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Omoplata Omoplata OmoplataFiled Under: Instruction

WARNING: More information on the omoplata submission than you can shake a stick at.

As the title infers, I’d like to go over some information about the omoplata submission. It looks complex if you’ve never done it, but in essence it’s a kimura shoulder-lock using your legs to crank. It’s got so many cool variations and uses, I think it should be one of the first eight submissions you learn in no-gi jujitsu ( the others being the mata leo choke, guillotine, kimura, americana / keylock, leg triangle choke – along with the arm triangle variation – and armbar). The omoplata works well as a set-up or a follow-up to four of the eight submissions aforementioned. Anyway, here’s how to pull off the omoplata from the guard – the first place you should start learning it.

If you’re a sneaky, tactical jujitsu player,
I think you’ll like sinking in the omoplata from the side mount position.

Depending how good your opponent is, you escape the omoplata from guard in a variety of ways. First, you can do a forward shoulder roll to escape, or jump over your hips to the other side of the body, as seen below.

You can put the breaks on these type of rolling escapes by securing the foot or the body when you’re in the jiu-claw position (right before you sit up and start cranking the shoulder) as shown by Urijah Faber. Basically, flatten ‘em out before you start effecting the shoulder joints.

Also, Gene Simco talks about the rolling escapes and how to prevent them with some different insights here. Also, while we’re at it, Eddie Bravo gives his two cents on attacks and hold onto the jiu-claw position, again giving some unique insights and rubber guard instruction- see below.

However, if you can’t roll but can get your butt up in the air to create enough space, it’s possible to weave in outside leg and attempt an armbar. It’s tricky, but cool. See the no-no plata to armbar counter below. (No, no you will not omoplata!)

But maybe you have a little space to try to escape via the shoulder roll, why not turn it into a triangle choke counter?

Sometimes you’ll see guys hooking the ankle under the back of the knee and extend the leg to try to hook under your far side armpit (see here) , or “figure four” their legs to secure your chicken-winged arm. In both cases, you can try the following leg lock.

After seeing these all these variations, no doubt you’ll be alert to the escape attempts of you’re opponent. However, if he still slips by you and rolls out of the omoplata, you’re not done. You can keep rolling with him, flipping as he does so that you won’t lose the submission, or you can transition into another submission – a bicep cutter.

As you see, the omoplata network is expansive. You can transition into omoplata from a open guard sweep, from S mount, enter it “flying“, execute it from turtle position ( called the “reverse omoplata” ) and even defend certain ankle locks with an omoplata. All in all, its a cool thing to have in your toolbox.

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Other posts you may enjoy:

• Reverse Omoplata
• Brabo Choke From Mount
• Mastering the Guillotine Choke, Part 1

Tags: jujitsu, omoplata, submissions