What it is

The armbar is a submission that straightens the opponent's arm across your hips so the elbow is forced past its range. The classic version is from closed guard, where you swing your hips under their shoulder and your legs over their head and chest; the same shape works from mount and S-mount. Your whole body works against one joint, which is why it finishes people far bigger than you.

When to use it

From closed guard, when they reach across your body, grab your collar or post a hand on your chest or the mat near your head.

From closed guard, when their posture is broken and one arm is pinned to your chest.

Variation from mount: when they push up on your chest or let an elbow drift away from their ribs, climb to S-mount, then step over the head and sit back.

Variation from S-mount or the back: when one arm is already isolated and all that is left is to sit back.

How to do it

From closed guard, break their posture and isolate one arm: pin their wrist to your chest with both hands, thumb pointing up.

Open your guard and put your foot on their hip on the same side as the trapped arm.

Push on that hip and pivot, turning your body sideways so your hips slide under the shoulder of the trapped arm.

Swing your other leg over their head, keep the leg from the hip tight across their back, and squeeze your knees together around the arm.

Keep their thumb pointed at the ceiling so the elbow faces your hips, with your hips tight to their shoulder.

Lift your hips and pull their wrist down toward your chest until they tap.

Key details

Knees pinched tight is the finish. If the knees open, the elbow slips out.

Hips to the shoulder: any gap between your hips and their armpit is room for them to pull the arm out.

Thumb up, little finger toward you. If the elbow is turned the wrong way, there is no lock.

From guard, the pivot is the move. Your body turns sideways to them; flat and square, you can never get the leg over the head.

Lift the hips a little at a time. The elbow has no warning signs, so give your partner time to tap.

Common mistakes

Mistake: crossing your feet over their body. It loosens the knees and they pull the arm out.

Mistake: lifting your hips before the arm is controlled. They stack you or turn into you and the position is gone.

Mistake: staying square in guard instead of pivoting. Your leg cannot clear the head and they posture up out of it.

Mistake: pulling on the arm with your hands instead of your hips. You tire out and they wait.

What they will try

From guard, before the arm is straight, they posture up, stack their weight over you and pull the elbow free, or clasp their hands together.

From mount, they turn toward you and the hitchhiker escape comes out as you sit back.

If they defend by gripping their hands, switch to the triangle from guard or the mounted triangle from S-mount.

Armbar