Best BJJ Traps That Will Make You Win in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu traps (or BJJ traps) are the first thing BJJ white belts should try to learn when they start their journey. This is what will distinguish them from other BJJ whitebelts. This will help them stay ahead of others in the competition.

Many BJJ white belts continue focusing on the basic techniques and submissions that have been in the game for 100 years. BJJ is a game that has been evolving with changes in rules and regulations. Many new BJJ techniques and BJJ traps have been added.

So, the one thing that can separate you from others is BJJ traps.

In this article, we will look at traps you can set so you can hit more submissions and attacks. Fourteen ways to bait your opponent into moving how you want them to. This way, you can counter their reaction and stay one step ahead. Most of these traps can be done in Gi and No Gi BJJ.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu trap is the way you can trick your BJJ opponent into playing the move you want him to play. When he plays the move, you will convert that move into a BJJ submission move, taking him down.

To do this, you must master some moves and determine how you will counter them if they play that move. Your reaction should be in a way that you will take him down or into any submission position where escape is difficult. This will help you win the game.

The following are some of the best BJJ traps that will give you a match-winning edge over your opponent and take you to victory. These must-know traps will not only make your friends like you more, but you will also start to look better, and people will find you more attractive.

Many BJJ fighters try to use the BJJ technique underhook. Underhook is the BJJ technique in which you hold your BJJ opponent by pushing your arms beneath the opponent’s arms. This is a common technique and one of the most dominant, mainly double underhooks. 

In double underhooks, you use both arms to hold your opponent. Make it easy for them to come up on top and encounter the choke from side control and many other positions.

Follow the following steps for choking your opponent if they use BJJ underhooks;

• Step one: Allow your opponent to have an underhook.
• Step two: Make it easy for them to come on top.
• Step three: Allow a little space, not to make it too obvious, and wait until they are on their side.
• Step four: They will come up on top of their knee.
• Step five: Place your hand underneath their chin.
• Step six: After this, hold their neck.
• Step seven: Now, you can attack the guillotine, D’arce, anaconda chokes, and more.

If you are setting up this trap and your opponent has the underhook, wait patiently for them to come up on top. He will come on top, and you can attack the choke. If you make too much space for him to come up on top, he will know something's up. But if he comes up anyway, choke them.

Number two, threaten the opponent with the BJJ cross collar choke so your opponent defends, lifts their elbow, and then counters with the arm bar. You can set up armbars by threatening the cross-collar choke. 

You can apply the armbar by hyperextending your opponent’s arm. This is a submission technique in BJJ.

Your opponent will left with no option other than tapping out if you do it effectively and with precision. This technique requires effort to master it. While in cross collar choke, you choke your opponent as the name indicates with the collar. It will reduce and limit the blood flow from the neck to the head. You push the opponent on the side of his neck.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Place your second choking hand on the lapel.
• Step two: Your opponent will reach across to block the grip.
• Step three: This forces them to lift their elbow higher.
• Step four: This will allow you to bring your hips higher to the head.
• Step five: Now, you are in the perfect position for an arm bar.
• Step six: If they don't defend, you can just choke them.

In most cases, they will try to defend their neck, though, and you have the arm bar waiting for them. This isn't an exact example, but it is very close. Just imagine that you are threatening the opponent with a cross-collar choke. Instead of blocking the second grip, your opponent bridges forward. His elbows raise from his body. Then what are you going to do? You will bring your hips higher and start working on the arm bar.

The third BJJ trap you can try on your opponent is trapping into a BJJ triangle by applying the armbar.

It is a BJJ submission technique in which you choke and clinch, holding your BJJ opponent’s head and arm with your legs. This is a wonderful technique, and your opponent cannot escape from this BJJ triangle choke if you apply it effectively.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Let your opponent come up on top from the arm bar.
• Step two: When you have your opponent in an arm bar, you can trap them by letting them come up on top.
• Step three: Try to trap your opponent into a triangle by placing your leg from the armpit side of the arm to the shoulder side of the arm.
• Step four: Now, just take your leg off their face.
• Step five: They can reach the top position. They want to be on top anyway because escaping an armbar from the top is easier.
• Step six: Now, you can easily get him into a triangle.

