Side control offers you many effective submissions, but here are two cool armbars you may not have seen before…
Let’s break these down step by step…
Armbar 1: The Near Side Kimura Control Armbar
This is a powerful and very surprising armlock that I learned from watching Rob Biernacki’s students at Island Top Team train. The first time I saw it I had no idea what they were doing, but after figuring it out and repping it a few times it became one of my favorite finishes.
1, Control the arm of your opponent that’s closest to you
2 Maintaining the Kimura grip, swing your top leg over your opponent’s head in a single smooth motion
- Key point: This is not as difficult to do as it looks – I’ve had a hip replacement and I can do it quite easily!
3, Land on the outside of your hip in a hurdler stretch position, maintaining the Kimura
- Key point: The goal is not to smash your opponent’s face, merely to control their head with the outside edge of your top leg.
- Key point: Keep lifting the elbow and rotating the arm trapped in the Kimura – it’s not a finish per se, but it’ll control your opponent’s movements and make it harder for them to escape.
4, Bring your bottom leg over their body and finish the armbar
- Key point: Although you could finish this armlock with just one leg over their head it’s almost always better to bring your second leg across their body before going for the finish.
Armbar 2: The Far Side Underhook Marcelo Armbar
This is a submission I learned from GOAT grappler Marcelo Garcia. Some people I know make it their main armbar submission from side control, but it’s surprisingly not very well known. That’s about to change for you though…
1,Start in side control with an underhook on the far arm
- Key point: Securing the underhook on the far side of his body is critical.
2, Pull your opponent onto their side and wedge them in place with your elbow
- Key point: Drop your bottom (in this case, your right) elbow in front of his belly to stop them from rolling onto his back.
- Key point: Double up control of their arm if they’re slippery.
- Key point: Post your top leg out in line with their spine.
3, Swing your top leg into the space between his arm and his ribs
- Key point: Move your head UP while bringing your top leg DOWN.
- Key point: Insert your heel under their arm before you hit the ground.
4, Fall onto your side and finish the armbar facing his legs
- Key point: Stay on your side, facing their legs.
- Key point: Connect your bottom heel to your top knee.
- Key point: Extend your hips to apply the armbar!
More Resources
A Checklist of Kimura Positions: We discussed the near side Kimura position above, but it’s only one of many different core positions you need to know to get good at this king of armlocks.
Click here to download my guide to the 12 major Kimura positions for FREE, including the major attacks and submissions from each.
The Kimura Roadmap: Check out The Kimura Roadmap, my positional approach to mastering the Kimura and tapping out more training partners and competition opponents.
