01-08-2008, 04:03 PM
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#99 (permalink)
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True Grappler
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 4,240
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100th Post!
Well, this is the 100th post on my training log, so thanks to all of you guys who read it and take my advice.
I was on the mat yesterday and I was working for an armbar against an opponent and I realized something incredibly important, something that alot of jiu-jitsu practitioners forget, even at the the purple and brown belt level.
Sinking in an armbar isn't about powering through with any sort of position, it's about getting the right leverage, that's what all of jiu-jitsu is about, and in the day where it seems like strength-based fighters are was more prevalent, it's even more important to remember.
Uri, one of the kids in the juniors class I'm helping to teach now, asked me how to apply an armbar so that it didn't him in the groin.
I watched him and I realized something that alot of guys have a problem with is just creating the right leverage, and not just forcing the joint lock once they have their legs on the other side of the head.
So, to review the basic technique for the armbar:
When you apply the submission, your legs should be bent, your opponents thumb should be pointed up (or at least the inside of their arm should be pointed up) and groin should be a little above their tricept. (this will keep you from catching the elbow in the groin that causes guys to lose the submission)
Some photos of really good armbars and why they work:
It works because Royce's knees are controlling the shoulder, allowing him to isolate the arm, and his hips are pushing through the tricept, straining the bone above the elbow, not below (which keeps the elbow from striking the testicles).
Even though it's looser than Royce Gracie's armbar, it's effective because Fedor uses his upper body to push his lower body up, tightening the armbar by putting his hips, as Royce does, above Coleman's elbow.
Even though Nogueira hasn't finished the technique yet, his hips are very high (almost in the shoulder) and the leverage is set up so that once he loosens the hand free he's just applying the submission.
In fairness to the last one, which is the tightest as far as keeping the hips high and keeping the groin out of the way of getting whacked, it's much easier to get that tight position with a solid armbar from the "s-mount" (not the side mount, for those unfamiliar with the s-mount position). It's a mounted armbar, which sets Nogueira up higher simply on the basis that he doesn't have to pull his opponent down into the technique, like he would with an armbar from guard.
In that mounted armbar, though, it applies the same principle. Nogueira keeps his ass close to his opponent's shoulder, which keeps the submission tight and makes it take minimal leverage.
Remember, submission fighting was developed to help the little guy beat the big guy, and it works if you focus on the technique and don't get caught up in the adrenaline, trying to muscle out submissions that don't have the right leverage.
EDIT: This is actually the 100th reply to the thread, but it's still a big deal.
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