This isn't a perfect example, but imagine a second to clarify things. If your leg is on the shoulder of the opponent’s arm and your opponent comes up on top. He enters into the triangle, and you can take him down, leading yourself to a win in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match. 

The fourth takedown for the BJJ trap impresses your friends and makes them like you more than having them in a front headlock.

Now, when you get to a front headlock, you may not even be interested in finishing the front headlock. What you know that they are going to do is posture.

They are going to posture hard. You are going to let them do that. You will just pass your elbow as they posture so you can feel all the pressure coming up.

You have to release the head and push the near-side elbow across their chest, and then they just throw themselves right into a perfect and easy double.

You will get into your front headlock, you snap them down, you are in your front headlock, and they are fighting your hands. In all these cases, you are not going to be able to get your Guillotine, you're not going to get your choke, you're barely maintaining the front headlock. That is perfectly fine. You didn't even want the front headlock to begin with. It is a trap. Our hand is on the elbow.

As they posture, we pass the elbow across the center line. You are hanging and stretching this elbow across his body. It's not an inactive elbow. You pass it right across the center line as he postures and releases. You are in a front headlock. As a posture, as I pass the elbow step deep, there's your double leg.

The fifth best BJJ trap you should learn is trapping your opponent into the BJJ armbar by applying BJJ omoplata. BJJ omoplata is a technique that serves various purposes, such as submission, hold, and sweep.

You can apply an armbar on your opponent by using your legs to attack your opponent’s upper body. You place their arms behind their back. 

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Apply, or you can say, threaten your opponent with the BJJ omoplata technique.
• Step two: If you managed to trap your opponent into omoplata, let him escape omoplata by giving your opponent enough room. To counter an omoplata, your opponent often wants to roll out of it.
• Step three: As they do, you're prepared and ready with the armbar.
• Step four: Counter with the armbar as they do.
• Step five:Make sure you move your knees. Controlling their wrist with two hands.

There are a lot of other traps you can play on your BJJ opponent to trap him into the BJJ armbar. Armbar is a dominant technique, providing a big opportunity to lock the game to your side.

This trap is a two-on-one fireman Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. One of the most common reactions from this is your messed up shoulder. Your partner will use their free hand to wrap you up in a front headlock. If you bait your head low and he grabs the front headlock, he won't finish this. This is because you have his other arm.

A BJJ two-on-one fireman or BJJ two-on-one fireman’s carry consists of two moves: two grips and one fireman’s carry. You grip your opponent tightly and drag him across the ground in this move. You can take your opponent down with this technique. 

But now you both are trapped in a position. Nothing is happening. Knowing that this is a position we could end up in, you should hang your head low and wait for him to grab your head. You will hit him in a fireman's as soon as he does, bringing him right to his back. 

You will bring your head low, and as he grabs it, you will step on that same side foot. Toe to Toe. That is what you should look to do. You step toe to toe and face him. You will let that same side hip fall right to your heel.

As you stick your far leg out and trap his far foot, you fall with your head, bringing him right down to the ground, entering inside control. 

So one more time, You got to your two-on-one fireman. A common reaction is for them to grab a front headlock, so you will start baiting your head low. You step towards that side and go toe to toe as soon as he grabs it.

You are going to stick your far leg out and trap his far leg. So that when your weight drops, he falls over it.

You are keeping your two-on-one nice and tight to the chest. Then, you are going to finish inside control. You want to hit this when they get their front headlock. We are not going to hang out there. You will be baiting your head low. You will step to side sit and throw it as soon as he goes for it. 

The seventh BJJ trap you must remember is applying a BJJ armlock by tricking your BJJ opponent with the BJJ BJJ omoplata.

BJJ armlocks are a type of BJj submission technique in which you hyperextend your BJJ opponent’s arms. You can attack the shoulder joint, elbow, or both through this technique. It has its types for single and multiple joint arm locks.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Let your opponent try to slip their arms out of the omoplata.
• Step two: They do counter with a straight arm lock sticking with omoplata.
• Step three: Your opponent may also want to circle their arm out, and you can come up to your knees as they do.
• Step four: Catch their hand in your armpit.
• Step five: Press your hips into their elbow for the arm lock.

