Start

New to no-gi. First class, first month, first finishes.

Adapted from InGrappling, Start. System Games did not invent this curriculum.

No-gi submission grappling is its own sport — with its own grips, positions, and competitive world. This is the front door: what it is, how to begin safely, and where to go next. No experience assumed.

Starting is simpler than it looks. You do not need to be fit, flexible, or coordinated first — those come from the training, not before it. You need a place to train, a willingness to be a beginner for a while, and an understanding of the one rule that keeps everyone safe. Here is the whole path.

It is worth ten minutes before you walk in. Read what is no-gi jiu-jitsu? for the plain-language version, and submission grappling is its own discipline for why it is a sport in its own right rather than "BJJ without the gi."

You cannot learn this from a screen — you need a room, a coach, and training partners. Look for a school that runs dedicated no-gi or submission-grappling classes, keeps its mats clean, and has beginners who are clearly looked after, not used as practice dummies. A free trial class is normal; take one before you commit. Our guide to finding a good no-gi school covers exactly what to look for — and the red flags to avoid — and the students page goes deeper.

Almost nothing is required. A snug rash guard (so nothing catches fingers or toes), shorts or leggings with no pockets or zippers, a mouthguard, and a water bottle will get you through your first month. There is no uniform to buy — the full list is in what to wear to no-gi grappling.

Before technique, before anything: the tap. When a choke or joint lock is locked in, you tap your partner to signal you give up, and they let go immediately. Tapping early and often is not losing — it is how everyone trains hard without getting hurt. Read tapping culture before your first session. It is the single most important thing on this page.

A warm-up, some movement drills, then a coach showing one technique that you practise with a partner who is helping rather than resisting. Many schools will not have you spar ("roll") on day one, and you should not feel any pressure to. You will be tired and a little lost. Everyone was. Show up again. The full walk-through is in what to expect in your first class.

Progress comes from turning up two or three times a week far more than from any single lesson — see what to focus on in your first month. As the techniques start to stick, this site is built to tell you why they work: the Foundations path sequences your first year principle by principle, the invariants explain the mechanics underneath every move, and the position map shows how the whole sport fits together. New to the site itself? How InGrappling works explains the layout in two minutes.

The plain-language definition — what the sport is, what you do in it, and whether it is for you.

Why submission grappling is a sport in its own right, not "BJJ without the gi" — and the ADCC proof.

They are not two different arts. What actually changes when the uniform comes off — and what carries over.

Same scramble, different goal: wrestling pins, no-gi submits. Where they overlap, and what a wrestler must learn.

The honest decision framework, against the usual "always start in the gi" advice. You can start with no-gi.

