32 Principles

2025-12-28

The 32 Principles of Jiu Jitsu are a list of fundamental concepts that guide Brazilian Jiu Jitsu strategy that are beyond specific moves and techniques. These principles are the essence of what makes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu effective in practice.

The 32 Principles of Jiu Jitsu are a product of Rener Gracie and Ryron Gracie of Gracie University. They have produced courses, books, seminars etc. that describe the 32 principles.

My opinion is that this list is well-considered and researched, reasonable, understandable, and close to complete, but it wouldn’t surprise me if new or alternate principles arise in the future as more thought is put into this concept (see the Grandmaster principle. The authors foresaw this issue and basically state that you should always be studying, evolving, and improving upon your game. If you come up with a new principle to abide by, this would be the Grandmaster principle in action).

I feel these concepts have helped me put into words some of the “invisible” and hard to describe parts of techniques when demonstrating them to others. They provide a common and easy to understand vocabulary and set of concepts to use when discussing deeper mechanics of specific move and with strategy.

Before reading the 32 Principles, I had already been exposed to, practiced, and been taught the 32 Principles in one way or another whether I knew it or not. The principles helped me atomize my thoughts on Jiu Jitsu and express them in writing and speech clearer than before. They can also be applied to other topics such as business and relationships (See the 32 Principles book).

These concepts are:

  1. Connection
  2. Detachment
  3. Distance
  4. Pyramid
  5. Creation
  6. Acceptance
  7. Velocity
  8. Clock
  9. River
  10. Frame
  11. Kuzushi
  12. Reconnaissance
  13. Prevention
  14. Tension
  15. Fork
  16. Posture
  17. False Surrender
  18. Depletion
  19. Isolation
  20. Sacrifice
  21. Momentum
  22. Pivot
  23. Tagalong
  24. Overload
  25. Anchor
  26. Ratchet
  27. Buoyancy
  28. Head Control
  29. Redirection
  30. Mobility
  31. Centerline
  32. Grandmaster

https://www.gracieuniversity.com/Pages/Public/Subject?enc=f9IIAuzld8tGV%2Fqc5P8QFg%3D%3D

https://roninathletics.com/blog/the-32-principles-of-jiu-jitsu-3

https://www.amazon.com/32-Principles-Harnessing-Jiu-Jitsu-Relationships/dp/1637743661


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