Make space for your opponent's arm to escape; as it does, you must be ready to catch it. If you apply it per the instructions and it works, it will be a nasty BJJ armbar. 

The eighth-best BJJ trap on our list is applying a BJJ armlock by letting your opponent pass your guard. This technique serves multiple benefits to you. This versatile trap puts your opponent in another pit once he escapes from the first.

Firstly, the BJJ guard technique is applied, whether BJJ full guard or BJJ half guard; this trap works on all BJJ guard types. That will make it difficult for him to escape the guard if you do it correctly. And even if he manages to escape, you can easily choke them by applying the BJJ baseball choke.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Apply the BJJ guard technique to your opponent.
• Step two: Trick your BJJ opponent into passing a BJJ guard.
• Step three: As he passes the BJJ guard, you circle underneath them for the choke. You should grab the lapel like a baseball bat and give space to let your BJJ opponent pass your guard.
• Step four: While passing your guard, spinning underneath crosses our arms, creating tremendous choking pressure.

The rule for this trap is simple, i.e., let your opponent pass your guard to catch them with the baseball choke.

Even if they take your back or try to armbar you to counter the choke, it won't help them. You just have to ensure it's not obvious, or your opponent won't take the bait to pass. 

You will only trick your opponent into pulling the guard in this BJJ trap. You will not pull the guard. You will apply BJJ ankle pick after tricking your opponent for BJJ guard. BJJ ankle pick means you will only pick your opponent’s leg with your hands, and then your opponent will be on the ground.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Pretend to pull the BJJ guard on your opponent.
• Step two: Your opponent will step forward.
• Step three: Encounter your opponent with the ankle pick.

The fake guard pull ankle pick is one of the best takedowns. It is so simple that everyone can do this trick. All you have to do is pretend to pull guard so your opponent steps forward, and then you ankle-pick them. Your opponent will naturally step forward during the guard pull. 

Your opponent stepping forward is what you need to execute an ankle pick. You need him to step forward so you can reach the ankle. This is especially good for big guys. It requires barely any strength. All you have to do is lift your foot, drop to your knee so you can reach the ankle, and then grab it.

This trap is about baiting a wrestler. This is the last thing a wrestler would expect from a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. You can use this one on your gym's wrestlers and heavy Grapplers.

The first thing you should note in your BJJ opponent is whether he likes going low or high. You can note this by focusing on his movements. 

If his eyes point towards your feet, he likes going low and will try to grab your legs or feet. On the other hand, if he likes going high, he will point his eyes toward your head and will try to grab your head or try to underhook you. So that will be the first thing you will notice. 

This trap is related to the low signal. You have to suppose he likes going low and is trying to get into a BJJ turtle move to have grips on your legs or feet.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Note in your BJJ opponent whether he likes going low or high. You will notice earlier on from his eye and body movement.
• Step two: Start preparing yourself for this when he starts diving into your legs. Make your first leg closer to him. In this way, you will make him fall for your legs.
• Step three: Once he starts diving, you will move your one leg closer, and as his hand gets closer to your foot, you will move your legs over him on his back.
• Step four: After this, he will be in a turtle position, and you will take a back grip on him.

This is an easy and simple way. But it depends entirely on the precision and timing. Getting late for even a second will get your legs trapped by your opponent, and he will make you fall to the ground. So this trap will help you get a submission move easily, leading you to victory over him.

This BJJ trap forces your opponent to post their hand on the mat and then counter with the triangle. This is a great triangle setup.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Make your opponent post on the mat.
• Step two: Grab their head when going for a hip bump sweep.
• Step three: Bring your leg over your arms for the BJJ triangle.

