BJJ position
Headquarters
Headquarters is a passing position where the top player stands in a staggered stance with one knee between the bottom player's legs and controls the other leg, usually pinning it to the mat. It splits the bottom player's legs and stops them from squaring up, which makes it a hub for the most common passes: the knee cut, the leg weave and the backstep. The bottom player wants to frame, recover a hook or a knee shield, and stop the knee cut before the passer can pin their hips.
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If you're on the bottom
- Frame on the passer's shoulder or hip to keep them from settling
- Re-pummel a knee inside or get a De La Riva hook back
- Turn into the passer before they cut the knee across
If you're on top
- Pin the outside leg and keep your inside knee wedged in
- Choose the pass from the reaction: knee cut, leg weave or backstep
- Keep your hips low and your head ahead of your knees
Key details
- Your inside knee must point to the mat, not toward the bottom player
- Control the far leg or the hips, not just the near leg
- Switch sides when the bottom player commits to one side
- As the bottom player, a knee shield on the passer's hip stops the knee cut
Common mistakes
- Standing too tall so the bottom player can recover guard
- Pinning the leg without controlling the upper body
- On the bottom: lying flat and letting the passer settle
Related positions
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