest success rate submission	Bow and Arrow (~89%)	RNC (very high when back is achieved)
Most attempted, lowest return	Collar chokes (inconsistent)	Guillotine (9.3% finish rate)
Back control priority	Very high (45% of finishes)	Very high (back attacks = #1 + #2)
Unique gi investment	Collar chokes, bow and arrow	—
Unique no-gi investment	—	Heel hook system + leg entanglements

The single clearest takeaway from this comparison: back control is the most important position in both formats. The specific finishing submission changes (bow and arrow in gi, heel hooks in no-gi) but the position that generates the most finishes is identical. If your back-taking system is weak, you are leaving the majority of competition finishes on the table — regardless of format.

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Submissions the data says to deprioritize

This section is not about eliminating techniques from your game — it is about realistic allocation of drilling time.

Flying submissions (flying armbar, flying triangle): Very low competition finish rates outside of highlight reels. High-risk in both directions — missing the entry often results in giving up top position. Train them if you enjoy them, but not at the expense of drilling your primary submission system.

Wrist locks: Very low frequency in competition data. Effective when they appear (opponents rarely train to defend them), but the setup opportunities are limited and inconsistent. Worth knowing as a surprise tool — not worth significant drilling time.

Gogoplata: Extremely low frequency in competition at all levels. Requires significant flexibility and a specific positional setup that rarely appears against prepared opponents. Worth studying for conceptual understanding, but the data does not support it as a primary investment.

Guillotine as a primary finisher: The 9.3% finish rate speaks for itself. Train the guillotine as a threat and a transition tool — not as your primary submission attempt. Use it to get to the back or the triangle, not to force a tap directly.

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How to use this data in your training

The data is only useful if it changes how you drill. Here is a practical framework.

Step 1 — Audit your current drilling allocation

For one week, track which submissions you drill in each session and roughly how many repetitions of each. At the end of the week, compare your drilling distribution to the competition data. Are you spending 30% of your drilling time on a submission that accounts for 5% of competition finishes? That is a reallocation opportunity.

Step 2 — Prioritise back control development

If the RNC and bow and arrow account for the majority of gi finishes, and the RNC and heel hooks account for the majority of no-gi finishes — all of them coming from back control — then your back-taking system is your highest-priority investment. Add dedicated back-take drilling from multiple entries: arm drag from guard, turtle roll, kimura roll from side control, half guard back take.

Step 3 — Build your guard chain

The triangle-armbar-omoplata chain from closed guard accounts for the majority of guard submission finishes across all belt levels. Drill these three as a system — not as separate techniques. Each defence to one opens the next.

Step 4 — Track your own data

The competition data tells you the population average. Your data tells you your individual pattern. Keep a simple training log: which submissions you attempt in rolling, which ones finish, which ones get defended. After 30 sessions, you will have your personal submission data — which will show you where your specific game has gaps relative to the competition averages.

Step 5 — Add format-specific techniques last

Once your foundational submission system is solid — RNC, armbar, triangle — add format-specific techniques: bow and arrow for gi players, heel hook system for no-gi players (with proper safety protocols, see our heel hook safety guide). Format-specific techniques are high-return additions once the foundations are established — but poor investments before they are.

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Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

The data tells a consistent story across every format, every belt level, and every competition organisation.

Back control is the most important position in BJJ. The submissions it produces — the rear naked choke in both formats, the bow and arrow in gi, the heel hook in no-gi — account for the majority of finishes at the highest levels of competition. If your back-taking system is strong, your submission game is strong by default.

The fundamentals dominate. The armbar, triangle, and rear naked choke have been the top three or four finishes in BJJ competition for as long as data has been collected. Innovation matters and leg attacks have expanded the no-gi game significantly — but the core submission toolkit has remained remarkably consistent for decades. Every practitioner who has chased the latest fashionable technique at the expense of these fundamentals has eventually come back to them.

Your training time is finite. The data tells you clearly where the highest returns are. Use it.

For deep dives into the techniques that dominate this data, see our complete guides on the rear naked choke, armbar, triangle choke, kimura, and bow and arrow choke.