As the name suggests, the BJJ hip bump sweep is the BJJ move in which your hips are in the direction of your BJJ opponent’s chest, and you disrupt their posture. Let's look at, for example, how to do a hip bump sweep.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: Keep your hips out to the side.
• Step two: Pull your arm to your body.
• Step three: Lower your legs to swipe your legs out from underneath them.
• Step four: You must post on the mat to reach their arm and then push off the mat with your leg to generate power. 

You need to ensure their hands aren't on you and stopping you from coming up. If you don't have good control, the arm can post out and stop the sweep. 

Knowing this, you can let them post as bait and trap them with a triangle. You should ensure that you will go for it, or they won't post, and you won't have room to get your leg over their arm.

Just a quick triangle tip. While we are here it is really important to have a good bite on your triangle. If you see space, then the triangle is no good.

Here, a good bite means there is zero space or gap. It is all choke, and it is going to be super tight.

Another tip is to grab your shin before you lock up the triangle. This will ensure your opponent can't posture up or stack you with your foot on the hip. You can shoulder walk out and keep your distance.

Force your opponent to post doubt by bumping him with your hips. As he does land the triangle, your priority is to grab your shin. This tip is such a game-changer. Make sure to remember it.

The ninth BJJ trap lets your opponent free their arm from the sweep and then take their back. From the failed hip bump sweep, we have sweep-to-back take.

Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: You can bait your opponent into freeing their arm so you can take their back.
• Step two: As they do, or even if they don't, you can just let go and mount them or neck crank them as a submission.
• Step three: If you let them free their arm, you can take their back. 

All roots lead to the back to perform a 100% sweep of the failed hip bump; you want to scoot your butt out so you can sit up, then loop your arm under like a guillotine but go through the armpit instead and gable grip your hands together.

Now, we can make space for the bait so our opponent can free their arm. We pull them across our body and into our back control.

Nobody can escape this trap, no matter how strong you are. Follow the step-by-step instructions given below on how to do that:

• Step one: From the side control, step over and back it up. If your opponent doesn't like that, he will attend to it, and sometimes they press it gently, and that's when you would Americana them.
• Step two: Once your opponent’s elbow reaches up, your armpit has to go right on top of his tricep. Put your arm before your opponent’s face and under their head.
• Step three: Push it off hard. Once you have this, you will connect your hands.
• Step four: Start squeezing. There is no way he rips his elbow out of this.
• Step five: Now, you should try to squeeze for the choke. Sometimes you get it; sometimes you don't. But you have a free Mount. Once you are mounted, you have my options. You can take the arm bar. You can turn into an armlock.

You should not care how strong your opponent is; even a 400-pound bodybuilder cannot rip your elbow out. 

These were some of the best BJJ traps you should learn while starting in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You need to learn these traps to trick your opponent in various ways and win the game. Tricking your opponent is very important in a game.

Once you have mastered these BJJ traps, you can easily take down any opponent who is more powerful and more experienced than you. Have you ever wondered why youngsters often defeat masters of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a professional match? The only reason is the BJJ trap.

They have learned the traps so well that even masters have to tap out before them. The BJJ trap will help you win against the masters of the game. You can't fight with their experience. But with a trap, you can catch the master.

You need to learn these traps to trick your opponent in various ways and win the game. Tricking your opponent is very important in a game.

Once you have mastered these BJJ traps, you can easily submit to any opponent who is more powerful and more experienced than you. Have you ever wondered why youngsters often defeat masters of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a professional match? The only reason is the BJJ trap.

They have learned the traps so well that even masters have to tap out before them. The BJJ trap will help you win against the masters of the game. You can't fight with their experience. But with a trap, you can catch the master.

There are various ways to set BJJ traps on your opponent while playing a game. You can trap him for taking back grip by moving your leg on his side. He will try to take a leg grip. Once he is very close, you pull your leg across him and take back grip on him.

There are various other BJJ traps that you can learn to try on your BJJ opponent. You can apply a BJJ armbar or BJJ armlock by tricking him with a BJJ omoplata or BJJ cross-collar choke. 

A BJJ two-on-one fireman or BJJ two-on-one fireman’s carry consists of two moves: one grip and a fireman’s carry. You grip your opponent tightly and drag him across the ground in this move. You can take your opponent down with this technique.