Gaining a wild uptick in popularity courtesy of the sport’s prevalence in the UFC, Brazilian jiu-jitsu combines ground fighting with submission techniques to produce a ruthlessly efficient grappling system, one that prioritizes skill and technique over strength and brute force. Formulated by the Gracie family in Brazil during the early 20th century, the discipline has drawn on the influence of many of the world’s finest grappling styles to swiftly evolve into one of the most highly regarded and widely practiced martial arts in existence today.

The discipline’s prevalence in modern society can be further highlighted by the fact that many of the sport’s moves and submission holds frequently pop up in cinematic fight scenes, with many movies showcasing specific techniques from “BJJ.” From armbars and guillotines to flying omoplatas, it’s also worth noting that many films that feature BJJ moves aren’t even pure martial arts movies, highlighting the considerable impact and reach that the discipline’s popularity has had on wider cinematic fight choreography.

10

Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011)

Gogoplata

Released to negative reviews in 2011, Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown is decidedly not The Godfather in terms of cinematic quality. With that being said, it’s still the rare movie that features a depiction of one of the most spectacular submissions that Brazilian jiu-jitsu has to offer: the gogoplata. Requiring a significant degree of flexibility, this delightful move sees the fighter wrap their shin blade against their opponent’s neck, using the bone as a leverage point to squeeze their foe’s throat like a boa constrictor.

Showcasing the flashy nature of this unorthodox move in blockbuster fashion, Zack Gomes’ first opponent at the Beatdown tournament finds out how a gogoplata works the hard way. Despite finding himself on the ground with his back to the mat in a cage fight, the former boxer seamlessly uses his lessons learned on how to implement rubber guard, locking in a ferocious submission to choke his opponent unconscious.

9

Haywire (2011)

Guillotine

Led by former mixed martial artist and exceedingly controversial actor, Gina Carano, it’s hardly surprising that 2011’s Haywire features a litany of jiu-jitsu techniques. Performing her own stunts and fight scenes, the former Strikeforce fighter plays Mallory Kane, a black ops agent targeted for ᴀssᴀssination by her former employers. The star-studded Haywire sees Carano beat seven bells out of numerous A-listers, including the likes of Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, and Michael Fᴀssbender.

Among other moves, Kane’s brawl with Fᴀssbender’s charge in a H๏τel room sees her attempt to utilize a “guillotine”; a popular choke-hold named after the execution device for the encircling manner in which the arm is wrapped around the opponent’s neck. Unfortunately for Carano’s charge, she finds out exactly what happens when you hang onto a guillotine that isn’t fully locked in for too long, as her foe picks her up and proceeds to bodily slam her against the floor.

8

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Triangle Choke

While 1987’s Lethal Weapon might not be the first movie that comes to mind when one thinks of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, it’s an ironic state of affairs in light of the fact that legendary grappler, Rorion Gracie, served as a technical advisor to Mel Gibson and Gary Busey for their fight scenes. The BJJ grandmaster’s influence can be seen in the movie’s climactic showdown between the aforementioned duo’s dramatic charges, as Martin Riggs sinks in a textbook triangle choke to throttle Mr. Joshua to sleep.

Thrown to the floor with a flailing opponent on top of him, Riggs demonstrates exemplary BJJ fundamentals by instantly attacking one of the sport’s most popular submissions from the bottom position. Wrapping his legs around his foe’s neck in a triangle shape to trap Joshua’s own arm against the side of his neck, the choke doesn’t take long to take effect. Cutting off the blood supply to the brain by placing pressure on the carotid artery, the end result of Riggs’ grappling is a swift and impromptu nap for Busey’s struggling villain.

7

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

Flying Omoplata

Referring to moves where the practioner literally goes airborne in an attempt to lock up a submission, the exceedingly difficult and risky nature of “flying” moves means that they are notoriously low-percentage maneuvers in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. However, they look absolutely spectacular when they’re pulled off correctly, a state of affairs that renders them electrifying cinema.

2014’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle leverages this status quo to maximum effect, combining the already tricky nature of a flying move with a notoriously iffy submission for a move that looks like legitimate ninja work onscreen, even if it likely wouldn’t be the most sensible choice to use in real life. A brutal shoulder lock that uses the leg as leverage, the Kingsman Agent Galahad can be seen launching into a textbook flying omoplata against a goon during the opening brawl, although it’s worth noting that the IBJJF typically doesn’t permit handguns when applying this submission in real life.

6

The Gentlemen (2019)

Straight Armlock

In addition to his considerable experience in karate and judo, many fans may not know that acclaimed filmmaker Guy Ritchie is also a black belt in jiu-jitsu under the legendary Renzo Gracie. As such, it’s somewhat surprising that BJJ doesn’t feature more frequently throughout the Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ director’s movies, with 2019’s The Gentlemen arguably providing the purest onscreen depiction of the grappling art in one of Ritchie’s films to date.

