You train jiu jitsu like an animal. You pay attention in class. You go hard during live training. But for some reason your guard gets passed like a hot knife through butter, and your submissions just don’t lock in. Frustrating, isn’t it?

I have the solution: move your hips!

Hip movement is the foundation upon which jiu jitsu is built. Moving your hips is critical for almost everything you do in jiu jitsu - getting under your opponent to destabilize him, establishing distance when your guard is being passed, reaching up to lock in an arm bar or triangle. If your hips don’t move, all of these options just go away.

Learning to use your hips correctly should be a central focus while you practice jiu jitsu. The hips are critical to getting you out of trouble via a defensive move, as well as to your finishing out a match with a lethal hold. Just remember the importance of active hips! Sometimes your active hips may cause you to make a mistake, but don’t worry about it. Learning how to employ your hips correctly requires constant repetition in training.

One proven technique for getting accustomed to correct hip action is to perform shrimping, which is a jiu jitsu drill that can be practiced by yourself. Get in the habit doing these shrimp escape maneuvers whenever you have a chance to train alone, and eventually they will become second nature. The key action is to make sure to get into the proper position and then slide the hips out. Once you are practicing with a partner, you will automatically start to make use of your hips.

Some people are able to learn the correct hip action immediately, but others must work at it- so don’t get discouraged if it takes awhile. Just persevere and you’ll get it down in a snap!

Draculino is a fourth degree jiu jitsu black belt, multiple time champion, and trainer of MMA, BJJ, and grappling champs. To learn more visit his BJJ training site or stop in the free jiu jitsu forum.