Anatomic Hierarchy


From strongest to weakest, these weapons are:

  1. the core
  2. the two legs
  3. the two arms
  4. the head.

To you, these six parts of your anatomy are the weapons you will employ against your opponent.  To your opponent, these are the targets for control and submission.

Regardless of what you’re doing, always ensure your most powerful weapons are engaged.  As an example, you can significantly increase the power of many techniques by properly employing your core.  A common beginner mistake is to rely too heavily on the arms and legs without engaging the core.

In addition to engaging your core, you also want to engage as many other weapons as possible.  See Overwhelming Force.

A general word of warning: never attack your opponent’s core directly.  The core (chest, midsection, hips) is the strongest part of the body. Attacks directly against your opponent’s core will almost always fail.

Instead of attacking the core directly, do so indirectly by attacking a limb for leverage.  As an example, if you can control your opponent’s legs you can lock the hips in such a way that neutralizes his/her core.  This is far more effective than attempting to attack the hips directly.