Using Position Trackers

Track techniques organized by position: Guard, Mount, Side Control, Back, and more.

Why Organize by Position?

BJJ techniques exist within positional contexts. An armbar from mount is different from an armbar from guard. Organizing your technique library by position helps you:

• See all your options from any given position
• Identify positions where you have few techniques
• Build position-specific game plans
• Connect techniques into flows

The Position Tracker Worksheet

The Position Tracker is a single-page worksheet dedicated to one position. You'll have multiple Position Trackers - one for each position you regularly train.

Structure

Each Position Tracker includes:

Header:

• Position name (e.g., "Closed Guard Bottom")
• Variant (if applicable)
• Date started / last updated

Technique List:

• Technique name
• Type (Submission, Sweep, Escape, etc.)
• Competency level
• Notes/details

Position Notes:

• Key concepts for this position
• Common mistakes
• Things to remember

Standard Position Categories

Here are the main positions to consider tracking:

Guard Positions (Bottom)

Guard Positions (Top)

Dominant Positions (Top)

Defensive Positions (Bottom)

Standing

Starting Your Position Trackers

Recommended Starting Positions

Don't try to track every position at once. Start with 2-3 positions you train most:

For most beginners:

1. Closed Guard (Bottom) - GB-CL
2. Mount (Bottom/Defense) - MB
3. Side Control (Bottom/Defense) - SCB

For more experienced students:

1. Your A-game guard position
2. Your favorite top position
3. Your weakest position (for development)

Filling Out a Position Tracker

Let's walk through an example:

Position: Closed Guard (Bottom)

Position Notes:

• Keep posture broken
• Control at least one arm
• Don't let them stand up in my guard
• Hips active, not flat

Competency Levels

Use these levels to track where each technique stands:

We'll cover these in more detail in the next lesson.

Adding Techniques to Your Tracker

After Each Class

When you learn or drill a technique:

1. Identify which position it belongs to
2. Add it to that Position Tracker
3. Set the competency level
4. Note any key details

After Sparring

When a technique works (or fails) in sparring:

1. Find it on your Position Tracker
2. Update the competency level if it's moved up
3. Add notes about what happened

Periodic Review

Every few weeks:

1. Review your Position Trackers
2. Update competency levels based on recent performance
3. Note techniques that have leveled up or down
4. Identify gaps (positions with few techniques)

Connecting Positions

As you build multiple Position Trackers, you'll start to see how positions connect:

Example flow:

• Closed Guard → Scissor Sweep → Mount → Americana

Each position has entry points and exit points. Your trackers help you map these connections.

Entry Points

How do you get to this position?

• From closed guard bottom: sweep, stand up, submit
• From mount bottom: escape to guard, escape to turtle

Exit Points

Where can you go from here?

• Successful technique → new position or finish
• Failed technique → maintain or recover

Sample Filled Position Tracker

POSITION: Side Control Bottom (SCB) Last Updated: Week 3

Key Concepts:

• Protect the neck immediately
• Get on your side, not flat on back
• Frame with forearm on hip, hand on shoulder
• Create space before trying to escape

Common Mistakes:

• Bridging without direction
• Staying flat
• Forgetting to frame

Your Week 3 Task

1. Choose 2-3 positions to track
2. Create a Position Tracker for each
3. Add techniques you already know
4. Set initial competency levels
5. Update as you train this week

Next lesson: Understanding what the competency levels really mean and how to use them effectively.