Armbar
The straight arm lock that causes more injuries than any other submission, so control matters more than cranking.
Overview
Safety
Armbar causes the most injuries in jiu jitsu.
Three main positions
- Top armbar (top juji)
- Belly down armbar (choi)
- Closed guard armbar (stack)
Core Mechanics and Concepts
Anatomy of the armbar
Elbow line control
The fulcrum concept
Why grip fighting matters more than cranking
Top Armbar (Top Juji)
Types
- Half
- Quarter
- 3/4
- Scissor
- Double shoulder post
- Arm saddle
- Triangle
Core mechanics
- Foot position
- Which hip
- Preventing rotation
- Preventing elbow freeing
- Hierarchy of grips
Breaking mechanics
Finishing mechanics
Breaking grips
- RNC grip
- Hand to hand
- Leg grip
- Triangle/armbar threat
Countering escapes
- Hitchhiker
- Leg trap
- Getting stacked
- Escaping over leg
Defense
- Defensive grips
- RNC grip: freeing the elbow and stacking
- Leg trap escape
- Hitchhiker
- Reverse hitchhiker
Entries
- From mount
- From side control
- From back control
- From S-mount
Belly Down Armbar (Choi)
Core mechanics
- Rotational pressure on the arm
- Breaking posture
- Leg positioning
Breaking mechanics
How you get there
- Spin out of stack
- Bridge on top
- Choi bar entry
- Falling off the back
Offense
- Break grip and finish
- Roll them over
- To the back
Troubleshooting
- They posture
- They roll
- They trap foot
- They step/jump over head
- Limp arm
- Sprawl and walk
Defense
- Preventing and dealing with the choi bar
Closed Guard Armbar (Stack)
Why this is hard to hit at fundamentals level
Breaking mechanics
How to recognize you're here
How to get out of it / transition to better position
Summary
Coaching Guide
Common entries and sequences
Key game progressions
Choi bar sequence (belly down armbar). The choi bar is a great candidate for progressive game design.
Game 1: Belly down armbar hold. Start in belly down armbar position. Attacker wins by keeping the arm out for 20 seconds. Defender wins by freeing their elbow or stacking. This game teaches rotational pressure, breaking posture, and foot placement in position. Gets students decent at half-holding it before adding complexity.
Game 2: From elbow connection. Move the starting point back in the chain to when the attacker's elbow connects to the defender's stomach. This randomizes it significantly more, as the defender has more options and the attacker has to work through the full choi bar entry sequence before arriving at the belly down position.
Common problems and cues
Recommended games
Resources
- Armbar, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Armbar Escapes, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Finishing the Armbar, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Belly Down Armbar, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Choi Bar from Open Guard, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Choi Bar from Half Butterfly, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)