The Six Paths of Movement in BJJ

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is often taught in techniques. Step-by-step instructions. If they do this, you do that. Memorize the move. Drill the move. Try the move in sparring. Repeat. But there’s a deeper, more effective way to train. And it starts with understanding movement itself.

At its core, every position in Jiu-Jitsu boils down to just six possible directions: forward, backward, left, right, up, and down. These are the fundamental movement paths your body can take in any given moment. Nothing mystical about it. Just basic physics applied on a mat.

The problem is, most people don’t think this way. They’re focused on techniques instead of movement. But techniques come and go. They change with rulesets, trends, and instructors. What never changes? The direction your body can go.

The 6 Directions and Why They Matter

If you think of movement as evenly split, each direction theoretically holds a 16.67% chance of being available in a neutral position. But once you’re in a live roll, pressure and grips start to eliminate options. Your opponent may shut down your ability to go left. Or you may be flat on your back, cutting out the down option entirely. So your chances aren’t split anymore. The percentage of opportunity shifts.

Let’s take an example. You’re in your opponent’s closed guard, on top. Seems neutral at first. But think again:

Forward? Not likely. They’re pulling you down.
Backward? Maybe, but only if you stand up and posture out.
Left and Right? Restricted by the squeeze of their legs.
Down? You’re already being pulled into it.
Up? Could work, if you can posture and create pressure.

Now flip it. You’re on bottom in closed guard:

Down? Your back’s already on the mat.
Forward? Unless you’re sitting up, not happening.
Left and Right? Open if you hip escape.
Back? Yes, especially if you push off their hips.

So what’s the takeaway? In any position, your job is to identify which paths are truly open. Your opponent might close five doors, but there’s always one cracked open. You just need to see it.

Movement Before Technique

This is where many beginners get stuck. They try to memorize every detail of every move. And when things get chaotic, they freeze. Why? Because they’re waiting for the exact scenario that matches what they drilled. That rarely happens in a real roll.

Instead, train your awareness. Ask yourself in every position:

What directions are currently blocked?
What directions are still open?
What happens if I move in that open direction?

Once you understand your available paths, the right technique almost selects itself. You stop forcing moves and start flowing into them.

The Illusion of Dead Ends

Here’s something powerful to keep in mind. There are no true dead ends in Jiu-Jitsu unless you give up. You might feel stuck. Crushed. Controlled. But the truth is, your opponent can’t block every direction unless you mentally freeze. As long as you’re aware and willing to move, there’s a way out or a way forward.

Sometimes it’s a small shift of the hips. Other times it’s a deep breath and the decision to explode in a direction that’s only partially open. But the path is there. It always is.

Instead of trying to remember 1,000 techniques, train yourself to recognize six directions. Every position is just a puzzle of which of those paths are open and which are closed. Find the open road, and the technique will appear naturally.

In BJJ, the map doesn’t change. Only the obstacles do. So stop memorizing moves and start reading the terrain. The path is always there. You just have to be aware enough to find it.