Armbar Variations Guide | BJJ App Wiki
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All armbar variations in BJJ: standard, flying, inverted, mounted, rear, and spinning armbar — entries, mechanics, and defenses.
The armbar is BJJ's most versatile submission — available from virtually every position. This guide covers all major armbar variations and their specific entries.
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Standard Guard Armbar
The guard armbar is the foundation: break posture, create a sharp angle (hip escape to 45°), throw your leg over the neck, lock the arm to your chest with both hands, and bridge your hips upward. Key: perpendicular angle to the arm. The hitchhiker escape is prevented by squeezing knees together and using a cross grip (palm down).
Mounted Armbar
From mount: slide your knee toward their head (technical mount), raise your other knee over the far shoulder, sit back as you collect the arm, and finish. Counter to defense: if they clasp hands, use both hands to break the grip (strip one finger at a time or use the "Americana to armbar" switch).
Rear Armbar
From back control with seatbelt: when they defend the rear naked choke with both hands, feed one arm under their defending arm, sit up and extend. Alternatively, step over their shoulder from the seatbelt position. The rear armbar is an underused attack that surprises many opponents.
Inverted Armbar (Reverse Armbar)
Applied when the arm is facing the opposite direction. Common from side control: when they frame with a straight arm, trap it, step over the head, and apply pressure in the reverse direction. Also available from north-south position.
Flying Armbar
An advanced technique used from standing: grip the wrist and tricep, jump your legs over the shoulder while pulling the arm, and finish in the air or on landing. High risk, spectacular when it works. Requires significant coordination and is best used as a surprise technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not getting perpendicular to the arm before extending. If you are parallel to the opponent's body, the armbar puts strain on the shoulder rather than the elbow joint — less effective and easier to escape.
Three methods: (1) cross grip (palm down, thumb toward you) prevents the rotation, (2) squeeze knees together to eliminate turning room, (3) bridge into them as they turn — carrying them to the ground prevents the full rotation.
Yes — from north-south, when the opponent bridges into you, you can thread the arm and transition to armbar. The north-south kimura and armbar are companion attacks.
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Common BJJ Problems & FAQ
To prevent elbow escape, ensure your chest is firmly pressed against their triceps, creating a strong fulcrum. Simultaneously, drive your hips forward and slightly upward, keeping their elbow locked between your hips and your opposite knee to maximize leverage and prevent slippage.
Against a larger opponent, focus on establishing a tight triangle with your legs around their neck and one arm, then use your hips to shrimp out and create an angle. This hip movement isolates their arm and allows you to extend your legs, leveraging your body weight against their shoulder joint for the finish.
To protect your shoulder, avoid overextending your hips too early; instead, focus on controlling their posture by keeping their arm trapped between your hip and shoulder. When you initiate the extension, ensure your hips drive forward while your shoulders remain relatively stable, preventing your own shoulder from taking the brunt of the force.
More Questions
What are the most common armbar setups from guard?
The most common armbar setups from guard include the cross-body armbar, the straight armbar, and the triangle armbar. These variations leverage different body positioning and grip fighting to isolate and attack the opponent's arm.
How do I prevent my opponent from defending the armbar by stacking?
To counter stacking, focus on maintaining hip control and using your legs to create a barrier. You can also shift your hips to the side or use a 'grapevines' with your legs to prevent them from driving their weight into you.
What's the difference between an armbar and an Americana?
An armbar attacks the opponent's arm by hyperextending the elbow, typically from a dominant position like guard or mount. An Americana, on the other hand, is a shoulder lock that uses wrist control and leverage to attack the shoulder joint, usually from side control or mount.