spinning armbar from side control

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mcgoatp4p#1

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lately ive been focusing solely on this move (mostly because i see marcelo use it a lot) where you underhook the farside arm, hug it close to your head then spin to his other side for the armbar. anyone have any tips for getting it really tight? its getting better, but i think im leaving too much room when i spin around and they're able to back out of it
 
I'm a lanky, gangly guy, so not the best at this. If it's the one I think you're talking about, my first key is when I turn to make sure I get my knee TIGHT in their armpit and apply pressure right away. Also, I just try to make sure to stay low to the floor as possible, basically sit on their head, as I'm going around the corner.
 
You need to drill this move slow to ensure control at all points. Only add the spin when you can maintain control throughout the movement.

Some keys for me.

When you first pull the underhook you should have a solid holddown with the underhook, pressure through elbow and knee. The guy needs to be properly on his side and fixed in place.

Push down on the head with free hand before transitioning.

Clear the nearside arm with a staple if needed.

Keep your bum REALLY low through the transition. You should be sitting on the guys face half way round.

The foot that steps over needs to stay tight to the guys back.
 
I'd love if someone could post Marcelo's version.

A version I was taught that is super fast is underhook the arm and drive your elbow down directly into his sternum, making him (painfully) carry your weight as you pop up to knee on belly (without removing your elbow from his sternum -- you don't get tall like you're finishing a kimura, you stay hunched over him). The next bit happens instantly: pull him onto his side as you move your non-knee-on-belly leg to the other side of him (you're halfway stepping over/around him and half windshield wiping -- whatever gets your knee to the other side of him as fast as possible), basically going knee-on-belly against his upturned side instead of his belly. Grab his pantleg and sit back for the armbar.

This was shown to me by a small black belt and it's clearly a little guy move because it's blindingly fast. The switch from knee on belly to reverse knee on belly to sitting into armbar is so fast it's basically one, instantaneous movement. As a 240lbs dude, all the guys I roll with are completely unprepared for it. There is only a tiny fraction of a second in the transition where you don't have a knee putting weight on him. There are no little stops along the way as you swing your other leg around for knee-on-belly on the reverse side.
 
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This is one of my favorite techniques to attack. I will attack this from regular side control and when on top of deep half and I manage the underhook on the inside arm.

One key detail I picked up over the years is that my with my underhooking arm, I will drive arm pressure into their arm pit to bring them to their side. My free hand posts down on their head to disrupt their posture. I shift my weight to my KOB leg so I'm almost leaning and I'm able freely swing or step my leg over their head. My foot sometimes ends up mostly with my instep against their torso. Once I stabilize things, I do try to get my foot out and over the body for more control. Sometimes, I might also attack the inverted armlock before I step over if their arm straightens out for some reason.

@ 0:40, Munch does a real quick version of the armlock

@ 0:45, Eddie gets the inverted armlock

@ 2:20, Eric Phan (a local guy where I train) does things in a more methodical manner.
 
One big thing you can do at home to get better at this, and many other moves like it is Squat Sit. Literally sit as low in a squat as you can, for as long as you can every single day.

The biggest mistake I see with this move is guys are too fast to actually sit their butt down, and they lose the position. When I do it, I maintain the squat until I literally have the exact angle, my foot tucked under their shoulder, and my hands in the right spot. Only THEN does my butt actually touch down to the mat.

Another huge mistake is guys flopping to their butt quick and ending up too far away: you NEED your hips under their shoulder, lifting it up off the mat; when you're too far away, guys have to forward butt-scoot, or shimmy forward. Again, by squatting, I end up right where I need to before my butt touches.

I squat sit for up to 30 mins at a time, multiple times a day.
 
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JosephDredd said:
This was shown to me by a small black belt and it's clearly a little guy move because it's blindingly fast.
Click to expand...
I've realized smooth is more important than fast. Cause I ain't fast, but I executed a technique very smoothly a while back on a white belt that's approaching blue, and he said, "Man, that was fast."
 
Most common mistake I've seen is not being tight and heavy enough. People always lift their butts too high on the spin, when learning this. It reminds me of the n/s kimura, in that you have to get over the weirdness of essentially sitting your balls and taint on somebody's face.

I like to grab my own collar with the underhooking arm, but it's but necessary. Keeping your elbow clamped tight to your body to control that arm is, tho. I like to use forearm in the throat/face to force them to turn in. I think more important than the particular trigger you use to make them turn, is understanding the 4 point/box concept Ryan hall talks about in the back attack DVD ( I forget exactly what he called it), in order to funnel the opponent to only turning the way you want.

Getting a pants grip as you spin to prevent rolling out.
 
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On the old mendesbros website, Gui Mendes has a great tip and it applies after you've spun around and are applying the armbar. The instep of his foot (not the one over his head)
is under the opponent's near shoulder, lifting him onto his side slightly. This makes the armbar much tighter than if it was not under his shoulder.
Gui basically says this is the difference between a good and a great armbar.
 
This is our bread a butter at my gym. Here is my coach showing some details back at our grand opening party 5 years ago. The key to the anchor under the armpit is if you spin to fast and land a little away you will actually drag the guy with you and always tend to land right. Hope this helps

 
It seems like getting them up on their side a little is important, and also constant pressure on the ribs/midsection while spinning and sitting close to finish.
 
one thing I dont see many talk about is how to make him turn to his side easier, from basic head and arm control, gently place your forearm on his face (more like your elbow) making him look at you, then you lift him up... way easier.
 
There are a lot of good ways to do this, but the way Munchi does it above is the way Marcelo does it if you're trying to mimic him. I will say though that it's probably the most difficult method I've seen.
 
I have been training BJJ for nearly 10 years and I have never hit this move live.

To add to the craziness, my armbar is by far my strongest submission.
 
Thats so odd this is by far my highest percentage move.
 
Fuck I could spend hours on this. My favorite technique to teach.
 
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