Armbar Variations Guide
☰Contents
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.
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.