Become Fighter
The armbar from guard: safe entries: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
How the armbar works in principle, and the safe way to practise it with a partner and a coach.
The armbar from closed guard is a classic submission. You control the arm, swing your hips across and your legs trap the shoulder. It is a joint lock, and a joint lock needs careful respect.
This is a partner skill. Never practise it alone, and never with someone who does not know the tap. Agree the rules before you start: a tap, a spoken "stop" or a hand slap on your partner's body means release immediately. You practise the position and the control. You do not finish the lock with force. A coach should check your first few reps.
Key points
- Agree the tap before anything else. A tap means stop and release at once.
- Control the wrist and keep their elbow close to your chest.
- Swing your hips across, with your legs around their back and head, to trap the shoulder.
- Stop when the position is reached. Do not extend, crank or thrust against the joint.
- If your partner taps, release immediately and check that they are fine.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Skipping the tap talk. Always agree on the tap before you start. It takes ten seconds.
- Finishing too hard. Never extend against the elbow with force. The position is the lesson. Release the moment they tap.
- Losing control of the wrist. Keep their wrist hugged to your chest until the position is set.
- Going too fast. Half speed with a cooperative partner. Speed comes after you can do it blindfolded.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Closed guard basics module of Jiu-jitsu foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Closed guard basics
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Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.