We’ve recently been working on some armbars in class and I wanted to build on that.
Here are three videos that I like showing the nitty gritty of the technique, one with the gi, the other two without. I think they cover most of the pointers we talked about in class:
Head control -> controlling opponents posture.
Grip the triceps -> attempt to get opponents arm into dangerous territory (the wrong “body-hemisphere”)
Angle hips so you are attacking from the side (3 o’clock positioning)
Keep knees tight (thighmaster squeeze) and ankles seperated.
Pull arm towards their hip, bridge up elevating yours.
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Each video shows a different take on the armbar, but notice what they do that is the same. As a professor might say, compare and contrast them. Anyway, enjoy.
Some times it just has to be done. Take a wicked submission, add heavy metal, and blend into a video montage (credit: commrade101). In particular, I like how the vid shows a wide variety of armbar submissions and positions.
“Ten Best MMA Armbars”
The ten best MMA armbars are as follows:
(0) – First up to bat – Rickson Gracie shows off the step over armbar from side control, showing the scientific view of how the armbar works. He’s just showing the move, not executing it in a fight so it doesn’t count toward the top 10.
(10) – Sakuraba vs Randleman. Notice how Sakuraba utilizes the kimura control – Randleman uses a wrestling suplex and attempts to take the back, but boom – Sakuraba weaves his arm into the kimura control and reverses the position with a roll/sweep, eventually getting the belly down armbar.
(9) – Carlos newton vs Pele – Quick transition into a perpendicular armbar from guard.
(8) – Frank Mir vs Tim Sylvia – Sylvia unsuccessfully stacks the guard and pops his elbow.
(7) – Dong sik yoon vs Zelg Galesic – Dong starts in the mount, goes for the armbar and Zelg tries to immediately reverse it. Notice how Dong controls the leg as they roll and before he extends down to finish. Smooth.
(6) – Enson Inoue vs Randy Couture. Sorry Randy.
(5) – Fedor vs Coleman. Coleman gets pwned, part 1.
(4) – Nogueira vs Coleman. Coleman gets pwned, part 2. Nog shows the triangle bar combo.
(3) – Masakazu Imanari vs Robbie Olivier. Before the underpass, there is an armbar waiting for you.
[Bill and Ted meet themselves] Ted: OK wait. If you guys are really us, what number are we thinking of? Bill, Ted: 69, dudes. Bill, Ted: Whoa.
[quadruple air guitar solo]
- Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
The north south position is a very dominant ground position, and in my opinion, is both very dangerous (for the bottom) and wildly under-utilized. Part of it comes from ignorance and part of it comes from people’s natural discomfort. The whole face-into-crotch thing makes for a weird experience when you’re grappling. However, you just got to get over it.