Are heel hooks dangerous?Yes — the heel hook is grappling's highest-risk submission because it loads the knee with little pain warning. Here is why, and how it is trained safely.The best no-gi submissions for beginnersFive high-percentage no-gi submissions worth learning first — the rear-naked choke, guillotine, armbar, triangle, and kimura — and why each one suits a beginner.Do you need a mouthguard for no-gi grappling?Yes — a mouthguard is the one piece of protective gear worth buying before your first no-gi class. Here is what you actually need, and what you can skip.Does grappling help with bullying?Does grappling help a bullied child? Honestly — through confidence, composure, and the option to control a situation without hurting anyone, not by teaching them to win fights. The balanced answer.The best no-gi drills for beginnersThe handful of drills that build the foundation of no-gi grappling — solo movements and partner drills you can practise from week one to improve fastest.Essential no-gi terms every beginner should knowThe must-know vocabulary of no-gi grappling — the positions, actions, and submissions you'll hear on day one — each defined and linked so you can follow along.How to find a good no-gi schoolHow to choose a no-gi grappling school: the signs of a mature, safe, well-run gym — and the red flags to walk away from. A standards-based guide, not a directory.The first 10 techniques to learn in no-giThe first ten things to learn in no-gi grappling, in order — movements and escapes before submissions, exactly the way the sport is best learned.How to do your first armbar (from mount)The armbar from mount is one of the first submissions a beginner learns. Here is the safe, step-by-step version — and the tap discipline that makes it safe to drill.Your first no-gi class: what to expectWhat actually happens in your first no-gi grappling class — the warm-up, the drilling, whether you will spar — plus what to bring and the one rule to know before you walk in.How to do your first guillotine chokeThe guillotine is one of the first chokes a beginner can finish, often off a sprawl. Here is the safe, step-by-step version — and the tap discipline behind it.Your first month of no-gi grapplingSurviving and learning in your first month of no-gi grappling: what to focus on, what to safely ignore, how to drill, and why showing up beats everything else.How to do your first rear naked chokeThe rear naked choke is the highest-percentage finish in grappling and a great first submission. Here is the safe, step-by-step beginner version from back control.No-gi grappling for parents: is it right for your child?Thinking about no-gi grappling for your child — or yourself? An honest guide to what it offers, how safety really works, and how to choose a programme you can trust.Should you start with the gi or no-gi?There is no universal right answer — it depends on your goal and what your gym runs, and you can absolutely start with no-gi. Here is a simple framework for choosing.Gi to no-gi: making the switchMost of your jiu-jitsu transfers from gi to no-gi — but the grips don't. Here is what changes when the uniform comes off, and how to adapt to it fast.How long does it take to get good at no-gi?Honestly, getting good at no-gi takes years of consistent training — but you stop feeling lost within months. Progress is measured by ability, not time served or stripes.How often should you train no-gi as a beginner?Two to three sessions a week is the sweet spot for most beginners — enough to improve steadily without burning out or getting hurt. Here is how to find your rhythm.How to breakfall safely in no-gi grapplingThe breakfall is the first thing to learn in grappling — how to hit the ground without hurting yourself. Here is the safe, step-by-step beginner version.How to learn no-gi grappling, step by stepNo-gi is best learned in a deliberate order — defence before offence, position before submission. Here is the full beginner curriculum, stage by stage.How to shrimp (hip escape) in no-gi grapplingThe shrimp, or hip escape, is the most important movement a beginner learns — it creates the space to escape bad positions. Here is the step-by-step version.Is no-gi good for self-defence?Is no-gi grappling good for self-defense? Honestly — yes for one-on-one control and composure, with real limits (no strikes, weapons, or multiple attackers). The balanced answer.Is no-gi harder than gi?No-gi is not objectively harder than gi — it is differently hard. It is faster and slipperier with less margin for error; the gi is more methodical but adds a grip-fighting game.Is no-gi grappling safe?Is no-gi grappling safe? Yes, for a contact sport — because of the tap. Here is how injury risk really works, what the common injuries are, and how it is managed.How do you avoid staph and skin infections in no-gi?Skin infections are the most common avoidable risk in no-gi grappling. Here is how to prevent staph and ringworm, spot the early signs, and what to do if exposed.Common no-gi beginner mistakes — and how to fix themThe six mistakes almost every no-gi beginner makes — muscling, rushing submissions, not tapping, gassing out, ignoring defence, and flailing grips — each with the mechanical fix.No-gi competitions explained: ADCC, EBI, and the sceneA beginner's guide to the no-gi competition scene — what ADCC, EBI, and the major events are, whether you have to compete, and how beginners get started.No-gi for judo players: making the switchYour judo throws, grip-fighting, and groundwork transfer to no-gi — but the grips and the ground game change. Here is what carries over and what to add as a judoka.No-gi grappling for older beginners: starting laterIt is genuinely never too late to start no-gi grappling. Here is how to begin as an older athlete — training smart, managing recovery, and why leverage beats youth.No-gi for wrestlers: your transitionWrestlers cross into no-gi with a huge head start — takedowns, top pressure, scrambling. Here is what transfers directly, and the four things you will need to add.No-gi leg locks for beginners: where to startLeg locks are central to no-gi grappling — but beginners should start with defence, not heel hooks. Here is the safe order to learn them, and why it matters.How does a no-gi grappling match work?A no-gi match is won by submission, or by points if time runs out. Here is how scoring, legal techniques, and match length work — and why the rules differ by event.No-gi vs BJJ: what's the difference?"No-gi" and "BJJ" are not two different martial arts — they are two ways to train grappling, with and without the uniform. Here is what actually changes when the gi comes off.Is no-gi grappling the same as MMA?No — no-gi grappling has no strikes; MMA does. But no-gi is the grappling backbone of MMA. Here is how the two relate, and whether no-gi is good preparation for it.No-gi vs wrestling: what's the difference?No-gi grappling and wrestling share the scramble and the takedown, but they are different sports with different goals: wrestling pins, no-gi submits. Here is what that changes.Positions every beginner should knowThe core positions of no-gi grappling, from worst to best — guard, side control, mount, the back — what each one means, and why knowing where you are is the first skill.Submission grappling is its own disciplineSubmission grappling is a sport in its own right — not jiu-jitsu with the uniform removed. It has its own techniques, its own competitive apex in the ADCC, and its own mechanical logic.What is no-gi jiu-jitsu?No-gi jiu-jitsu — more precisely, submission grappling — is the sport of controlling and submitting an opponent without a uniform, using grips on the body rather than the cloth.What to wear to no-gi grapplingWhat to wear to no-gi grappling, especially your first class: a rash guard, shorts or spats, and a mouthguard. There is no uniform to buy — here is the whole list.Your first six months of no-gi grapplingA realistic roadmap for your first six months of no-gi grappling — from your first class to functional skill — and what to actually focus on at each stage.