Pocket Grip Control: Inside Lapel Grip Mastery
☰Contents
Learn pocket grip: deep lapel control technique for sweeps, chokes, and positional dominance in BJJ gi.
What Is a Pocket Grip?
The pocket grip involves gripping the lapel deeply, inside the pocket area of the gi jacket. This grip position is extremely versatile and is fundamental to modern BJJ, enabling sweeps, chokes, and transitions.
Hand Placement
Depth of Grip
The pocket grip requires deep penetration of the lapel. Your hand goes deep into the pocket area, providing maximum control and security. Practice finding the optimal depth for maximum grip strength.
Thumb Position
Your thumb placement determines the grip's effectiveness. A thumb on the outside of the lapel provides different control than thumb on the inside. Experiment to find what works best for your game.
Pocket Grip Applications
Sweeps
The pocket grip enables many sweeping techniques by allowing you to control your opponent's base and direction of movement simultaneously.
Chokes
Many of the highest-percentage chokes in BJJ use pocket grip control. The grip position allows you to apply pressure to the neck effectively.
Guard Attacks
From guard, the pocket grip allows you to control your opponent and set up submissions and sweeps. It's one of the most fundamental grips for guard play.
Grip Transitions
The pocket grip transitions smoothly to other grip types, making your offense dynamic. Learn to flow between pocket grip and other control options.