--- title: "Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How many fundamental positions are taught in jiu-jitsu for beginners | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077" url: https://gbwestside.com/gracie-barra-westside-albuquerque-how-many-fundamental-positions-are-taught-in-jiu-jitsu-for-beginners-phone-1-505-818-8077/ author: gbadmin02 date: 2026-06-02T13:45:26-07:00 categories: [Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How many fundamental positions are taught in jiu-jitsu for beginners | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077] tags: [Albuquerque Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ, BJJ community, BJJ for all levels, BJJ for beginners, BJJ in New Mexico, black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, character development, competition team, developing leadership through BJJ, discipline in Jiu-Jitsu, Equipe GB, free Jiu-Jitsu class, Gracie Barra athletes, Gracie Barra for women, Gracie Barra legacy, Gracie Barra New Mexico, Gracie Barra philosophy, Gracie Barra training, Gracie Barra training environment, Gracie Barra vision, Gracie Barra Westside, Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How many fundamental positions are taught in jiu-jitsu for beginners | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077, Jiu-Jitsu academy, Jiu-Jitsu classes, Jiu-Jitsu community building, Jiu-Jitsu competition, Jiu-Jitsu culture, Jiu-Jitsu empowerment, Jiu-Jitsu excellence, Jiu-Jitsu family values, Jiu-Jitsu for advanced practitioners, Jiu-Jitsu for fitness, Jiu-Jitsu for kids, Jiu-Jitsu for self-defense, Jiu-Jitsu skills, Jiu-Jitsu strategies, Jiu-Jitsu success, Jiu-Jitsu techniques, Jiu-Jitsu training, martial arts community, Master Carlos Gracie Jr., mental toughness in Jiu-Jitsu, personal development, personal growth in Jiu-Jitsu, physical conditioning, Professor Roberto Tussa, red shield, resilience in Jiu-Jitsu, respect in Jiu-Jitsu, start Jiu-Jitsu journey, strength through Jiu-Jitsu, top-tier instruction, world champion Jiu-Jitsu] --- # Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How many fundamental positions are taught in jiu-jitsu for beginners | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077 When you walk through the doors of ***[Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)***, the first thing you notice is the energy. It is a mix of intense focus and genuine camaraderie, largely shaped by the leadership of Professor Roberto Alencar. If you are entirely new to ***[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)***, stepping onto those mats can feel a bit overwhelming. You see people twisting each other into human pretzels, and it is easy to wonder how you will ever make sense of it all. That is where the structured fundamentals program, known globally as the GB1 curriculum, comes into play. Instead of tossing you to the wolves, the training breaks this complex ***[martial art](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)*** down into manageable pieces. To understand how many ***[fundamental positions](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)*** are taught to beginners, you have to look past the individual flashy moves and focus on the structural landscape of the ground game. In the beginner curriculum, everything revolves around five core positions. Mastery of these five areas is what transforms a panicky novice into someone who can think clearly under pressure. The first position is the Guard, which is truly the defining characteristic of the sport. This is where you are on your back, but you are utilizing your legs to ***[control the posture and distance](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)*** of the person trying to crush you from above. In the fundamentals classes, you spend a massive amount of time here because it turns what looks like a vulnerable situation into an offensive launchpad. You learn the Closed Guard, where your ankles are locked tightly around their waist, the Open Guard, which gives you more mobility to use your feet as shields, and the Half Guard, where you trap one of their legs between yours. [***Start your jiu-jitsu journey today: schedule your free class at Gracie Barra Westside!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) [![Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How many fundamental positions are taught in jiu-jitsu for beginners | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077](https://gbwestside.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Gracie-Barra-Westside-Albuquerque-How-many-fundamental-positions-are-taught-in-jiu-jitsu-for-beginners-Phone-1-505-818-8077-1.jpg)](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)[***Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How many fundamental positions are taught in jiu-jitsu for beginners | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) The second major area is Side Control, or Side Mount. If you manage to pass someone’s guard, this is usually where you land. You are chest-to-chest, perpendicular to your opponent, using your ***[body weight](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)*** to pin them to the mat. Beginners learn how to hold this position without exhausting themselves, and conversely, how to escape when they are the ones trapped on the bottom. The third position is the Mount, the classic ***[dominant posture](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)*** where you sit directly on your opponent’s torso. In a real self-defense scenario, this is the ultimate position of control. The beginner curriculum teaches you how to maintain your balance here when the bottom person is bucking like a bronco, alongside the essential hip-bridging movements needed to escape it. Fourth is Back Control. Getting behind an opponent and securing their back is widely considered the highest-leverage position in the entire [***discipline***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/). From here, you have total access to control their upper body while staying completely out of the path of their vision and weapons. Finally, the curriculum heavily emphasizes Turtle Position and the Knee on Belly. Knee on Belly is a highly dynamic transition position used to control an opponent while keeping yourself upright and mobile, while the Turtle is a defensive shell you resort to when someone is on the verge of ***[passing your guard](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)***. Every single class at ***[Gracie Barra Westside](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)*** takes these five core positions and layers specific techniques on top of them. You learn how to survive in them, how to escape the bad ones, how to maintain the good ones, and eventually, how to apply submissions from them. It is a brilliant way to learn because it gives you a mental map. No matter how chaotic a sparring session gets, you always know exactly where you are on the board, allowing you to build your skills step by step. ***Getting Started at Gracie Barra Is Easy: ***[***SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)***!