Most Underrated Techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, certain moves always steal the spotlight—berimbolos, flying triangles, buggy chokes. They’re flashy, dramatic, and often make for great highlight reels. But beneath the surface of these crowd-pleasers lie a class of techniques that quietly win matches, create openings, and form the backbone of well-rounded grapplers.

At RollBliss, we know that success on the mat isn’t just about what looks impressive—it’s about what works. Our gear is designed for consistency, versatility, and adaptability—just like the most underrated techniques in Jiu-Jitsu.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the overlooked yet highly effective techniques every practitioner should explore, whether you're a white belt building a foundation or a black belt refining your edge.

Key Takeaways

• Underrated techniques often form the foundation of high-level Jiu-Jitsu.
• Mastering basic movements, such as the cross-collar choke or shrimp escape, can lead to long-term success.
• Efficiency and control often matter more than explosiveness or flair.
• Your training should include both advanced and overlooked fundamentals to create a balanced game.

Why Some Techniques Stay Under the Radar

In the age of social media and viral rolling clips, students often focus on techniques that stand out visually. Meanwhile, high-percentage, low-risk moves are frequently overlooked because they’re not considered “exciting.” This mindset can create blind spots in your game.

Underrated techniques tend to share a few traits:

• They don’t look flashy
• They require subtle timing and control
• They’re difficult to master, so many skip over them
• They’re more common in fundamental systems, not trending sequences

But make no mistake—many of these so-called “boring” moves are deadly when used by experienced grapplers. Let’s break them down.

Cross Collar Choke from Closed Guard

Old-school? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.

The cross-collar choke from closed guard is one of the first submissions that most people learn. And that’s exactly why it’s underrated—people assume that “basic” means “ineffective.” In reality, this choke is extremely powerful when applied with proper grip placement, posture control, and pressure.

Why it works:
It punishes poor posture and forces your opponent to open up other defenses, like arm positioning and base, creating further opportunities.

Pro tip: Use it to bait reactions. Even if you don’t finish, you’ll open up armbars and sweeps.

Knee Cut Pass

The knee cut (or knee slice) pass is a workhorse in modern passing. It combines pressure with mobility and is effective against a variety of guard types. Yet many students rush it or avoid drilling it, opting for more complex passing sequences.

Why it’s underrated:
Because it requires precision—not brute force—and is often shut down by experienced guard players. However, with consistent drilling and attention to grips and angles, it becomes increasingly difficult to stop.

RollBliss tip: If you’re a strong top player, add variations of the knee cut to your game and combine them with cross-face pressure.

Hip Escape (Shrimping) in Live Rolling

We all drill the shrimp. It’s one of the first movements we learn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) warm-ups. But many fail to apply it effectively in sparring. The shrimp isn’t just a warm-up—it’s a vital movement for regaining guard, escaping side control, or creating space when flattened out.

Why it’s overlooked:
It’s easy to dismiss basic movements once we learn flashier techniques. But movement-based escapes are often more reliable than grip-based ones.

Train smart: Incorporate focused hip escape drills into your positional sparring. You’ll find your escapes become faster and more efficient.

Over-Under Pass

Not as flashy as leg drags or cartwheel passes, the over-under is a crushing, pressure-based technique that shuts down even dynamic guard players.

Why it’s effective:
It removes your opponent’s ability to move their hips and legs freely, forcing them into a reactive shell. While not easy to master, it gives top control players a way to pass without relying on speed.

Underrated value: Once you feel the effectiveness of a properly applied over-under, you’ll see why it’s a staple for elite competitors—even if it's not Instagram-worthy.

Kimura from Top Half Guard

While the kimura is often associated with submissions, it’s also a powerful control and transition tool—especially from top half guard. You can use it to pass, sweep, or finish, making it incredibly versatile.

Why it’s slept on:
Students often focus on completing the submission without learning how to use the grip to control and advance the position.

RollBliss insight: The kimura grip acts like a Swiss Army knife—if the finish isn’t there, you still get dominant control. Perfect for controlling aggressive scramblers.

Crossface and Underhook from Side Control

Not a submission. Not a guard pass. Just control—and that’s exactly why many people underestimate it. A heavy crossface and deep underhook can completely shut down your opponent’s ability to escape side control.

Why it matters:
If you can hold side control without constantly chasing transitions, you drain your opponent's energy and dominate the pace of the roll.

Training focus: Learn to apply pressure with minimal movement. The art of control lies in subtlety—and that’s where RollBliss gear offers durability and mobility that complements a crushing top game.

Tripod and Sickle Sweeps

These old-school open guard sweeps are incredibly effective when your opponent stands. But since they don’t involve fancy grips or inversion, they’re often overlooked by newer students.

Why they’re powerful:
They off-balance opponents with minimal effort, creating direct opportunities to take the lead or transition to leg attacks.

Bonus: They also teach important concepts in timing and weight distribution, helping to develop better guard retention and transitions.

Why Underrated Techniques Belong in Your Gameplan

Mastering these subtle techniques gives you an edge over opponents who rely on flash and athleticism. Here’s what they offer:

• Consistency: They work against all belt levels when applied correctly
• Adaptability: They work gi or no-gi with slight modifications
• Foundation: They form the base that advanced techniques build upon
• Efficiency: Less movement, more control—ideal for conserving energy

In a world chasing viral submissions, the smart grappler invests in what's proven.

The RollBliss Advantage

At RollBliss, we design gear for athletes who know that the real power of Jiu-Jitsu lies in mastery, not just momentum. Our gis and rash guards support high-performance rolling, whether you’re drilling tripod sweeps or applying steady over-under pressure.

We believe that the most dangerous grappler isn’t the flashiest—it’s the one who sharpens the most overlooked tools until they’re razor sharp. Every thread in our products reflects that mindset: subtle, durable, and made for long-term performance.

Conclusion

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it's often the techniques that get the least attention that can make the biggest difference. While flashy moves may turn heads, it’s the consistent, battle-tested fundamentals—like the cross collar choke, over-under pass, and shrimp escape—that quietly win matches and build lasting skill. By investing time in these underrated tools, you sharpen your efficiency, control, and understanding of the art.

At RollBliss, we champion that same mindset. Just like the techniques that endure the test of time, our gear is built for reliability, performance, and subtle excellence. Whether you’re tightening your pressure game or refining your guard, trust in the quiet details—they’re what elevate you from student to strategist on the mat.

FAQs

Why should I focus on underrated techniques instead of advanced ones?

Underrated techniques often work across all belt levels because they rely on timing, control, and precision. Mastering them early gives you a solid foundation to layer advanced moves on top later.

How can I tell if a technique is underrated or just ineffective?

Examine how top-level competitors utilize it. Many of the most boring-looking moves in training are used by black belts in high-level competition for a reason—they’re effective when done right.

Do these techniques work in both Gi and no-Gi?

Many of them do. Techniques like the kimura grip, shrimp escapes, and pressure passes can be adapted for either format. Gi grips may change, but the core principles stay the same.