Terminal Positions

Some positions are hard to transition out of, so have a plan to finish.

Imagine making a diagram of your Jiu-Jitsu gameplan. I'm guessing it would look like a subway map: a series of nodes representing each position, and connecting lines representing the techniques you use to transition between positions.

A terminal position is the Jiu-Jitsu position at the end of a sequence. It's a “final destination” you want to arrive at, similar to how the terminal stations on a subway line represent the end of the track. Mount and back control are common terminal positions.

Terminal positions are where you plan to finish the match. In your game plan, these should be the positions where you feel you have the best odds of winning. That's what makes them terminal positions: if you can finish from there, why would you want to leave?

Because they are fight-ending, terminal positions are dominant, but sometimes risky. Like with any position, understand the risk profile of terminal positions. Ask yourself: what is the worst that could happen from here? Some positions have greater risk than others. That doesn't mean they're bad; it just means you need to plan around the downsides.

Understand that everyone has different terminal positions. What might be a fight-ending position for me could be a weak spot for you.

Always remember: any position can be terminal if you're good at it. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're safe because your opponent is in a “bad position.” There are people who specialize in ending fights from weird places. It's not how most people roll, but it's common enough that you need to expect it.

(Shout-out to my friend Micah Brakefield from 10th Planet Etobicoke, who specializes in submitting people with his “platypus guard” from bottom side control. He's tapped me from there so many times that I'm not making fun of his position anymore.)

Bear in mind that no position is 100% terminal. Sometimes positions are erroneously treated as terminal because we haven't figured out good transitions yet. This creates a “finish or bust” mentality because if you don't know how to leave a position, you'd better finish from there! That's not a terminal position with fight-ending potential; that's just a lack of knowledge.

And finally, just because a position is terminal doesn't mean it's guaranteed. You still need escapes! Ever missed a stop or connection on the subway and had to backtrack to resume course? It's the same with terminal positions: you plan to finish there, but you still need an escape hatch in case you lose the position.

My favorite terminal position is the scarf hold (kesa gatame)! Loved by fat guys and judoka around the world. 🤣 What's yours?

On the podcast:

• Ep. 361: Submission Series: The Kimura, feat. Stephan Kesting

Further study:

• Funneling
• Position Over Submission
• Technique Chaining