The armbar from closed guard is one of the basic and most essential submissions in Brazilian jiu jitsu. The arm bar from guard is popular because even at the highest levels of grappling, it is effective because of how simple and quick it is. No matter how many tricks are up your opponent’s sleeve, you are still applying the immense force of your hips to the relatively weak power of their elbow. Even a very tough opponent will have a hard time bicep curling your entire body.
This attack particularly lends itself to street fighting and MMA since it is when, to an untrained eye or with an untrained person on bottom, the fighter on the ground is in the most danger. The reason the armbar has become an essential BJJ submission is that it allows a smaller fighter or one in a bad position to turn the tide of the fight and go from being on bottom and getting punched to breaking the other person’s arm. This submission is so essential to BJJ that it is part of the Gracie BJJ Blue Belt Test.
Start: Closed guard
Step 1: Get a two-on-one grip on opponent’s arm
Step 2: Get wrist grip with same-side arm and reach over to get cross grip behind opponent’s tricep
Step 3: On side of opponent’s trapped foot, step your foot onto their hip and squeeze knee into opponent’s shoulder, giving up tricep grip
Step 4: Reach free hand across to opponent’s opposite shoulder
Step 5: Lift free leg up towards opponent’s head and pivot your hips and head to that side
Step 6: Drop free leg down to break down opponent’s posture
Step 7: Pass bottom-side leg over opponent’s head
Step 8: Ensure that opponent’s thumb is pointed up towards sky and pinkie is pointed down to your body and bridge your hips up toward sky
End: Submission via armbar