*** [***Gracie Barra Westside: discover superior martial arts training in New Mexico Westside!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) *** *** [![The Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Westside, New Mexico!](https://gbwestside.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The-Best-Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu-in-Westside-New-Mexico.jpg)](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)[***The Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Westside, New Mexico!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) ## ***Gracie Barra Westside: come to the best jiu-jitsu academy in New Mexico!*** [***Gracie Barra Westside, NM***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) is not just a school for Brazilian [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/) ([**BJJ**](https://gbwestside.com/bjj-for-beginners-near-me/)); it’s a thriving community grounded in the values of brotherhood, integrity, and personal development. Founded by Master Carlos Gracie Jr., the legacy of Gracie Barra has become one of the most recognized names in the world of [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/), with its red shield symbolizing excellence, dedication, and the passing of knowledge from the Gracie family to the next generation of athletes. Under the leadership of [***Professor Roberto “Tussa” Alencar***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/), a 4th-degree black belt and a world champion in the sport, Gracie Barra [**Westside**](https://gbwestside.com/experience-top-level-jiu-jitsu-at-gb-westside-albuquerque/) offers top-tier instruction and a welcoming environment for students of all levels. With over 16 years of experience in Brazilian [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/), Professor Tussa has built a strong following in both California and New Mexico, cultivating a community of dedicated practitioners who strive for excellence on and off the mats. At [***Gracie Barra Westside***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/), students not only learn the techniques and strategies that define Brazilian [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/) but also develop valuable life skills such as discipline, respect, and resilience. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner, the focus is always on personal growth, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. The Gracie Barra competition team, known as Equipe GB, fosters athletic development and builds pride within the community, offering students the opportunity to compete and excel at the highest levels. [***Start your jiu-jitsu journey today: schedule your free class at Gracie Barra Westside!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) Gracie Barra is not just about teaching [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/); it’s about transforming lives through the practice of the art. With a comprehensive approach that includes physical conditioning, mental toughness, and character development, [***Gracie Barra Westside***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) provides a supportive environment where students are encouraged to reach their full potential. If you’re looking to get started with [***Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/), Gracie Barra [**Westside**](https://gbwestside.com/experience-top-level-jiu-jitsu-at-gb-westside-albuquerque/) New Mexico is the place for you. Schedule your free class today and experience the Gracie Barra legacy firsthand. The journey to better health, improved self-defense skills, and personal empowerment starts here at Gracie Barra [**Westside**](https://gbwestside.com/experience-top-level-jiu-jitsu-at-gb-westside-albuquerque/) New Mexico, located at 3200 La Orilla Rd NW, [**Albuquerque**](https://gbwestside.com/train-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-at-gracie-barra-westside-albuquerque/), NM 87120. ***Getting Started at Gracie Barra Is Easy: ***[***SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)***!*** [***Gracie Barra Westside: discover superior martial arts training in New Mexico Westside!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) [![Gracie Barra Westside, NM!](https://gbwestside.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Gracie-Barra-Westside-NM.jpg)](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)[***Gracie Barra Westside, NM!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) # ***Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How many fundamental positions are taught in jiu-jitsu for beginners | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077*** [![Getting Started At Gracie Barra Is Easy SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS And Intro Session Absolutely FREE! Experience a new beginning on your Jiu-Jitsu journey](https://gbwestside.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Getting-Started-At-Gracie-Barra-Is-Easy-SCHEDULE-YOUR-FREE-CLASS-And-Intro-Session-Absolutely-FREE-Experience-a-new-beginning-on-your-Jiu-Jitsu-journey.png)](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)[***Getting Started At Gracie Barra Is Easy SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS And Intro Session Absolutely FREE! Experience a new beginning on your Jiu-Jitsu journey***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) - [Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu West Side Albuquerque in New Mexico](https://gbwestside.com/) ### Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu West Side Albuquerque in New Mexico ![Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu West Side Albuquerque New Mexico](https://gbwestside.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GB-West-Side.jpeg)3200 La Orilla Rd NW [**Albuquerque**](https://gbwestside.com/train-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-at-gracie-barra-westside-albuquerque/), New Mexico 87120 United States (US)Phone: [+1 505 818-8077](tel:+15058188077) Secondary phone: [+1 505 818-8077](tel:+15058188077) URL: [https://gbwestside.com/](https://gbwestside.com/) | Thursday | 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM | | --- | --- | | Friday | 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM | | Saturday | Closed | | Sunday | Closed | | Monday | 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM | | Tuesday | 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM | | Wednesday | 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM |