The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset · Data Study
Tap Stats: What 97 Elite Grapplers Actually Submit People With
What are the most common submissions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu? Instead of guessing, we pulled the Submission W/L Methods from the FloGrappling profile of every athlete on their roster and added up every recorded finish. Across 97 of the sport's best, that is 3,209 recorded taps and 53 distinct techniques. Here is what the data actually says, updated as of today.
The most common submissions in jiu-jitsu: the ranking
Total recorded submission wins across all 97 athletes (top 15), colored by family.
The big picture: submission families
Every technique grouped into its family, as a share of all 3,209 finishes.
What is the most common submission in jiu-jitsu?
The back is king. The choke from the back (484 finishes) and the rear naked choke (417) are the two single most common submissions in our dataset, and together with other back attacks they account for roughly 30% of every recorded tap. That is no accident: back control is the most dominant position in grappling, so the finishes that flow from it show up more than anything else.
The armbar (467) is the most-used individual joint lock and sits second overall, proof that the oldest submission in the book has never gone out of style.
Are leg locks taking over jiu-jitsu?
Almost. Leg locks are the second-biggest family in our data at ~23% of all finishes, led by the inside heel hook (142) and the heel hook (137). Strikingly, that number lines up with independent competition data: BJJ Heroes' analysis of the ADCC World Championship put lower-body submissions at about 22% of finishes in 2024. Two very different datasets, nearly the same answer.
So the leg-lock era is real, but it has not dethroned the classics: upper-body submissions (backs, arms, and chokes) still make up roughly three-quarters of all finishes.
The most prolific submission artists
Ranked by total recorded submission wins, with each athlete's signature finish.
Signature moves: what the champions favor
A cross-section of the roster: each athlete's go-to finish and how many distinct techniques they have landed. Notice how many roads lead to the back.
| Athlete | Sub wins | Techniques | Signature move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan Cornelius | 108 | 21 | Armbar |
| Fellipe Andrew | 100 | 25 | Katagatame |
| Joao Miyao | 99 | 17 | Choke From the Back |
| Gordon Ryan | 73 | 18 | RNC |
| Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida | 66 | 24 | Armbar |
| Oliver Taza | 66 | 12 | Inside Heel Hook |
| Mikey Musumeci | 31 | 15 | Straight Ankle Lock |
| Tye Ruotolo | 13 | 8 | Darce Choke |
How our numbers compare to other grappling data
Our study is a career-long, roster-wide lens, but it agrees with the biggest single-event studies. Analyses of ADCC and IBJJF competition consistently find that the rear naked choke, armbar, and triangle account for more than half of all finishes, and that back attacks lead every ruleset. Our leg-lock share (~23%) sits right on top of BJJ Heroes' ADCC figure (~22% in 2024). Where datasets differ is in the rarer techniques and in gi-versus-no-gi splits, which is exactly where combining sources would sharpen the picture.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common submission in BJJ?
In our study of 97 elite grapplers, the single most common finish is the choke from the back, followed by the armbar and the rear naked choke. Grouped as a family, back attacks make up about 30% of all recorded submissions.
What is the most effective submission in jiu-jitsu?
The rear naked choke and other back attacks are widely regarded as the highest-percentage submissions, because back control is the most dominant position in grappling. Our data agrees: back attacks out-produce every other family.
Are leg locks more popular than they used to be?
Yes. Leg locks are the second-largest family in our dataset (~23% of finishes), led by the inside heel hook. That closely matches ADCC competition data (~22% in 2024), though upper-body submissions still account for roughly three-quarters of all finishes.
What submission does Gordon Ryan use most?
In our dataset, Gordon Ryan's most recorded finish is the rear naked choke (24), part of 73 total submission wins across 18 different techniques.
Which grappler has the most submissions in this study?
Keenan Cornelius leads with 108 recorded submission wins across 21 techniques. Fellipe Andrew is the most versatile finisher, with 25 distinct submissions.
How was this data collected?
We compiled the Submission W/L Methods table from the FloGrappling profile of all 102 rostered athletes in July 2026, counting recorded submission wins by technique. 97 athletes had data; 5 had no methods table and were excluded. Family groupings are approximate.
Methodology & sources
Data was captured from athlete Submission W/L Methods tables on FloGrappling in July 2026. Comparative figures come from BJJ Heroes' grappling statistics and public ADCC and IBJJF results. Counts reflect recorded submission wins and mix gi and no-gi across each athlete's career.
More from this data series
• Are leg locks taking over jiu-jitsu?
• Are heel hooks worth learning? The success-rate data
• Is wrestling the key to winning jiu-jitsu?
• The greatest submission hunters in ADCC history
• Do women submit more than men in jiu-jitsu?
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