“The Frame Game”: Why “Frames” Are the Most Important Weapon for White Belts (And How to Build Them)
Do you remember that feeling?
The first time a larger training partner settled into a heavy Side Control. All their weight crushed your chest. You couldn’t breathe, a wave of claustrophobia hit, and your first instinct was… PUSH!
You used every ounce of your strength to bench-press them off you. But they didn’t budge. Thirty seconds later, your arms were exhausted, your elbows were flared out, and you were submitted.
This is the shared “horror story” of nearly every white belt. It stems from the single biggest misunderstanding in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Wikipedia).
The secret that black belts know—and white belts overlook—isn’t strength; it is Structure.
ยินดีต้อนรับสู่ “The Frame Game.” This article is the complete guide to why Frames are the most important weapon you must learn first, and why they are the cornerstone of the Marcelo Silva Martial Arts philosophy we teach at BJJ Bangkok.
Part 1: What is a "Frame"? (And Why It Is NOT Pushing)
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Before we continue, we must define “framing,” because this is where 90% of beginners go wrong.
The White Belt Trap: Pushing
Definition: Using muscular contraction to try and move a heavy object away from you. Why it Fails: It is a losing battle of physics. You are pitting your smallest muscles (triceps and shoulders) against your opponent’s largest assets (gravity and body mass). The Result: You gas out in under a minute, and extending your arms gives your opponent an easy Armbar.
The Black Belt Concept: Framing
Definition: Using your bone structure (your levers, like your forearm and shin) to post and wedge against your opponent to support their weight.
The Analogy:
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Pushing is trying to lift a car with your bare hands.
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Framing is sliding a solid steel jack under the car. The jack isn’t “stronger” than the car, but it uses Mechanical Advantage (Wikipedia) to hold the weight effortlessly.
Why it Works: Your skeletal structure is designed to bear weight. A proper frame can support a 100kg opponent with almost zero muscular energy, as long as the bones are aligned correctly. It is fighting without fighting.
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Part 2: Why "Frames" Are the Great Equalizer
Here is why mastering the Frame Game must be your priority at BJJ Bangkok.
1. The Foundation of Survival
In BJJ, the hierarchy of needs is: Survive $\rightarrow$ Escape $\rightarrow$ Submit.
You cannot escape if you are being flattened. Frames prevent the “flattening.” They create the breathing room and the time you need to think.
2. Size Doesn’t Matter (As Much)
This is the core promise of Jiu-Jitsu: the smaller person defeating the larger.
A 60kg student cannot push a 100kg attacker off. However, a 60kg student’s forearm bone can easily support 100kg of pressure if angled correctly. Frames allow you to “disconnect” their weight from your chest.
3. The Bridge to All Escapes
Critical Concept: Frames are not the escape; frames create the escape.
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You cannot Shrimp (Hip Escape) from Side Control if your hips are crushed. A frame on their hip creates the space to move yours.
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You cannot Bridge (Upa) from Mount if they are low and heavy. Frames force their weight back, making them light enough to roll.
Part 3: The Unbreakable Toolkit (3 Essential Frames)
Knowing what a frame is isn’t enough. You need to know how to build one when you are in trouble. Here are the three most essential frames every student must drill.
1. The Side Control “Survival Frame”
The Scenario: You are on the bottom, getting crushed.
How to Build It:
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Get on Your Side: NEVER lie flat. Turn slightly into your opponent.
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The Hip Frame (Bottom Arm): Place your forearm or hand against their closest hip bone. This is your “wedge.” It stops them from moving to Mount.
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The Throat Frame (Top Arm): Place your forearm across their neck/shoulder line. This creates breathing room.
Pro Tip: Keep your elbows “glued” to your ribs. If your elbow flares out, the structure collapses.
2. The Mount “Escape Frame”
The Scenario: Opponent is fully mounted on top of you.
How to Build It:
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Elbows In: This is your primary defense. Do not let your arms float above your head.
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Hip Connection: Place your hands or forearms against their hip bones.
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Knee-to-Elbow: Actively try to touch your knees to your elbows. This creates a “shell” that prevents them from climbing into High Mount.
3. The “Guard Retention” Frame (Knee Shield)
The Scenario: Opponent is trying to smash through your guard.
How to Build It:
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The Knee Shield: Insert your shin (your strongest bone) across their chest or shoulder.
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Reinforce: Use your arms to frame on their shoulder, supporting your knee.
Why it Works: This is the foundation of the modern Z-Guard. It forces the opponent to carry your leg’s structure before they can reach your body.
Part 4: How to Train "The Frame Game"
Knowing the theory is one thing; applying it under pressure is another. At BJJ Bangkok, we use the Marcelo Silva Martial Arts methodology to teach this.
The Wrong Way: “Spazzing”
Free rolling as a beginner often leads to panic. You forget your frames and revert to pushing.
The Right Way: “Survival Sparring”
This is a form of Positional Sparring.
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The Setup: Start in a bad position (e.g., bottom Side Control).
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The Goal: You do not try to escape. You do not try to win. Your only goal is to survive for 3 minutes using frames.
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The Result: You learn to trust your skeleton. You realize, “Wow, I’m not using strength, but he can’t crush me.”
Conclusion: From Victim to Fortress
Mastering “The Frame Game” changes your mindset. You stop being a victim who gets crushed, and you become a fortress that cannot be breached.
Side Control and Mount are no longer the “end” of the fight; they are simply puzzles that your frames are designed to solve.
Ready to build your fortress? Stop struggling and start framing. Join the community at BJJ Bangkok. We don’t just teach moves; we teach the underlying concepts that make BJJ work for everyone
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the difference between a Frame and a Push? A: A Push uses muscle to move the opponent (exhausting). A Frame uses bone structure to support the opponent’s weight (efficient).
Q2: I am small. Will frames work against a heavy opponent? A: Yes! Frames are designed exactly for this. Bones are stronger than muscles. If your alignment is correct, your skeletal structure can support massive weight without you getting tired.
Q3: Can I use frames in a Self-Defense situation? A: Absolutely. The concept of “Creating Space” to get back to your feet relies entirely on framing against an attacker to keep them at a distance.
Q4: Does the Marcelo Silva Martial Arts philosophy focus on this? A: Yes. We emphasize Efficiency. We teach students to use leverage and structure rather than brute strength, making BJJ sustainable and effective for everyone.
Q5: Can I use frames in No-Gi? A: Yes. In No-Gi, you don’t have clothes to grab, so frames (forearms against the neck, knee shields) become even more important for managing distance.
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