During the scene where the “Toddlers” raid Mickey Pearson’s weed farm after a tip off from Phuc, the amateur fighters can be seen utilizing multiple forms of jiu-jitsu submissions to take down the guards they contemptuously dub “Dad’s Army.” As one of Pearson’s security guards attempts to slam “Eggs Benny” into a table, the Toddler reverses him into a painful straight arm lock with a perfect sweep from bottom position; a slight variation on a traditional arm bar that sees the limb extended vertically against the body.

5

Flash Point (2007)

Heel Hook

Capable of shredding every ligament in the kneecap with less time and effort than it would take to slap somebody, the heel hook is notorious for being one of Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s most terrifying submissions. Attacking from the ground upwards by isolating and securing the heel, the pracтιтioner then twists until the internal workings of their opponent’s knee resemble an exploded can of Silly String. The scariest part is, you won’t know until it’s already happened.

Boasting one of the most impressive and realistic cinematic depictions of jiu-jitsu in movie history, the excellence of Donnie Yen’s work in Flash Point in this regard is underlined further when the legendary martial arts star flows into this tried-and-tested submission as the action hits the floor. Yen’s Ma Jun proceeds to completely obliterate his opponent’s knee ligaments with a heel hook in a vicious struggle, wrenching the limb in alternate directions to produce a horrific set of injuries that would require a lengthy spell of rehabilitation in real life.

4

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Imanari Roll

First popularized by Masakazu Imanari, the “Imanari Roll” is named for the Japanese mixed martial artist’s frequent use of the technique. The go-to approach for unorthodox UFC fighters like Ryan Hall, the move essentially sees somebody perform a forward roll into a leg lock attempt on the floor from a standing position, aiming at the opponent’s legs with the goal of entangling them.

While it’s regarded as a flashy technique by many grapplers, that hasn’t stopped the Imanari Roll from popping up in movies. The technique’s most high-profile appearance to date has come against the backdrop of 2023’s acclaimed action-outing, John Wick: Chapter 4. BJJ is just one of many martial arts that Wick is proficient in, and Keanu Reeves’ charge can be seen performing a flawless Imanari Roll during the showdown at the Osaka H๏τel, using the move to topple an enemy before finishing them off with a gunsH๏τ.

3

Green Room (2016)

Armbar

Touted by some critics as one of the greatest indie horror movies ever made, 2016’s Green Room is arguably the last place you’d expect to see a demonstration of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The movie chronicles the plight of the Ain’t Rights, a punk band who find themselves besieged in the тιтular location by murderous skinheads after unwittingly witnessing a killing at a gig, with Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole taking on the role of the group’s drummer, Reece.

The musician uses his jiu-jitsu proficiency to overpower a considerably bigger opponent in Eric Edelstein’s hulking “Big Justin” as the movie progresses, subduing the struggling bouncer by holding him in an armbar. While it’s decidedly not unique to jiu-jitsu, this widely adaptable submission hold functions by hyperextending the elbow joint until the opponent taps or something breaks. Unfortunately for Big Justin, Reece opts for the latter when the skinheads injure Anton Yelchin’s Pat.

2

Casino Royale

Rear Naked Choke (2006)

One of the most popular submission moves in all martial arts, the rear-naked choke is decidedly not a BJJ-specific technique but still functions as one of the discipline’s most widely utilized finishing approaches. A choke where one arm encircles the opponent’s neck from behind, before the other arm comes through to grab their own bicep and squeeze, the “RNC” restricts blood flow to the brain by compressing the carotid arteries, rendering an opponent unconscious in under nine seconds. It’s referred to as a “naked” choke because it can be executed without the opponent wearing a gi.

The simplistic nature of the submission means that it frequently appears in cinema, but 2006’s Casino Royale is notable for implementing an impressive level of detail. Daniel Craig’s debut bow as 007 sees him opt for the submission around the film’s midway point, using it to take out the warlord, Obanno, in a brutal brawl. Bond’s grip technique is atrocious, but Casino Royale is one of the few movies featuring an RNC where the practioner sinks their “hooks” in, with the MI6 operative intertwining his legs with Obanno’s to secure him in place as he strangles him.

1

Warrior (2011)

Kimura

Widely touted as the greatest MMA movie of all time, 2011’s Warrior pits Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton’s estranged brothers against each other in a winner-takes-all MMA tournament with high personal stakes. While it’s purportedly centered on the combat sport of MMA, the critically acclaimed martial arts drama is arguably the best specific showcase of BJJ in cinematic history, with Edgerton’s perpetual underdog, Brendan Conlan, using his grappling abilities to consistently defeat stronger and more athletic opponents on his way to victory.

Conlan uses everything from heel hooks to omoplatas, but he begins his run in the tournament with a come-from-behind submission victory via kimura. Taking on “Midnight” Le, brought to life in a cameo by the late power-punching UFC icon, Rumble Johnson, Conlan takes a beating in the early goings, only to catch his foe in a textbook kimura; a double joint arm lock that places pressure on the shoulder and elbow joint at the same time in excruciating fashion. Despite his early dominance, a stunned Le is left with no choice but to tap.